Felt the Pain, Enjoyed the Gain

[Guesty26]

Felt really good when i woke up after feeling nervous last night, thanks for all the advice by the way. Started too fast, must have been the bulletproof coffee, took the wrong turn due to my mind being elsewhere so finished up a hill panting like a steam train. So took me the first mile to get breathing right. Once i did than i managed week 9 fun 1 in under 30 mins cant believe it. Just dont stop!!!

[over61andstilltrying Graduate]

Hi Guesty26, I have just taught maths for two hours one lad taking AS and one GCSE so perhaps my brain is tired, but I am somewhat confused that you have completed a 30 minute run in under 30 minutes!! You sound please so well done and don't stop now. Dare I say see you on the podium? I completed W9R1 bright and early, already looking forward to R2!

[Guesty26 Graduate in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Well done 61 i think your working too hard. I did the full 30 min run covering 3.14m which resulted in my best 5k time too of 29m 35s if that makes sense. Two more for us to complete now bud, keep going!

[over61andstilltrying Graduate in reply to Guesty26]

Doesn't sound like you were a real couch potato when you started this plan. Very well done! Apparently only10% of C25K folk reach 5k in 30 minutes and you are obviously one of them. I would be interested in your fitness level at the start. Keep it up! All the best for your next two runs.

[Guesty26 Graduate in reply to over61andstilltrying]

I am being totally honest here, i was 15stone when i started this app, tried running many times (my dad stopped running marathons at 70) before and hated it. As an exforces lad always been sporty but just couldnt run, didnt see the point. Started poorly with breathing and pace but about week 4/5 it just clicked, i got my head round it, reduced alcohol, changed my diet, sun came out and now weigh 14stone, im hooked! Wife chuffed with my new figure so just feel really good about life and im sure its just down to this programme. I have always needed quidance to do it correctly and my dad was too good therefore the wrong instruction. As the wife says “Keep it Simple Stupid” and Laura has done that, looking on to 10k in the future, hope Laura does another app.

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Guesty26]

Gosh you sound like me - except I'm an 8 stone female!

Wouldn't say I was "sporty" but did have a good level of fitness coming into this. PB at the moment is 30:49 (at Parkrun) which included walking the first 5 mins so aiming for a sub 30 when I run it all for the first time on Saturday.

Interesting you're ex-forces - I came to this programme to prep for the 1.5 mile Army entrance run as I thought I couldn't run and hated running. Trying to get in the TA as a Musician but got to appeal against a medical rejection - my eyesight is very, very poor. Even if I the appeal fails I have discovered that I actually really enjoy running!

Good Luck with your next two 30 mins runs x

[Guesty26 Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

Wow to be 8st again, im sure you will break the sub 30 but if not you will get it soon enough. Regarding the eye site issue im short sighted and wear contacts, surely you should be ok with specs or contacts nowadays for TA, if not their loss! Stick at it teach, everything comes to he/she that waits!!

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Guesty26]

Thank you! The eyesight requirements have been relaxed over the years and they except up to -6/+6. I'm Right Eye -8.5 Left Eye -9.5 in other words blind as a bat! No soldiering really now as a TA Musician so the band I rehearse with are hoping to get me in. Just have to be patient and wait and see x

[Guesty26 Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

Fingers crossed, if not buy yourself some combats get yourself down the woods wi a tommy gun n roll about in the mud youll be right, have a goid night Phil

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Guesty26]

Thanks 😂😂

[over61andstilltrying Graduate in reply to Guesty26]

Well done you! Happy wife, weight loss and hooked on running! Win, win, win!

Think it is about time Sky News, BBC, ITV + ... newspapers + ... reported on the many positive experiences of folk on C25K. I wonder whether there are any summary data of C25K runners.

Your Dad was a seriously hard act to follow, but I'm very glad that you have now found something that has worked for you. I have been really surprised how I am enjoying running now, although perhaps not the first 10 minutes. Also not at all sure about the winter months, no intention of running in the dark. Best to enjoy the summer and think about that later. All the best for the rest of the week.

[Guesty26 Graduate in reply to over61andstilltrying]

You too 61, you will have so many miles in your legs by the winter you can manage a couple of longer runs wrapped up nice and warm im sure

[JennyH10 Graduate]

Well done Guesty26 and over61andstilltrying I’m not long back from my w9r1 too, found the first half quite difficult, hot and tired but then I found my rhythm and cruised the last 10 minutes. Still only covered just over 4K but I’ll take that!

[Guesty26 Graduate in reply to JennyH10]

Well done Jen youve done great, similar story to me today struggled at first but when got the rythym felt good. Im going to slow the first mile then ease in and consolidate for another 3 weeks after at 3 x 30min runs before moving on. Youve cracked it now Jen keep going

[JennyH10 Graduate in reply to Guesty26]

Thanks guesty!

I’m going to do the exact same thing, sticking with 3 x 30 mins for 3 weeks (probably still with the week 9 podcast going as a bit of a comfort and to keep me on track) then I’ll see how I feel about moving on too. We got this 😁

[Guesty26 Graduate in reply to JennyH10]

Sounds good, are you using a tracking app too? Im using Endomondo, works well for me and free?

[JennyH10 Graduate in reply to Guesty26]

I’ve got an Apple Watch so am tracking mine on my phone, it’s a useful little motivator 😊

[over61andstilltrying Graduate in reply to JennyH10]

Hi JennyH10,

Well done you!! Let's hope we all make it injury free to that podium on Friday.

I know that it is a personal journey and we are all so different, age, fitness, weight etc but you and Guesty26 are way ahead of my paltry 3.76 km. I wonder what sort of fitness level you had at the start of the programme, I can't imagine you were a complete couch potato. I tend to go very slowly for the first 10 minutes and then it is a matter of quite how much to up my pace to ensure I still have enough energy to finish and also to ensure that I stay injury free.

How come when you put my name in it becomes a blue link, whereas when I copy and paste a name it stays black and doesn't become a link? The fact you put me in your reply to Guesty26 came up on my notifications. Technology has moved on and on. You can perhaps tell that I am a complete newbie to forums as well as to running.

All the very best for your next two runs.

[JennyH10 Graduate in reply to over61andstilltrying]

You use the @ and start typing the name and it highlights the person for you 😊

I wouldn’t say I’m getting that much further than you to be honest (about 4K today) and you’re right it is a personal journey! My baseline fitness was decidedly average, I’ve attempted c25k three times in the past and had to stop due to injury or just being too busy. I’m 41 and about a stone overweight now and not sporty in the slightest but I’ve lost over 2 1/2 stone over the last few years and increased my walking and general activity levels etc and thanks to the program I feel I’m getting to be fitter now I’m in my 40s than I was for most of my 30s (having had two kids and not taking time to look after myself).

All the best for your next two runs too, we’re almost there! Let’s keep it slow and steady and injury free to the podium and beyond 😁

[over61andstilltrying Graduate in reply to JennyH10]

Wow! You must be a master of perseverance! Well done you! Going for your 4th attempt. Really looking forward to hearing that you have made it to the podium and now hope even more that you keep injury free.

I seem to have mentioned my name obvious age of 61 far too often since joining this forum! I am not overweight according to the stats, but I know I carry extra around my middle. My urge to run faster is strong but I am so aware of the slow and steady mantra to prevent injury. I would love to know how fast I can run, but according to old floss that is for some time in the future.

Thank you for the @ tip and happy (slow and steady) running to you!