FROM GRADUATION HALT TO A MOTIVATED Mind πŸ€— - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

134,190 membersβ€’159,536 posts

FROM GRADUATION HALT TO A MOTIVATED Mind πŸ€—

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduate
β€’34 Replies

Morning my little cosy extended family of friends. I've lost touch with my running over the last 2 weeks, since my first personal park run. It's a pain when daily life gets in the way and no matter how hard you try, time will not permit and there isn't much we can do about it sometimes.

Since my graduation, I still kept running for the 30 minutes, but felt somewhat rejected, not being able to listen to Laura's voice. Like many on here, I felt I'd lost touch and I felt a huge slump after graduating.

For me, I need a push and motivation. So oooo, I've had a look around on the Internet and noticed via the NHS site that I could try the stretching and flexing podcast. I've viewed the videos for these, as Laura demonstrates the exercises. I thought this would be good as my next starting point.

Then, I discovered the very clever C25K+, which involves 3 podcasts for after graduation.

1. This is called STEPPING STONE and involves a 35 minute continuous run designed for recent C25K Graduates.

2. This is called SPEED and involves 16 minutes of running, alternating fast and slow sections, designed to improve your speed.

3. This is called STAMINA and involves a 35 minute run with music to keep you running at a faster pace for longer. I could do with this one, lol.

These are individual runs and not in any order. So I thought this could be my next move, which will keep me motivated and make me get out there again. It's so easy to give in and especially with the darker nights drawing in, which is no good for me or others that work full time during the day.

I'm not ready for a 10K yet no where near and I'd like to do many, many more 5ks and park runs, so I think these podcasts will give me the motivation and stamina that I need.

For those who are in a similar situation, lacking motivation, maybe it is worth you giving these podcasts a try. I'll let you know how I get on too, as I've missed posting and I've missed RUNNING πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜

Thanks folks, have a fab day 😊

See link below from the NHS site πŸ‘

nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Couch-to...

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quirkybee profile image
quirkybee
Graduate
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34 Replies
β€’
Martin_Rose profile image
Martin_RoseGraduate

We have missed you Beth. XxX

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toMartin_Rose

Ah, missed you all too Martin xx πŸ€—πŸ˜Š

KoKo30 profile image
KoKo30Graduate

missed you too! Good that you now have a plan. I did try the stepping stones podcasts for a short while but didn't get on with them but maybe I should give them another go, you have motivated me to try! I have been running consistently since graduation with my own playlists but getting a bit bored with them now and not really improving my stamina and certainly not my speed but that is not a goal for me, I shall always be slow and steady. But I need motivation to run for 35 plus minutes. We'll see! Let us know how you get on.

Not sure about running in the dark when the clocks change, that is going to be a challenge......

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduateβ€’ in reply toKoKo30

Oh I am glad that someone else is bigging up these FREE kick ass podcasts

They rock! Get em done Graduates 😁

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateβ€’ in reply tomisswobble

Oh yes.. every post I do in reply to a new Graduate.. they are great :)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateβ€’ in reply toKoKo30

Try them again.. they may help :)

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toKoKo30

Aww thanks KoKo, missed you too. Yes, running in the dark will be a challenge, so I doubt I'll get to do that, can be very dark and creepy where I am.

I definately need to improve my stamina, so will definately report back.

All my new tops are fighting to get out of the drawer, screaming, wear me, no, wear me, you like me the best πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜

Sarahb18 profile image
Sarahb18Graduate

Thanks for reminding me of these . Tried it a while ago but couldn't quite manage it !

Finding it difficult to progress post graduation..... will they the stepping stones again πŸ˜πŸ‘

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateβ€’ in reply toSarahb18

Try Speed or Stamina.. great fun :)

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toSarahb18

Ooh Sarah, give it a go lovely, they may just be what you need to give you a kick start. I may not get along with them yet, so I'm just trying these options. Nothing worse than grinding to a halt and I have come to that now. I don't want it to go on, or I just won't get back into it and that will be a shame.

Sarahb18 profile image
Sarahb18Graduateβ€’ in reply toquirkybee

Ah thanks quirkybee 😊

And you too ...... take those new tops out for a spin πŸ˜‚

πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

Jenny1970 profile image
Jenny1970Graduate

Thanks very much for this. I'm only on week 6 but had started to wonder how I'd keep motivated after graduation. I'll definitely be trying some of these.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduateβ€’ in reply toJenny1970

Consolidation first, as misswobble says, they are..." Kick-ass"

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toJenny1970

Well done Jenny, you're getting there. Be nice to see others trying them x

Wantorun2013 profile image
Wantorun2013Graduate

Love a great plan sounds good to me enjoy and let us know how you get on l looked at the stretching podcast test too but couldn't download. X

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toWantorun2013

I'm on android and that link worked for me, but I'm sure there is a link for iPhone (Apple) etc. I shall be kicking my own ass if I don't get moving, lol.

