Omg, I'm on Week 6! I can't believe it. I really can't believe it. For the past couple years I've tried out different health related fixes. Like a 30 Day Abs Guns and Buns Challenge, 21 Day Escape Your Shape, 21 Day Sugar Detox. But I could never finish them. Usually around day 14 I would get bored and quit. I started this program thinking the same thing would happen, but it didn't! For some reason, I keep going. And believe me, I hate running. Each time I'm on the jogging portion, I'm silently cursing this program, but I keep going. Go me!
And last night, I was doing W5R3, and I thought I was gonna die. My calves were on fire about 10 minutes in. My husband was riding his bike next to me and he's all "Concentrate on your breathing, that's why your legs hurt." But I couldn't concentrate on my breathing. All that was doing was drawing attention to the pain in my legs. So I decided to name all the characters in Grey's Anatomy and how they died or left the show and that kept me going so long that I missed the little voice telling me that I finished the running portion and to start my cool down. So I actually jogged 22 minutes instead of 20. Go me!
So now comes my question about pace. A coworker of mine says on average, people can run 3 miles in 30 minutes. And that's the pace that is on C25K. In 30 minutes you finished a 5K. But I checked the health app on my phone, the one that tracks how much activity I do, and it said I did 58 minutes of WALKING. Walking, not jogging or running. Husband says I'm not going fast enough for my phone to notice a difference from my walking pace. So could it be that even though I do the whole final workout and jog 30 minutes, I'm not actually running a 5k? Is there an app or pedometer that anyone can suggest that will accurately track my pace/kilometers?
I'd like to know I'm actually doing a 5K before I really sign up for one.
I can't believe I'm still doing this program. I'm so proud of myself.
Here goes Week 6!
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Sodaonthesofa
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Ah the 30 minutes/5k thing again.....I graduated more than two years ago, I have never managed to run 5k in 30 minutes although I have completed 95 parkruns (all 5k) many training 5ks and done several 10k events. The point of the programme is that if you can run for 30 minutes you can very probably run 5k even if it takes you longer than 30 minutes.
You sound as if you're doing absolutely fine so don't get hung up on speed, and BE proud you're doing a good thing for your health and wellbeing....
Don't worry I started C25K in about March/April Finished week 9 30 minutes running about ?June. Now run 6K+ and 40 minutes plus. Still never run 5K in 30 minutes. About week 9 think took 30 minutes to do about 4K or thereabouts.
You know When David Walliams in that TV program played the lady who says "The computer Says No" well apps aren't as clever as all that. There are no "Running Style Police" or "Spanish Inquisition" on this site. In fact my running can be slower than walking and my walking stride can be longer than my short running strides.
I cycle regularly I know how difficult it is to go slow on it. If you can keep up with your husband on a bike you could be going too fast ! On here as you get through the programme if having difficulty we will say It doesn't matter what speed you are doing now go slower. Even if you feel need to walk and run later. At least compared to the couch you are getting out the door.
The aim is as others say to build up your stamina. sometimes my runs are a bit slower than others. What I have found that having done 6K or 40 minutes (ignore the distance) When doing 5K or 30 minutes it is like a "Walk in the park" because of stamina built up. so I never set myself up for a bad run.
Remember you are only working towards your own goals. If need be repeat weeks and youll find the next stage easier. Like I used to say to my Old boss when told me to jump and needed something yesterday I didn't say "How high should I jump" I said "Where's the fire.
I know your husband is trying to help but perhaps you should ask him to run with you. As the saying goes, appropriately for C25K, "You need to walk a mile in another mans shoes". Or Womans !!
Well, I would probably have given up if I had to listen to such advice as your co-worker. And as for having someone cycling alongside, well that would not have motivated me at all.
Listen instead to the people on this forum, we have all been through it (or are still working their way through the programme ) and understand what is involved.
And don't worry about the 30 minute 5K. You will find your own level, and you will be proud of yourself and your achievements.
