Help - confused as to where I should be on C25K now.

[Ginthestring]

I have now completed 2x 30 minute runs this week - I seem to have missed out week 8. Is that cheating? Should I go back and do the week 8 runs? or does it mean my next 30 minute run is my graduation one?

If it is it will be with my local Sweatshop running group. I went in to purchase a pair of trail shoes and the manageress remembered me from early in the summer when I was on week 2. She asked how I was getting on and told me that I really ought to make it to Tuesday;s 5k running group (beginner/intermediate/advance) I will be going in the beginners group!!!

Still, even if it doesn't count as my graduation run - it is very close....

What an amazing journey!!

[swanscot Graduate]

I, too, ran for 30 minutes from Week 7 Run 3, then did another 6 x 30 mins+ runs so I completed the full 27 runs of the programme before graduating. This way I felt I was up and running for starting a 10K training plan straight after completing C25K.

[Reluctanthusband Graduate in reply to swanscot]

I did something similar and have nearly finished week 8.

What kind of 10 k programme are you doing?

[swanscot Graduate in reply to Reluctanthusband]

I'm doing my variation of the bupa beginner 10K training plan: flickr.com/photos/swan-scot...

I started at week 3 and my variation is for the 'Run 30 minutes continuously' sessions - I do one as a hilly route and one as a speed intervals run, using the C25K+ Speed podcast or Stamina podcast, plus wee bits of extra running to make it to 30 or 40 minutes as the programme.

[Reluctanthusband Graduate]

I ran for 5 k on week 7 run 1 and decided to keep running that route for the rest of the 9 week programme. I did week 8 run 2 this morning and extended it to just over 6 k and 35 mins.

I think the programme is fine but I don't think you should let it restrict your progress. At the end of the day your body will soon tell you if you are running too far/long. I intend to continue to the end of week 9 then try to do something to take me up to 10k.

Well done and happy running.

[swanscot Graduate in reply to Reluctanthusband]

> I think the programme is fine but I don't think you should let it restrict your progress.

> At the end of the day your body will soon tell you if you are running too far/long.

I agree, and for my week 8 run 3, I joined a group who were running at an event to launch the 5x50 Challenge. This was supposed to be a 5K run, but they had to change the route at the last moment and we ended up running 5.9 km. I didn't go back to running for only 30mins or just 5K* for week 9, just because the programme said so. *Except for a one day when I did a very hilly off-road route and 5.3 was all I could manage!