Second time around

[Sewandrunmore]

Started C25K first time round on 15th Feb last year and, eventually, graduated in August (injury in the middle slowed me down in all senses of the word). Autumn is a difficult time for me, lots of commitments plus low mood means I find it easier to go to group exercise classes than on solo runs so I haven't run since graduating. Today I started back at the beginning with week 1 run 1 and a resolution to post here after completing each week to add some accountability to my running. After I've posted this I plan to sign up for a 5k race for life in the summer to add a bit more motivation. I really enjoy running but find the consistency difficult, any recommendations? Now, where did I put the knee supports.......?

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏😊 You sound pretty determined this time round making yourself accountable here. Welcome to the forum! 🤗 For me setting 3 consistent days helps.. it then becomes part of my routine and other stuff gets planned around it but be prepared when life happens! So my running days are Mon Wed Fri as early as possible.. occasionally I have to run later or on a different day due to the tyranny of the urgent taking over. We are also going into Spring which is so helpful and engaging. Doing it the second time round is great! You know what to expect, you know you can do it so you enjoy it more!

[RunforMum Graduate]

Hi! Like you, I really found posting on here a great support and encouragement to help me keep going. I too decided to enter a 5k, not a race or a park run - a very supportive 'run for life' with cancer research which you could walk, jog or run as you liked (but I didn't enter until I had some confidence that I might get somewhere near it😆!) I think getting towards lighter nights and better weather helps. Well done, I look forward to reading your posts as I too am working my way through for 2nd time.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Welcome back! I'm a restarter (re- re- starter, I've lost count) and I'm now on week 2. It's also a year since my last restart.My best advice is to not hold yourself to having to run all 3 runs in a week. I have had injury and illness issues, and now seem to have a long covid type situation, where I'm bursting with energy for a few days followed by a crash. If I try to do keep to a calendar week I'm risking a crash and guaranteed I won't enjoy the run I'm pushing myself to do.

I'm happy to run every 3 days, but if it has to be longer I sometimes repeat the last run.

My next bit of advice is to head over to Strength&flex for more advice!

Always do warm-up and cool down stretches, and something else on a non running day, especially if you need to keep motivated and you have gaps between runs.

In short, make the program work for you! Do it in a way you will enjoy and stick to. Best of luck.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

✅ Excellent advice… my coach reinforced this today! Run your own race not someone else’s…

[Slbuagain]

I started yesterday too for the second time so know how you feel…!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Welcome back and well done you... we have , many of us repeated all or bits... I have just repeated again for the umpteenth time, after time out from July last year!

It is so familiar, and if you keep popping in and posting, we can support and encourage you