Skip W8?

[Becky2301]

W7R3 I completed 30mins running and I've just done the same for W8R1... should I skip Week 8 altogether and complete 2 more 30min runs in order to graduate this Friday?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

No.... do the runs.... In order to Graduate from C25K you have to complete all nine weeks of running

[Becky2301 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I did repeat W3 after a short break so 'technically' I've run for 9 weeks 😉 but that sounds fair. I'll stick to the 30mins though for W8 and try to improve on my speed/distance in W9.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Becky2301]

Just follow the plan? You have come this far... so, do it by the book, if as IannodaTruffe says.. you would like to be a Graduate

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

So you are not following the plan then, which would have had you running for 28 minutes in W8.

Part of the process of becoming a runner is to develop the discipline to follow the instructions of a training plan. Of course the plan can be adapted but you are not a graduate of this programme if you have made it up along the way.

It all depends how desperate you are for a little grey smudge with Graduate written on it next to your name.

[Becky2301 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I appreciate the response but I don't really see how I've "made it up along the way" by running an extra 2 mins a week early. The aim is to get you running for 30mins as I understood it, which I was very proud of...

That "little grey smudge" is surely what most people on here are working toward so I guess for appearances sake I can push the speed for the 28mins until next Monday.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Becky2301]

I considered missing out chunks of this plan because it seemed a bit easy, but quashed my arrogance, accepting that the designers of the programme knew more about running than I did. Sure I ran an extra couple of minutes every now and then, like many others, but I ran each and every run as laid out in the plan.

I would not object to you claiming your badge if you say you have done three thirty minute runs, even if you have missed runs, but it signifies completion of the plan and I wanted to know that I had done that before claiming it, so am surprised that it has any significance for you if you have skipped runs.

We will take your word for it.

Good luck. Enjoy your runs.

[Becky2301 Graduate]

I understand that if I ran for 8 weeks, not 9 then I wouldn't have completed the full programme which is why I mentioned testing speed in Week 9. That way I'll have done 9 weeks, plus be making a start toward completing 5k rather than the 4k I'm getting through now.

Roll on the 27th October! 🏆