Can't believe I'm almost there!

[Pandamumnium]

So I started c25k when lockdown began as a way of trying to maintain some level of fitness as I wasn't able to do my usual martial arts classes and didn't want my hard work over the last year to be wasted. Now here I am having started week 9! I'm not gonna lie, it's been hard and if I'm brutally honest not especially enjoyable while actually running BUT I'm so happy to have made it this far and fully intend to keep going.

[SmilelikeImeanIt Graduate]

Well done! I did R1 W9 yesterday and can’t believe how near the end we are!

I started end January (repeated most weeks as made me feel ready to move on) and can’t believe the progress. Never thought I could run (v slowly) for 30 mins!

It’s helped fitness for karate too as I had a grading (by Zoom) last week and managed to survive the 70 press-ups/70 sit-ups/70 squats (we don’t talk about the burpees - they didn’t go well)

What martial art did/do you do?

[Pandamumnium Graduate in reply to SmilelikeImeanIt]

Well done to you also! I was doing Ju-jitsu and once allowed to resume will be going back. I've looked at c25k as a stamina building exercise in preparation for higher gradings when we have 30 mins of ground fighting, randori and another I cant remember in addition to the techniques for the grade. We also regularly do 100 press ups and 100 sit ups as part of our warm up but not so much burpees (hate them!) Looking forward to graduating the c25k and consolidating and hopefully improving. Good luck with the remainder of your runs, I hope they go well. What are your ans once you've completed?

[SmilelikeImeanIt Graduate in reply to Pandamumnium]

Woah 100 every session! That’s a lot. You must be pretty fit 💪🏽

After graduation I’m planning to keep to 2/3 runs of 30 mins each week. Just see about gradually increasing pace.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading, even at your stage healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Slowing down to the recommended easy conversational pace makes it more achievable and for most, more enjoyable.

Enjoy your journey.

[Pandamumnium Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, I was reading through this last night and think I've probably been going too fast (although not reached 5k in 30 mins yet) but I've stuck with it and not been injured but will take on board all the advice.