I am almost there 1 more run to go which is great, but I am really struggling!
I can run for 30 minutes, some runs I am struggling with breathing while others my legs are solid and really hurt. Since starting running with no walking breaks I have found them hard and it doesn't seem to be getting any easier.
Does it ever??
Started with compression socks today which helped but found them very hot!
Great job getting to that graduation run... enjoy it. Yes, it gets easier... in fact you’re one run away from that being your next goal. C25K has pushed you every week... graduates are recommended to consolidate on 30 minutes for a little while, so no more adding more on.., you should start to feel the benefits with shorter recovery times, and keep consolidating until it’s comfortable/easy before taking in the next challenge, whatever that may be. Happy running
It does if you slow down! The thing to bear in mind, once we’ve completed c25k we’ve run for a little over 8 hours, which is great, but also not so much. We’re still really novice runners. So as we get more Kms under our belts it does get easier.
I run using the Japanese slow jogging technique, it’s low impact and designed to avoid injury, while building strength and stamina. I first saw this in w6 and wish I’d found it earlier.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...
You might even think you run slowly, but there is more to this than at first glance! I had to watch it quite a few times to catch it all.
I still run this way and absolutely love it. I listen to a long podcast or audio book, and plod away, really enjoying the long slow runs. This is nico nico running (smile in Japanese), and I really do jog along smiling, because the actual running is pleasurable in the moment this way.
And here’s the thing. You’ll use the same calories running 5k if it takes you 25 minutes or 50. It’s the distance not the speed! Of course 25 mins is more time efficient, but with too high a risk of injury to me, and this feels good!
Hope this helps x
Wow, just watched this - have got ankle impingement so am resting to fix it, but it is landing that has caused it I think (large lady) - I am going to do this tonight - THANK YOU!
Brilliant! Welcome to the JSJ club! There are lots of us who love this! I’ve lost 5 inches from my waist running this way! x
Did it, loved it - ankle good this morning and sweated MORE! Thank you so much - got to work yesterday, started to tell my colleague who had also watched it before work too and is coming with me Sunday! 🥳
Aww Hazel10, you’ve made a slow woman very happy!! ☺️😘🤣 x
That’s impressive 🇯🇵 🏃♂️
I am going to give this a go later for my graduation run, thanks!
Many will run fast or faster simply by thinking 'oh, that's how it should be'. No, that's how professionals think and they are paid to think that way. We need to run at comfortable pace, and yours may be different to mine, 'faster or slower' (either irrelevant). Find out what's good for you, slow down and build up from there, let your bones and muscles decide, disengage the brain during this phase. Once a phase becomes comfortable you will instinctively move on to another one, experiment and have fun. Does it get easier depends on how you define 'easy' and what your targets are. 
Slow down.... and then more... relax into the longer runs...Easier ? You get stronger with each and every single run...
Don't wear the compression socks unless you need them Roll those legs, massage them and use your rest days exercise to ease that tightness...
Hi Laura, I'm in consolidation run 9, almost every time I think "maybe today I will only go for 20min, there is no pressure now to go all the way to 30min", then I start running and get surprised because it's already been 10 minutes and I don't feel that tired, then I get to 20min and I think I have a bit more in me, then I get to 25 and think "week in already this close" and last time y find myself running longer and feeling better than other times... So it doesn't get easy, at least not very soon, but it does get easier and the feeling if achieving what you are trying to achieve doesn't go away!
I'm in week 8 (just finished run 2) and this is pretty much my experience - each time I go out saying to myself "Get to 10 mins and if you need to come home just try again tomorrow)" then I find myself at 15 mins and I figure I may as well finish the loop.. but at 20-25 is where I'm "oh I'll definitely finish now". Once I finish week 9 I'm definitely consolidating for a month or so before I worry about pace or whether I'll get to 5k (the two may be interlinked) and maybe I'll start to enjoy it more.
Good plan I am currently keeping to 30 minutes, I'm a bit less slower, but I don't get to 5k (not even with the warm up and down!), I'll continue like this a bit more and then I will start to work on 5k, but I'm happy with doing what I'm doing at the moment. Week 8 was quite hard for me, week 9 was easier for some reason, but your almost there, good progress genius!
Yeah, I'm happy to just finish it each time right now and I'll worry about 5k runs nearer the autumn!
I posted some thing almost exactly like your question at the same stage just about when I graduated. And another three months on, running two or three times a week, I can tell you that yes, it does get easier!
I’m feeling like this. I’ve just done week 8 run one. I am managing, but I pretty much hate the running part, it’s hard and I always feel like I want to stop and have to push myself, but I feel great once I’ve done it.
I wonder if it will ever get easier. I’m still using the NHS podcasts and the music is terrible. I could switch to my own music now, but keep telling myself that my reward for graduating will be to listen to my own music.
Your reward is that you are doing it - you have to have good music to motivate you - in week 8, you should allow yourself some good tunes! Keep going and we’ll done!
Does it get easier? It seems to vary. The perceived wisdom here is that it does. The problem is that the failures, like me, tend not to post. I "graduated" in August 2018, followed by 50 (yes five zero) "consolidation runs". It never got any easier. I don't run regularly now, but still go out occasionally for a 20-30 minute jog, especially when I have been very bad, and feel I need to be punished. Just kidding! I hope your experience is better.
Have you tried the slow jogging? It is truly pleasurable....
I've just finished wk8 and feel the same. I'm very slow too. I'm thinking that I'll keep persevering on the 30 mins until I can go a bit faster. Not sure if/when that will be but I reckon at least I'll start to believe I can do 30 mins when I set off.
I graduated a few weeks ago, do a couple of 20 minute runs and a ‘long one’ (30 mins) a week - that is enough for me. Don’t think I am getting faster, but don’t think it matters. I want it to fit in with my life and I want to feel the benefits and I do. We don’t all have to aim for the next big achievement, this is mine! 😊
Week 5 started!! It really does get easier
Does it get easier!?
WK 4 Run 2 tomorrow... does it get any easier?
Wk 9 Run 2 - didn't make it 🤷♀️
