Not a fluke -- I *can* run 25 minutes!

[gazelle2B]

I've just finished W7R2, which is the third 25-minute run in the C25K programme, so I know I can do 25 minutes now and it's repeatable! Hurray!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Yeay! Well done you... onward and upward

[gazelle2B Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss, I still can't quite believe that just a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure I could run for 8 minutes! This programme WORKS!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to gazelle2B]

It blooming well does!!! Go you!

[Michlou65 Graduate in reply to gazelle2B]

Totally agree. Cannot believe I struggled with 1 minute and am now up to 20 mins (thinking things like 'ok just 4 mins left'). Loving this.

[JenRunsSlow]

Wow good for you! You'll be able to run a 5k in no time!

[gazelle2B Graduate in reply to JenRunsSlow]

Ha, JenRunsSlow! I doubt I'll ever be able to run a 5k *in no time*! Maybe with a time machine?? Anyway, thanks for the encouragement. I will be deliriously happy when I can run that far. x

[davelinks Graduate]

Well done!

You need to get to 30 mins first and consolidate those runs before working your way on to 5k, it'll happen, in time! There's no rush!😊

[resolution Graduate in reply to davelinks]

What do you mean exactly by 'consolidating' them?

[Rignold in reply to resolution]

do them again and again so they are well within your capacity.

[resolution Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I guess I should have made my question more clear - is there a schedule to follow after c25k to consolidate and increase speed?

[Rignold in reply to resolution]

Consolidating is not about increasing speed. Consolidating is about consolidating. arrying on doing the same legth of run at the same speed to build a strong base BEFORE starting to work on increasing speed/distance.

Yes, there are plenty of plans to get fasterrun further. There are NHS Speed and stamina podcasts like C25k but the whole point is to consolidate before tackling those. Your leg muscles and lungs adapt well to getting you to 30 minutes in 9 weeks but your musculo-skeletal and neuro-muscular systems take time to catch up, hence the common advice to consolidate, so as to avoid injury.

[resolution Graduate in reply to Rignold]

That makes sense, thanks for explaining

[gazelle2B Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Thanks for the very clear and considered advice, Rignold. Making sure l'm solid at 30 minutes before upping the distance makes good sense.

[gazelle2B Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thanks davelinks, some very sensible advice!

[davelinks Graduate]

At least someone made sense of what I said! 😁

Hmmm, consolidating needs a lot of explanation! the word dictionary springs to mind?!😊

[Ruthiella Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Sorry to be a pain. Am thinking ahead to end of programme. If I continue doing the Week 9 programme (as which is what I'm planning) once I graduate, I'm guessing this will effectively consolidate in the way you describe. Have I understood correctly??

[davelinks Graduate]

No your not a pain, but yes, that's correct, your constantly running for 30mins, so you can keep doing the w9 workout and keep doing that 3 times a week for a while, then eventually you may want to lengthen the run by a few minutes building toward 5k, if you want to..