Life after C25K

[Rachw8778]

Hi, can I ask what other people are doing? I've completed C25K but I'm not sure where to go next, do I redo the programme do a jog/run, do I do B25K, do I concentrate on the Speed and Stamina Podcasts? I'd like to run a bit quicker and for longer...please help :o)

[RachNJ Graduate]

I started off with the Stepping Stone podcast.. I think it helped me pace myself. You could try it out and see if you like it. I enjoyed the runs with this podcast a lot more !

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to RachNJ]

Thanks Rach, I think I'll give those a go :o)

[mark909 Graduate]

I've just been running 30mins 3 times a week for the past several weeks. Been really pushing myself though and trying lots of different routes.

I just started this today, I'm training for a 10k in November.

bupa.co.uk/running/trai...

However I felt as I was already fit enough for week 4 of the programme and just did a 40min run today to test myself so starting at week 5 at the weekend

[Pelephant Graduate in reply to mark909]

Oh Mark909 that's the one I want to start in just over a weeks time when I graduate. Do let me know how you get on.

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to mark909]

Thanks Mark, I'll check the link out...think I'm going to do the c25k+ podcasts then maybe start the B210K, would love to do a 10k though, I've lined myself up for a couple of 5k races so its a start :o)

[shelleymcb Graduate in reply to Rachw8778]

hello. if you havent reached the 5k mark yet then maybe concentrate on that before taking on b210k as the first weeks runs total 40mins, which can be quite a big jump after 30mins. personally this was the hardest week of b210k because of the intervals & all that stopping once in my stride & starting up again. hope that makes sense.

good luck whatever you decide. x

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to mark909]

Hi Mark, the link isn't working, would you mind reposting it please :o)

[mark909 Graduate in reply to Rachw8778]

Hi Rach, how strange it was working when I posted it. Here you go!

bupa.co.uk/running/training...

They actually have guides from beginner to advanced for 5km up to marathon.

bupa.co.uk/running/training...

I bought a 40 min long audio fuel timed run to help me out on the first of the longer runs and found it to be very brilliant!

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to mark909]

Brilliant, thanks Mark :o)

[Deryn61 Graduate]

I did a parkrun, (great fun if you google parkrun you can find out if there is one near you) and then signed up for a 5k and downloaded a personal plan from Runners World website to follow (the follow up plan on the nHS website hadnt been finalised at that point).

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to Deryn61]

Hi, our nearest one is Newcastle at 9am on a Sunday morning, with two small kiddies its a little awkward to get to. I did email the guys about having one in alnwick where I live but I don't have the time to organise one, really wish I did as I'd love to do a park run :o)

[back_to_18 Graduate]

I worked my way through the Couch to 5K+ podcasts first and then started running with my own music.

I aim to run for at least 30 minutes three times per week.

I've also entered my first race (in November) so am currently trying to improve my 5K time.

After I've done my race I'm intending to start the B210K podcasts.

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to back_to_18]

Now that sounds like a plan...just wasn't sure which programme to start on next,I find I run better if I have something to follow :o)

[psarapsych Graduate in reply to back_to_18]

Hi back_to_18 - whats the C25K+ like?? Interested that it's not the obvious choice for everyone - is it not as good as C25K or what???

[back_to_18 Graduate in reply to psarapsych]

I found C25K+ a little less challenging than I'd imagined. But, more importantly, I'd sort of promised myself my own music when I graduated and really wanted to break the 5K in 30 minutes barrier which I'd not quite done during C25K.

I worked through each of the C25K+ podcasts a couple of time and didn't show much improvement.

I decided to a give one of my own CDs a go and achieved 5K in 29 minutes on the first go - after that it was my own music every time.

I've since been experimenting with different CDs and audiobooks.

I most certainly _wouldn't_ say that C25K+ is not as good as C25K. In fact it's probably the fact that it's as good as (and therefore similar to) the original program that I tried something else.

[totalbeginner Graduate]

im another parkrunner - i struggled with focus after graduating. i just went along with it but didnt have any real motivation to push myself when with the program youre always moving on each week. some of the couch to 5k plus podcasts were better, i liked the speed one best but my first parkrun about 6 weeks aftegraduating was the real motivation. To cover teh full 5 k rather then stoppng after my 'time' was finished really pushed me.

ATM im on a bit of a break as im pregnant and still suffering the first trimester woes!

i havent had the energy to go running on top of work, little ones to look after but im looking forward to picking it up again as soon as im able to

try a parkrun though - it helps as you can keep working on improving your time each week. i willd efinatley go back

[notbad Graduate]

Hi Rach, you're not too far from me & I can appreciate getting from Alnwick into Newcastle at 9am with two little ones to take care of might be tricky. Just a thought, have you looked into your local running clubs? If you chum up with some local running buddies it would be nice in itself and perhaps you could travel through to the parkrun together or organise your own between you? Parkruns are great fun and like totalbeginner says you get properly timed which is great motivation to go for a PB.

Personally I drifted a bit post-grad, kept to 5k 3 x a week, tried B210k but found it 'challenging' (& the trainer is no where near as good as Laura IMO) so went to the 5k+ podcasts and have enjoyed them. Did 'Stamina' Wednesday and today 'Speed' - quite tough for me but I need the goal to work towards, and quite missed Laura's reassuring tones!

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to notbad]

Hi notbad, where abouts are you? I'd really like to get down to Newcastle do a park one one day if I get the chance, just don't have the time to organise my own. I did think about emailing Alnwick Harriers about them possibly doing one but don't fancy joining as I've heard they can be a little clicky and quite competive which I'm not quite up to yet lol...I'm going to give the C25K+ podcasts a go, I've been going out with my sister to get her back into running, she's always ran in trainers and found it painful but I now have my sis and half my family running with a barefoot style in Vibram FiveFingers and they're loving it...yey! Really need to get back to trying to do 5k in 30 minutes...almost there lol!

:o)

[notbad Graduate in reply to Rachw8778]

Those Vibram FiveFingers shoes look interesting! I'm just down the coast from you and my nearest PR is Whitley Bay, I haven't done the Newcastle one myself (notice a lot of Alnwick Harriers on the results page). Alnwick's lovely, bet you've got some wonderful scenic runs around that area - best of luck with that 5k, you'll nail it!

[Rachw8778 Graduate in reply to notbad]

Thanks notbad, yeah it's really pretty, especially if you run round Hulne Park, you get to see deer and allsorts but a lot of the paths are closed off because of flood damage, we've got the Howick 5k fun run this Saturday so that should be good, it's lovely round there, I like a bit of trail running, I can feel the stones more in my FiveFingers though lol!