Hi fellow runners. I've been doing the c25k plan very much at my own pace since January. I'm no athlete and started from an active but not sporty lifestyle. I'm probably older, at 61, than many beginners and have adapted the plan to allow for me being me. I'm quite content to repeat weeks until I am comfortable doing them. I have nothing to prove. I'm on week 5 and have done r2 4 times now. I'm nearly ready for w5r3 but would rather take it slowly than fail to complete it. Learning to pace myself in w3 was the most important thing. Having done that I know I can soon move on to the w5r3 20 minutes.
It's great to read through the encouraging posts here. I'll be popping in quite regularly. See you soon.
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" I'm quite content to repeat weeks until I am comfortable doing them. I have nothing to prove. I'm on week 5 and have done r2 4 times now. I'm nearly ready for w5r3 but would rather take it slowly than fail to complete it. "
DEATH TO THE HERETIC!! UNCLEAN!! UNCLEAN!!
LOL - seriously. I am in awe of your common sense and lack of pointless ego. I wish I had read this when I was working my way to the 5K - It's taken me over a year to reach the level of contentment with my running that you have.
My hat is off to you and wishing you many more contented and happy miles
I'm nearly 61 and started C25K only 3 years ago. I'm now doing sprint triathlons and half marathons. I'm slow but I don't care. Just keep going at what you feel is comfortable but try pushing yourself now and again and you may surprise yourself.
You may be older than some beginners (though others have a few years on you) but you are certainly wiser than many! You're going to enjoy a long and happy running career. Keep sharing it with us!
What a lovely welcome. Thank you all. Whether I get to 5K or not, even if i do no more than I am doing right now, I will have succeeded in my terms. I was active but doing no real exercise - I am now out 3 mornings a week for half an hour of dedicated exercise. That is a result. If I can eventually complete the 5K programme and maybe even take part (I could hardy compete!) in a race, that will be the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.
Well done! I also started as a newbie back in December 2016, at age 71 though! Like you I knew this wasn't ever going to be a 9-week programme for me, especially when it took me 3 weeks to be able to run 1 minute intervals in W1. I persisted, with lots of help and support in this forum, and eventually made it to the end about 28 weeks after I started (several programme restarts included). Don't repeat more than you need - for example it seems clear from what you say that you could do that W5R3 20-minute run already. But yes, repeat if you need to, I certainly did. As for "competing in a race" for someone like me it's more a matter of competing with myself. What I did do, though, and before I'd finished the C25K programme, was take part in a 5K Parkrun: they're all over the UK, super friendly, totally non-scary. I entirely walked my first one and now run part and walk part. No-one minds if you walk, people are still gathered at the end to welcome the tail-enders home at the end. Try one, I'd be surprised if you didn't enjoy the experience. Most of all have fun.
What I do when I am repeating is to "stretch" the run times, perhaps starting it ten seconds before the app says, and continuing until I am exhausted, often with a speeded up finish. I feel that this pushes me a bit and ups my stamina and strength. It also means I don't stagnate at a certain level an am always developing.
Honestly, I wouldn't do variations on the programme and advise you to try to stick to what the programme says. The programme will stretch your run time, it builds up your stamina over a period but gradually so you avoid injury as far as possible. You do get there in the end ... in fact during one of the last sessions in the programme the Laura coach in a podcast said something like "just 10 minutes more to go ... " and I caught myself thinking "well that's OK then ..." Move on through the programme and you won't stagnate!
Interesting, David. From my own experience and success to date, I can't agree with you. I wonder what others have to say.
The programme is offered to all people at all ages and levels of fitness. It cannot, therefore, suit everyone exactly. Had I stuck rigidly to the plan, I woud have failed at week 3. I didn't, I adapted the plan to my needs, at my age and level of fitness, and succeeded.
I'm really interested to hear what others say about this.
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