It is three years now since I did C25K and I have had lots of ups and downs since then: two house moves, like everyone else lockdowns, intermittent health problems. It has seemed that every time I picked myself up I got knocked aside by something again. But I have kept going. I have run 10k twice (that was hard!!) and got to the stage several times of 5k seeming quite easy which I would never have believed. After the latest house move from a rental into a new house which we have had built it was time to get back to 5k and running three times a week again.
I have been quite an "I know what I like" person. I like slow runs. I like running without music, just me and the sounds around me. I didn't fancy intervals or being talked to. But over the last few weeks I have kept reading on here about NRC and Coach Bennett and new training programmes and I started to wonder if I had got too set in my ways. Was I missing something? Yes I liked to run and could not imagine stopping but it was a while since I had experienced that lovely high from a run. I thought after all this time I probably could run on consecutive days and that it might be interesting. I thought it would be good to follow a programme and it was time to give myself a shake up and do something new.
So I chose an NRC training plan to take you to 5k in eight weeks. I have no idea whether this was a sensible idea or not but I thought I would jump in at the half way point and see how I got on. I am not used to running 5 times a week. I am not used to running intervals but I am used to running 5k. I thought I would give it a go and see if I liked it.
Well I am halfway through my first week and I love it! I have just done run three with speed work and I am buzzing! It is so much fun to mix it up and such a surprise to find that I can run fast (for me!) and that running to Coach Bennett's instructions is actually really inspiring. It reminded me of C25K and just trusting myself to Jo Whiley and doing it, whether I thought I could or not! I am really looking forward to tomorrow's recovery run and knowing that another speed run is coming up soon is great. Who would have thought it?
Thanks to all who have posted on here about NRC and Coach Bennett and given me the push I needed to try something new. Loved it, loved it, loved it!
Written by
Gwenllian1
Graduate10
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The app is just super isn’t it! It got me out of a bit of a rut after graduating, getting to 10k and then not really knowing what to do next. The variety in the runs is brilliant. So far, “runner up”, a hill interval workout, is my favourite which I never would have predicted. It’s too hard to choose one! I love the Coach B recovery runs too. The “running towards your goals” one yesterday was excellent.
I’m doing the half marathon plan. I’m sure we’ll do a lot of the same runs. Enjoy!
Thank you! I don't think I will ever do an half marathon but never say never! When I first ran 5k I was quite sure that it was my limit! Still haven't got really comfortable with longer distances, about 7k seems to my limit, but with the help of coach Bennett who knows?!
I was mainly following that programme because I wanted something convenient I could click on and not have to choose the runs individually!! So basically laziness… I didn’t start it with the intention of actually running a HM and was going to cut short/skip all the very long runs. Then, after a particularly fun run I went a bit giddy goat and entered the Bath half marathon in October. Oops! A target is good for me I suppose!
Most runs on the HM plan are 15-40 minutes, probably 30 minutes on average, with lots of variety so you could definitely have a good experience with it without going beyond 7k. Might be worth thinking about once you’ve finished the one you’re doing.
Enjoy the 5k plan. It sounds like you’ve found something perfect for where you are right now.
Yes of course you're right! I think I'd got so fixated on the idea of always taking rest days between runs that it was quite a revelation to realise I could run more frequently now that I've been running for a while. I'll see how it goes. There will be quite a few weeks when I'd struggle to run five times but I'll give it a go if I feel good!
Right. That's it. I was saving looking at the NRC runs until after consolidation, but now I'm going to download it and see what all the fuss is about! 🏃
I would certainly advise consolidating before pushing forward with distance and not running on consecutive days at this stage, but there are many guided runs on the NRC app that are not part of any particular plan .Definitely worth a download and have a look 😁
Excellent! The recovery/easy runs are similar to the end of c25k runs-essentially they’re relaxed runs for a certain amount of time. I’d definitely go with those first. There’s one which is actually just called “Easy run” lasting 25 minutes that would be great to start with. The “just a run” one is 30 minutes and another good one. “Tough day, easy run” is a shorter 20 minute one and super if you’ve had any sort of toughness in your day! If there’s anything over 30 minutes you like the sound of, you could walk for the end bit. Don’t be tempted to keep running-you don’t want an injury.
It’s useful to know that the audio guides don’t include a warm up walk or cool down so don’t forget to do those. It took me a while to get used to the app-I don’t think it’s all that intuitive and also it sometimes takes a couple of gos to get my music playing properly. It’s worth persevering with though.
Thank you for the tips. I've downloaded the app so will have a look this evening. Just got back from my second consolidation run now, which was uneventful. I have been very cautious so far so won't be tempted to do too much 😊
Fantastic, well done! 👏👏👏👏 I absolutely love the NRC plans, they've made such a difference and they challenge me to push myself in ways I never would have otherwise 😃 thank you so much for posting this, I've been struggling with the motivation to get out there but you've made me remember how much I enjoy running to those NRC guided runs and I have every intention of going out later today for the first time in what feels like ages! (it's more like a fortnight) 😊
Hmmmm. Nice to have you back but... i am getting very worried that CB is spreading himself too thinly! :)I discovered him a few weeks back after reading about his choice of runs... and the personal touch !
Huge well done you! Glad you are fully recovered too!
I was thinking as I ran that it is quite a skill of his to provide the commentary which really makes you feel he is connecting with you (and me and all of us)! What a man!
I'm so glad I got over my "I don't know much about running but I know what I like" approach! Definitely wouldn't have done it without seeing others on this forum singing the praises of the nrc and coach Bennett.
You were one of the people who inspired me to have a go! So glad I did. I find myself really looking forward to the next one in a way I haven't for ages so thank you!
Another one vying for the attentions of Coach B 😂😂I love long slow runs too, usually listening to music or my audio book, but I love an interval run too. There’s something childlike about running as fast as you can but I also like the resting bits 😂 to get my breath back. NRC is great for adding variety. Try Coach Cory some time. He’s luuuvly 😍.
Another app to add variety is Zombie Run 🧟♀️ 🧟♂️. It’s like running intervals but with Zombies chasing you. It’s good fun!
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4 days in, New Year's resolutions holding
Come in Number 7191 Your Time Is Up And Its A New 10k PB ! 
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