Having graduated at Christmas I've been very good girl and continued running 3 times a week for at least 30 mins. It's been hard as I've been trying to improve pace and distance, just setting myself mini goals each time time. Run an extra minute, run to the end of the next road etc, nothing major. I've hovered between 3.3 and 4.3k. Yesterday I chose a new route, which meant getting in the car and driving there, which in my time poor day is a pain. But it was totally worth it, I listened to the stepping stones podcast but after 30 mins was no where near the car so carried on running. I just thought if I keep going I may get 5k. I didn't get the dreaded stitch I sometimes get, I felt tired but ok. I could see the intended finish line in the distance. Finally, 5 minutes after the warm down walk music had finished, I was there. Quick check of the distance, hoping for that magic 5k and there it was, 5.99k in 41 minutes. So I jumped in the air followed by a victorious double arm raise as if I'd just won the marathon, then sedately returned to the car on my 5 minute warm down walk, grinning from ear to ear and wondering why I thought it had been a good idea to park at the top of hill 🤔
Keep going everyone on weeks 1-9, get well soon all those on the IC, and 'you can do this' to my BFF who has just completed week 2. I'm really proud of you.
Written by
1969alt
Graduate
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Awesomeness! (and we'll deserving of the double-arm pump)! It's weird (and wonderful) when an achievement like that creeps up on you unexpectedly. Fabulous 😊😊😊
Thank you, I hadn't said much to any one about the running but yesterday I 'came out' to my friends on face book. They all think I'm a proper runner now, he he he! 😊
Thank you. Smiling is infectious! Just like this running malarkey 😆
Brilliant well done. You've got a good cunning plan there. sometimes it goes better than the plan.
I run about 6 1/2K now and set small goals to increase time running by about a minute every couple of weeks. My emphasis is on stamina and have built up a buffer whereby I can never set myself up for a bad run. Sorry if I have already posted this to you? I've bored everyone else with my words of "wisdom". Anyway I say to myself "My aim was to get fit and run for 30 minutes. Anything else is a bonus".
I run for about 43 minutes for about 6 1/2 K on 2 runs and run to work 1 day for about 4 1/2 K and I try to experiment occasionally with podcasts and build up my speed. But what I have found is that my speed seems to increase naturally without even trying.
I don't have ambitions for marathons but good luck to anyone who wants to develop their speed and distance but take it steady to avoid injury.
I'm happy with my weight now near normal BMI for me and my physical and mental health. Even taking up studying. so different to the lethargic couch potato I was a year ago.
By the way what is a BFF ? A big furry friend ?? Sorry I'm an old git of 61 !
Great reply. 3 months ago I couldn't run for 30 seconds let alone 30 minutes. I can't believe how beneficial the plan had been for me physically and mentally. I too just wanted to be able to run for 30 minutes without stopping. Now I've acheived that the world is my lobster.
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Tips for hitting 5k?
First 5K run today!
Nowhere near 5k?
First park run, first 5k
5k 
