Am I cheating?: I’m nearly there. Week 9 and Run... - Couch to 5K

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Am I cheating?

Maximodad profile image
MaximodadGraduate
14 Replies

I’m nearly there. Week 9 and Run 2 done yesterday. But a 3 day gap since Run 1. I find 48 hours is just not enough time to recover. I feel blitzed after 30 minutes jogging, even at my funeral pace. And I think I must have the record for the least distance covered in the history of C25K. Is it just age? Or the extra cargo I’m carrying? (at a guess about 20 pounds minimum). Do I still qualify if I wait till tomorrow - or even Saturday?

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Maximodad profile image
Maximodad
Graduate
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14 Replies
Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate

No you’re not cheating Maximodad - if you need extra days between runs, take them! I nearly always had 2 days between my runs, especially when they started to get longer, and I still do. If you try and push it you’ll either injure yourself or it will become a chore and not enjoyable - neither of which you want! And don’t worry too much about how far you go - I was only getting to about 2.8k at graduation and most people don’t get to 5k in the 30 minutes! Happy running!

RedIrishRunner profile image
RedIrishRunner

Definitely not cheating!!! Take as many days as you need to recover, and run at whatever pace. The weeks aren't actually meant to be stringently adhered to in that sense!

Maximodad profile image
MaximodadGraduate in reply toRedIrishRunner

Good to know RedIrish. I had a week off after week 7 anyway to have my cataract operation. And I took 2 weeks to get past week 4.

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate

There's no distance, speed or frequency requirement to the runs. The only qualification is to have run for 30mins three times on different days. It doesn't matter if your next run is two weeks from now.

John_W profile image
John_WGraduate

According to Section 7 ("Rules for Graduation"), Rule 12, Clause b.2, found on page 83 of "The Official HealthUnlocked.co.uk C25K Handbook" (published 2011), I regret to inform you that running W9R3 any later than TODAY will invalidate your graduation and that you need to start C25K again.

Think of it like picking up the 'Go to Jail' card in Monopoly. Do NOT pass 'GO'. Do NOT pick up £200.

W1R1 for you on Monday - and yes, we'll grant you the weekend off.

We're nice like that.

acountrycabbage profile image
acountrycabbageGraduate in reply toJohn_W

🤣

Maximodad profile image
MaximodadGraduate in reply toJohn_W

Crikes, you had me worried there John-W. Was that a tongue in cheek I detected? Or are you open to bribes?

John_W profile image
John_WGraduate in reply toMaximodad

We should take this offline.

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor in reply toMaximodad

I will overrule John on this one.............or you can bribe him, if you want to.

Make it work for you.

You are doing great.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply toJohn_W

What ?

ALL weekend off !!!

HAHA 😂😂😂

Dorian1 profile image
Dorian1Graduate in reply toJohn_W

it would only be funnier if the publishing date was more anachonistic, 1952. it adds a stuffiness to it.

Couchphoenix profile image
CouchphoenixGraduate

Funeral pace made me laugh 😂, take as many rest days as you need, it’s not a race Maximodad, you’ll enjoy your graduation run all the more if your good and rested. Don’t worry about distance it’s more about stamina, you can easily aim to increase your distance when you’ve graduated, setting yourself your own goals 👍🏃‍♂️

Blackberrypie profile image
BlackberrypieGraduate

Definitely listen to your body - muscle building/repair time is a vital part of the training! I also found I needed to take a bit more time between runs towards the end of the programme - you're covering a lot more distance than in early days.

Maximodad profile image
MaximodadGraduate

Thanks all. I see I'm not alone on this. Weather check says tomorrow best day for it - cool but dry. Watch this space!

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