Consolidation week 2: purposiveness without purpose

[TortoiseRegretsHare]

I wondered about starting another programme once I'd graduated (a couple of weeks ago) but decided I would just run 30 minutes 3 times a week with no particular goal other than settling in to running and learning a bit more about how I run & focusing on posture (making sure I keep my head up and shoulders back - that sort of thing). Just finished week 2, run 2, so that's 5 consolidation runs.

I think not having a goal has helped me enjoy running more - I can't say I enjoyed the C25K runs until I got home and felt pleased with myself, but now I'm starting to see why people enjoy running. It's like bike riding - feels like freedom.

I'm not fast, but I figure that I will get faster anyway, just by running regularly. And when there's no more space for improvement or I find myself wanting to run further, I'll go back to proper goal setting and find a new programme.

[Ant50 Graduate]

Post C25K I am following the same route as you, just running three times a week. I’m not purposefully going out to run quicker or longer but after a few months of running my normal 5k time has dropped to between 29 - 31 mins and I’ve pushed distance to 7.5km (occasionally)! That’s not to say that some runs aren’t killers because they are, but pleased that I haven’t dropped below 5km distance for about 25 runs or so now. Anyhow the purpose of this reply is to say, just get out there and keep running regularly and your running will improve, just by building up stamina. Good luck with consolidation.

[TortoiseRegretsHare Graduate in reply to Ant50]

Wow - that's impressive. I'm averaging around 4.5km in 30 minutes at the moment which is fine with me and my pace is going up very slowly - but I think I'm a way behind you in consolidation, so happy.

[Ant50 Graduate in reply to TortoiseRegretsHare]

That’s about where I was when I finished C25K. Like I say I haven’t focused on speed or distance it’s just come about with regular consolidation runs, which was a nice surprise. Quite happy that I can do 5k non stop on a regular basis, not that it makes the first 1km of any run any easier. Not trying to go faster or longer, just focusing on regular running as there are still days when I have to force myself out the door to run! Keep on with the consolidation runs.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

Build the habit and find out what you enjoy.

The best is yet to come.