completed it! mixed feelings

[Vogueskater]

So completed my final run on week 9 today. Took me about 11 weeks total to complete. Actually ran 4k in 32 mins as wanted to finish at 4k.

Am really proud of myself I managed to do this but just wanted to put a different perspective out there than all the 'I'm on a high' posts.

Did I lose weight? Nope. I actually gained 5 pounds and and inch on my waist over the programme! Feeling pretty rubbish about that, but I knew it would happen as any new aerobic exercise regime I have ever tried this happens initially. My body is like 'need to conserve and eat more calories, esp carbs!' And have been massively stressed working in healthcare in a pandemic, so need to be kinder on myself I think!

Am I upset I didn't get to 5k? No. seeing the graph where only 10% get to 5k at the end really helped bust this myth.

Am I a runner now? ummm, probably not. I want to continue and consolidate to 5k and do some parkruns when they return, however most of the way through couch to 5k for me has to be honest been a painful slog to prove I could do it. And today's final run was one of the worst- literally the last five minutes was 'just. keep. moving. your. legs.'

For me its about endorphins. I just find it much more difficult to produce endorphins running than other more HIIT type exercise like spin, dancing, aerobics etc. Always have. To run fast enough to get endorphins going I have to pretty much max out my pace in the first km, and then it's game over

Am I going to keep running? Well, we'll see. It's easy in that I can just put my shoes on and run out the door and get some fresh air.

Would I recommend c25k- definitely! I am a GP and will be recommending it much more as it's so well planned out even people with a surprisingly low level of initial fitness can complete it.

Thanks to this forum for all your support x

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

"To run fast enough to get endorphins going I have to pretty much max out my pace in the first km, and then it's game over"..........is where you are getting it wrong........slowing down to the recommended easy conversational pace makes it more achievable and for most, more enjoyable. and is actually the best pace to build your stamina and endurance.

This guide to post C25k running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on completing run 3 of week 9 and graduating from C25K, you deserve to be very proud of yourself 😊 🏃🏾 🎓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 November graduation homepage and tell the administrators that you have ran W9R3 of C25K and graduated 🎓 🏃🏾 👍, now go and celebrate 🎉 🎓 your graduation with a glass of 🍷 🏃🏾

[Peter44 Graduate]

Well done, and congratulations on completing the c25k programme, and your very open, honest post, as you say, different from most graduation posts. Quite surprised, getting to w9, and still finding it so hard going, i'm no expert, and guess most would say, your going too fast, i dont know. I think what you say about no weight loss, is quite common, from what others have said, me too, maybe that would come with longer runs!Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide, re running in the future! 😀

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Congratulations 🍾 it’s not been an easy year to complete anything, especially given your career. We didn’t lose weight but we are a lot fitter and at our age that’s pretty good going 4k in 32 minutes is pretty good, i think when we graduated we covered not much over 3k and it was really hard work, now we’ve managed to run slow enough that we can carry on for well over an hour

Good luck whatever you do going forward and most of all keep well and stay safe

[Hidden]

Congratulations. I'm in awe of your grit and determination, especially taking your job into account. I'm retired and just starting out. Your honest words are inspiring. 🏆🏃😊

[Jell6 Graduate]

Congratulations, you did it, but you didn't enjoy it? Looking at some of your other posts it looks like you impressed yourself at some point. Certainly your week 5 run 3 post was positive, but it also looks as if you mindset was spot on for that run, no focus on pace, just aim to get the 20 minutes done, and you could have done more.

Try that pace for your consolidation runs, you might have an epiphany!

Weight gain? I'm sure you know that is most likely due to your increased food intake. I stopped weighing myself shortly after I started this programme. Prior to that I had done the 5:2 diet for years.

Now I don't fast, but I do drink more water than I ever have. My weight is probably stable. Certainly I can still fit comfortably in my clothes.

Enjoyment of running used to only come to me after the run, but recently I started running much slower, but generally further. Now I often enjoy the actual run.

I hope that you find the joy🤩