Advice please

[Kate07]

Went out at 6 this morning ,did w2d2 struggled with first couple of runs then settled into it and sailed through last run .feeling better but should I be doing the runs with ease before doing the next week ?? Xx

[melly4012 Graduate]

No, not at all. As long as you get through the running parts without stopping to walk (no matter how slow you're going) then you have completed the run. For some people even after graduation it will take them the first 5 or 10 minutes to 'settle' into the run so that's not unusual. At the end of the week most people think 'I couldn't possibly do those runs next week!' - trust me, you can! The programme builds you up gradually so that physically you're ready for that next step. You can always repeat the next run if you can't get through it.

[Kate07 in reply to melly4012]

Thanks I will only repeat if i feel I haven't run ( slowly) all the way through. Hoping I feel better on my last wk 2 run on Thursday , it may be a little cooler 😎😎

[Zev1963 Graduate]

No, that's fine, just stick with the program and listen to Laura

It's a great program, paced really well to push you just hard enough so you improve each week, but not so hard that you loose the motivation to continue.

Most of us find the beggining of our runs hard work. I graduated C25K in Nov 2014, and now run 6km on tuesday and thursday, and 23km on sunday, but even now I still find the first 5 to 10 minutes hard work. Apparently this is normal, as it takes about this long for your body to work out whats happening, and that it needs to distribute more oxygen to your muscles because you are running

Happy Running

[Kate07 in reply to Zev1963]

Amazing 23k I plan todo 5k three times a week 🌞🌞

[Zev1963 Graduate in reply to Kate07]

You have an excellent plan 5km x 3 per week is an excellent idea. I think that level of running is regarded as just about optimum for maintaining your fitness.

There is no real need to run more thanthat for the sake of your fitness.

What I found though, was that a fewweeks after completing C25K I just wanted to running further. I admit it, I'm pretty much adicted to running. Wouldnt have belived that possible before C25K, I thought that I'd hate it, but after the first week of C25K and Laura, I was hooked. Prior to that I'd not run since school, and I hated it then. It just seeed like a way for the teachers to get rid of us, they never came with us. I'm now 53, so it had been a long time. If only the school had done something like C25K then I may have loved running since childhood. Better late than never though.

Happy Running

[Kate07 in reply to Zev1963]

I'm the same as you 53 and never enjoyed running at school , enjoyed rounders netball hockey, just not running . Never thought I'd even try this but felt encouraged by all the postings. I now feel like I've found something I can do even though it's hard . I just think ill be done in 30 minutes and feel so much better. I live close to a canal so run along there which is lovely especially early when it's quiet. I'm determined to complete the course for myself. Still need to loose about a stone but I'm getting there with the help of SW and the lovely people who post advice . 😊X

[RainbowC Graduate]

Well done - on the running and on getting out at 6am! Sounds like you're doing great. As the others have said, as long as you've completed each run then you should be ready to move on. However, there's no medal for finishing in 9 weeks exactly, so if you'd prefer to do an extra one or two before moving on, that's absolutely fine too.

[McFitty Graduate]

The first bit is always the hardest. If you sailed through the last bit then you're way ahead of where I was on week 2! It took me a while to recognise that 'settling into a run' is a real truth. I've found now that after the first 10-12 minutes my body 'gets into it' as it were. Sounds like you're doing amazingly. Just keep it slow and steady, slower even