I’m still thinking back 🤔 to W1R1 on 27th May and the feeling and worry 😟 I had after running for 1 min of whether I’d finish the program 📖 ... from an ability, fitness and commitment perspective.
But here I am on 9th August, just having completed consolidation run 11 🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️... a total of 38 activities completed since the starting C25K.
This week saw me achieve things (not always as planned 🤷♂️) that I wouldn’t not have believed possible on 27th May:
- Monday - my 1st 10% plus time run of 39 mins covering over 6km 🥇
- Wednesday - my fastest run covering 5k in under 27.30mins 🥇
- Friday - my 1st 10km in just under 62mins 🥇
- today a sedentary 30 min restorative run with a pace of 7min/km 🏆
Add to this, I’m a stone lighter, at my NHS BMI ideal weight for the 1st time in over 20 years 💪, have more energy 💪, have some great supportive chats with fellow C25K’ers on the forum 👋... I can honestly say the C25K plan has been nothing short of excellent.
I wonder what next week will bring ! ... 🤔
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PlymBorn
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Congratulations on starting ... well done 👏👏👏 ... the plan is well designed... pushes you but not to the extent of being too harsh ... also, focus on the fact it is an ultimate 30 min running aim ... you might do 5k in that time, most don’t ... so don’t get hung up on it ... and enjoy the forum and it’s support ... we’ve all been there at W1 .. and have lessons we’ve learned and share ... go for it !
Thank you so much !! I simply found an exercise plan a) I’ve stuck to b) works for me c) introduced me to running ... next week is a series of slow 5k’s to restore stamina
We’ve all come a long way! I was thinking about the first week yesterday, after my 60 minute run. From struggling to run 60 seconds and wondering if I’d made a terrible mistake, to running for 60 minutes yesterday and not even being out of breath! Nothing short of amazing! I’m already a lean running machine 😀 having lost a lot of weight before I started the programme, but I feel so much fitter. Not to mention the mental health benefits. My future is still uncertain, but I’m on the way to coping with it in a better way. I’ve been able to make plans and to focus on me, whatever the future holds. I have to give credit to the forum, too, for the part that my fellow C25K’ers have played in supporting me through the worst time of my life, sometimes without realising it.
Your list of successes is nothing short of inspirational and you should be very proud! Weight loss as well! Health benefits priceless. It is an amazing programme for sure - we are all going from strength to strength! Long may it continue!
A huge ‘well done’ to you for your list of achievements 👏👏👏👍. The programme is great and the forum support is fantastic, but it was still down to you to put in the hard work! 😀
Julia, many thanks for those kind words ... I think I’m blushing ☺️
Cannot agree more ... the benefits of this plan are exceptional ... fitness, energy and definitely mental health ... a real positive sense of self worth, achievement and calm for me when running .. in this day of connectivity 30 mins to oneself is rare ... running gives this to me.
To think we’ve both run for 60 mins when we struggled with 60 secs ... what a way we have come in a few weeks ... and where will it end ... that’s in our hands !
And note, I did a slow run today ... given you said you’d be watching me !! 😂
Well done for slowing down 👍🏻 I really think that’s the secret. I’ve started eating less and healthier(I’d fallen into v bad ways) and determined to lose weight as I get fitter and healthier.
Hi Ruby, the weight has come off gradually over the nearly 3 months I’ve been doing C25K... however I would add, I have been eating healthier and drinking less during this time ... I started C25K to get fit, so at the time decided I’d eat less “junk” too ... so would say it’s a combination of the 2 ... not just the running.
Thanks Ian ... cannot disagree with a thing you said ... although blushing with the praise !
And the forum is superb ... I have profiles on other social media sites (twitter, insta etc) .. and slightly disheartened by then as they seem to be a forum of hate and nastiness (some good too) ... but HealthUnlocked is nothing but positive and friendly .. how social media should be !
Thanks for such kind words Jane ... It was a week I am so proud off.
This week will be simply running 5ks .. no speed record or distance record ... as one of the admins IannodaTruffle advised! I shall be fitting some nice slow paced runs to build stamina further. So boring post alert for this week!
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Can you help please with advice on running after a period of illness?
Finished C25K a week ago...
Am only managing to run 3.8K not 5K in 30 mins, am I very slow? How far do other 40+, female, novice runners run? Are there 40 min podcasts?
Postgrad week 1 - park run 🌳 🏃🏼♀️ 🌳 
FROM 6” HIGH HEELS TO RUNNING SHOES
