Feeling Accomplished

[PDIGC]

I completed the Couch to 5K program on 28 June and it has given me a feeling of real self accomplishment as well as having become more active and healthier than I have in a long time. I live in Gran Canaria but completed weeks 4 to 9 whist visiting back in the UK, so I benefited from the cooler temperatures and also found it quite enjoyable jogging in the occasional shower! I'm now back home and haven't started any consolidation runs yet and now wondering how I will cope with the higher temperature here - I'll just have to try it and see, but any advice would be appreciated, providing it's not telling me to get up early to beat the heat as that won't happen!

I do feel guilty that this is my first post to the group now that I have completed it, despite having been encouraged and motivated by all the other contributions that I read every day. When I started I seriously doubted the program and my own ability to jog for 30 mins by the end particularly when thinking back to how I struggled through the first runs, but it's very clever and pushes you just enough each time to get there. So for any doubters just just starting, trust the program and the advice to take it slow and steady and try to ignore your own negative thoughts trying to tell you that you can't.

[RosesAreRed777 Graduate]

Absolutely and well done! If getting up early is a no no then go later when the sun is going down. Both lovely times for a run

[sparky66 Graduate]

Accomplished and estatic! Huge congratulations on your graduation 🎉

Youl figure out times to run,

Coz youl be addicted now 🤣

Welcome to the madness.

Hopefully the first of many posts 🙏

Woo woo you done it 🥇

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you....

Back home it is going to be tricky...so give yourself time to readjust?

I have had the experience of running in very hot temperatures in France, but I was an early riser

So, I've done a bit of reading around and the key points I found were that

If you are not an early bird, then you may have to just find the coolest part of the day and slot the runs in then. running later...finding a shady route, somewhere that is cooler than a built up or open area.If there is a breeze, run out a with the wind and back into it... cool you down

Wear as little as possible, light coloured and lightweight, lightweight. Microfiber polyesters and cotton blends are good fabric choices.

Hat, is essential... ( TrailHeads do a great range...huge brims, I have two shades and a really good sunscreen.

Drink little and often... ( all the time.. not just running days. Some folk recommend Sports drinks too.

Apparently medication and obviously alcohol, may affect your running in heat too?

Now I think this is great... the idea that you substitute at least one run a week with a water run! I did this when I was recovering from cracked ribs and it was surprisingly helpful and enjoyable..

Do the water run/walk for the same length of tine as your run. You can use a flotation device if you need to, but you move your legs as if you were running on land, with a slightly exaggerated forward lean and strong arm pumping!

If all else fails, we have had some awesome runners on here, living in locations where running outside is impossible because of weather, or other restrictions and they use a treadmill... not ideal maybe, but it works for them and they have huge success in many areas of their running too

Not sure if this has been any use, but will be interested to see how you fare. And, now you have found us... maybe you might post again and share your experiences with some of our forum friends?