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-JGraduate

All good ideas πŸ‘πŸΌPlenty there to keep you interested. The St and flex is good for rest days.

If you are running 30 mins ypu can always listen to Laura week 9 occasionally.

I also use week 2 as an interval run. Run fast/ run steady. Its quite hard going but again you will get Laura running with you.

Its really important to mix things a bit, hills, intervals, speed, fartlek etc. Also mix up your routes.

If not it will get very boring and motivation may well dip.

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Stepping stones is my go to favourite run...Stamina is quite tough but doable and speed is a short little number, bit harder than you expect. All good...

As Misswobble says...do them😊x

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toBluebirdrunner

Thanks Jan, gotta try something.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Well done.. we advise these for folk, after Graduation, all the time.. they are brilliant and if you have done some consolidation first, ( a couple of weeks usually) they take you on wonderfully!

Thanks for posting this very clear post..... saves me a lot of work :)

They are great..not to be underestimated though... hence the need for consolidation runs first :) Stepping Stones has weird timings, you either love or loathe.. I found it odd... Speed and Stamina are great....my favourites:)

Take your time and see how you go.... after you try them you may decide how to move on again too.

Great to have you back on track sweetie:)

PS

The Strength and Flex are what we tell folk to do, alongside C25K on rest days... they really compliment the journey and help with our core strength too :)

nhs.uk/livewell/strength-an...

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toOldfloss

As ever, thank you Oldfloss πŸ€—I'm confused about consolidation runs, sorry to be thick on this one, haha.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

The fast five minute solid running section at the end of Stamina is tough πŸ˜ƒ

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply tomisswobble

Thanks miss wobble for the warning. Gosh I don't think I could walk fast at the mo, let alone run, lol.

Tricky2836 profile image
Tricky2836

Wayhey hello stranger, nice to see a post from you... hope your doing ok and keep up the hard work πŸ˜‰

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toTricky2836

Hey there Tricky, slow and steady is moi at the mo and thats not including running, lol. Yes, good to be back, thank you 😊

Wannabefit19 profile image
Wannabefit19Graduate

Welcome back -- I'm just going to try one of these -- think I will try stamina first .. beautiful day for a run πŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toWannabefit19

Hi Wannabe, lovely to see you too. Let me know how you get on, will look forward to it. Yes, lovely day to try it too 😊

Wannabefit19 profile image
Wannabefit19Graduateβ€’ in reply toquirkybee

Well swift change of plan with app .. read old floss and 2 wk consolidation runs comment and I'm only 1 wks post grad ... ALSO remembered I created a George Michael playlist after watching him last night .... ( loved that man ) so strava , mr S and George today ... beautiful run . 5 k done but included 8 mins of it walking warm up and cool down ... need to speed up a bit but big it was hot in the sun today at this time .. sure I'm faster when cooler . Do you think speed or stamina best I will try it soon

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toWannabefit19

Well done, way hay. I'd try stamina at a guess. Let is know how you do. Wish I didn't have to work, I'd be out there now, lol.

Wannabefit19 profile image
Wannabefit19Graduateβ€’ in reply toquirkybee

I was at work at 1 - 7 so an am run always great way to build energy for the day ...... I love the feeling post run πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸŽ‰πŸ€—

Millsie-J profile image
Millsie-JGraduateβ€’ in reply toWannabefit19

I find Stamina the hardest πŸ˜€

Wannabefit19 profile image
Wannabefit19Graduateβ€’ in reply toMillsie-J

I will try them when completed 2 wks consolidation runs ... I need to increase speed but don't want to push it and loose this buzz of being able to run .. can do 40-45 mins non stop running now at reasonably slow pace but I'm doing it and 11 wks ago I couldn't run 1 min without feeling dreadful

Freedom by George Michael a great running track or audio fuel as C25K+ call it .... kept me going and replayed it as 6min 20 sec track so well on the way after only 2 tracks 🎼.

Virginia60 profile image
Virginia60Graduate

Please let us know how you find them. I graduated with a 5k run Saturday and have since done another 5k on Monday and then a fast walk today of 40 minutes. I am still going to carry on running but too feel a bit aimless! I am not busting to get to 10k but still need a bit of structure! Will wait to hear how you get on xx

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduateβ€’ in reply toVirginia60

I will. Well done on your 5k too, that's fab, fair play to you. Keep running 😊

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