Elevation

[hells_bells2207]

I’m so new to running ; there’s so much I don’t know!

What is ‘max elevation’ & ‘elevation gain’ please?

[roseabi]

Max elevation is the highest point you reached on your run, and elevation gain is the total amount of climbing you did.

xxx

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to roseabi]

Thank you for replying to both of my questions. It’s so helpful.

[nowster Graduate]

Max elevation is the highest spot height above sea level you reached. Elevation gain is how much climbing you've done in the run.

86m of climb in a 3km run is a lot of climbing. Well done! That's really good going for someone who was on the couch two months ago.

And don't get bothered by pace. I can't do 5km in 25 minutes. My PB after 18 months of regular running is 25'43". If I break the 30 minute mark at my local (hilly) parkrun, I'm chuffed.

Chasing the numbers will detract from the enjoyment you might get.

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Thank you so very much. There’s so much to learn.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Only a small proportion of graduates from this forum who responded to a poll, managed 5k in 30 minutes by graduation healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

Graduation requirements are that you complete three thirty minute runs, regardless of distance.

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you so very much for your help. I think it’s the title that makes me think I need to achieve 5K in 30 mins.

I appreciate the name C25K does not say that. It’s just by the end we will be running 30 minutes & the app is known by distance not time & it keeps making me link them!

If that makes sense 🤔.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to hells_bells2207]

Have a look at the poll and I think you will be reassured.

We all bring different levels of fitness to C25k and the membership of this forum covers five or six decades and includes individuals with variable abilities and disabilities, so no two individuals are going to perform the same.

The app, podcast and the guide to the plan all make it clear that the aim of the plan is to get you running for 30 minutes, which for some will be 5k.

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you You’ve been really helpful.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to hells_bells2207]

Forget distance, you are actually doing amazingly well 👍

Another link for you !

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

WOW! Thank you for that!

‘Amazingly well’ is an enormous compliment (especially when I thought I did badly)!

[Yurtle Graduate in reply to hells_bells2207]

I'll second the amazing bit. That was a hilly run as you put in your comment on Strava! 86m rise in 3k travelled. To put that in perspective the usual run I do is 23m elevation in 5k and unless I am running I think of the land around here as pretty flat suburbia. But the end of my run rises just 7m in 200m and that short stretch sends my heart rate up. Soon comes down though on the flat at the top so nothing for me to worry about - it just shows how much extra we need to work to raise our bodyweight a few meters. So if you are doing as well as you are after 7 weeks on such a hilly course just think how easier it would be for you on the flat. But as others have said don't worry about getting the 5k in 30mins yet. Give it a few more weeks to graduate following the plan and then you soon be able to increase the distance slightly to get to your distance goal/Parkrun with ease.

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to Yurtle]

Dear Yurtle, Thank you so very much.That is so incredibly kind, having the time to write out a detailed reply.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to hells_bells2207]

It does make sense. So many beginners think the same.

BUT ... in Week 9, only 10% of graduates reach 5k .... 9 out of 10 graduates do not.

But your running journey need not finish in Week 9 of C25K. If you reach 3.5k in 30 mins and want to get to 5k, then it's very doable. You just add on a bit extra time each week until you reach 5k. Simple

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to John_W]

Thank you so much. That’s really helpful.

My current aim is after I graduate, I’d like to go on a ParkRun.

[Globojim888 Graduate]

Hi Hellsbells 😀 86m elevation gain in 2.92km is quite something! I did a similar distance the other day and my elevation gain was just 6m - pretty flat! You might not realise it, but you are training on what I would consider, a very hard/advanced route! See if you can find somewhere a bit flatter and your times will improve by quite a margin and there will definitely be less huffing and puffing! 😄🏃

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to Globojim888]

Hi I don’t use that area as a training ground.

I knew there were lovely walks there through the forests.

I had been there years ago with Duke 🐶 but had obviously been to another one further up the lane, as that wasn’t hilly!

I wanted a change so I parked up in the forst Forestry Commision car park I saw (there’s about 4 or 5) & set off.

I then realised after 5 minutes in, that every walk had big hills.

So I carried on thinking they would level out, but they didn’t!!

I walked up one hill, but I jogged/ ran many others.

Exhausting!

I won’t go back there until I get more experience & strength & stamina.

Thank you though

Following, hope that’s ok.

[Hidden]

Holey Moley hells_bells2207.

You have had me searching through my runs and even what I thought was hilly (run for life Muddy Run) does not have as much elevation gain as you have done.

I feel shattered thinking about it 🤣.

Get on the flat and I think you will be like a 🚀 😁

[hells_bells2207 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. I ended up on tat hilly route accidentally! Looking forward to today’s run on a flat surface!