Frustratingly still not done 5k...............

[PatButcher]

Well I finished c25k 2 weeks ago and have still not managed to complete 5k!! I think I have a mental barrier as I seem to be able to run for about 2.6 miles and then I fail

I have been doing "my own thing" since finishing and today tried running on the Treadmill at the gym, It was not good, It was hot, no lovely outdoor breeze to cool me down, and I managed 20 minutes, not brilliant but I had done 15 minutes on the strider beforehand.

Just wondered if anyone else was finding it difficult to keep up the 30 mins and if there is any hope for me actually managing 5k?!

[Hidden]

My final run is tomorrow, and the furthest I've got is 4.1km. Once I've graduated I'm planning to do some runs from the B210K so that I can run further than 5k and also some interval work - my brother recommends running faster between pairs of lamp posts!

He said something yesterday that made sense to me: "The first challenge when you start running is persuading yourself that you can run. After that the only challenge is persuading yourself that you have more than one pace!" Hence the lamppost time trials....

[PatButcher Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Aah, makes sense, I'll try the lamp post thing, thanks!

[AliB1 Graduate in reply to PatButcher]

I'm liking this idea...may give it a try on my next run

[shelleymcb Graduate]

just keep at it. the more you do it the easier it will become. it took me several weeks to get to 5k & it was around the 37min mark I think.

I would recommend doing something different? perhaps some interval/fartlek/tempo runs. they can be shorter but you will still feel as if you have had the same workout. perhaps use week 1 podcast & jog in the walking bits but run a little bit faster in the running bits. this helps with speed & does seem to make the longer runs easier.

after I finished c25k last year I had to take about a month off with a sore knee & it was really difficult getting back over that 20min run. lots of persuading my mental demons that there was no reason I couldnt do it.

if you can run for 30mins then you are almost there. one more run & you graduate

[PatButcher Graduate]

Unfortunately I deleted the bloomin podcasts, I will have to put them back on as I did feel better running to them, What's a fartlek ?! Yes I'm dumb!!! Thanks for advice, It's a big help x

[shelleymcb Graduate in reply to PatButcher]

google Fartlek. there are loads of definitions when you google it. sounds a bit strange doesnt it hehe. made my kids laugh anyway.

[PatButcher Graduate]

Just Googled it! Sounds good, I'm going to try it on my next run, thanks!

[blueboots Graduate]

HI Pat, I've not made it to 5K yet but when I do it won't be in 30mins. I'm trying out the C25K plus podcast and I do think it is helping me improve my speeds although I'm not keen on the music. I'm quite happy with running 30 minutes no matter what the distance but it would be great to reach 5K.

[PatButcher Graduate]

Hi Blueboots, I'm going to try that when i finally get around to downloading it! Hope it improves my running, tried a treadmill today, nowhere near it

[ribena-berry Graduate]

Keep going Pat! I ran exactly 2.6miles in 30mins on the treadmill when I finished too and really struggled to make it any further. For some reason though, I found it easier to go further outside.

Try setting yourself small goals, like running to the next tree/lamppost, or for an extra minute each time. It'll soon add up.

You're so nearly there.

[AliB1 Graduate]

I'm not there either! After w9r2 when I achieved 4.11km really believed that 5km was in my reach quite soon...however after r3 which i only managed 3.6km (but felt like 10km) bit disheartened. Going to keep going for 30 mins and see how i get on for a while...think I'll use Laura for the next one.

Keep believing Pat you will get there!!!!

[AliB1 Graduate]

I'm not there either! After w9r2 when I achieved 4.11km really believed that 5km was in my reach quite soon...however after r3 which i only managed 3.6km (but felt like 10km) bit disheartened. Going to keep going for 30 mins and see how i get on for a while...think I'll use Laura for the next one.

Keep believing Pat you will get there!!!!

[CathCakes Graduate]

Hello! I'm not quite there yet either, but yesterday I had a change of plan, which I think was quite helpful. Instead of setting myself to run for 30 mins, I measured out a route which was 3 miles in length, and set out to do that, however long it took. I just wanted to see if I could do it really, even though it's still not quite 5k. To my amazement I managed it in 31 minutes (though I felt pretty knackered by the end of it!). I have also been using my own playlist the last few times I went out, which I THINK might be making me run a bit harder. I certainly seem to be covering a little more ground than I did with the podcasts, but I have just been sticking to 30 min runs since I finished C25k, so maybe it is just getting a little easier with practice... Have a go, good luck, I'm sure that we must get a little bit fitter with every run we do!

[PatButcher Graduate]

Thanks, I'm hoping to try again tomorrow but it is Friday and I'm a bit slack on Fridays~!!!!