Newbie week 1

[mommalunn]

Hi Just on week 1.Did my second run today full on wind felt I was going no where. Wanted I was wondering it says take it slow. How slow is slow? I can walk quite fast my jogging seems slower. Also how big should your steps be ? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Celtprof Graduate]

Hi! It's totally fine to feel as if you could walk faster than you run. It's only a light jog that you are aiming for. I'm coming up towards week 5 and couldn't possibly have imagined I'd make it this far as in week one I thought I might collapse. The aim is to complete each run- no matter how slowly you actually jog! Well done for getting stuck in. You won't regret it.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Celtprof]

Slow as can be, and short steps. Don't be tempted to stride out.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Hi Mommalunn. Well done for starting the program...

Take it very slow and steady. Keep your body upright and look ahead. Don't worry about your breathing just concentrate on finishing each run segment. Small steps.

Listen to the advice Laura gives you and you will be amazed how much you improve as you move through the program.

Good luck and let us know how you are getting on.

[Madcow62]

My jogging was slower than my walking until around week 4 when I hit my natural rhythm.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Go you and with wind too!

Slow is, as slow as you like.. take it at your pace.. you will find that you may speed up, or not, as the programme follows through.

It is about stamina not speed or distance. Enjoy the journey and take it slow and steady!

[Londonred Graduate]

When I started it was more like an awkward shuffle! Definitely more about stamina than speed.

Good luck.

[miss_august Graduate]

I'm super slow, don't worry! At the moment as I have just started too my focus is on keeping going for the whole time rather than being quick. I am guessing speed comes as you get more experienced.

[mommalunn]

Thank you everyone for your comments. It's great to know that there's people willing to offer advise and support

[jt24 Graduate in reply to mommalunn]

This has been a brilliant forum.

You should absolutely not worry about figures, it's only relevant to your own performance, but, to highlight the comparison using mine...

I started week 1 and could not even complete a 60 second run so I went off, upped my walking mph and came back 2 weeks later.

I can walk for around 5-6 miles at around 3.8-4.1 mph on a good day.

On c25k I started walking at 3.8 and snail plodded at 4.3- barely more than my walking pace. I plod on the flattest tarmac'ed leisure paths round about!

I've just finished week 5 and my speed is overall a little faster now but at times has definitely been slower than my walking. It's a change of gait and motion though so it's still 'running'.

The most important thing is to complete every section of every run and I have found the only way to do that is to be s l o w at times.

Someone posted to me that it would be better to run on the spot for the allocated time than stopping so bear it in mind

Good luck, keep going x

I now write after each run, I want to 'evidence' my improvement to myself and be able to re-read if I'm having a bad day!