Training Plans

Some people love training plans whilst others just do not like them at all.

Obviously a lot of folks on this forum will have completed C25K which, let's be honest, is a fabulous programme to get us running.

After C25K though, I meandered alone trying to discover what I liked. At this stage running was a real chore and difficult to keep motivated for.

I then attempted the Garmin 10k plan but after 5 weeks or so became frustrated as I really wasn't "feeling" the benefits. Eventually I just decided to run 10k when I felt right .... which was fine.

I now had another lack of purpose with 10k completed. What to do? I was doing parkruns which was fine but, being honest, I am quite competitive so end up trying to beat every previous run in this situation which clearly isn't a good place to be.

I then found the joys of running by my rules, slowed down, took in my surroundings, stopped to take photos and just enjoyed everything around me. But, I still needed some drive. This came through the NRC HM plan which a number of people have worked through.

I really find it a great tool to push me forward without fearing I am overdoing it. Week by week I can feel myself getting stronger both physically and mentally and when I need that "je ne sais quoi", I just get a bit of Coach Bennett in my ear.

However you run, have fun everyone 🏃‍♀️🏃👍

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Perfect

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

I know exactly what you mean. The HM plan is great, isn't it, it feels structured and week by week the numbers and achievements are apparent.My only reservation is that when I finish it I may feel I have to go on and try a marathon

😱😱😱😂

[Hidden in reply to Yesletsgo]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 same here obk 😍🤣🤣

Although my goal was to get up to 10 miles ...... but I know what I'm like 😁

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

It's a tricky one I found. I got up to 10 unbelievable miles gradual increases, and some not so gradual, but.... What then? I really don't think I can achieve a hm..so it's back to just trying to build up stamina by running slower...don't get me wrong, I've gone from slow to very slow! Good 🍀

[Hidden in reply to Mormor1]

I am certainly looking forward to achieving what you already have done Mormor1. I am enjoying slowly does it very much indeed 😊

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I'm sure you'll do it Runforjoy.... It's written in your pseudonym!

[Hidden in reply to Mormor1]

😀

[Hidden]

I honestly am not one for plans. I did the C25K, but then I just went on my own. Did not even follow Juju's Magic Plan, I just winged it on my own and that way I reach 60 minutes, then 10K and eventually even an out of the blue 10 miles! But at this moment - to get back into it - I am following something alike C25K but in Flemish. At the moment I like it, I like the fact the woman talks to me through my earbuds and gives me info and tips and such. The app also has plans to reach 10K, HM and marathon I think. Not sure how I'll proceed after I am 'back into the game'.

I do like coach Bennett, he can chatter away and you're suddenly 10 minutes further!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes, CBs chat does get me further both in terms of distance but also learning. I need that...... a lot 😊

[Roxdog Graduate10]

Interesting! I don't do plans, apart from cto5k. I don't have a garmin, I just use strava and try to do my own thing mainly. I sometimes think about plans, but just can't bring myself to use them! 🤔

[Hidden in reply to Roxdog]

Everyone is different arent they. Only yesterday you went off like a spring lamb and frollicked through 9km. That is just wonderful.

At the moment I enjoy listening to Coach Bennett as it keeps me on a leash. I feel as though I really benefit from starting slowly which CB makes me do. I am learning from every run and because of that I am loving my running. Win win. Yay.

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Don't know about frollicked! I survived it well, no aches and pains, but goodness I'm tired today!

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

I'm with you on plans Roxdog ! As I think I've said before, after C25K the only plan I've ever used was for the trail marathon, as I just didn't feel up to winging that. It certainly worked, but drained so much of the joy out of running.

[Roxdog Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Bringing up a family, having a 'responsible' job, planning meals etc - so many plans to sort out! I could do with one area of my life which is off plan! 🤣

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Roxdog]

Nailed it! 🤣

[AndrewJR75 Graduate10]

Hi Hidden , which week are you on? I’m on 8 weeks to go and still loving the variety. I’ve changed the 15 minute recovery run to a 15 minute recovery walk, as I found the 5 runs a little daunting! So at the moment I’m doing

Monday - Speed run

Tuesday - Recovery run (really slow)

Wednesday - Speed run

Thursday - Rest

Friday - Long run…

…then just do the 15 minute walk at some point over the weekend! It seems to work but I’m getting up earlier and earlier every Friday to do the long run before work 😂 15k this Friday!

