My old C25K route

[damienair]

I was dying to go for a run this evening and was under time pressure as my wife was meeting with friends leaving me with less than 30 minutes for a run. So I decided to run my old 3.5k loop from when I did C25K two years ago. As I ran along I was thinking about all the weeks I struggled around this route huffing and puffing whilst working my way through the C25k plan. I remember dreaming about a time in the future when I might be able to glide around this route with ease. This evening I ran around at a nice pace of 5:20/km finishing the 3.5K route in 18:30. I can’t say I glided around with ease, but it was a lovely feeling to know that 2 years post C25K I’m able to run my old route at a nice consistent pace.

So to all the people working through C25K keep going. Keep running, the journey is so rewarding. And it gets so much easier the more you run.

Damien

[backintime Graduate]

A nice trip down memory lane : )

It's also good that you are still running 2 years later, a nice example for us to follow

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Great run and going back to where it all began . Posting 2 years on its good to know that it gets easier .😊😊

[damienair Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

The more you run the easier you get. Stamina and pace improves, aches and pains go away. But when you do go out and run hard and push the comfort zone you learn to be happy with tired legs and the odd ache and pain as it means that your pushing through into a new level of fitness.

Damien

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Nice running... and those memories of our struggles need to be offset with a run we can compare directly I think... route maps and graphs don’t have the memories and the feelings, I’ve enjoyed revisiting 2 C25K runs now in the same place that I struggled with them on the plan.

Happy running.

[damienair Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks. When I uploaded the data from my watch Strava informed me that the last time I ran that route was in December 2017 and it took me over 27 minutes to complete, which was a PB. So I’ve improved my time by 9 minutes for that route.

I remember all the struggles and the difficulties breathing. What a difference 18 months can make.

Damien

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to damienair]

You’ve improved a whole 1/3... that’s pretty amazing. According to some stuff I’ve read it takes between 2 and 7 years to reach our peak too... here’s to the next 18 months!

[damienair Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I’m 45 now. I think my peak has passed me by whilst I was over indulging in my late 20’s, all through my 30’s and early 40’s.😂😀

But I’ve got my act together now and have a Parkrun PB of 26:15 which I got 2 weeks ago. I’ve 8 more Parkruns to go to get my 50 T-Shirt. I’m hoping to be close to 25 mins by then. I can’t imagine being able to run any faster than that, but I guess you never know, I never thought I’d be faster than 28 mins.😀

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to damienair]

I’m 47... I still have a peak... it’s just not as high as it was 30 years ago 🤣

I’m yet to break 30 at parkrun... have done a few times in training... think I follow the wrong person every time 🤣. 26:15 is about where my marathon running buddy is at and he’s been doing this for most of his life... he’s a couple of years older, but if I could match his 5k time I’d be a very happy guy... his summer mission is 25, but he doesn’t think it’s going to happen.

[damienair Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I’m going to start interval training again next week. I’ve reached a plateau now and need to push through the comfort zone again. It worked wonders in February, March and April and brought my Parkrun time down from 33 minutes to 26:15. Losing 2.5 stone also helped.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to damienair]

It’s a good time to be doing it... speed work in the heat should set you up nicely for the early autumn. Although we aren’t pros, I’m pretty happy to mirror them and try to be at my best for spring and autumn.

Enjoy getting comfortable in the current uncomfortable zone!

[Run46 Graduate]

Brilliant, it's certainly a great journey 😊... I hope to be still enjoying my running in another couple if years too👍

[damienair Graduate in reply to Run46]

Just keep plodding away. I have fallen away due to injuries and laziness. But I keep coming back. So far this year I have been doing my best running and I am pushing myself more. I have not missed 3 runs per week since the start of January.