Hello fellow runners
Here we are again. Welcome to the Corner.
The cushions are waiting, so slip off the running shoes and stay a while.
Another week and another set of runs. Wow!
Looking at your posts over the last few days, there is so much going on, new folk beginning this great programme, folk reappearing after starting it, but not finishing it, folk repeating it after illness or injury or just life happenings! I am, as ever in awe of your achievements.
I have had a good week, Building back from the start again after a blip in 2020, and now beginning to make progress and being able to simply enjoy the runs again. I repeated C25K, as it is one of the very best ways to come back safely from a set- back, as well as being a great start to a running journey. I recently reached 10 K again which was very satisfying for me, but I am still focusing mainly, on the shorter distances and the 5K mark, until I am feeling really ready to move on.
Now, my point in sharing my running experience with you today, is this.
My mantra is and always has been, slow and steady. It works for me.
My 'slow' pace, has, of course, quite naturally, increased over the nearly 7 years since I began running, but it still is, my, slow and steady. My slow is not your slow, my slow is not the slow of some of our forum friends who move much faster then I, it is my happy pace, and wonderfully, we all have our own ! My speed is mine and mine alone.
Now, one thing that I have picked up on, when reading your posts over the last week, is about just this, Speed. Speed, distance and time.
I have read many posts which have, somewhere in the title; “...going too slowly”, or “ nowhere near 5K “, or,”... not fast enough”. This sort of post appears a heck of a lot. And I often think that we ought to compile a library of those posts and the answers to all of them. I have written oodles of posts about speed and time and distance, over the years. Posts intended to encourage and hearten anyone who feels that they are not succeeding with their running, or not doing, it right, or somehow, dare I use the word we really do NOT use on the forums... FAILING ! EEEK!
The simple answer, to all of the questioning, self-doubting, anxious and sometimes distressing posts, which contain the message, “ Am I too slow...”, is the same.
No. You are not.
In this instance... too slow, does not enter the equation.
You are running through the C25K programme. It is structured, well-planned, and designed to get you to 30 minutes continuous running, steadily, safely, injury free and enjoyably.
For some it may enable them to reach 5K in 30 minutes. For some, not all, and in fact, the polls we have run on the forums over the years, indicate that the Majority do not reach 5K. It is not a requirement to Graduate from the programme.
So. Having set that all out here... now you know. You have not got to reach 5K..and you have certainly not to try to push yourselves so hard that the whole programme becomes a worrisome thing. That really is not what it is all about. A phrase I read years ago, in a reply to one of the anxious post stated, “...the programme is for enjoyment, not endurance”. How true.
Read other folk's posts, read the posts of more experienced runners, pop in here and read what other folk are feeling or doing.
But, be confident in the knowledge that if you trust in and follow the plan, week by week, ( even if it takes you longer than nine weeks), then you will, find, by realising and settling into YOUR own happy pace, you will reach the Graduation Podium, able to run confidently for 30 minutes; an injury free, relaxed and happy runner!
So, lecture over
Time for you to settle down on your cushion, and let us all know how it is going with you.
If you are struggling for any reason, then share that too. I share my problems all the time. Someone here will have felt the same, is feeling the same, or maybe. is going to feel the same, and we can help each other by giving our support and our advice too
A problem shared, is a problem halved
Looking forward to welcoming you and sharing your runs
Oldfloss x
P.S.
I am linking to a post, about speed, that I wrote about 3 years ago, just to show you that I am a real runner, just like everyone here, not simply, a weird old lady in a wooden garden shed!
I run and I have issues... I make mistakes and I pay the price, BUT, I trust in the advice of those friends on the forums here, and I share my running disasters with them. There is always someone who can help and advise. We are so, so lucky!
healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...
Oldfloss x