Agree with the above. The pace you are going at and succeeding at IS the right pace. You ran for over 20 minutes non-stop. That's something to celebrate and be proud of..😊 The plan is called c25k but its really about getting to 30 minutes... don't worry about your distances yet, thats something to work on later Agree get hubby off his bike and try running for 3 minutes!
Oh I'm so glad all of you told me the same thing. I really did think I was supposed to run a 5K in 30 minutes. Nice to know I'm sticking with the majority of the group. Now I can just focus on making it the full 30 minutes without stopping.
I actually enjoy having my husband ride his bike alongside me. He has had some knee trouble in the past and can't really take the impact of running anymore. But he can leisurely ride his bike next to me. He also helps as a bit of a distraction from the burning in my legs. He keeps me thinking of something else. And I think he likes to ride alongside me so he can catch Pokémon and hatch the eggs.
I too, catch Pokémon and hatch eggs while I run. If I didn't, I could have music playing to distract me, but the pokemon game blocks out the sound. :/
Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm excited to start Week 6 now. Yay! Go me!
I managed to do a 5k in under 30 minutes once. But it might have just been a GPS blip. I've been running two years. Maybe once you graduate you'll find out you're a speed demon and want to practice getting faster. Or maybe you don't care and will never hit that 30 minute mark. It's no big deal. At all our races we have people coming in at 15 minutes for a 5k, all the way to an hour. Whatever your current pace is, it's the right one.
Your co-worker doesn't have her facts right. The majority of people can't run 3 miles at all, let alone in 30 minutes. One of the great things about C25k is that it gets us to a stage where we can run 3 miles and we can run for 30 minutes, just not both at once for most of us. Still takes me at least just under 40 minutes to do 5k - not sure I'll ever manage under 30!
Lol, I guess I should have mentioned it earlier. I work in an office with a lot of ex-military. Everyone who has given me advice about running was ex-Army or Marine. They're out of shape now, but I guess they're thinking about how fast they were when they were in shape.
Don't worry about pace while on c25k! That's not what it's about! If you carry on the way your going you'll probably end up injured, sounds like your trying to go too fast anyway! hence the pain, just listen properly to the programme and follow it, not your husband! c25k has been specially devised by experts to build up the running SLOWLY, so slow down! It's not a race!😊
And you sure are displaying the dedication and tenacity of a real runner in your post, so in my book we need to start preparing to receive a Graduate soon
By the way. Imho you don't need an app pedometer thing. You could do with a stick though....just introduce it to your dear husbands bicycle spokes and then he can run also
Seriously though, trying to pace relative to a bike rider sounds like real hardship to me, just run your own pace
Okay, I can and regularly have run 5k in under 30 minutes........Mo Farah runs 5k in under 14 minutes.........we are all different and have to accept that our current pace is what it is. I am hoping to run again this weekend after a two month injury layoff. My pace will be way below my previous averages and a mile away from any PBs. I don't expect to run 5k in under 30 minutes for quite some time.
The difference between walking and jogging/running is that when you run, for each step you take there is a period of time when both of your feet are off the ground - just like you're performing a series of leaps. Did that make you feel knackered just reading it? It may be only a very brief period, and your feet may not be very far off the ground, but if that short leap is there each step, you are not walking my friend!
If you stay sitting on the sofa you will never get 5k completed nevermind in 30mins!
What I love about running is that every runner you see has their own story, their own reason for running, their own challenges and their own goals.
I never aim to beat Mo Farrah's time, however, I would like to complete a marathon. (Note: complete not do in any particular time).
I applaud anyone who is out their and doing it their way, the runners that inspire me at events are very often not at the front (I tend not to see them after 30seconds anyway) but the ones at the back that are pushing through the pain, the anguish and whatever is challenging them just to get across the line. I very often wait after I finish, getting cold and often wet, just to cheer those people home, they are the heroes of races in my mind.
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OMG I did it run 3 of week 5 
Talk to me about Pace 
Week 6, Run 2 - not sure I believe it
Week 9r2/3 omg that's a GRADUATION 🎉🎉🎉🎉
OMG Week 9, Run 3 Done
