So I graduated today and I just wanted to write this one pretty obvious thought that occurred to me in the last few weeks. It's this: I've tried getting into the habit of running several times in my life, each time setting out quite regularly to 'learn to run' and doing this by - no big surprise - going out and running. But it has never really worked or stuck or become a habit before and I've been wondering why. The answer - which probably everyone here already knows - occurred to me and it's pretty simple. Every single time I went out running in the past, I would run until I couldn't run any more: I would run until I had to stop because I was exhausted. So every single time I went running - and it would get to the point where I could cover a fair few kilometres - no matter the distance, the experience would inevitably and inescapably end in a kind of failure because I would always end with that 'I'm exhausted & I can't run any more' feeling. And that's basically a pretty bad feeling.
But Couch to 5K has been different. Every single run - from the first minute long runs in week one to the 30 minute seeming marathons in week 9 - has ended in a 'success'. And success feels good! Every time I've been running over the course of the last two months, rather than a series of experiences where running effectively beats me every time, there's been instead a series of little personal success stories. And that's been great.
Written by
Poddy_the_poacher
Graduate
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That is a great analysis of what this programme is all about. It’s a carefully thought out , tried and tested plan to help you become a confident and happy runner.
A very detailed and inspiring post from you PTP, congratulations on completing run 3 of week 9 and graduating from C25K 🎓 🏃🏾 👍
To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message in the pinned posts on the right side of the healthunlocked August C25K graduation home page and tell the administrators that you have ran W9R3 of C25K and graduated 🎓 🏃🏾 👍
Now go and celebrate your wonderful achievement with 🍷 🏃🏾 👍 🎓
Perfectly put, just a great programme. Huge congratulations on your amazing achievement. Well done for graduating and good luck for your future running. 🏅🏅⭐️⭐️👏👏😁👍✅
What a great post, particularly as I’m trying to haul myself out of bed to do Wk 2 R1. I’m really interested to hear what happens when you ‘graduate’. Do people still regularly run, because it is habit forming? Or progress to C210k? What happens after WKR3.!
Oh my gosh - yes!!! I actually finish my run on a spurt as I know I have some left in me and that means I go a bit faster next time! So true - the point is to enjoy the run not run until you’re absolutely knackered and hate it! Love this post!
Congratulations on your graduation 🥳
I totally agree, as I’ve always wanted to run and now I’ve graduated I go out 3 times a week and I love it, some runs are only 20 mins after work, but I’m still out there enjoying it 😊
Ohhhh, this sums it all up .I graduated nearly 3 weeks ago and I have carried on running for 30-35 minutes each time and I always grinning when I get to the last couple of minutes. I could never have imagined i would feel this way .Congratulations 👏 to you!
Great post and well done! You are right, I think a lot of people (including myself) set out with the best intentions and actually push themselves harder than is necessary and ultimately running becomes a grind which is not sustainable. C25K is great because it very subtly prepares you for the next stage with each session and gives you a challenging but achievable goal.
Since graduating a month ago I’ve been trying to keep up with 3 runs a week of 30 mins or 5k (about 34 mins for me). I redid week 9 for a couple of weeks until I had the confidence to put the app aside and run without my phone or music.
I’ve just started to try and extend one of the weekly runs a little. Only at 5.6k at the minute - this is the first week of trying something new so I’ll see how it goes.
I’m not currently using any of the post 5k programs as I don’t feel I’m ready for them yet.
I’ve noticed that after the program finished, motivation slipped a bit and needed a few weeks of nagging myself to get out of the door!
Me v similar story. And yes agree. I really really didn’t want to go today wk2run3 but did and it felt good when I finished and makes me feel better about next time. Thanks for posting!!!
Congratulations to you and if you can work out the instructions to get your graduation badge then even better, I graduated in June and couldn't work it out but I'm still running and discovered today my blood sugar levels have fallen by 2 points which is a bonus, gone luck and enjoy the challenge of running solo
Totally agree with you. I graduated last Sunday, still a 🐌 but have enjoyed the experience. My daughter started and the same time and gave up, she ran quite fast and had stitch etc., so packed it in.
I’m not a 5k success but 4K suits me at the moment.
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Week 9 Run 3 Complete! ✅
Week 9 Run 3, Graduation 🎉😄🎉
Week 9 Run 3 in the bag!!
Week 9 Run 3! Graduate 😀
Week 9 - Run 3 - Graduate
