JogScotland Website information got me slightly down....

[Sofargoner]

So I went a wee internet browse last night and read about the Beginners jogging groups on the JogScotland website. I read the descriptions of the Beginners groups and saw that one of the beginners groups was for people who could jog continuously for 30 mins - i.e. the same as we on C25K will end up being able to do?

I suppose I felt like my balloon was slightly deflated as I feel that when I finish the C25K programme, I'll be on a mountain top, victory will be mine etc - when in reality I will still be a Beginner to JogScotland.

And I happen to think running of any sort at any speed for 30 mins is quite an achievement - I think their intermediate groups are for people who can run (jog) for 60 minutes - AN HOUR!!!!

I dunno if I am super-fragile or something, but I felt a bit down after reading that website.

[jamsammich Graduate]

Everyone in those groups will have been where you are though so don't be down on yourself, come back to this post in a year and tell yourself how you feel!

[Irish-John Graduate]

Celts are different, we eat our own offspring according to some. It's not true of course, but we do have an image to live up to 😉

Seriously though - focus on how "Advanced" you are compared to your Couch pals, but more importantly - do you ENJOY running on some level at least?

That last really is the only part that's worth cherishing, lest the tail starts wagging the dog ☺

[Hidden]

Don't worry about it. I think of the great satisfaction of doing what I thought was impossible running for 5 minutes for regularly doing 30 minutes plus and 6K. you probably feel the same.

I fall somewhere between "Tigger" and "Braveheart" when running now !

[Clawmum Graduate]

well i didn't even know there was a jog scotland website, so I'm off to have a nosey, thanks Sofargoner

[lightweightkate Graduate]

Don't feel down 😬 when you finish C25K believe me victory will be yours and you will be on the mountain top for a while 😀 Loads of people stay at the 3 x 30 mins a week whilst others go on to increase speed and distance - we are all different - be proud of your achievements as they are yours alone x

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

We are but baby runners in the scheme of things when we graduate. You don't have to join them - could just do your own thing.

Any runner is a winner in my running club!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

To put it into perspective, you will have been running for a matter of weeks and covered a few tens of kilometres, in most cases, when you graduate from C25k, so the fact has to be faced, despite your new graduate's belief that you can conquer the world, that you are indeed a very new runner.

Over three years after graduation and with hundreds of kilometres under my feet, I still consider myself a beginner, but it is of course a relative position. You are better off running with folk whose ability matches yours, whatever the name of the group. Pretending to be an intermediate straight after graduation would be truly dispiriting and highly inadvisable.

[Sofargoner Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I wasn't saying that I would pretend to be intermediate. No way, I know my status . I was saying that in the big scheme of things, in a city of inactivity with heart disease and obesity as literal killers, I was just surprised that running for 30 mins without stopping is considered 'beginner'. Feels a bit dispiriting when you have just got off the couch. Would not be expected to be described as Mo Farah or anything; I don't feel I know anyone who can run for 30 mins apart from actual 5 or 10Kers that I know; a tiny proportion of people in my life.

[Fitfor60 Graduate]

I think every Jogscotland leader has slightly different criteria for their group. It could be the one you looked at was a beginners group that had been going a wee while and hence the 30 min. I joined a Jogscotland 2 years ago and could only run about 10- 15 mins without stopping. Our group is now classed as intermediate and our leaders suggest that newcomers should be able to run about 5 k but can have walk break whenever they want. I still can't run much longer than about 20 mins without a wee breather. I can however run quite long distances - very slowly and with breaks whenever I want. I class myself as a plodding tortoise but I get there in the end. I was very nervous when I joined and had emailed leader for couple of weeks beforehand. Best thing I have ever done - apart from c25k of course. Everyone is so friendly and really brings on your running. I'm always the slowest in the group but hey someone's got to be last. What I'm trying to say is contact the leader,have a chat and tell him/ her your fears.

When I first started c25k I never thought I would be able to run but last Sunday this 62 year old Grandma ran her 2nd Great North Run - with lots of walk breaks.

[ench0 Graduate]

There is a certain difference between you running 5K and a marathon, for sure. BUT, there is a world of difference between you and the couch.