W7R. Far too hilly for my current ability.

[hells_bells2207]

This was really hard, I picked a forestry commission walk but hadn’t researched it at all. Very hilly, very difficult to keep running.

[roseabi]

Please do not worry about running 5k in 25 minutes at this stage, you are currently training to run for 30 minutes at your own pace - speed comes later in your running career.

Although (as I'm sure you know!) picking a flatter route will help you keep running during the running portions of the run, you can rest assured that your effort going up those steep bits will pay you great dividends whether you are running or walking!

Keep going, you are doing amazingly!!!

xxx

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to roseabi]

WOW! That’s two of you that have used the word ‘amazing’. You roseabi & Instructor57 . That to me is such a massive compliment. I’ll take all your great advice on board too.

You’ve been really helpful. 😊

[roseabi in reply to hells_bells2207]

😍😍😍

[nowster Graduate]

See my reply to your other post. This is actually an amazingly good effort.

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Thank you for both replies. You’ve been so useful. It’s great that we newbies can ask anything we want & we get lovely messages & explanations back.

Thanks 😊

[LanciaA Graduate]

That route looks like hard work - I am impressed 😀😀.I love being in the woods, at any time, walking or running.

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to LanciaA]

Thank you so very much for that. That’s kind of you & reassuring.

[Cmoi Graduate]

Hang on, who are these "many people who easily do 5k in 25 minutes"? There's not a whole bunch of them on the C25K forum, or the Bridge to 10k forum, or even on the Marathon forum!

Because of where I live I run hills all the time, and consider 86m elevation over 2.92k reasonably hilly. Most people on these forums would think it steep, so you've done well giving it a go.

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you for your reply. I thought there were a lot achieving that, but I hear not.

In another forum I’m on, there are quite a lot on a list of running it in under 30 minutes.

But it is a running club!

But you & others on here have told me the reality that there aren’t. So that is reassuring.

Yes today was so hilly; I hadn’t realised when I set off.

One hill I walked!

I don’t want to go back there in the near future!!

The forest of pine trees was beautiful though.

Thanks again.

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to hells_bells2207]

You're welcome. I wouldn't worry about the running club list. In any case, you've just said "5k in under 30 minutes " rather than "5k in 25 minutes." That in itself is a significant difference - you need to look at it in percentage terms, not just as a couple of minutes quicker.

In any case your age, gender, where you're running, experience and idea of fun all influence your pace. Some people like shorter distances and to train to run faster, I don't. You do what you enjoy!

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you. That is all really helpful. I think I’ll be more like you, I don’t want to do ‘fast’ & race!

[Roxdog Graduate]

You are doing so well! That's s great run! Tackling a hill in week 7 and finishing the run is amazing! Just keep on doing what you're doing, because it's working! Slow down if you need to. It sounds like you're enjoying this and are also curious about running. Good luck!

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Thank you so much, it’s very sweet of you. Thank you for such compliments & the reassurance.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

If you go to a parkrun, there will always be runners who get around it in 20-something minutes. I know, I've been lapped by them! But even they get slower on a hilly course. Most not-in-running-club parkrunners take 30-something minutes, and plenty more take longer than that.Like they say 5k is still 5k, whatever speed you do it at. That run you just did is quite an achievement!

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Oh thank you for the encouragement. Thank you also for the explanation. I’m really grateful.