W7R3 - did 5km / 40 minutes instead, should I do w8&9?

[jleg]

Hi all,

I've really been enjoying the programme, so much so that yesterday I got a bit bloody-minded about reaching 5km. So I just kept going for an extra 10 minutes at the end of the 25 and so I effectively ran 35 minutes and reached 5km. So admittedly, that 5 km is in part due to the first 5min warmup walk but now I don't know if it's worth doing weeks 8&9 or if I should just go run 5km every time now (and hopefully get faster as I go).

Has anyone else been in this situation? Any advice for me please?

J

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Carry on with the programme.

If you abandon it now you increase your risk of injury.

It's great you managed the 5k this time but your body may not thank you if you go careening off course now.

This is from someone who did overdo things after graduation and actually ended up barely being able to walk 1.5 miles let alone run for a few weeks...

[jleg Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

It's very true that I think it's 100% due to the programme that I haven't hurt myself yet. I've never run ever in my life (except when they made me in school 25years ago I suppose ) and was expecting to put a knee out or something!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Just in case you haven't seen these already...

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

And if you do decide to ditch it early

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

👍🏻

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Listen to the advice given by GoGo_JoJo . You are still very early on in running it would be a shame to waste all your effort if you got an injury now.

[damienair Graduate]

Finish the C25K plan. Then once you’ve graduated start running 5K x 3 times per week. Start doing parkrun and enjoy. Spend 8 to 12 weeks at 30 mins or 5K 3 times per week so as to continue to build up your running legs before you move on to running for longer.

Damien

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

A training plan such as C25K is gently progressive, building your condition and decreasing your injury risk at the same time.

We are all capable of doing more than our bodies are conditioned to do, but only with increased injury risk.

That doesn't mean you will get injured, and sticking to the plan does not make you immune to injury, but ask any physiotherapist and they will tell you that a lot of their business comes from people who do more than their bodies are conditioned to handle.......... basically doing too much too soon.

Why take the risk of having to stop running for days, weeks or even months through impatience.

I can only recommend that you complete the plan.

[jleg Graduate]

Thanks for all the feedback and encouragement to carry on with the plan. I guess I’ve always used the programme as an “at least” benchmark. I’ll carry on doing that and maybe throw in some extra minutes if I feel ok. Some days past the first ten minutes i feel like I could run an hour (my mutt disagrees). Other days are not so fantastic and I’m happy to do the “at least”.

Tomorrow is w8 so at least 28 minutes 😉 (maybe two more if I’m still a ways off from home, or maybe just to the top of my road!). Who’d have thought I’d be enjoying this 😆