Thinking about starting C25K or struggling to stick at it?

[DiscoRunner]

instead of spending Christmas feeling guilty about over indulgence, or starting the new year feeling unfit and promising yourself (another!) fitness resolution, you could start now! If it takes you 9 or even 15 weeks to complete - you’ll have graduated by Christmas. And you’ll feel better, fitter, trimmer and stronger than you’ve felt in years - I promise you that!

I started this amazing journey in early November last year - and was astounded that I was fitting in w8 runs between Christmas & new year. I graduated in early January in my 53rd birthday - and felt fabulous - for the first time in years. And instead of starting the year in a bit of a slump, I started it with a spring in my step.

If I had magic powers I would let you live a day, or even an hour, in your new c25k body - let you luxuriate in how good it feels to be fit again.

So if you’re wondering if it’s for you (it is!), if you’re struggling, stick at it.

And if you’re worried about injury or think you’re too unfit, over weight, or too old (I worried I was all of these things 🤣), you can always do c25k using the wonderful low impact Japanese slow jogging technique.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...(Not working as expected?)

Come on in - the running is lovely!

[Annieapple Graduate]

What an inspiring motivational post. Thanks DiscoRunner. 👏

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

x

[Buddy34 Graduate]

You are so right. I started c25k on the 1st of October 2018 and it was funny to be out running on Christmas eve then boxing day . When I started I really wanted to run and thought how am I going to run for 30 minutes non stop by wk9. But it can be done I read it on here every week. So you're right running is so great 😊😊

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

And running is so in reach for so many of us - thanks to c25k (and the prof!)

[Dalmorangie Graduate]

That’s a really nice great angle to consider 👍

[DebJogsOn Graduate]

I totally agree.

I can't believe I waited until I was in my late 40s to start running. Two years on and now approaching my C25K gradution anniversary and 50th birthday I run 4x a week and regularly run 10k because I can and it's fun!

I'm fitter, weigh less and feel so much healthier and I'm much more positive about life in general.

Graduating C25K would be an amazing Christmas present for anyone to give themselves - because remember running is for life and not just for Christmas 😂.

[Dalmorangie Graduate in reply to DebJogsOn]

How did you find the step up to 10K?

[DebJogsOn Graduate in reply to Dalmorangie]

I spent around 4 months twiddling around running 3x a week and running 30ish minutes x2 and 1x 5k which at that point was taking me about 38 minutes and assumed I wouldn't go any further.

Then one day I miscalculated a new route and just kept running and ran 6.5k and thought I can go further.

So then I was running 3x a week doing a 5ish K, a shorter run (between around 2.5k and 3.5k) where I tried to run faster or do intervals and a longer run at weekends where I tried to add 0.5k each week. It took me about 6 weeks to get to a slow 10k (I think my first took me about 1h 20mins).

I actually think that once you believe you can do the distance it's not too hard - you just need to go steady and build up gradually. There's a plan on the Bridge to 10k forum you can follow which works on the same lines and you can join others on the forum for encouragement. I wasn't very confident I'd get there so did my own thing.

10k is probably my favourite distance now and can do it in about 1hour 8 minutes now - though I never have done 5k in 30mins.

So I'd say it's not really a step up so much as a step on - just slow your pace a bit and run further.

Good luck with it 😊 (sorry that's a really long answer).

[Dalmorangie Graduate in reply to DebJogsOn]

Thanks for that, food for thought 🤔

[Leuna in reply to DebJogsOn]

That’s a great miscalculation, and encouraging too! 😀

[DiscoRunner Graduate in reply to DebJogsOn]

🤣🤣 x

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Hopefully that will get em running, We are so much fitter and c25k kept us on track so we now run whether we feel like it or not, there were only a couple of runs we weren’t motivated and the posts and comments on here kept us going

[Nannyto2 Graduate]

What a wonderfully motivational post, all of it very true!!👍

[Jazzyrunner Graduate]

That is such a lovely post! I hope lots of people who are thinking about dipping their toes in will read it ❤️

[Biddy62 Graduate]

Great post 👍🏻

I restarted in October last year and graduated in Christmas Eve feeling very satisfied.

I’m now about to tackle my first HM. This programme is amazing and life changing 😊

I recommend it to anyone considering it. - go for it!!!

[Finchly Graduate]

Your post sounds just like me. I’m going to be 53 this year. Feel like I’m too old, overweight and unfit to take up running. I’d previously never even run for a bus in my adult years haha. However I’m doing W3 Run1 tomorrow. Really struggled with running 90 seconds in week 2 runs so not looking forward to 3 minutes. Will keep going in the hope that it gets easier or at least I may learn to breathe!

[Leuna]

Thank you for reminding us of the journey rather than the end goal, Discorunner. Loved your post, you are so spot on! 😊

Winter used to be such a pain for me because I never enjoyed gyms - probably too busy looking at everyone else. After C2k, it has been easier to stay active through the winter, even if it means using the gym. I have also, for the first time started enjoying the treadmill using the NRC guided treadmill runs. However, nothing compares to being outdoors. Looking forward to the spring and being outdoors again, sun on my face and taking in all the lovely scenery around me.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

I’m just wondering you’ve missed the date Finchly and Leuna ? You’ve written some lovely replies but sadly the posters haven’t been active here in three years. Thanks for taking the time to be supportive though ❤️

[Leuna in reply to MissUnderstanding]

oh, that’s strange! It turned up in today’s feed in my daily email updates.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to Leuna]

That does seem to happen occasionally if an old thread gets posted on. I think sometimes the “related posts” section catches people out because that often has quite old posts on.

Not that there’s anything wrong with bringing an old post back to life. It’s just a shame when people write such lovely things and don’t get a reply. Those posts almost certainly won’t be seen by the people they’re intended for and it’s sometimes good to know you haven’t been ignored on purpose-that person just doesn’t post here any more.

[Leuna in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks for taking the time to inform.