C25k+ - hate it: graduated early Dec & have been... - Couch to 5K

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C25k+ - hate it

14 Replies

graduated early Dec & have been consolidating until this week when I thought I'd try & increase my speed. Have now tried SS podcast twice & really hate.

I feel as if I'm in a rave, can't follow the beat & spend 30 mins counting 1234 & hoping I'll be in time when the narrator speaks again. Awful. Awful

Does anyone know any alternatives to getting some proper musicc & beat please?

14 Replies
IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

It is not compulsory.

What are your aims for your running in the next year?

Giving that some thought will help define how you want to approach your training.

You might find this FAQ post about getting faster helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate

Ha, I never got on well with it either 🤣But as already asked, what are your goals?

For me it was to get to 10K, wasen't really interested in pace

in reply to Instructor57

I have a total hip replacement so am running on a cross trainer so there is no impact. Sadly I'll never do a park run or anything like so it is about challenging myself & making it incrementally more difficult & getting fitter

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor in reply to

To persist long term with anything, it helps if you get some satisfaction from it. If just making it harder and harder floats your boat then just devise an incremental plan like C25k to get you where you want to be. Many people ultimately find this dispiriting, because they will reach a limit.

For someone in their sixties, there is not a huge amount of fitness to be gained from attempting to get faster and faster nor indeed from running long distances. Regular aerobic exercise of moderate duration and intensity is generally considered to be more effective.

Browse through the FAQ Posts here healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and have a look in particular at the ones about Aging and Running and Getting Faster.

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduate

I can empathise Hidden -I tried approximately two minutes of the C25K+ podcasts and hated it so much I switched them off and deleted them all. There's no point in making yourself miserable.

Personally I don't get on with guided runs or running to a beat, so I don't do that. If you do want a bpm playlist, just Google, or look on Spotify or whatever music app you prefer. You could also try guided runs on Nike Run Club.

Don't forget, either, that it's longer, slower runs will give you the foundation for increasing speed.

Also, some people - I'm a prime example - find that going faster just isn't their thing. After consolidating C25K I decided to do the Magic Plan to get me to 10k - one of the best things I ever did! Turns out I like hills, messy forest trails and longer distances, not speeding along the road.

Your choice - happy running!

ps12345 profile image
ps12345 in reply to Cmoi

Podrunner.com has all the different bits- beats without tunes, so you can concentrate on running - also a plan of 4 podcasts which feature increasing speeds Try it!!

Cmoi profile image
CmoiGraduate in reply to ps12345

Thanks for the info ps12345 , though I think you meant to reply to Hidden . 😀

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate

I never got on with the C25K+ stuff either. I didn't get beyond a minute into listening to them before switching off.

Every time I tried to increase speed I got injured. So instead I went for increasing time and distance. After about six months of doing that my speed naturally increased.

Teacher23 profile image
Teacher23

Bbc sounds are great

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate

If you don't like it, don't do it. I also hated the music! Why not do your own version, with or without your own music. Making your own plan is fine! Or just keep consolidating. The main thing is to enjoy your running!As a runner who avoids plans like the plague (apart from cto5k itself), I looked at various plans and then did my own version.

Good luck!

R2Bears profile image
R2BearsGraduate

I've been using Speed podcast since graduation, which was over 2 months ago. When I used it first time, I didn't like it either. I'm short and my steps are small so I'm a bit quicker than the music beats. So I just use it as a timer for 'slow' and 'fast' and make use of Laura's encouragement. It works for me now that way.

Voldatort profile image
VoldatortGraduate

I use Nike run club with my own music, which is naturally increasing in pace as I get fitter.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

I only ever run to my own music and am another one who didn’t get on with other podcasts and guided runs. A fun way to work on your speed is using Fartleks (yes, a proper running term and it is Swedish for ‘Speed play’). On a day when you feel strong, just pick a landmark up ahead, such as a tree or telegraph pole etc and increase your pace until you reach it before easing off and recovering. You can work several of these in to a run but the great thing is that you have the control as to how far you go and, of course, how fast!

Runners Workd explain it all far better than I do - link below! Good luck.🙂

runnersworld.com/uk/trainin...

MrBassmanjazz profile image
MrBassmanjazzGraduate

I didn't get on with the Stepping Stone podcast. (I did pick up a useful technique tip, though).

I use NRC, (Set 30mins, (I like to mark off the distance)), with CBDB's Spotify playlist and have been very happy. :-)

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