Bit perplexed

[Setters]

I have followed the plan so far, and know that I should keep on following it, and I will promise, but did Run 3 week6 today and am wondering why the last three weeks seem to be progressing at a slower rate that the previous weeks. I am now feeling that as I can now run 25mins then 30 mins is not a huge increase, so why does it take a further 3 weeks to graduate? I am sure there is a really good reason, consolidation perhaps and perhaps I should be trying to run a little bit faster each run ? Would be interested in any thoughts why the last three weeks only mean a 5 minute increase!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

I think it's so your body gradually gets used to continuous runs the plan works so it must be right 😂

[Setters Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Yes quite agree, just fascinated why the times for the last few weeks, logically I expected to run, say 3 minutes further each week, not to do the same time for week7. Not complaining just pondering 😉

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Training plans are gently progressive because our bodies only adapt in gentle stages.

You probably could go out now and run for thirty minutes, but your risk of injury would increase and if that happened, you might well think running is not for you.

C25K is designed for all comers of a vast range of ages, genders, abilities and disabilities, but it is proven to work for over twenty years. Many struggle with the last few weeks of the programme, so the increases would be too big a step if increase.

This post may help explain the issue to a degree healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Slow steady progression is the only safe way to progress your running, wherever you are in your journey.

[Setters Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Your pinned posts are both inspirational and reassuring, there must be so many people who you have helped, so a huge thank you 🙏

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Setters]

I have just realised that I linked to the wrong post above, so I have now changed the link.

Thanks, I hope so.

[Setters Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

That makes a lot of sense, and is what my physio told me when I asked her if I was too old to start running, which in a nutshell was “As long as you progress slowly and incrementally then your body will adapt safely to allow the demands on it, no matter what age you are, it is only when you suddenly make changes that you will inevitably have injuries”

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

I think that the last 3 weeks aren’t necessary for just running 30 minutes... you’re right, odds are you’d be able to go and do it next run... but the plan isn’t just about 30 minutes, it’s about producing a strong and solid runner who can achieve anything... I really felt the strength growing in my legs in the last three weeks... and appreciated why those weeks are there as I came out of consolidation and went for a quick mile run, I had the endurance to go much faster... then a 6k, I had the strength to slow a little and go longer. It kinda makes more sense after the event.

[Setters Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you that explains it for me, knew there must be a good reason 😉, l do trust the programme, after all its got me this far, which is incredible as far as I’m concerned.