Week 9! NHS Couch 2 5K! Finish Line!

Finished!

9 weeks of NHS training program and I am a runner!

This week is just as expected, 3 runs of 30 minutes.

I did the first run with the podcast, another with my own music using my watch and the final listening to the podcast again.

I haven’t found it easy. I’m not a super sexy, easy runner. But I did run for 30 minutes without stopping. Plus I always feel good when I finish. I struggle a little through the runs, sometimes I feel close to the edge of my ability .But I can always keep going and I can always finish!

It’s absolutely awesome! In 21 years of being fairly fit and active I have never been able to run for much more than a few minutes and now I am running 2 and a half, nearly 3 miles.

My pace is average, quite slow but good.

I’m going to make sure I go for a run at least once a week so I don’t lose fitness, but as long as I have time I will be running for 3 days a week and work to increase how far I go in 30 minutes.

For anyone considering doing this then I would say YES YES YES! Honestly I thought I’d never be a runner and even though I do lots of walking, climbing & play sports I have never ever been able to jog and this has got me jogging easily! For 30 whole minutes! When I started the podcasts 5 minutes of jogging seemed like a marathon but in a few weeks 5 minutes is nothing.

Everyone can be a runner with a little help from the NHS. Thank you so much!

Week 6! NHS Couch to 5K

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Finished! My pace has slowed so bad after 2 weeks off, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I kept going and I completed them.

Split into 3 runs. Each run starts and finishes with 5 minute walks.

Run 1 – 5 minute run. 3 minute walk. 8 minute run. 3 minute walk. 5 minute run.

Run 2 – 10 minutes run. 3 minute walk. 10 minute run.

Run 3 – 25 minute run.

This makes more sense now. Last week we increased through the week to a long run, then it has been important to go back to easier shorter runs and progress to a long run again. Next week we move on to longer runs every time.

Boy do I hurt now! I’ve really struggled with my stamina and breathing after my very pathetic cold & break. But I’ve managed fine and felt better each time. The 25 run was tough. I started off very well, then developed a horrible stitch that came and went. For the last 5 minutes it felt like a knife in my hip! But then I finished! Walked it off & feel a little sore, but good.

Now I can’t wait for next time and to keep improving! Brilliant program.