Advice please for a graduate who feels she's not progressing

[Viccos]

Still enjoying myself after graduating 3 weeks ago, but getting frustrated that I still can't get to 5k, even if I bimble (Can't call it running) for 34 mins! I could walk faster than i run!! Any motivational advice or support?

[Irishprincess Graduate]

It's great that you're still enjoying yourself and running after graduation. Well done! Keep reminding yourself how you were before you even started the programme. Haven't you done fantastically well?

But you're still a Bambi runner 😏 It takes a long time to build a runner, months and months but every run you do now is contributing towards that and you're getting stronger and building more stamina. It might not feel like it now but one day you'll go out for a run and you'll notice it feels a little easier and you'll feel a little stronger. Honest.

Keep going, stick to a routine, you're doing brilliantly 🙂

[backintime Graduate]

I ran 5.5k today...in 55 mins or thereabouts. I am not getring much faster but I am not working on speed, I am concentrating more on distance. My speed varies from 6.3km/h to 6.5km/h on a long run (for me) and I can run 2km at a huge 7km/h lol.

Don't sweat your speed, just sweat : )

[Viccos Graduate in reply to backintime]

Thanks. I like your plan!

[caroldavies071969 Graduate]

I graduated several weeks ago and don't feel like I'm progressing much. I did 5.5km today in 40 minutes and am aching loads! I think it's just a case of plodding on and building up stamina and eventually we will get further and faster. I'm doing the race for life on Sunday so wanted to make sure I ran over 5km today so that hopefully Sunday feels a bit easier... more hills on Sunday though!! 😫

[Viccos Graduate in reply to caroldavies071969]

Good luck! I'm sure you will love it, and what a sense of achievement when you get to the finish line!

[caroldavies071969 Graduate in reply to Viccos]

Thank you x

[Granspeed Graduate]

I was a good month after graduation before I got to 5k and it took about 46 minutes. I did the consolidation runs and then built up time by 10% per week as the mentors advise. I tried a few “speed up” ideas but none of them really suited me, and I still run basically by time.

I think everyone’s postC25k pattern is individual. Some people who graduated roughly when I did are now running speedy, sub-30 minute 5Ks. Other are jogging along steadily to 10k or thereabouts. You do, I think, have to find what you enjoy.

One thing you could do (if you haven’t already) is to follow the Bridge to 10k group. You’ll see lots of different patterns of running there, plus finding lots of useful tips if you lurk about a bit & just read the posts.

And do remember to think about what “progress” in running might be for you. Continuing to run for 30 minutes 3 times a week & enjoying it is actually good progress in itself, you know, for folks who were puffing at 60 seconds not long ago! 👍

Happy running!

[Viccos Graduate in reply to Granspeed]

You are right.... just to keep going is positive! I have looked back at the app to see how far I have come, and it took time to get there, so I'm probably expecting too much too soon!

[Redcat19 Graduate]

I too graduated about 3 weeks ago. I have ran 5K once but boy did I ache! At the moment I am content with running for 30 minutes. My plan when I'm ready is to add on an next minute each week or so until I reach the 5K mark. There is no rush, we should all just continue to enjoy running 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Viccos Graduate in reply to Redcat19]

You are right of course. I think I expected too much too soon!