Have you recently started running?  Have you used the Good Run Guide 5K beginners training schedule?  Did this work for you?  Can you give any advice/encouragement for others who want to start or have just started?

I think you have hit the nail on the head - the goals are endless to aim for and they are personal goals!  I started running 14 years ago to lose weight (which worked and has helped me maintain a healthy weight since then)  and then get hooked on the challenge of running and have had countless goals over the years.  There is always another challenge....

These are already some great motivational stories. I've been running for 20 years but still need uplifting stories and goals to keep me motivated. I've always said even if we are not winning at least we can eat (and drink!) what we want..within reason of course!

I started running this time last year, before that I went to the gym from time to time but nothing major, but last October I joined the local running club and haven't looked back since. I'm certainly not a fast runner but I've just done my first half marathon in 2:23, something I could never of dreamt of last year and next April I'm doing the big one, the Virgin London Marathon. I love the fact that with GRG I can track everything I do and keep up with my times, as everyone else said I'm never going to win a race but I love beating myself!!

Jon, we must of crossed the line at the about the same time at Cardiff!! I also did 2:23 and my quickest 10k race was 56 mins!!!

I've been running 6 months longer though, so think your doing very well. I blame my slow progression on my knees:-) had to stop for the whole of August

Well done Nkonye, that's very impressive. It's really tough when your starting out but it's so worth it!!

Hi,

I've just joined this site and it's good to know I'm not alone.  I started running about 7 months ago and did my second 10km a week ago, not very quickly, but I did finish.  Yesterday I ran the furthest I've done yet, just over 13km and it killed me, but the satisfaction at the end was worth it.  I'm now going to enter my first half marathon for September, scared but optimistic.  I'm not very fast at running, about 60 minutes for 10km.  Has anyone had a break through and been able to go up a notch in their speed, how did you do it?  Does it just depend on natural ability, or can everyone speed up eventually? 

Hi Rebecca, welcome to the group. I for one have been running for 10 months and like yourself I have built up the mileage but not the speed with 10k coming around 53 mins.

I have my first ever 10k in 3 weeks time and I've heard it's a fast flat 10k, but that doesn't worry me as finishing in one piece is more important. What I am now doing is concentraiting on speed based on heart monitoring and alternating easy days with hard days and dropping the amount of miles to 3 - 5 each day for a 6 day week.

I have also just joined an athletics club and once a week we do trackwork. It works out around 3 miles for a 30 minute session combining all sorts of different runs, like tonight we done 12 x 400m with 1 minute rests in between. Ok so I am at the back of the pack but I am running a constant 6 minute mile which is unheard of on my normal solo runs, I have set a goal to get this down to 5 1/2 minute miles over the next 2 months.

Try short interval runs of not more than 3 miles, or some hill work to build up stamina, don't try to run 10k fast as you will probably fail. The speed will come over a period of time.

Good luck.

Derek 

Hi Derek,

thanks for the advice, I've now put some hill training into my programme.  I've a short hill not far from me and I read in a running magazine that you should try to run up and down it as many times as possible in 30 minutes, so I'm going to give it a go, hopefully this will build up some stamina, and I'll keep on with the long runs and some short runs mixed in.  Sounds like you're doing okay with 10km at 53mins.  I don't think I've any athletics clubs near me, but it's a good idea and one I'll look into a bit more, will help with getting more structure into the running, which can be tricky to do on your own, it's often easier to just "do a run".

Hi Rebecca,

Good luck with the hill training it bulds confidence in attacking hills, when going down try not to brake with your feet and lean into the hills otherwise it can wreak your quads, control is everything.

I have a 1/2 mile 1 in 12 hill near us which I use and it does take some control on the way down. On another point I have now been 4 times to the track and the times are showing good progress, I have dropped 10 seconds per 200m run from 50 seconds down to 40 seconds which is pretty pleasing. Next Saturday I am going to run the 10k race route at race speed to benchmark my time for the week after, I am looking at around 48 minutes or better, watch this space.