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Couch to 5K
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Getting back to running

I'm looking for a bit of help from the C25K community, please.

Bit of background: I started the C25K programme late 2016, completed on Christmas Eve that year. All runs completed on a friend's treadmill. 2017, up until summer, I generally managed to run 2-3 times a week, including a parkrun every other week (at the time I was working every other weekend), with all other runs on that same treadmill.

September 2017, I moved from a small village on the south coast of England to Cardiff, and the running basically fell by the wayside. I do shift work with no pattern to it whatsoever, so trying to fit running around that is a challenge. On top of that, I basically moved to be a carer, so again, finding time is much more of an issue than it was. I'd like to get back to running, if I can, but I'm finding starting to be really difficult. For the first time, I've bought a cheap gym membership for treadmill access again, but I'm not brave enough to actually go just yet.

Does anyone have any help or advice, please?

11 Replies
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Well, you know you can do it... no issue there. Lack of pattern on shifts does complicate it a little. Do you know much in advance when you’re working? I’d be looking at spending 10 minutes once a week deciding when I could get out there... maybe one week you can’t do as many as other weeks, but you’d still get to the end. I don’t know your circumstances, but would it be possible to put this into a journey you already make? If you get the bus to work set off a little earlier and C25K along the route and get it at a later stop, or maybe you go on errands for those you care for, could you run to the shops?

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Putting it into an existing journey might be a bit tricky, purely because I live slap bang in the city centre, so there's just too much foot traffic.

I generally know about 2-3 weeks in advance when I'll be working, so I think your idea of planning out "running days" in advance sounds like a good idea :) I'm probably going to end up going down the treadmill route, at least until I'm fit enough for parkrun again, if only because of shift work combining with winter, fears about safety and areas of poor quality pavement combining with my terrible balance and co-ordination

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Yeah... it’s even trickier with the darker nights. The treadmill will get you up there and ready for parkruns.

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Try joggingbuddy.com 😸

Are there any routes near the Welsh Assembly building?

When I visited it seemed quite pedestrianised.

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I'll have a look- I'm at the other side of the city centre but it could be worth a shot

I've considered going with someone from a safety point of view- unfortunately, with my odd shifts and dire levels of fitness I feel like I'd be better off with an insomniac snail rather than a human being!

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Ahhh... it might be a bit of a pig to get to the other side of the city.

I'm doing c25k in a group organised by the local athletics club.. They all volunteer and don't charge a penny.

If your local club aren't doing this be cheeky and ask them why not 😸

But you might be surprised how much they can help you. Some of our volunteers are recovering from injury and have no wish to run quickly and will be happy to have you as their pace keeper! 😸

Also running on a floodlit track might feel safer than running around the quayside

Let us know how you're doing. Carry on running and posting! 👟👟👟😸

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I'm not actually in any running club! It's a combination of lack of fitness, and also weird crazy shifts meaning that I can't actually commit to anything that takes place at a set day/time.

I'll certainly do my best to actually get out there again! Thank you :)

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What about hiring a treadmill so you have instant access for a period of time. You can get back on your feet again and then hopefully use the gym one after that when you can fit it around shifts?

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I didn't even realise that you could hire treadmills! It's a good idea though- I'd just need to find somewhere to put it- thank you!

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Bute Park is a lovely place to run - are you very far from there? I know there's a Parkrun starting from the Tesco to the north of the park I think.

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It's about a 20 minute walk away, so not too far to get to! I'll have a look into that parkrun- I tried the one out in the bay by Asda and Ikea once, but it's not the easiest to get to

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