First Post since graduating

[RiceAndPeas]

Hello everybody. I haven't posted a progress update since completing C25k nearly two weeks ago. I have still been running every other day and loving every moment of it.

In a nutshell, I managed to run 10k in a little over 58 minutes last Monday in the (unforecast) torrential rain. I think the weather conditions were in my favour as it kept me nice and cool and distracted me from how hard I was working.

I did the Bedford Parkrun yesterday whilst visiting my dad and managed to knock over a minute off my first effort to get round in 26:21.

I am truly staggered to be doing such things! I always viewed running as something you did to avoid missing a bus or perhaps to evade pursuers. I'm so happy to have been given a new lease of life, this running bug is so rewarding to get bitten by!

[Annieapple Administrator]

🍏You certainly are enjoying your running! Well done on your PB at parkrun plus hitting the 10k mark. Fantastic achievements. Yes many of us cannot believe how special running is to us as we had never run before C25K! It’s a gift that keeps on giving!

Take a look a look at the Quest!

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

[RiceAndPeas in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks so much Annie, I'm off to look at the Quest next. Yes, running definitely is the gift that keeps on giving. Even when you feel shattered after starting too fast it gives a wonderful lesson in humility! 😀

[Annieapple Administrator in reply to RiceAndPeas]

🍏🤣Now that’s one I have never thought of! Love it!!

[GTFC Graduate10]

This is awesome progress and there's so much more coming your way too. Great to hear you're being so consistent. Big congratulations 👏

[RiceAndPeas in reply to GTFC]

Thanks so much, that is very kind of you! The running community is such a wonderfully inspiring group to be among.

[damienair Administrator]

Wow. Well done you. That is super running and great finish times. Happy running.

[RiceAndPeas in reply to damienair]

Thanks damienair , I am so pleased to be getting outside in the fresh air after being camped on my sofa for 5 years. Always happy running! 😀

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Awesome, 👍 well done ✅

[che130]

Wow! Putting me to shame. I haven't ran at all since graduating - I got back from a week in Gran Canaria yesterday, and I feel I should probably now get back into it and try to regain some of the strength I've lost over the last few weeks of inactivity. You are an inspiration!

[RiceAndPeas in reply to che130]

Thanks che130 , I must confess I would definitely have swapped running in the wind and rain for a week in Gran Canaria! You definitely earned it after finishing C25K now you probably earned the right to go running again after having a great holiday. 😉

[Katnap Graduate10]

Whoa! Outstanding achievements so early after graduating. You'll be posting in the Race Support group next!

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[nowster Graduate10]

58 minutes for 10km? That's astoundingly quick for someone who wasn't running a few months ago.

[RiceAndPeas]

Thanks nowster , I was bike racing for many years up until 2017 and seem to have retained a reasonable level of cardio vascular fitness. It helped that I chose the flattest possible parkrun route too. 😉

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to RiceAndPeas]

My parkrun PB is not that much faster than that, also at a very flat course (Coldham's Common, Cambridge, 26 Aug). 25:55, with no shoes.

And then this weekend I struggled to do Pwllheli parkrun (on sand) in 32:30 (+ 1 minute taking photos).

Yesterday's "low effort" 10km run was 60:38, which is gradually going down compared with previous weeks. I've a long way to go to match my PB for that (52:38 in June 2022).

[RiceAndPeas in reply to nowster]

Running on sand must be such hard work! Terrain seems to be very important. My last run was an hour long on rolling terrain and I only managed 8.6km. I found the hills exhausting, hopefully I'll build more proper running fitness in time and not get quite so destroyed every time the road goes upwards.

Your 10k pb is really impressive, you must have been very pleased with that run.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to RiceAndPeas]

I honestly don't know where that one came from. It must have been a combination of factors.

It's hilly around here. My local parkrun (Chadderton Hall Park) is rated 12th hardest in the UK, just behind Hafan Pwllheli at 11th.

The way to conquer hills is to keep doing them, so you get used to doing them. You'll hear the term "hill repeats" occasionally.