WK7 R3

[Soozy16]

Just done my last week 7 run! 25 minutes of shuffle jogging 4.4 K done in 35 minutes. Not sure if that’s ok? I don’t think I’ll be running 5K in 30 minutes by week 9. Still feeling knackered during & after. It is definitely a mental challenge! Getting out the door in the first place is hard enough! I’ve invested so much energy into this now that I can’t go back as I would be letting myself down. I was chatting to a local dog walker and she does the Park Run. It sounds a really great way to carry it on after WK9!

[ArthurJG Graduate]

You’re ahead of me but my understanding is that ‘Couch to 5k’ is just branding: the target at the end is to be able to run for thirty minutes three times a week. Some people can do 5k in that time but it seems for most it’s maybe around 4 or 4 and a bit and it doesn’t matter,as long as it’s running and not walking it doesn’t matter how slow it is. It’s about getting into the habit of running and everyone here seems to say that if you want to improve your speed then work on that AFTER you have finished the nine weeks of C25k.

[Soozy16 Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Thanks Arthur! I just keep waiting for that buzz to kick in that most people talk about. It hasn’t kicked in yet! 🤣 Feeling very tired after today’s run. 👍

[Hidden]

Hey Soozy. You're doing great!! Arthur pretty much nailed it. My OH thought the same, that we should be getting 5K by the end. I've set him straight.

Just so you can see how others compare, our W7R3 was completed yesterday. We stopped including the warm up/ down in our stats as most graduates don't. We reached 3.7K in 25 mins. We have been getting 4K in 26/27 when we've run an extra few minutes to round up. We will not be reaching target by W9. I expect we'll be able for 5K in say 32/34 if we try hard enough and run on to get it.

When we included the warm up/down we were completing 4.5/4.6 in 35/37 mins.

Don't know off any of that helps...hope so.

N.B. These are our personal bests. By no means do we nail it every run.

[Soozy16 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

We sound like we’re around the same pace Sutsha. I always worry I’m a bit slow, but I know that I couldn’t go at a faster pace right now and finish. Thanks for your kind words & personal stats. It’s great to know I’m doing ok. 😄

[pianoteacher Graduate]

Hi Soozy,

As others have said don't worry about how far you're going it's getting to the 30 mins that counts.

As for Parkrun it is really great! I did my week 7 and week 8 runs during it including the 5 min warm up walk at the beginning. You are under no obligation to run the whole thing in fact some people walk it all. I think it's a really good way to ensure you keep up running and it's very motivating.

It's also a very supportive enviroment. Yesterday I attempted my first week 9 run during it - I didn't quite manage it as I stopped a couple of times (was going a bit fast!). I stopped as we came onto the pier about 250m from the finish and a young teenage girl ran alongside me and said "come on we're nearly there". I started running again and two chaps who had obviously finished quite some time before were urging us on to the finish line x

[Soozy16 Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

That sounds so sweet! Well done you! I jog on my own as I’m not fast enough to keep up with people I know that run. What a lovely experience! I’m going to wait to start Park Run. Thanks for your kind words of support, I really appreciate it. 🙏😘

[Soozy16 Graduate in reply to Soozy16]

I just signed up for Park Run! 👍

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Soozy16]

Excellent!

[Notsobigdoug]

Don’t worry about doing 5k in 30 minutes. The program is just to get you running for 30 minutes. Distance will come after

[Soozy16 Graduate in reply to Notsobigdoug]

Yeh, I’ve decided to be sensible & not push myself too hard. Even when Michael says “ if you’re feeling ok.. go a bit faster to finish on a high!” Me finishing at all is a miracle! 🤣🤣

[Notsobigdoug in reply to Soozy16]

Yes I use to think in my head “think you’re self lucky I’m bloody running let alone speed up” lol

[Tasha99 Graduate]

I did run 3 of every week in the ParkRun from week 2. Walked my first for 48 minutes. I can now run 10k but only down to 32:01 ParkRun yesterday. You should definitely do one. You’ll wish you’d have started earlier 👍🏽

[Soozy16 Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

This is the most exercise I’ve done since leaving school pretty much. I’ve done classes on and off, but never committed as I was born lazy! 🤣 As I’m 49 this year and think it’s about time I start looking after myself. Thanks for your support and advice. 😀