Hmmm just mapped out 5km, was a bit further than I expected!

[katywoo]

Just out of interest I mapped out 5k today on the canal where I run, well I mapped 2.5km as I then have to run back. Anyway it was a lot further than I thought! I did the 25 min run today and don't reckon even with an extra 5 mins when I graduate I'll be anywhere near, I must run so slow!

[mrslazy Graduate]

Please don't worry, I don't know many that have run 5k in week 9. Once you are running for 30 minutes regularly you can just keep going and make the 5k. Then use the 5 k+ podcasts to speed up. Between you and me I couldn't at my best run it in 30 mins but it felt good to be able to run that far. Keep up he good work. X

[oona Graduate]

Hi Katy, I graduated in October and manage 5k on a regular basis but I'm not yet anywhere near doing it in 30 minutes. I think there are loads of people out there in the same boat! Once you graduate your new challenge might be to get your time down or to run 5k. The 5k+ podcasts are good for this. Best of luck!

[greenlegs Graduate]

It's also worth remembering that 5k in 30 minutes is harder to achieve for women, than for men, and particularly, for older women. I will be very surprised if I ever manage it (I'm 53, and have always been very unathletic), but it won't stop me trying to improve my running.

I know I can get round a 5k course with a mix of running and walking, and by June (Race for Life) I hope to be able to run it all - hopefully a bit faster than my current 50+ minutes!

[ancientrunner Graduate]

I know just how you are feeling!. When the podcast suddenly changed to talk more about running for 30mins than 5k I bought a cheap pedometer and my dreams of one day doing a park run faded into the distance. I set out to do my final wk 9 run yesterday and the previous 2 had been just over 3k. I stopped at 15 mins - not too sure why, was really cross at first but then I thought a couple months ago the thought of running for 90 seconds seemed beyond me so to feel cross at only running for 15 mins is great achievement in itself and will try and finish the programme tomorrow. I thnk we just have to do what we can as long we are pushing ourselves a bit, Good Luck