Life AFter C25K.....

[forrestg]

I've had a stall this week after graduating last week, I'm looking at sticking with last week for a couple more weeks, just to prove I can actually do it, then I'm going to EITHER: try speed or stamina podcasts while monitoring tomes distances with runkeeper app, OR: do one of the regimes that you can sign up to on runkeeper. These are also all about increasing distance/ speed- with the advantage I use my own music playlists and get to record times and distances for future reference. Either way, I will decide in another couple of weeks.

Just want to say what everybody else has said on here- I NEVER expected to run, I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would. I like tinkering with tecnology also, which means I get the chance to get playlists together and mess about with my phone..but 30 minutes running? Its not fast and its certainly not pretty, but its my effort that has me here now.

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

Personally, I need something with a bit of structure in it. But we are lucky that there are a myriad number of programmes out there that offer us such structure. But there are other ways to challenge ourselves -- for example, instead of trying to run a 5K as fast as you can, try running it as slowly as you can!!! -- you will be surprised how difficult that is. Try to run a 5K in such a way that you arrive at the end with sufficient energy to do it all again. Search out 5K Parkruns which are in particularly difficult geographic positions - I have run in some that are dead flat -- but others have killer hills.

[Tadaruns Graduate]

Hi, I think I completed c25k about same time as you, maybe week before, and I also feel a little 'at sea'. I don't feel ready to start a c210k programme yet but I work best with a set plan.

I had a rubbish first week (in terms of running!) after graduating as it coincided with Easter holidays and I couldn't get out. Final run was April 6, then ran on April 9, then it was April 14... Have run more since as husband was also off second week so I had freedom to run whenever... So last week I ran with stepping stones, my own music and my husband's (as my iPod wasn't working - won't be repeating that experience as I couldn't wait for that to end...!) Enjoyed my own music best but did like having the 'instructions' of the stepping stones. However, think I could easily tire of that podcast!

I am doing a race for life in May so have that to head for. Generally I'm still undecided whether to run to increase speed over 5k or to increase distance and forget speed! And then there's the question of should I try other podcasts like audiofuel or run to own music or c25k+..... Guess we will just have to work out what suits us best. It's early days and we are each our own runner - trial and error for now to see what suits us. But I think we definitely need goals after c25k!!

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

I think it is what is most important to you as an individual. For me, although I have no objections to running 5K in a faster time, I am not sure that it matters to me whether I can say ( to myself) "I can run 5ks in x,y or z minutes" What is important is that I can say ""I CAN RUN 5K's!".. But I would like to be able to say -- I can run 6 K's 7,Ks , maybe 10Ks , etc

[Tadaruns Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

Agreed. Because people generally ask me how far I usually run, not how long for - and I do like being able to say 5k... And I can now manage 5.7 so I think my next challenge is to beat that so I can say 6k! Plus I'm sure you told me before Bazza - and a few others have also said the same - that the way to get faster is to run for longer... I think 10k is achievable at some point but not sure I could ever enjoy running further than that. Though never say never (ignore the fact I just did - twice!)

[forrestg Graduate]

I totally agree with you on this one, speed isn't important to me as much as having the stamina - To either keep going, or feel like I could at the end of a 5k run.

My goal, if you will, is half marathon distances. I don't expect to see this for quite some time, though I have been inspired by some of the comments on this forum of how people have managed to acheive a lot in short spaces of time.

For me, for now, I intend to hone my style / stamina / speed - delete as is appropriate to you, I'm sure that by continuing on with 30m runs for a few more weeks, all these things will start to drop in place.

Regarding having structure, Runkeeper app is looking good for me at the minute, when I have gotten into it in a couple of weeks, I will report back to you folks, but you can choose what you are wanting to work towards, be it 5k 10k 13ml or even the lofty heights of 26ml- fat loss, speed, stamina, or prep for a race.There are structured routines that you have to follow on given dates, which is a way of fixing yourself to a commitment I guess. If you miss a session, you mark it on the app's calendar as missed, no swapping days. Might be a little too rigid a regime for some, I myself swap days at the moment for work and home life, but I will giving this a go and reporting back.

[Tadaruns Graduate in reply to forrestg]

Would be good to hear what you think of run keeper. Not sure about the 'no swapping' days either - I change days/times of runs quite a lot but I do like to know what I'll be doing for a run before I go out...