Instead of speed... refocused on my heart rate...

[runcanada]

I have been reading a lot of blogs lately and getting concerned that I am too slow. Although I know the main thing is endurance and getting to the 30 minute mark, I can't help but feel a little intimidated by the incredible speeds others have been posting. I started to calculate the distance I was travelling and how desperately off the 5k mark I will be at graduation time...

So, I did a little soul searching. I am currently on W7... just finished R2 (ummm, yay me). I have completed all weeks without too much trouble. They are hard mind you but I have been successful. So I have reminded myself that it is my main objective to graduate. I also decided I should check where my heart rate is targeted... and to my lovely surprise I am in the anaerobic zone!! SO now I feel so much better. Gee, what was I worried about???

I guess I felt the need to share for others who are feeling the same. Each of us are so different. Given I am considerably overweight and the fact that I am in the anaerobic heart rate zone.. I know I am working out to the maximum for me.

So I just wanted to give myself a pat on the back and accept that I am doing great And for my fellow tortoises, feel proud.. and for my fellow hares... congrats but I am now okay with you running circles around me Acceptance is a wonderful thing!

[Alaiyo Graduate]

Such an awesome attitude, and way of looking at it. (This coming from a fellow tortoise!) I totally agree that we should get an "A" for effort, regardless of time.

[runcanada Graduate in reply to Alaiyo]

Thanks Alaiyo...

[glendam52 Graduate]

Totally agree we tortoise should be just as proud of ourselves as anyone else. Laura says in week one the programme is designed to enable us to run for 5k or 30 minutes. Who would have thought at the begining that that was even possible.

You are doing great and know you will get your badge in a few weeks.

[runcanada Graduate in reply to glendam52]

Ahh... badge... can't wait!! And yes, when I started this I was only looking toward the 30 minute mark... but one day I will run 5k even if it takes me an hour...lol.

[Joysmum Graduate]

You're light years ahead of me. All I wanted was to enjoy running, form the habit and then graduate. I certainly wasn't bothered about pace or heart rate. All the best for your next couple of weeks until you get your graduation badge.

[runcanada Graduate in reply to Joysmum]

Thanks! I am enjoying this program and am looking forward to conquering the next runs!

[sfb350 Graduate]

That's a very good attitude to have. At the moment, you are just building stamina and there's no need to worry about speed. I graduated several weeks ago and although I can manage short bursts of speed (it's all relative !) I don't think my average pace has improved much, if at all. We're just starting to do some speed work at running club so hopefully that will come.

Enjoy the next couple of weeks

[runcanada Graduate in reply to sfb350]

Thanks... I doubt I will get much faster after graduation... my legs are very short and I think they can only go so fast. Altho as I lose weight I am hoping I improve slightly

[sfb350 Graduate in reply to runcanada]

I think the main thing is to Enjoy it

[runcanada Graduate in reply to sfb350]

Yes indeed... and I am hoping it becomes addictive, there aren't many things I would like to be addicted to, but this is one

[Tomas Graduate]

What a lovely attitude! If you don't mind, how did you practically measure your heart rate during the run? Did it require fancy equipment, or is it straight forward to do?

[runcanada Graduate in reply to Tomas]

I actually run on a treadmill and wear a heart rate monitor that displays on my treadmill. So I have been watching my heart rate but hadn't really checked to see at what percentage of the target heart rate range it was in. I knew what my max heart rate should be and watched that I never reached that. I have also noticed that I recover well as I am doing my cool down. So now I have researched and am pleased with my progress.

[newyorker570 Graduate]

Loved your blog, I am a snail(/tortoise sometimes), never likely to be a hare, but who cares. Were off the couch and getting fitter with each run. Keep moving.

[runcanada Graduate in reply to newyorker570]

Absolutely I have been walking for a while.. but this is so much more a challenge. Ahh, and if truth be told I am likely a snail too... but I like the comparison to the tortoise and the hare

[bonnie68 Graduate]

So glad you are seeing what you are achieving now! It is such a personal journey, when the long-limbed hares steam past me and wave & I wave back, I now feel a real sense of being "in the club" even though I will never reach those speeds! I see that it is the doing that is so important!

[runcanada Graduate in reply to bonnie68]

Thanks and yes... it's been a liberating experience

[BigRed Graduate]

Doesn't matter what speed your running at, the main thing is you got off the couch so please also give yourself a pat on the back from me. Hope you'll come back and update us in a few weeks when you graduate.

[runcanada Graduate in reply to BigRed]

I am sure I will be heard all the way around the world when I graduate... I am so excited... and thanks for the extra pat... and hopefully, one of these days I will come out of hiding and run in the open... then I'll be looking for lots of pats...lol

[BettyTwinkle Graduate]

I wouldn't worry about time, it's what you are doing, and doing for yourself that is the main thing and you are doing fabulously well!! I was overtaken the other morning, by someone who had a swinging ponytail, looked cool as a cucumber and just easily cruising along at quite a fast pace. A bit further on I saw that she was heaving with breath behind a tree!! So there you go

I could hardly run a bath when I first started and now that I've graduated I can run for 30+ mins and for me that is a huge achievement. Stick with it - you are a star!!

[runcanada Graduate in reply to BettyTwinkle]

Your story made me smile... I am still in hiding.. I am not ready for the world to see me running... that is a goal for me when I graduate..

Well done to you too!!

[MrsBirdsnest Graduate]

Well done on finding a positive mindset. I have just completed the program for the second time. The first time (about 18 months ago) I got to about week 8 but allowed myself to get too concerned about how slow my pace was which really killed it for me. Every run I was pushing myself too hard to try and speed up which took away the enjoyment of running and caused my motivation to plummet. Coming back to C25k the second time, I was detirmined to accept that I'm a tortoise and not worry about it - just enjoy the fact that I'm getting fitter and can run without stopping! I've enjoyed it so much more this time and now intend to keep running and if I gradually speed up then that's a bonus! Keep it up! Any speed is better than no speed!

[runcanada Graduate in reply to MrsBirdsnest]

Frankly, I wasn't thinking of speed until I was reading so much about it... it was making me think so much.. but I have moved on now and it has allowed me to run in the moment..

Congrats to you too

[pam_timsn2004]

I have no idea how fast or how far I run but i do know that I'm improving week on week and my aim was to get moving, improve my fitness and hopefullylose a few pounds on the way! It doesn't matter if you're a tortoise or hare - we are all running in the right direction YAY us keep on at it x

[cimer Graduate]

I feel like I run slowly too. So I'm just focussing on time and distance at the moment and am pleased with the progress making with these. ur doin great keep it up

[Deryn61 Graduate]

Great post, great attitude.

I know I run slow, I am 50, hadn't willingly run for 35 years, at least! Am a short ar*e at only 5foot overweight (formerly very obese!) and, how can I put it nicely, VERY curvy to say the least, so wont ever be a speed merchant! But how gratifying is it to note that when I try, I can run a little bit faster for longer each week

We are all heroes for doing this, you are doing brilliantly x