Week seven done!

[iain-strachan]

I'm back - after a LONG break. It was all going swimmingly till Feb 2019. I'd lost around 3 stone in weight, graduated Couch to 5K, doing parkruns, did Bridge to 10k, loving it all.

Then Feb 2020 - during a 10K run, fell over going too fast downhill. Nasty fracture of two knuckles. Got operated on in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford on Valentine's day 2020. Was banned from any exercise for 8 weeks while the cast was on. Then started up again during lockdown, but started too quickly, doing the "Virtual Parkrun". I injured my Achilles Tendon, which took 4 months to recover - agonising physio exercises before being able even to walk more than 1k without excruciating pain. (Achilles is a bummer!)

Working from home didn't suit my figure - too many biscuits during the panic instilled in everyone during Lockdown, so it all went on.

Other things happened - a house move among others, so only now have resumed, about 3 stone overweight

But pleased to say I've completed week 7 today, and indeed after the 25 minutes were up, I carried on for another 3 minutes, to prove that Week 8 isn't going to be daunting.

One thing I'd say, having watched these boards for a long time in 2019. Everyone lives in fear and dread of Week 5 run 3 and Week 6.

But really it's not too bad. The program really works. In fact the biggest incremental change in length of running is Week 3 to Week 4 when you increase from 9 to 16 minutes total running. Week five takes you to 20 (a smaller change but it's continuous) and Week 6 to 25, then you get to consolidate 25 in Week 7. But the way Weeks 5 and 6 prepare you is by having walk-breaks at longer intervals, and when you get to the long run it's really no big deal.

So if you're dreading Weeks 5 and 6 - trust the program: it really works and helps you to get there. Honest!

Musical highlights today: "Won't get fooled again" by The Who. Really enjoyed running to that song!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello and welcome back and well done you ! yes, I am still here... still slow and still steady!

We are still here and there are loads of ideas and links here to reassure our new runners and help keep them moving

Thanks for all your supportive comments here, I really hope some of our new runners read them!

We do still get worried comments re Week 5..but our How to Run C25K link gives the low down on that dreaded Week 5.. including a link to a Week 5 Myth Buster...put together by our sadly missed, IannodaTruffe..

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

You have had quite a time since you graduated and are well on the way now in the lovely longer relaxed runs... Looking forward to some more posts maybe, and your re-Graduation post too!!!

[CBDB Graduate]

hello hello hello! So good to see you’re back and what a journey you’ve had. Don’t be a stranger and definitely keep on keeping on! You got this!

[Getfitok Graduate]

Youve certainly been on a journey.

Welcome back & god luck with your running journey.

[iain-strachan Graduate]

The other musical peculiarity was using my 150 bpm playlist. I didn't recognise one of the songs but quite liked it. Just looked it up on the Spotify playlist and found it was "Moments" by One Direction! The reason for the shock is that my daughter and wife are avid 1D fans, so I'm always rude about them! Now I'm going to have to admit I liked a 1-D song, to great embarrassment!

That was counteracted by having "God save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols on the same list ... All concocted to be around about 150 bpm, to match a rather pedestrian step rate.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Hi Iain, Its great to read your post and to hear that you are back out running again.

You have had quite a time of it.

Good luck as you continue through the plan, listening to your great choons and smiling all the way!

🏃‍♂️👌xxx

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

Welcome back Iain! Goodness, you’ve been through the wringer haven’t you but I hope things are on the up now! Enjoy the remainder of your C25K-revisited!