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I am a Couch to 5k Runner

24/3/2017

2 Comments

 
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Hi everyone!

Since my local running club are re-starting their couch to 5k course this April, I thought I would share my experience of taking on the challenge of being able to run 5k in a matter of weeks and with hope, my aim is to convince some of you lovely readers who may have been in the same position as me and want to start running!

What wanted me to do it?

After losing my Granddad in March 2016, my only way to cope with the grief was eating everything and anything sweet and delicious. At the time I was still at college, so I was still walking to and from the train station on both sides almost everyday and junk food and snacks were available from the canteen whenever I fancied it. I started to gain a bit of weight, nothing incredibly noticeable to everyone but to me I could notice it. As well as this I started to feel out of breath after walking up some stairs for the first time in a while and general gentle exercising started to get harder.

After finishing college in June of 2016, I still carried on sitting on my bum most days, stuffing my face with comfort food and I wasn't doing anything to help shift the weight or improve my fitness.

In July 2016, I started running by myself with the dog - but I was running out of breath quickly and giving up halfway round - this is when I knew I had to do something! I joined the Royston Runner's Couch to 5k course.

Starting the course

So I joined the group just 2 weeks in. The first week which I did was running for 1 minute and walking for 3 minutes (something along those lines - my memory is a little hazy!) This seemed like an absolute killer to do and if I'm honest the minutes running used to drag and the minutes of walking seemed to go like a flash.

I wasn't sure I'd be able to carry on and I was close to missing sessions, going back to sitting in bed with a plate of food, feeling sorry for myself and giving up. However, the commitment that everyone else in the group to come back the following week made me feel like I couldn't let the other guys down! 

I met so many inspiring beginners and expert runners in this group and if they were coming each week to carry on the sessions then so could I! As the weeks progressed, the running lengths got longer and the breaks got shorter, which made me start to see improvements each and every week. Even if you feel like walking a little bit longer, no one is going to judge you for it if anything, they're going to be cheering you on for actually coming out and doing it!

By the end of the course you WILL run a whole 5k without running and trust me - it's not as scary as it seems!

Where am I now?

After completing the course in late August, I went back out and attempted to run by myself once or twice a week. It wasn't until late November that I decided to join the Royston Runners each Tuesday and start running with them. In hindsight, I wish I signed up as soon as the couch to 5k course was over as I lost a little bit of "oomph" in my running, but I now feel I'm back up to speed where I want to be.

My fitness is better than ever and I'm seeing results in how I'm looking on the outside too (plus I get to enjoy the food that I like and not have to worry too much about the consequences!)

I'm currently averaging on 6-8 miles per week with the runners (that's 2 separate runs a week) and I'm hoping to get a 10k under my belt before I head off to university in September, this is something I never thought I'd be saying! I recently ran my first race doing the Wimpole Night Run with my dad which was 4.3 miles in a time I was proud of and I only stopped once (partially due because I fell down a rabbit hole!)

So, if you're hoping to be able to run a 5k race within 11 weeks sign up to a couch to 5k course near you, the ones in my local area are both FREE OF CHARGE, they just need you on their records that's all! Make a change today and I promise you'll enjoy yourself!

See you in the next blog post, 
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www.activenorthherts.co.uk/free-beginners-running-course

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2 Comments
Dave chapman
24/3/2017 11:06:29 am

You have come along way since we did the couch to 5k you should be proud of all of your achievements

Reply
Grace
24/3/2017 11:24:06 am

Thanks Dave! You've done really well yourself - it's incredible what we've all achieved!

Reply



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