[Hidden in reply to AndrewJR75]

See you at 4am in the morning 🤣🤣🤣.

You are a few weeks ahead of me. I'm on the 11 weeks to go so glad to hear you are still finding it enjoyable on 8 weeks to go. I must admit that I found the Rundown Intervals tough this morning.

I'm sort of mixing my runs about based on what I have to do in the day - even driving to parkrun flat tracks when I can for speed runs - although today I stayed local as it was very early.

Good luck with your last 8 weeks. Fingers crossed 🤞. Have fun.

[AndrewJR75 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, you too. I did a speed run yesterday called the Shifter which had me regretting some of the weekend over indulgences. The last minute at my celebration’ pace nearly let me some of those indulgences again!

[Hidden in reply to AndrewJR75]

Ha haa. I will remember to lay off the sauce when I see that one coming up then. Great heads up 👍

[hamit Graduate10]

Coach Bennett 👍

[Health2020 Graduate10]

I haven’t got to HM stage yet but you can’t beat a bit of coach Bennett! Enjoy your running!

[GailXrunning]

Well, what can I say? Coach Bennett got me through a monster ‘12k tempo run’ … actually 8k tempo with 4k warmup and cooldown. Smashed so many PBs and lived to tell the tale! And celebrated. And a big shout out for Coach Cory! I doubt I’d be handling paces in the range I currently have without his guidance; I’m so much faster than I was at the start. It’s miraculous. I absolutely love the NRC plan (now in 6 weeks to go stage). I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. My ‘thing’ is best described as ‘mindful’ and ‘naked’ running; and I still absolutely love that too. I now see no conflict between these modes. I think I’ll be even better at doing my own thing because of doing the plan. I interleave the plan with off-plan own-thing, and flex the plan’s schedules to fit life and mood. It really is so flexible; it’s constantly emphasised… a plan is there to be changed and adapted, ‘become your own best coach’.👍😃

[Hidden in reply to GailXrunning]

Oh wow! How inspiring you are Gail. It sounds like you are really smashing it and having loads of fun.

You are a few weeks ahead of me and I have my first tempo run scheduled for tomorrow. This is the first time in the programme that the gremlins have started sticking their heads up. Yikes!!

Well done on your 12 k tempo. Hopefully I will get there too. It sounds so intimidating to me at the moment. Blimey, self doubts appearing. Go away ..... 😅

[GailXrunning in reply to Hidden]

You’re doing brilliantly, too. Definitely brings out the best in us!!! I realised when I went out this morning for the long run that I’m actually in 5 weeks to go (not 6).The fear. I so know that! the word ‘tempo’ does it to me. Every time. I tell myself that I can skip that session; then, having removed the pressure, suddenly decide I might try it (a sunny day helps). Just try; can always stop/slow… what’s to lose? it’ll still be a run, albeit a different one. In reality, the coaching makes the whole thing manageable.

Today’s run was an ‘easy’ 13k. CB went through a section which spoke directly to facing such fears. It made me think about our conversations!

[Hidden in reply to GailXrunning]

How right you turned out to be with your wise words Gail. I smashed it this morning 🥳🥳🏃💥 and feel absolutely brilliant now.

Thank you for your encouragement and you are right . ...... I was afraid of the word "TEMPO" as it brought all the fears of exhaustion back having ran parkruns too fast !!

[GailXrunning in reply to Hidden]

💫🌟💫✨Whoop-whoop!! FABULOUS news!!! Go celebrate that truly amazing and mental barrier-breaking achievement! You’re a star, Hidden 💫🌟💫✨Manageable. Controlled. I think it’s the emphasis on maintaining the controlled effort. It’s the exact opposite of the all-out dash-to-exhaustion experience that still haunts me from school days. And it turns out ‘tempo’ is slower than the geared ‘paces’ we practice. I think I imagined it to be faster!

And, yes, the feeling is just totally ‘sweet’ , as the young ones say… or used to?🤔 Oh, dear, I’m losing track of the decades.😂

[Hidden in reply to GailXrunning]

🤣🤣🤣🤣😁😁😁😁