First consolidation run

[shrinkingjaz]

I ran for 28-31 minutes. Ish. I think. There was an issue with my alarm clock going off and my phone doing some weird things. I thought I could let the youtube app play and put a timer on my phone for 30 minutes but I don't think it worked how I expected it to. Any ideas for someone who doesn't store music on their phone?

It's strange not having someone guide me through it. I suppose that's what graduating is all about, though. It's time to be an adult and face the world on my own.

Happy running 😊

[Smelliepoo Graduate]

I think it was an easier transition for me because I did not use the app or pod casts, I just had a timer with the right intervals on it. I only had Sarah millican for the first two or three runs before the app stopped working for me, so I just used a different timer! I actually used some choice points from here when I was thinking about stopping. And I think it worked really well.

Well done for doing it. It is going to feel a bit odd to start with. Did you have a route that you did in 30 mins? Maybe use the places you started and stopped for them rather than worrying about time? You might find that you do it faster, or just do an extra few meters or so!! Glad you are getting on it Jaz, keep up the good work!! X

[shrinkingjaz Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

Thank you so much! I do have a route that I was doing in week 9, I think I'll stick to that. I might get a watch for the timer? Hmmmm. I'll think about it.

Hope you're enjoying post C25K life and smashing it! 😊

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to shrinkingjaz]

Am trying! Certainly feeling good and my body is definitely smaller! Bonus!

Watches are good, but if you are using your phone for music you can get apps that will play over the top. I use tabata, it is pretty simple and small but it has jot let me down yet! (when I had trouble with the c25k app I tried a load of free ones and that was the first one I came across that worked really well for me.) x x

[shrinkingjaz Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

Definite bonus! Also means less of you for your legs to carry which can only be good for running, right? 😂

I'll look into it! I came back from a run just now and have found that using a countdown timer on my phone works so I'll continue with it but it's nice to know I have backups!

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to shrinkingjaz]

We may all find that some days require different bits to get and keep us going.

Is that a normal countdown timer on you phone? What do you count down from (just enough time for you to turnback? Or is it more complicated than that?)

[shrinkingjaz Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

Just a normal countdown timer! I time it for 31 minutes, put my phone on my running belt and then go. I've found that even if I'm listening to podcasts or music then the timer still goes off.

I start the timer about 5 minutes in, after I've walked.

Because I run similar routes I roughly know when I'm halfway and about 25 minutes in so the timer doesn't take me by surprise. But it's still nice to not know! It means I can focus on running and not worry about the time.

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to shrinkingjaz]

If you know roughly where you should start and stop, why use a timer at all?!! Maybe try it the opposite way, time how long it takes you to go the distances you know (have start and stop markers) and see if you can get your time up? Just a thought! If it works for you the awesome. X x

[shrinkingjaz Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

That's actually not a bad idea! I might give it a few more runs and then let go of my crutch that is a timer haha.

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to shrinkingjaz]

No-one likes it when you hold on to your crotch.. Oops, slip of the keyboard!! 😉😂

[shrinkingjaz Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

😂😂😂

[Leosmit Graduate]

Well done! Actually love how you’ve said that - the point of graduation is to be more independent!

[shrinkingjaz Graduate in reply to Leosmit]

Thank you!

[Jplanetj Graduate]

I did my first grad run yesterday as well. First time with no headphones and it was a bit weird hearing the pad of my feet on the frosty grass, but great as I could look around to keep myself amused. Wasn't trying to run too fast; just a gentle jog but surprised myself how far I went in the half hour - which went by really quickly. I got myself a Forerunner 45 watch a while ago as I'm motivated by stats! That does the job of timing and, although I haven't looked at them yet, you can download training plans to the watch to take you onwards from 5K.

[shrinkingjaz Graduate in reply to Jplanetj]

It is strange, isn't it? I'm really enjoying it! It's nice to just run for me and not have to be bound by a time or program. Strange, but nice.

I'll have a look into the watch, thank you!