A Cautionary Consolidation Tale - imagine an 18yr old at the pub for the first time...

[Foxyblue]

Chances are they don’t know their limits and want to try one of everything

Tequila (sprints),

Yard of ale (increased distance),

Cocktails (new routes),

Whiskey (hills)

Wine tasting (bridge to 10k)

Drinking games (running with more experienced runners)

Results? An early taxi home 🤮 and the classic morning after phrase “I’m NEVER drinking again!”

I spent most of C25k terrified of injury but on graduation I admit I felt a little invincible and was so impressed with myself I found I was repeatedly tempted to go along the top shelf so to speak.

Although I never got to the stage of feeling like “I’m never running again” I did start to lose that love for running that I had found during the program and the recent hot weather was the only excuse I needed to not pick up my running shoes.

Today was my first run in a week and I wasn’t sure what to expect, I made a conscious decision to put no pressure on and get back to just running for pleasure.

Took it steady and mindfully enjoyed the feeling of being out in the cool air. 5k in just under 40mins and enjoyed every moment 😊

So I’m going to stick to my usual vodka, lime & lemon (consolidation runs at a steady pace) for a while to build strength and stamina.

When I know my limits and feel I’m ready I’ll revisit the winery 😉

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

Interesting analogy 🙂...

I get where you are coming from completely though.

Sometimes it's nice to run just for the pleasure of it, nothing more or less. No pressure to go further or faster, but just to go.

Happy running 🏃‍♀️😁

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Have you read the guide to post C25k running which lays out the guidance needed to run in a safe way.

Superhero status does not come with graduation from C25k..........it takes many years of training and carefully planned progress.

Take care.

[Foxyblue in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I did read it, but for a week or so ignored it and found a hidden competitive side to me that I didn’t know I had and have since confirmed I don’t like!

I’ve stuck to all the advice in the guides the whole way through, not sure why I lost my way but don’t worry I’ll be realistic from now on 👍🏼

[Plattszo Graduate]

Hi Foxy!

I love this analogy and sorry to hear you over indulged and needed to sleep off the hangover 😉

This is exactly what I was trying to explain to Tinytears60 last night. I have completed 6 consolidation runs now and feeling like I am only making slow progress in covering a bit more distance in the same 30 minutes. I guess I am a little afraid of mixing it up too much and losing my way.

With everything we go through as we are becoming runners/growing as runners, we learn through each run and become better for it. You will understand your limits a lot better than someone like me who hasn't really tried yet.

Hope you are not beating yourself up. Glad you enjoyed your last run and the pleasure remains. Well done 🤗🤗🤗

[Foxyblue in reply to Plattszo]

Sounds like you are doing it exactly the right way 😊

I’m not being hard on myself, I believe we learn through all our experiences- good and bad. I’m just grateful I didn’t do any lasting damage. I haven’t gone crazy with different things but there’s definitely been a lack of consistency and consolidation so that’s what I’m going to be focusing on now for a good few weeks 👍🏼

[Plattszo Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

Oh good. Glad you are OK... I think I am the polar opposite and afraid to break out of the mould! At the end of the day, you have still been putting the miles into the legs, which is what consolidation is for. 👍

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Plattszo]

So Foxyblue - I can SO relate to this!

I’ve turned into a competitive Annie (only with myself!) 🙈😳 There is a time and a place for her to appear but she’s over indulging and rocking up every time I go out! Woah Annie! 🙈

I wrote a post with 2 questions a couple of weeks back and it relates to exactly what you’re talking about here ...

since I first did 5k .. I feel I need to do that every run (which is ridiculous.. I know this yet still strive to do it! 🙈).. I somehow feel I’ve not done my best if I don’t do 5k ( again ridiculous!)

It’s certainly addictive isn’t it ... which is not bad thing, if harnessed correctly.

I hear you loud and clear and if honest you are someone I look up to on here - you’re doing amazing so you’re right... NO pressure! I can give others the best advice like that but I expect too much of myself! 🤣 Thats why I tried some fartleks earlier this week.. I’ve not got to a place where I don’t enjoy running but I do think I’ve been guilty of pushing myself on occasions ... like you... I will do my best to restrain the Competitive Annie in me - if she’s not careful I’m gonna gag her and sit her in the corner!🤣 Either that or I can introduce her to your competitive Gremlin 👺 and they can run off into the sunset together!

Oh and speaking of over indulging as an 18 year old .... Plattszo had the idea to go out last night!.. we had a fab time but I’m an absolute lightweight 🙈 🤕 🤢 🍸🍹🍸 and as such feeling a tad delicate for my run this morning! I had 3 whole drinks (plus being athletes 🤣 we also had water 💦) 🤣🤣🤣🤣

🤣🤣🤣🤣 All good fun!

