Depressed

[Haughton]

Will I ever run 5k in 30 mins as 62 year old or is it Not achievable

[Mumma65]

Anything is achievable if you put your mind to it. I've just started today. I'm 54 and just so unfit but this time I'm determined. Be strong and you can do it!!.. 😁

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

It is achievable...but it takes a lot of training and miles on the legs I would say. I didn't run my first 30 min 5k until months and months after graduating C25K. It took me two years to run a sub-30 minute 5k! But, I don't care one hoot! Running is running.

The question you have to ask yourself, is why you want to do that? It isn't a requisite to completing C25K! The vast majority of folk fall short of 5k on their 30 minute runs of the programme. You can work a bit on speed once you have graduated and been running for a while. No hurry. A 30-min run, whatever your pace, will do wonders for your health and fitness, wonders!

Don't be so hard on yourself. You are doing something great for your health and fitness by running at all; you should be very proud of yourself. The time to push yourself, whether that is with speed or distance, can come much later, once you have been running for a while. Running is for life, not just C25K. x

[Beachcomber66 Graduate in reply to Sadie-runs]

I agree with the comments above, but will just add a 68 year old's perspective, I remember all the uncertainty around starting running as a mature student! I was 66 when I started. One big problem was not knowing what was possible, or whether I could run at all. I had to learn gradually that there was more potential in the tank than I thought. Post C25k(I completed the course in August 2018) I went for extending distance rather than pace. So long slow runs, which went to 10k on Boxing Day 2019, then on to 10 miles and HM by Autumn 2019. In Spring 2019 I started including intervals as my short run and gradually built up pace. Starting Park Run in August 2019(I think) got me running with others, and in the midst of that I cracked the sub 30 5k and I am now improving pace on the longer runs. I think the distance gave me added strength and stamina, and the added pace followed on from that. So, based on my experience I would say building through slower runs comes before aiming for a sub 30 minute 5k for we mature students, but in the big scheme of things it isn't remotely important. The win is that you are running...extra distance and pace are just optional extras if that is what you want to do. Take care and celebrate what you are doing.😊