C25K New Graduates? Or About to?

[bronxmom]

I'm doing C25K and just finished week 6. Woo-hoo!!! I just ran 25 minutes non-stop for the first time. I'm truly amazed by how well this program is working for me and am really inspired to keep going. The last 3 weeks is basically just 2 more weeks of 25 minutes and then a week of hitting 30 minutes of running.

I'm wondering if there are other recent finishers of the program - or people about to finish. I'd love to hear what people did next to develop their running - or did you just stick with 30 min 3x/week? Or what people are planning to do? Do people want to start a thread for folks finishing or recently finished? I know there's a dingos thread but that's pretty established with established runners and I'd really like to talk with people who are just starting running and what next steps they take after getting through that initial hurdle.

For myself, I'm not sure my goals. Part of me likes the idea of training for a marathon, but I'm also worried about over-training and injury. So for now, I'm looking forward to stabilize at 30 minutes and build my mileage gradually by maybe adding a couple more runs/week. I'm doing the 25 minutes and my lungs have adjusted well, but it's still a challenge. My heart rate still is up around 170-180 after 5 or 10 minutes of running so I still think I have a way to go in conditioning and building my fitness level. I'm assuming that at some point I'll be able to run with my heart rate more like in the 150 range. At that point it seems like I'd want to start adding distance or speed. I also want to keep doing intervals on 1 or 2 days after I start the 30-minute running to up intensity and conditioning.

[Mel38]

Hi Bronxmom! Congratulations! It sounds like a runner is born.

I'm still on week 3 myself, and taking it very slowly. I've done this program maybe three times in all over the years after taking time off for a baby or injury or whatnot. Personally, I like to switch over to another training plan once I'm done. I've done a few of Hal Higdon's free training plans, the 10k for novice, then the one for intermediate, and the half-marathon for novice. I like to have a very specific goal, like a race on such and such date, to work toward and look forward to.

As for the HR thing, mine tends to be in the 160s even when I'm pretty fit! I envy those people who are doing long slow runs in the 150s... I just haven't really gotten there yet myself.

My only goal right now is to get back into running comfortably through the winter months, and then this race in the spring. I can't wait!

[sparklett]

I finished it in August and then had to take some time off from running to have surgery. I picked it up again at week 6 and finished it again.

If you want to run more or are looking for a new challenge, download Hal Hidgeon's 1/2 marathon program. Really great extension to c25k.

Or if that doesn't work for you, you could always try working to improve your 5k time.

[KJoslyn78]

a fiend of mine just finished c25k in september... and is now working on gateway to 8k... but i've seen other go to bridge to 10k as well (there's a lot of *something* to 10k - but i've heard of this one the most, likely cause of the app)

[bronxmom]

Interesting links. Does anyone have any feedback on whether it makes sense to do a run/walk program (like the bridge to 10k or ease to 8k) or just try adding a little bit of mileage each week and stick with all running? I hadn't thought of the first so was leaning toward the 2nd.

[Mel38]

Originally Posted by bronxmom

...or just try adding a little bit of mileage each week and stick with all running? I hadn't thought of the first so was leaning toward the 2nd.

This is the method I like.

There are a lot of run/walkers out there, though, so there must be something to it.