Giving up the programme, but happy and carrying on "running"!

[Spain5k]

Hi there,

Today I'm in W7 since I started C25K, and today I ran 27mins! According to the programme I'm supposed to be doing 25mins with no break, but I did 3x9 mins (R9 W3, R9 W3, R9 W3 R=run, W= walk). That wasn't my plan, I was going to run 9, 5, 8, but I felt ok, so I carried on. So, I'm running 2 mins more than the programme suggests, but with breaks. Does it matter? Well, obviously I'm not expert, but I don't think it does. I am more convinced now than I was in the beginning that I will run for 30 mins in a row, but it's obvious that I'm going to have to do it my way.

So, my message with this post is don't be a slave to Laura. If I'd followed the programme I would have given up in week 5, and I'd never have run for more than 5 mins in a row. Now I'm doing 9, and 3 times!! I found my own way round it.

Next week I might try W6R2 (10RW310R) or I might try 11R,2W,9R, 2W,7R, not sure.

Some people need to follow the programme, I get that. I couldn't do the 20R in W5, but managed to carry on and am confident I will achieve 30mins "running" sooner or later (in inverted commas because I'm not sure this is really running. Whatever happened to jogging? Out of fashion it seems)

Happy C25K to everyone, no matter how you do it

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Good luck to you.

We are all capable of doing way more than our bodies are conditioned to do, but not without increasing our injury risk. Sticking to gently progressive training plans is the safest way to push our limits, whilst gently increasing our resistance to injury.

I would recommend to anyone that they should follow a tried and trusted training plan and not to follow your advice of making it up as they go along.

The phrase "too much, too soon" is often uttered by physios consulting with new runners and often reported on this forum.

We are all different and no plan can be a perfect fit for all, but injury can stop you for days, weeks or even months, so why take the risk?

[Spain5k in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Exactly. Why run 20mins if you're not ready to?

I am definitely going at a gently progressive rate, doing warm ups and post exercise and not making big jumps in the amount of running done from run to run, so I am actually taking less risks than I would be if I was following C25K

Thanks IannodaTruffe!