Enjoy your running lovely 💕

[Foxyblue in reply to Tinytears60]

😂 thats TT. I think like me you just enjoyed C25k so much we’re striving to keep that buzz going but you’re right we can achieve the same levels of enjoyment by being sensible. Nothing wrong with nursing that same pint all night 😉

I’m not a drinker either so 3 drinks would have floored me too 😜

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

... And in the spirit of giving competitive Annie a slap I may not even go for a run today- see how I feel in a bit.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with the bit about the ‘buzz’ of C25k 👍

x

[Plattszo Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

it is definitely about the buzz!!

[TallTeal2020 Graduate]

This is an ace post! This is me 100% too. I did start the magic 10 plan but I've now decided to just do consolidation runs and not put any pressure on myself. Sometimes three runs in a week can cause wee niggles in my knees and ankle so I'm sticking to my good ild faithful gin and tonic and aim to do two runs a week until I'm feeling stronger and once I'm comfortably doing three runs a week I'll then start the plan.

I just had a four day break and went out Friday. I left the house really not feeling it and seriously thought I'd be lucky to hit 3k. But I was overjoyed when I hit 5k and took 45 secs off my PB!!

I think we are both drinking with our sensible heads on (makes a change for me).

Happy running Foxyblue 😊

[Foxyblue in reply to TallTeal2020]

Cheers 🥂 😉

[nowster Graduate]

Your round? I'll have a pint of shandy, please. 🍺

[Jools2020 Graduate]

I hear you! I just felt like if I could only push myself a bit harder I could ....... run faster! Or - faster for longer!

I managed the elusive 5K in 44 minutes. I was exhausted. I kept pushing to try and get 4K in 30 minutes. I managed 33 minutes. 34 minutes. 32 minutes. Pushing really hard. No deal. I just couldn’t do it.

Then I got ready to go out running one morning and found..... I didn’t want to go. Where did that come from? I did the whole programme and never missed a run. Not one! I had to reassess. Of course running like that goes against all the advice on post graduation runs, but we all know best, don’t we? 😉

I went out on a really, really slow run in heart rate Zone 3. I ran for an hour. It was so easy it felt like cheating. I loved it. I stopped and I wasn’t exhausted. I could have carried on. The following week I stopped trying to better my personal bests. I just went out and ran for 30 minutes. I stopped bothering about distance. The next run I tried Fartleks. Loved them. I went on another hour long run. I’m scoping out new routes, and varying old ones.

I’m enjoying it again and not putting myself under pressure. That’s the way forward for me with consolidating. This kind of running I love, now I’ve given myself permission to enjoy running slowly sometimes! Maybe I will eventually run 5K in half an hour, maybe I won’t. I’ve stopped stressing about it. I will certainly be able to run 10K when I’m ready, although I doubt I will break any records!

That’s me done, over and out ! 😀👍

[Foxyblue in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it’s so nice to hear I’m not the only one 😬

Sounds like you are doing amazingly though 🏃‍♀️

I guess we all have to find our own path, we all have different goals and reasons for wanting to run. The trick is remembering them and not getting side tracked 😜

Definitely feeling more settled now I’ve reaffirmed that for now my only goal is to run for pleasure (following guidance to avoid injury 😇)

[Rocky1122 Graduate]

Great analogy!, and a very enjoyable post and replies. I broke my ‘usuals’ rules for consolidation today too - usual for me is 30mins and c5k and I’d done 4 or so. That’s your session lager, maybe Carlsberg..

Today I went off piste with 45mins, 6.4k and clearly some Stella and maybe a cheeky depth charge.

[Foxyblue in reply to Rocky1122]

😂 brilliant 👌🏼

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

Great post.....maybe stick to the miniatures, ie one gradual step at a time. I don’t think there’s any harm in setting yourself challenges, in fact I think it’s important to have goals to maintain interest, but they shouldn’t rule you, should be realistic and should be fun too.

I understand what TT60 is saying that anything less than 5k seems a failure if you’ve run 5k, but there’s nothing wrong with a comfortable 4K run or 3k even. I’ve mentioned the Nike Run Club app a few times on here, but I like its range of runs, it’s like a menu you can choose from.....and not a cocktail menu 😜 🍹

[Foxyblue in reply to Couchphoenix]

Ha love it 😉

I’ve downloaded the app but not really looked at it yet. Might look at it in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the reminder 👍🏼