Beginning the challenge

[Alfenne]

Just done my second ever run! Proud of myself but can't imagine being able to run 5 K! Any inspiration welcome

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Glad you've joined us and congratulations on your runs. Keep it slow and steady and you'll be just fine. I remember 60 seconds feeling unmanageable, but trust in the program and you'll get to 5k in no time. The very first run is the hardest and you've knocked that out of the park.

[Alfenne in reply to runswithdogs]

Thank you for the kind words. 🙂

[Irish-John Graduate]

Because of a lot of physical factors my dream was to get as far as Week three and just maybe a day or two of Week four when I started June 1st last year.

Did my first 10K a couple of weeks ago. Ran it without stopping.

This programme does the impossible and the people here run with you every step of the way

[Alfenne in reply to Irish-John]

Thank you for the kind words 🙂

[wez70 Graduate]

None of us could I think it's fair to say! As a lifelong non runner I started this programme in November 2015 and could not believe it when I found myself running for 20 minutes at a time, then longer then graduating so well done for starting up but as people say, slow, steady and focus on building stamina not time. You will get quicker over the months following graduation but the key now is to build the ability to sustain your runs and find what pattern of training works for you. Trust the programme completely and keep us posted, we're all here to cheer you on

[Alfenne in reply to wez70]

Thank you for replying 🙂

[McFitty Graduate]

I remember thinking that - 5k, no way! I couldn't imagine it ever being possible - but it is. Many of us have taken longer than the prescribed 9 weeks to complete the programme, many have graduated with distances well under 5k but we were all able to run for 30 minutes non stop by the end of the programme and that should really be your aim.

So glad you've found this forum. It's the best place for inspiration, advice, fun and friendship and everyone on it will be cheering you on, every step of the way 😊

[Alfenne in reply to McFitty]

Thank you for the kind words

[cja3180 Graduate]

I'm with McFitty, forget 5K and focus on getting to 30 mins. When I started the longer C25K runs I got hung up on pace, was I running fast enough for a 30 min 5K? Did me no favours at all, just meant I ran out of steam before the end as I was running too fast. Oh and when you can run for 30 mins you'll find that if you need to run for a bit longer to reach a self imposed 5K goal you'll be able to, honest.

[Alfenne in reply to cja3180]

I'm sure I'll get there thank you for the kind words