Today should have been W5R3 - the big 20 minutes!! - but ever since I found out that I could run/walk 5k in under 40 minutes, I've been creating my own little programme. I now run 5k every time I go out, trying to cut down the time I've been walking, and cutting down the time it takes me to run it.
I don't feel bad deviating because I'd never, ever have got this far if it hadn't been for Couch 2 5K!! I remember back in Week 1, gasping for breath after a minute, and thinking I was never going to get this far, yet here I am today!
Although I'm not strictly speaking doing the C25K programme anymore, I'm going to keep coming on here, because I love the community, and the sense that people are struggling with it all as much as I am!! (I pass joggers/runners when I'm out, and I have no idea how they stay so composed. I'm normally bright red, sweating and gasping for breath!!)
Today I went out - I've started a new route to avoid most of the hills until I get a bit more stamina. Going uphill on the first half of the run used to kill me, and really put me off going out, so I'll tackle those when I feel up to it. Now, my Mum drops me off at a reservoir about 2.5km away from my house and which, handily, is about 2.5km around it, so I do a lap of it, then run home. It's here that I've been measuring my 5k runs (though I did do one on the uphill route that I'm still very proud of, in just over 40mins), and I've gone from 40mins to 38mins in just a week!!
I know this is still very slow, but I'm fairly confident I can knock another minute at least off that in dry weather. The downside to this route is that it's so muddy I have to walk for bits of it, or I'll end up on my backside! I also lost my shoe last time I was out to a particularly boggy bit of mud, which was an interesting experience!
Today practically killed me - I was determined to walk as little as possible, so apart from the muddy bits, I only walked for about 7 minutes in total out of the entire 38. The last 10 minutes killed me, as I was trying so hard to beat my time, I ran until I felt I was going to be sick, but the fact that I did it in 38minutes meant that it was all worth it!! I know now that I'm not going to be embarrassed when I do my Race for Life in July 
The only problem is, due to a combination of (fairly) new trainers (that give me a lot more support for my flat feet, but put a lot more pressure on the arches of my feet than they're used to) and the wet and muddy paths, I've developed bad blisters on the inside of both of my feet, though it's particularly bad on my right foot. I didn't really feel it whilst I was running, apart from the odd twinge, so it was a surprise when I got home to find my sock stuck to my foot with dried blood haha (sorry if that's TMI!)
Unfortunately, I'm on my feet all day every day at work, so they won't have a chance to recover properly. I'll just have to plaster up and hope for the best!
I'm so happy I started this programme; I've never, ever thought of myself as a runner, and now I'm running 5k (albeit very slowly), 3/4 times per week!!
9 months away from running due to injury, but now able to start the programme again!
Completed the Programme! 
Graduated from the programme but still being far from 5k
Amazing journey, but a slightly flat ending
