Graduated! 5km in 37:39

[mancrunner1]

So, despite what I said in my last post I actually did want to run 5km today, though I knew I wouldn’t do it in anything like 30 mins! Due to my pausing mishap in W8R3 I’d actually already done three 30 mins runs so today I slowed right down and I knew I had plenty left in the tank when Laura said time was up so I carried on for the full 5km, really pleased! Will now be using consolidation runs to see if I can improve the time and then hopefully moving on to the magic plan for bridge to 10km.

I was a fairly experienced runner when I started the programme but I’d become very inconsistent with my runs over lockdown - I wasn’t building either mental or physical stamina so I ran infrequently and then I’d be so sore after a 30 min run I couldn’t go again for another week (when I started the programme in April I hadn’t run at all since January). Thanks to C25K, I’ve run in rain, hail, wind and heatwaves (in the space of 7 weeks!), the day after my 40th birthday party and home from my second jab. There is no way I’d have done any of that without the programme and the support from this forum, thanks everyone! I have rediscovered my love of running and built really good habits around consistency, looking forward to consolidating.

Off to claim my badge! 🏃🏻‍♀️

[Hidden]

Well done, am inspirational post, and it’s true, the program works even when you have doubts. Well done and happy birthday too. Keeep 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much! Hopefully see you in consolidation club!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation and 5k I see you are already proudly displaying your badge 👍😁

Better to have stuck to the 30 minutes though .

And remember consolidation is not for increasing distance or time as will be explained in the consolidation post !

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Happy Running !

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Yes, as I’ve a lot of years of running behind me and have run 5km hundreds of times before I felt confident enough to do it today, I certainly wouldn’t have done if I didn’t have that baseline. Not planning to go any further during consolidation and due to time constraints in the working week 30 mins is much more likely!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Good idea, as according to your posts that Baseline was 10 years ago 👍

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Haha, no, that’s when I was fastest, I was doing it pretty regularly for about 9 and a bit years and then second lockdown did for me and I struggled to find the motivation to start again on my own, so a structured programme has been brilliant for me as has learning to slow down!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to mancrunner1]

Ahh ok !Glad you found the motivation to do the program !

And yes, learning to slow down certainly helps .

Enjoy consolidation !

Then pop over to the bridge to 10k forum if you haven't already 😁👍

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I will, thanks, I’ve never done more than 5km-ish but I’m really excited to try Bridge to 10km after consolidation as I’m feeling very inspired now and definitely seeing the benefits of a progressive programme (I taught myself to run originally and it took absolutely ages!).

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to mancrunner1]

That's great !You'll certainly see the benefits of slowing down on the longer runs !

I just came back from my longest this morning , 13k at 05:45am 😁

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Oh wow, congratulations! Very inspirational!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to mancrunner1]

13 months ago I had never ran in my life 🤣

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Amazing! It’s a properly life-changing programme! I’m married to a marathoner and I don’t think I’ll get that far but I’m definitely feeling inspired to set myself some new goals

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to mancrunner1]

Never say never 🤣👍

[sparky66 Graduate]

Well done on your graduation run 👏👏👏And welcome back to running 🏃‍♀️💕

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to sparky66]

Thank you so much!

[Hidden]

Well done mancrunner1 xx

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

[CressidaB Graduate]

That's really lovely to hear how it has worked for you and how you've made it work. Congratulations. Fantastic achievement.

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to CressidaB]

Thank you!

[Cloakie Graduate]

Congratulations!! 💪

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Cloakie]

Thank you!

[Dups Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation👏👏👏 well done 🥳🎉🥳🎉

[mancrunner1 Graduate in reply to Dups]

Thank you!