Week 8 Run 3

[C2691]

I’ve completed week 8 today. I only ran 3.69km. Do I just keep repeating this week til I get faster? I’m rever going to reach 5k by the end of next week 😖🙁

[Instructor57 Graduate]

No you don't .

This is not about speed or distance .

Keep it slow and distance is irrelevant.

The requirements for graduation are that you run the 3x30 minute runs in week 9.

Nothing more and nothing less 😁

This may help .

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[C2691 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Ok thanks. That makes me feel a bit better just the fact I’m nearing the end and haven’t achieved a 5k run was a bit disheartening. But I’ll keep going 😊

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to C2691]

Your doing just fine !Have a look at the article I linked to and the poll results 😁

[C2691 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Wow thanks for that. I thought I’d be the only one. 😂Feel so much better now!!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to C2691]

No worries, it's a common question as I said in the article Enjoy week 9 and your graduation run ! 😁👍

[C2691 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I will do, I never thought running for 30 mins would be something I could do. The program is fab. Thanks again.

[Bounce112 in reply to C2691]

Your doing great!!! Keep going don't give up. I'm a slow runner but I'm happy with my pace!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Instructor57 has given you all the facts You are doing brilliantly and you are running this, your way.

Interestingly too, many, many of our most awesome runners on the forums, have never completed 5K in 30 minutes .. they run Triathlons, Marathons etc, etc, but not that 5K in 30 minutes... nor have they any desire to do so

Simply enjoy your running and reach that podium, where will be waiting, with your badge, to cheer you home

Well done you!

[C2691 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you very much. I will definitely enjoy next week much more than I thought because I won’t feel that pressure now! I’m so glad I came here and asked

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to C2691]

That is what we are here for x

[Devon_straggler Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

It would be interesting to repeat the poll of more experienced runners too. Even a year on my fastest 5k is 34:30. That's 8 minutes faster than my first ever 5k, but the 30 mins is not something that I think is particularly likely for me, perhaps because I'm not that interested in it so don't train for speed specifically. But I look at some of the parkrun records near me (hilly courses) and they're at ~17, 18 minutes. It hardly seems worth travelling there for such a short period of exercise, the 40 minute completers are getting much more value for their travel time 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Devon_straggler]

I like that... I am not a regular park runner. I go at my own pace and usually choose to run with the tail runner That way I am never last The idea of an 18 minute 5K terrifies me... My last park run was 38 minutes I think on the Saharan sands of Plas Heli!

[Vespina Graduate]

As everyone has said, it’s about time and frequency not distance. I suppose Couch to 30 Minutes didn’t sound quite as catchy, but it would have been more accurate 😄. Enjoy your final runs. Nearly there.

[C2691 Graduate in reply to Vespina]

Thank you. Will enjoy them so much more now I know I’m not massively failing like I thought I was!!! 😆

[Hidden]

The advice I was given was just work on the 30 mins and stick to the program. Take on board everything the Administrators tell you and you will reap the rewards their knowledge and experience is excellent.

[Roxdog Graduate]

All the replies you've had say it all. I would just add that until a blip recently, I was running 10ks and more regularly, but have never managed a 5k in 30 minutes and probably never will. Some do, some don't and it depends on all sorts of factors! You are doing great - keep it nice and slow at this stage.

[smokeysmoke Graduate]

I ran for 33 mins yesterday and did 4.4k. Not sure I’ll ever do the 5k in 30 mins but I ran for 33 mins!!

[C2691 Graduate in reply to smokeysmoke]

Amazing, well done. It feels like such an achievement doesn’t it. For lots of reasons I never thought I’d get to this point but I have!!! 😁

[smokeysmoke Graduate]

It certainly is. If anyone had told me a year ago I’d be running…. 😂😂😂😂

[Belushi Graduate]

A frequent questions and as others have said it is about the time. Interestingly only about 15% of graduates from this program do 5K in 30 mins in the 9 weeks, my 1st 5K was just under 40 mins. It too me 18 months before I made 30 mins. You are doing really well, 3 runs to go!

[Crolla]

Bit late and I can see you have lots of good answers here, but chipping in to say that I completed C25K in 2018 and my distance at the end of the nine weeks was 3.7k. I have been running more or less regularly ever since (few weeks off injured etc) and I've run a sub thirty minuter about four times. I average 32 minutes. Good luck with graduating. And enjoy your running!