2C5k with my partner- will it work for both of us?

[Corrermas]

I'm aiming to do C25k with my partner and we did first run yesterday. Pleased with ourselves to have started!The thing is, she has much shorter legs than me and they are carrying more weight- so our 'natural' pace is very different. She worked hard yesterday, I didn't in order that we covered same distances. Is this going to be effective for both of us? If not,any tips on how we could make it so whilst still running together? Thanks.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Welcome to the forum and the program and we'll done for starting.Have you read the program guide?

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

It's full of crucial information to help you through the program!

As far as pace is concerned , your best development will come by running (jogging) at a conversational pace , so a pace where you could hold a conversation with someone running with you!

So for you and your partner this pace would be set by the slower runner and the other matching it .

Enjoy the program!

[CBDB Graduate]

Well done for starting, you two! I and my partner are in the same/similar boat.

He’s an ex-cross country runner ultra fit. I am thyroid challenged, have shorter legs and am weight challenged. Having said this, I manage to clock up many more miles in my running than he does in his sporadic runs.

We have never managed to run side by side together, but we have had plenty of shared experiences :

- we do regular run-walks: he walks I slow-run Japanese jogging style

- we chose a circular route and go counterwise, which means we meet at some point.

- for a parkrun route with 3 laps that we have run not on a Saturday event, we run opposing directions and that also feels great as you see each other every lap.

- we have used apps and running trackers that allow us both to engage in collaborative challenges (run 100k with your partner) or compete in some aspect with each other (most current one was Stride).

- and boy do we chat at length about running!

But no, we don’t manage to run side-by-side together and I wouldn’t want to. Keeping up with my hubby would have probably meant I would have stopped running at some point as I’d have to run too hard all the time.

So hope you find the best way to share in your running! And if you have any great tips for “couples-running”, let us know!

🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum.

There is a common misconception that to develop your body you need to push hard, whereas an easy conversational pace is the most effective as it means that your blood is fully oxygenated.

Your optimal pace would probably be faster than hers, but please make sure that she is not inadvertently having to keep up with you.

Running with your partner is a great thing to do but you may find that occasionally you enjoy running on your own. It is, for most, a very individual experience.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

It will work, as said above by others they key would be for neither of you to go above conversational pace, which is almost certainly lower for the shorter legged new runner if all else is equal.

I did this with my then 12 year old daughter… there was a considerable height, stride and pace difference. Our solution was to run circuits, but we ran them in opposite directions so we could encourage each other as we crossed over without affecting each other’s pace. Our courses gave us a 500m lap in one place and a 0.9 mile one in another, so we were still able to vary things up.

Now on occasion we run together, I tend to run much further, and I find my long run is much easier if I run with her at the start, she gets me into a nice low gear and good rhythm before she goes home and I can maintain that pace… when I start without her I can’t run that slowly consistently.

[Cmoi Graduate]

Hi Corrermas , as others have said, if you're going to run together you need to do so at the comfortable pace of the slower runner.

If that's dissimilar to that of the faster runner, I suspect that whether or not running together will work depends on the dynamics of your relationship. If you're happy to run slower, and your partner doesn't feel pressured into running faster, that's great. It's also possible that things will even out later in the programme - just because you're stronger and faster now doesn't mean it'll be that way throughout C25K.

However, having her run faster to keep up with you really isn't fair as it compromises her chances of success. I can't speak for her, but I know I'd respond very badly in that situation.

I wish you both every success with C25K.

[Me_time Graduate]

I did it with my sister, she just tagged along once she found out I have started c25k. she was so happy I was giving running a go 😁We could do a lot of runs together, she just matched my pace ( she has been running for years).

I did a lot of runs on my own too. As much as it is fun to have a running buddy, this is our own journey as well and the partner may not be available for all the runs due to difference in schedule at times. You & her may want to include that in your plan for the runs one of you is unavailable.

Happy running!

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Me_time]

Sounds like you had fun running with your sister Me_time . 😀

I think it's probably easier if one partner has some running experience as they're more able to judge pace. Also, they have no pressure to complete the programme.

In the extremely unlikely event that I ever manage to convince my husband to do C25K, I'd be happy to accompany him, but would definitely be going off and doing my own thing separately as well.

[Me_time Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Cmoi , it is fun to run with her and she is super stoked that I am running and we can run together. She joined me from week 3 of c25k. After a couple of weeks I switched to only weekend runs with her. Even though she never put any pressure on me to push myself, it was still there at the back of my mind that the c25k runs can be quite boring for her to do at my pace and interrupted runs. And also I like having the 'me time'- the reason I liked my walks to begin with...I could be just me and reponsible for only myself for an hour or so. But as winter started and my distances increased, we are mostly doing all three runs together as we mostly run after sunset. On occasions she is busy, I still go for my run and stick to running on footpath of well lit main roads. Same with her, when I cant make it, she goes for her own run.As much as I absolutely love having her as my running buddy, (we can chat for hours and the time/distance flies without realising) come summer, I will atleast do one run a week by myself to have that time with just my thoughts or no thoughts, just enjoying my surroundings, people watching, nature watching, anything

[skysue16 Graduate]

Just a thought…..cross training is very good, perhaps sometimes your partner could ride a bike while you run, then you could try out a faster pace? Then on other occasions you could ‘speed walk’, jog slower or even run backwards (apparently difficult but good exercise!). Another thought….Have you got a dog or could borrow one? When I run with my spaniel pulling (using Canicross equipment) my pace increases dramatically- especially if he sees a squirrel 🤣🐿

Best of luck to both of you 👍😊