Week 7 Run 3 - three years on....

[Duddles]

I did Couch to 5k three years ago - aged 68 - and for Week 7 Run 3, did 5.4k in the 35 minutes. I finished the 9 weeks of Couch, and sort of gave up running and went back to my plodding version of race walking. So to get running again I started Couch from scratch again this summer, and have just done Week 7 Run 3 again yesterday, and I managed exactly the same distance as 2014 - 5.4k in the 35 minutes dictated by Laura. I was about to give up after week 5, and then I found this Forum and it really has given me the incentive to keep going. Finding people on the same 'rung' and reading their stories has given me the encouragement to keep up and keep on.

Yesterday was the first time I felt at all comfortable on a long run, so I am going to have a fourth go at 7(3) - partly to try to get further than 5.4k, but mostly to give me confidence to tackle the dreads of Week 8.

Thanks to all for their inspirational stories....

[DawnRun]

Good going, and a nice time too.

[Hidden]

Hey you're doing brilliantly and don't beat yourself up on distance the programme is really more about time - very few of us reach the 5k even by graduation.

You're building stamina and putting kms in the bank, all will hold you in good stead for speed development later on.

Well done you on staying focussed and getting this far.

[Duddles Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for replying. I have been doing racewalking for years in a clumsy farmer stride type way, and my warm up and warm down walks are usually at about 8.5k, a bit over 5mph so I get more distance in that way. Years of being dictated to by that nagging Garmin watch mean that I am always looking to 'improve'. I know that the whole point of Couch is to just get out there and off the couch, but old habits die hard. I can walk 5k in just over 30 minutes, but running seems so much harder, even at a similar pace. Off later to do a fourth 7(3) but if I feel OK it might turn into 8(1). I really do think that without finding this forum I may have given up around week 5 as things got harder.

[Hidden in reply to Duddles]

Hey we all battle against the comparison mentality, but actually a couple of my best runs post graduation were when actually the technology fluffed or rather I did.... and then I had no data to get upset about!

Good luck for whichever run you decide the next one is going to be whether W7 or W8...

[Duddles Graduate in reply to Hidden]

In my race walk training, I used to have a radio in my ears, usually Radio 4 rather than music. I belatedly found that when I stopped using the radio and just concentrated on walking, that my speed automatically increased so I no longer use that 'technology'. However I find the Garmin great at nagging me to keep up the pace - walking I try to keep up with 11 minute miles, which puts me in good stead for 10k walking races I compete in. The big shift is to try to keep 'running' separate from the competitive walking, and just get out there and enjoy the running for its own sake. Did you manage to keep running after graduating? I did 'graduate' three years ago, but immediately stopped running.

[Hidden in reply to Duddles]

Running 3 times a week, except I've just pulled a muscle in my back and have shooting pains, so was meant to run yesterday and didn't and can't do it today because of the pain. But it is lessening so am hopeful for a run tomorrow or Sunday.

But to carry on I set up diary reminders like you used to get on the podcast. Get my running gear out and in view so I don't ignore it. Oh and I started writing a running blog too - jancanrun.com - it's not a commercial thing - I do it because if I run I have something to write about, and if I am writing I need to do the running...

This is my recipe for keeping going, for me it's all about laying down some personal commitments... But I won't say it's easy, I think it takes about a year to really find your running legs, and for some a year to start enjoying it too...

Some runs I adore, others are 'meh'... that's life too I guess

[Duddles Graduate]

I've enjoyed reading your blog - sounds a happy way of life, running in Italy. I used to race walk train around the walls of Lucca a few years ago, and that would make a great running route. How do you get the alerts/reminders from Mr. Smooth etc? I just downloaded the Laura podcasts onto a little iPod so there are no fripperies. There seem to be more advanced ways of doing things. Anyway, your blog was a great jealousy inducing read, and actually help inspire me to get out cycling again as well.

[Duddles Graduate in reply to Duddles]

And... re Cavendish Hill - for info of Mr JCR, Mark comes from, and lives in my home village (as well as Tuscany and Essex) and as a junior played football for our village - Laxey - team. Because of the hills and headwinds here we produce a disproportionate number of top cyclists - I think we have about six at the moment in the GB Squad and have gold and silver postboxes yards away from where I live, thanks to Olympic efforts of Cav and Peter Kennaugh. Cycling is huge here. I was out yesterday for a ride, and saw hundreds of others out, a bit like being in Tuscany. Racewalking is a big sport here as well - like you, we have lots of hills, but instead of your heat and sun we make do with rain and headwinds. Going to start Week 8 this week, not really looking forward to it but your blog and this forum's posts are really helping.