How has C25k affected the rest of your activities?

[mdec]

One obvious benefit from completing C25k is that you can run for 30 minutes at the end. Some people also want to lose weight. But what effects have you noticed on other things you do - walking to places, doing work around the house, energy levels in general? Has there been a dramatic improvement?

[Deryn61 Graduate]

An amazing improvement in my confidence and general attitude! (aged 50 plus!).

I wouldnt have come over as shy reserved or lacking in confidence beforehand (social skills fine etc) but seriously!

Since graduating I have gone (as a single woman) on a group walking holiday, and also in August started to realise a very very long term secret ambition of mine which was to have riding lessons. Plus joining a RUNNING CLUB! That meets for speed sessions ON AN ATHLETICS TRACK! With PEOPLE WATCHING!

My attitude has gone from "why bother trying this (new thing) - you probably wont succeed" to "what's the worst thing that can happen? That you try and find out it really isnt for you!"

[GoogleMe Graduate]

It's not a happy answer from me - I have to cut out other activities in order to run, to the point where it is a bit of a dilemma. I had hoped that improving my underlying fitness would translate into an overall improvement in my activity levels but 11 months in and not yet... I'd hope that's not typical though!

I feel though I have proved to myself though that the way I am (and have been) is *not* because I have a fear of exercise or 'faulty health beliefs' especially as I've kept going post-graduation.

[sbhoa]

I started in September and am some way from completing yet. I hit a wall at around 12 minutes running and then decided to join the gym in the hope the other general fitness would help. I had a week where I managed to run for 20 minutes but now I'm back to around 12 being my limit.

Like GoogleMe I find that it's an extra thing to fit in even though I couldn't honestly say my life is packed with activity. I play both piano and clarinet and thought that increased fitness would mean increased energy and better concentration but not so far. I really need to increase practice time as an hour a day on each is not really enough. Doing the running/gym means fitting this into the day...trying for 4 times a week in total. Going out for a run takes at least an hour and a half with warm up, run as much as I can, walk home being 45 minutes(ish) then shower and recover enough to have the energy to practice.

At the moment it feels as though I've been conned about this fitness stuff. Ok, my clothes have got looser and the weight is reducing but only at about a pound or two a month. I don't yet feel as though I have more energy and I don't sleep better or have better concentration.

I accept that in September running for a minute at a time was hard so if I manage 12 now it's still a big improvement.

I think I've got enough in the habit to carry on. Seems as though I need to take longer over this than many others.

[Beads Graduate]

I'm up earlier! Still find it hard to drag myself out of bed for the early morning runs but I am waking up earlier without the alarm. Though now we're on Christmas hols I don't know if it will continue.

Other changes, I'm doing my shopping online and getting Mr Tesco to deliver it. I figure the drive to Tesco, the hour's walk round Tesco, getting it out of the car and into the kitchen total up to about the time I spend running each week, so I've got back my running time. Don't say the time spent on the computer putting in the order is coming off the running time as I can squeeze out 5 minutes here and there to do that bit.

Growing my hair longer again! Yes it's running related. Last but one haircut was not long after I started and we went short, then started doing the longer runs and the hair just bounces along with me (not too bad at the moment as I'm wearing a hat) and really annoys me, so it's got to go longer so I can tie it back out of the way.

Final change: yes, fitter and faster on dog walks, when hubby's with me he keeps reminding me it's not a route march.

[Beads Graduate in reply to Beads]

Forgot to say earlier. I go to Curves Gym and the computer now has me burning less calories and with a lower PI than I used to have before I started running. I'm sure it's because my heart rate has dropped, it used to be between 120 and 130ish, now I struggle to get it over 110 even though I still think I'm working as hard.