Hi, I graduated last week (Hooray!) and went out last night for my 2nd post graduation run. Well, up to the end of C25K, I was reaching 3.8km in the 30 minutes, 1st post grad run, reached 4km, then last night got to 4km in the 30minutes, still felt pretty good, and wanted to carry on, and just see if I could reached the magical 5km, and guess what! I did!!!! Ok, according to my Garmin to took 40 minutes and 44 seconds, at a 8.09 pace, but I did it!!!! I felt amazing!!!! Then suddenly remembered that on this forum it is suggested that you only increase your run times by 10% each week! Obviously, I'd gone a long way above that! Should I continue to try and hit 5km when I feel comfortable enough to, or should I go back to my 30 minute runs, and gradually work up?
Any advice welcome! (got day off work today, so also going to get by gait analysised!)
Written by
mand3966
Graduate
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My advice would be to steady on 4 km for a week or two. This will help your body adjust to running that distance as 'the norm'. Then there are several options to you.
Firstly start the C25K again. But this time jog rather than walk. But when Laura informs you to run, you pick up the pace to a faster jog/run. I would start at week 1 day 3 and if that is easy, then you can make a decision as to which run you will do next.
Alternatively find an app like Endomondo where you can create your own intervals (I can explain how to do this). But basically a good way to increase your speed is through interval training.
Well done!! I know a lot of people push for that 5k on their graduation run (me included), consider it a one off and then go back to consolidating 30 minute runs for a while. I'd suggest doing that and building up from then. With a few weeks of 30 minute runs and then a couple of added minutes a week you'll probably be running 5k regularly in perhaps a month and a half or two months. Not worth getting injured and having to spend that two months on the IC instead. Others may offer different advice but that's what I would suggest.
Just listen to your body, both during and after your runs. If you're aching too much then slow it down a bit. For the time being why not consolidate with 4-5km runs at a steady, easy pace... once you know you're comfortable running 5km, why not give the Couch 2 5K+ podcast Stepping Stone a try?
Thanks for all the replies.... looks like I'll keep at the 4km range for a few more weeks, and then either try the Stepping Stone pod cast, or back to C25K as Fat_stab mentioned (not sure if I can stomach the music that comes along with the lovely Laura though for a 2nd time!!!)
I'd say it's ok to do 5K but not every time. The 10% rule applies to your overall weekly mileage, so if you push up to 5K one day, do a shorter run the next few times. There's joy to be had in a short run! Or as Simon say, try the +podcasts
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your name keeps autocorrecting to jelly!!)
Graduated! 5km in 37:39
First 5km and numpty tourists!
Finally ran 5km after 15 months! 
Couch to 5km reinvented
