Nearly finished - can hardly believe it!

[CycloPops]

Just one more run to go and I will have completed the couch to 5k challenge. It's hard to believe that I can now run for 30 minutes without stopping. OK, I'm not covering 5k in that time, but I feel confident that I could put in the extra minutes to complete the distance.

When I think back to school, etc, I don't think I ever ran more than a mile in one go. So now in my late 50s, I'm running further than I ever did in my life. It's quite a thought!

The couch to 5k plan really works, especially if you follow the advice to run slowly. I have found that a heart rate monitor really helps to keep an eye on how I'm going, and I will slow down if the rate gets too high (usually going uphill), or if it goes down to zone 1, I know I can afford to speed up a little. Before I learned about the Japanese slow jogging technique, I'd be up to zone 5 after a couple of minutes and feeling exhausted.

My wife started at the same time as me, but she injured her knees during week 2. Now she's better and using the slow jogging technique too, she is back up to week 3 and doing great.

So finally, assuming I complete the final run successfully, I will sign up for the local Parkrun and do 5k for real...

[Buddy34 Graduate]

You sound as if you've really took in board all the advice given and it's really worked for you . Good luck with the final run of c25k and yes definitely try parkrun it's brilliant. Well done you 😊

[CycloPops in reply to Buddy34]

Thanks Buddy34, it’s all about slow and steady. Looking forward to Parkrun, but slightly nervous too!