What now?

[Fb75]

I’ve only just found this group, and thank goodness I have. I graduated C25K a few weeks ago and wasn’t sure what to do next. I’ve continued doing 30min runs 3 times a week but haven’t ever got to 5km. Clearly a slow plodder!

I see people are talking about consolidation runs and feel like I must’ve skipped that lesson! 🤣

How do I keep going, maintain motivation, continue to challenge myself and most importantly finally get to 5km?!

I’m at about 4.5km at the moment but that includes my warm up/down walks.

Thanks runners!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your graduation.

This guide to post C25K running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running keep smiling.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Keep going. Vary your routes. You will find some faster than others. Just keep practicing.

You can push yourself a little. Add a few mins on here and there and before you know it you'll be over 5k and onwards.

The main thing is to keep it up and keep having fun 👍😁

[Gillma Graduate]

Morning Fb75. Congratulations on your graduation- great feeling isn’t it? I sympathise with the ‘what next’? feeling. I am no expert - others who are more knowledgeable will no doubt chip in soon. My experience, now aged 67: I floundered around looking for direction and (now nearly a year after graduation) am very gradually learning how to manage my running/fitness life without the magic C25k structure. I’ve had loads of advice - much from this forum - and some ideas have worked - for a bit. The vital things are: the structure is embedded and the forum is here. And it works. Hope to hear from you soon. Any question you ask or experience you share will elicit answers that help me - and others.

[Jay66UK Graduate]

I’ve been adding 10 mins to my third run each week and just ran 5k for the first time. Enjoy your running!

[Gillma Graduate]

Jay66UK’s triumphant 5k reminded me how important Parkrun has been to my post-grad life. I managed 5k v soon after graduation by doing it at Parkrun- nice flattish course, good atmosphere- all helped. Find your local one and give it a go?

[Goforitmama Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation!

I'm no expert and only recently graduated too. I'm using this time to try to develop stronger legs. My (loose) plan is to use the summer to get strong enough so that I can then start aiming for 6k, then 8k and then finally 10k. My (loose) plan is to aim for 8k in the autumn. I like the idea of a 10% weekly addition that Jay66uk is aiming for.

For now I'm enjoying the freedom of not having to follow a schedule, being sufficiently adult enough (haha that's debatable) to decide on my own schedule and set my own challenges.

If I hit the wall of demotivation I might join a running group, enter myself for a 5k run or find new running routes. This forum helps, reading about the highs and lows that others are going through stops me from feeling lonely and helps to keep it all in perspective.

Good luck, happy running and keep us posted!