W9R1 - nearly complete

[SmartinG]

Just finished week 9 Run 1, managed the 30 mins relatively easily, main problem when 30 mins up still 1/2 mile from home so carried on running. Have done all the training to date cross country, I feel my pace is pretty slow, 30 mins running 2.45 Miles. I am a 52 year old male and have really enjoyed the training. How long should it take me to run the 5K or 3 miles..?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you !

Keep it at that relatively easy pace for the next two runs...

The 5K... well, it either comes within the nine weeks, or it doesn't.. for most folk it doesn't... As it is not essential to reach 5K before Graduation.. and just make the 30 minute runs..it is not really a problem.

Some folk after Graduation, as they carry on, find their newly found running legs are building up, getting stronger,they consolidate the 30 minute runs and make the 5K... many just carry on after choosing the way their running journey will go, never make it and have no wish too.

Some of our most awesome runners on here, half marathon and marathon runners, have never done 5K in 30 minutes...

So....this is your journey... my advice, take the next two runs steadily and slowly and see where that takes you... there is no finish line on this running journey! That is the best bit about it

[SmartinG Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I will be out for W9 R2 sometime Wednesday all being well....

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We all have our own times and of course it's an age, speed preference, fitness, terrain conundrum. I have just graduated and am older than you, and just did my first 5k in 38 minutes. But that's an idea, please dont think it's good or bad, it's neither it's just my time...

one wise person here (and there are many) said it takes about a year to get your running legs, so you will speed up post graduation, it's just impossible for us to tell you how much.

I can't remember which of our gurus it was, otherwise I'd credit them...

Slow and steady gets the graduation prize, as it stops you overdoing things. After graduation there are methods to help you attain speed if you fancy being more of a Usain...

congrats on your efforts so far, graduation is but a blink away.

[Runningraspberrydiva Graduate]

I'm at the same point as yourself & haven't quite made 5K yet, still sitting at the 4.4k without the 5 min cooldown walk added in., I'm aiming for a park run in a couple of weeks to complete 5K and get a time I can work on.

You'll get there in your own time, as will all of us. As oldfloss says go slow & steady to finish the program and then work on your speed & stamina after!

Good luck for your last two runs & I look forward to seeing you graduation 👨‍🎓 badge after your name.