I am so happy and proud to have competed this programme. It really does work when you can put in the energy. I started on 7 Nov and apart from a couple of days off for poor weather and to help ease the aches, I have followed it to the letter. I am definitely not the oldest on here but at 52 I haven’t run more than a few hundred yards at once for more than 30 years. I’ve just completed my final run and managed 5K in 32 1/2 minutes 😳. My top tips are to run somewhere picturesque, to listen to music, to follow the program and not skip weeks even though the next one looks ridiculously hard (the step up to 20 minutes!) and lastly but most importantly do not scowl at dog owners when their 🐕 gets in your way. You only have to see them again on the way back and be embarrassed 😂. The challenge now is to keep going which I will but I’m more sure if it’s the start of running longer or just sticking to 5k. Happy days everyone.
Week 9 Run 3 completed. Is it the end or the s... - Couch to 5K
Week 9 Run 3 completed. Is it the end or the start?
![Markeaton68 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/75e01a53d945cb48be593e1a49bb1840_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![Markeaton68 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/75e01a53d945cb48be593e1a49bb1840_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
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Wow, well done! That's an incredible time for 5k too! Congratulations 🎊
![IannodaTruffe profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/3f4bb9be0d77359f644e07c022a99698_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Many congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.
This guide to post C25k running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Keep running, keep smiling.
![Oldgirlruns profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/cab6bbcfc06246bca57fab41e8d597ed_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Congratulations Markeaton68 - you did it! It’s definitely the start, who knows where you can go from here! I love your advice about glaring at dog owners - I promise I’ll try and remember it next time I’m out and trying to avoid dogs on ridiculously long bits of string that you can’t see until you’re about to have to jump over!
![Couchphoenix profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/1a48354815adaa9293c2b88d338a27dc_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Congratulations Markeaton68, you graduated in style too with a cracking 5k time, enjoy your Graduation Day 🍻
![Lookslikejames profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/c9ed1b0a1838f9d175f17638f01c420e_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Great time Mark, and well done on graduating! If you’re anything like the rest of us then running will have wormed it’s way in to become part of your DNA 😂 I’m sure we’ll see you working your way to 10k and beyond in no time.
![AlMorr profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/f7a060d33970e6649631d36c85a1e2cf_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Never mind the dogs, congratulations on graduating from C25K, well done 😀 🏃🏾 🎓
![Peter44 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/dbb19349dd0b1eb56e115007123e4e58_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Congratulations on finishing the c25k programme, and now the start of your next running journey, like others have said, that's a pretty fast pace, i have a suspicion you'll be extending that distance, enjoy consolidation!🥳🥳🏆🏆👏👏
Well done well done well done. Absolutely fantastic 👏
![Prof1 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/e4a7b9e590e76fbdd317280ab59d8798_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Wow, that’s a brilliant time for the 5K - well done! I completed the programme in December and have only just managed to get up to 5K last Sunday. I managed 5.25K in 41 minutes so I was pleased with that as my daughters took 45 minutes when they finished the programme last summer. I’ll keep trying to run for longer then gradually faster but I’m loving running at the moment (when it isn’t icy, that is!!) 😂
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Well done and good time. My experience is that the runs started to get more enjoyable.
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Many congratulations! It’s just the start 😀. I bet you feel awesome 😎
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Hi Mark,
Many many congratulations on your success on the program - brilliant stuff.
My own journey mirrors your own and your comments sum it up perfectly. I'm 48 and had literally never run further than the bus stop my whole life. Asthmatic and mentally scarred by the PE lessons at school I've made excuses for the last 35 years.
My son, aged 8, started junior park run couple of years back and I thought I'd jog along with him for support. They all shot off at 5min/k pace and I literally died on the side lines after 60 secs. Resigned then that I'll never be a runner.
Through desperation to find something positive a couple of months back a friend suggested this app. I Started the C25k on Nov 5th and graduated on 3rd Jan with a 5k in 32.5 mins also!! such a great and overwhelming feeling.
Should add I have done a bit of swimming in the past so knew I could find some cardio capacity, hidden somewhere deep inside, but I vividly remember the state I was in after Wk1R1, just nine short weeks ago. Every week has been a challenge, and it still is, but somehow it's perfectly set to push you just a little bit more each week.
I was hesitant to post my graduation time as know it can have a negative affect on some just when they don't need it, it did to me when starting out as 5k seemed sooooo long away, but as is said many times on here - mine or anyone else's result has no bearing on your own journey. Measure you own progress against yourself only, if your jog tomorrow is a little better that the jog yesterday then you are winning!!
I've lurked on these forums since the beginning of my journey but this is my first post! but now I've broken the ice I'll hopefully stay around and clap those that get to the end.
Sorry Mark, didn't mean to hijack your thread lol, like you I'm considering what to do next... 2 months ago I really could not run to the end of my road and now I'm on CR5 tonight and its going really well so far. Thanks to everyone on here for the support!!!
So keep on running mate! and best of luck to everyone giving this a go.
Great reply Art. You should post separately as I’m sure you will get lots of nice comments. I also swim a lot but it is definitely a different stamina! The time is a great bonus, I’m sure you agree having done the same, and whilst I’m not going to push too hard I am going to keep 5k up and maybe aim for 30 minutes when park run resumes. I’ve never done one before. Thanks again.
Cheers Mark, yes the swimming is a very different game but from what I can see definitely shares some similarities with efficient breathing and your technique making a huge difference in the effort required. I am a complete beginner with the running bit, and am overweight, so nothing about it is efficient yet lol... but can already see the small improvements in breathing etc. and have managed 3 more 5ks on my CRs which amazes me every time!! Same as you cant wait for the ParkRuns to start again and have promised myself to keep going till then. All the best with you new found hobby ! Art.