Starting again

[GM11]

Hi Everyone. I graduated in January this year but have had a very up and down time since then, more down than up. So I have decided to go back to week 1.I can't say it was any easier but I do know it works and that I can do it.

[Folkylass Administrator Graduate]

Well done you on your revisit to C25K. There’s been quite a few of us that has revisited it so you’re not on your own there. I started again with it and got to week 6. However I didn’t go any further because for me I was wanting longer runs. It was easier to follow the programme second time around.

I’m sure you will start to experience more ups very soon.👍👏👏🙋‍♀️x

[GM11 Graduate in reply to Folkylass]

I forget to remember how far I had come.

[mrrun Graduate]

Starting again can also be fun, and in fairness this whole thing is only about fun and health. We are under no pressure, no targets, no competition and no dreams (at least in my case) of competing at the Olympics. I got injured during early stages and had to start from scratch. I then went all the way and got hurt during the last run of week 9 which forced me to stop running for months. And so l did the whole program again 😀. Since then l went further and ended up with marathons, of all choices. Keep doing what you’re doing and enjoy yourself, that’s the key!

[GM11 Graduate in reply to mrrun]

I think I got too wound up about timing and distance and forgot to enjoy what I was doing.

[ChannelRunner2 Graduate in reply to GM11]

I've been there, too, GM11 ! Having to restart C25K humbly reminded me that it's about health and fun for me!

I used the second round to focus on pace - to really slow that down. I had the suspicion that I was running too fast, so I had gotten myself a Garmin. Then on my restart I (somewhat reluctantly) slowed down enough to run in the heart rate range I was supposed to. It was challenging but once I got over my inner critic's commentary very rewarding. I am still slower than during my previous attempt but it feels so much more sustainable.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello and welcome back! You know the form, you know it works and here you are. You have the confidence to do this because you know , you can do it!

Many, many of us have taken the decision to repeat C25K and more than on one occasion too! me included.

Just take it slow and steady, treat the runs like familiar friends...even if sometimes they feel a little odd!

You can do this, so keep posting please. We are with you every step of the way!

Well done you!

[EliseJames]

same here. I think I last ran at the end of Oct but have walked a lot so managed a couple of week 4 runs so far. I wonder if you could also jump in rather than starting at week 1 again. I’m mainly doing it to get back that habit and structure of getting out 3 times per week now that hideous wet weather has subsided. Loving being back on it 😊

[GM11 Graduate in reply to EliseJames]

I think for my brain it's easier for me to go back to the start. I know where I am sort of.

[Madwife60]

Welcome back. I graduated 3 years ago but I still come back after injury or illness and use the programme to get back to where I want to be Any exercise is always better than none so onwards and upwards xx

[Lezlie Graduate]

Same here! I'm starting again because of an injury. Last year in October I did my first quarter marathon. Since about one year I managed running 7,5 kms twice a week and 10 kms on every Saturday. But then it happened on February, 4th ... I was running about half an hour and then a heavy pain occured in my ankle of the left foot. I tried to walk further ... but after some time at home I even couldn't walk anymore! Don't know what happened. I didn't twist my ankle or so ... I had to pause a lot of weeks. First tried running 3kms ... no good idea!! The pain was back. So I had the idea to start with C25K. Then I will have a plan and starting really slowly would help. Yesterday I switched to Week3 after I did some more repetitions of the runs from Week1 and Week2 until I felt save to do the next step.

So you see there are a lot of people restarting with C25K. I'm restarting for the third time. And it's interesting that it feels always the same, especially the thinking if I should switch to the next level (weekX). I'm writing notes down in a running diary, so that I can compare the runs - it's very interesting!

Good luck to you! You can do it!