Heya!
Wondering if anyone's following C25K and wanting to share their story/progress as well as trying to motivate each other!
I'm stuck for weeks on W6D3 personally. It's been going well until then! I have redone Day 1 and 2 again last week to see if it makes a difference and although I've ran the best two 10min ever a few days ago, today I totally failed running 25min. It just seems like such a leap! Ughh... But we'll try again.
What about you?
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W6D3 *is* challenging, I agree with you.
Best of luck, you can do this!
I agree, I always feel so slow compared to other runners but I prefer this over not finishing at all!
I will try again hopefully today if not tomorrow and fingers crossed I'll make it to week 7 this time! I know it's a mental barrier mostly but knowing this doesn't make it easier to overcome.
Bottom line of C25K is to just get you to the point of being able to run for 30 minutes...it doesn't have to be fast...that will come later with more intermediate and advanced programs, and/or practice.
I did C25K last April to return to running. I still don’t run 5K in 30 minutes (more like 32-34) but I averaged 100km per month last year and currently on track for about 150km in January. My furthest run to date was just above 15km. My point is that you can do it and great adventures await you!
Besides, speed kills
I agree with everything you all said! I enjoy C25K precisely for the reason that it keeps me going and helps me advance without doing the maths myself as a beginner. I've managed to finish week 6 yesterday! The 25min feeled SUPER slow but I'm so excited I did it! Thanks for all the advice and motivation. Now that I've done it, I hope week 7 will be more manageable.
But I also found like @MichelleMcKeenRN I find myself repeating runs a few times before progressing at least now in the later stages of the program. Regardless, I'm okay with that as long as I still progress!
The breakthrough last year (apart from more time and access to a treadmill through lockdown - which I admit was a real luxury) was to create a playlist to get through the long runs. C25K’s guidance is awesome during the run-walk-run phases of the program, but is unnecessary during the longer runs and a bit boring if you’re not that into their music.
(Assuming you don’t have a fancy app which automatically chooses songs to your running speed - which I don’t) - I found creating a running playlist to be a real art and everytime I made a change or adjustment to the tracks, it motivated me to do another run to see how well the change worked. Don’t choose any tracks with 3/4 timings or latin beats - or you’ll end up dancing through the 25 minutes (I made that mistake! Nearly broke an ankle) - just choose good, steady beats which fit your running speed to help you keep putting one foot in front of another. Each song acts as a natural “marker” and helps the time go quicker.
Also - I think this approach helps to wean you off the C25K program and make the step to feel like (shhhh) an ACTUAL runner.
Good luck!!!!
I normally go out without music/podcasts but I definitely see the benefit in doing otherwise. Music has helped me a great deal finishing my runs on the treadmill/in the gym, I just feel outside they are more hassle for me whether that is earbuds falling out during the run or wind overpowering the sound. I think that's mainly to do with the type of earphones I have but it wasn't worth it to me to invest in more suitable ones. I also came to enjoy the technology-free time especially now during lockdown! But I'm glad it's helped you and certainly sounds like a fun thing to mess around with!
I hear you on tech being more trouble than it’s worth sometimes. Re: earphones for exercise, I swear by over ear headphones. They look terrible but you can’t beat them for staying put.
Like the idea of tech-free time though...might try that.