I asked one of the runners who joined my 0-5k group earlier this year to tell her story of going from beginner to 10k. Here’s Vicky’s story.
“I want you all to run for one minute” said Laura to the group. Just a few seconds in I had a horrible feeling that I may not be able to complete the whole one minute run! That was 31 March, my first session with the Lazy Girl Running beginners group. Eight months later on 6 December I ran 10k, without stopping, in 58 minutes! And I enjoyed it!
I didn’t join the group because I wanted to become ‘a runner’. Nor did I want to learn to love running. I just wanted to be able to run more than 20 minutes without feeling like I might die. Running seemed like a good inexpensive and flexible alternative to the gym. I live near Hampstead Heath, it seemed crazy not be taking advantage of that. But I’d tried. I’d dragged myself off to the heath on numerous occasions with the aim of running 30 minutes non-stop.
Vicky (second from left) with me and other members of the group.
Hampstead Heath is a tough terrain for an inexperienced runner. I couldn’t manage more than a few minutes without having to stop and walk. My calves quickly hurt. I’d want to keep going to prove I wasn’t a failure. But the pain and breathlessness were too much. I’d admit defeat about 15 minutes in and take a slow walk of shame home. I hated running.
I realized that if I did want to take advantage of the benefits of running, a running group might help, providing a bit of moral support. But all the groups I found seemed to be for experienced runners. And even if they said they welcomed beginners on their weekly 5k runs I had visions of me tailing way behind, puce and breathless. It wasn’t an appealing option.
At the beginning of 2015 I finally came across what seemed like the perfect solution to all my running woes. Lazy Girl Running Beginners Group. The January group was full, but I signed up as soon as I could for the March group. I loved the name of the group and the format sounded perfect – eliminating any fears of being left behind and feeling like a foolish failure.
I learned from Laura that the best way to build the ability to run 5k was to start small, really small. In the first session we ran for just one minute at a time, with two minute walks between the one minute runs. The next week we ran two minutes at a time, the following week three minutes at a time, until week 10 – shockingly to all of us – we ran non-stop for 30 minutes, still breathing and not in (much) pain! This had seemed impossible to me, and I know to others, in the first week. A few days later a few of us did our first parkrun on Hampstead Heath – a tough gig for our first 5k, but we did it! It felt like a massive achievement.
During the 10 week program Laura encouraged us to aim for two additional runs per week – replicating what we did in class on Monday. Running became habitual and once the 10 weeks were up I still aimed for three runs a week, mostly 5k. I had learned, unexpectedly, to enjoy running.
I joined the improver’s class, where we became stronger and fitter through hill runs and running shorter quicker distances. At that point I had no interest in running longer distances, I just wanted to improve my speed and fitness. When Laura suggested to the group that we sign up for the 10k my initial reaction was that it was too soon for me. Then I remembered that first one minute, and how far I had come since then. And I thought, why not, I might surprise myself! So I did… and I did!
Thanks Laura, for I am now a runner!
If you’ve been inspired by Vicky’s story, my next round of groups start in January.
