Back to the start.

[wannanewme]

I recently graduated C25K and have been looking for the next challenge, I thought I'd gradually build up my speed and aim for 5k in 30 minutes, but then my daughter said she'd like to do the programme and a new challenge presented itself. I've been running on the treadmill so far and thought I'd like to get outside to make it more interesting, so I decided to run with her, right from the start, getting myself used to being in the open air, gradual inclines and ground that doesn't helpfully move beneath my feet encouraging me along. To make sure that I don't lose the fitness I've gained I decided to do my own 30 minute run first followed by whichever podcast my daughter is up to. "Right," I said to daughter, "You have the ipod and set the pace and I'll just do what you're doing to keep you company." I thought it would be easy, after all, I can run for 30 minutes now without expiring, so intervals of 60 seconds should be a breeze, right? WRONG!! Daughter is fitter than I thought and set off at a cracking pace. "She'll slow down," I thought. WRONG!! She managed to do all her intervals at super speed (or so it seemed to me). "Never mind," thought I, "I can do the burst of speed thing at the end of my own runs, I can keep up." WRONG!! In the end, I did the 60 seconds at my own pace, or rather, faster than my own pace, but less quickly than daughter. Oh, the shame! Graduate me with my shiny green badge can't keep up with week 1, run 1 newbie. So there's the challenge - start again from scratch at daughter's pace - that should improve my running times!

[RainbowC Graduate]

LOL! I've just started from the beginning again with a friend, as well as trying to do a 'proper' run(!) at least twice a week. Yeah. Not quite as easy as it sounds! Fortunately for me, she's not quite as speedy as your daughter sounds to be - but it bothers me that even in week 2, I seem to be more out of breath than her! Ah well, our poor little legs will work out what they're doing at some point, and then we'll truly be gazelles...

[wannanewme Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

Thanks RainbowC. I love the idea of being a gazelle!

[Sarah-A Graduate]

Did you improve your pace after the end of the course?

I graduated the C25K last year and after a lapse I'm starting the programme again with newbies (my sister and best friend). Don't think they are fit as your daughter - but a bit anxious to see how it goes with three of us running together.....