C25K 2019

Nine weeks ago, a group of ten people who work for MAF UK volunteered / were coerced into entering a running programme. The Couch to 5K or C25K has helped many people start running. For some it is a new hobby, for others a personal goal to be achieved.

I offered to coach the group over three lunchtimes a week for the duration. The programme can be found online and is also available on an app. We started with a 1 minute run followed by 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. Many of them had never run before and managing a minute was hard work but they managed it.

We repeated this for all three sessions the first week before increasing the running part to 90 seconds in week 2, 3 minutes in week 3, and 5 minutes in week 4. Half way and everyone was pushing hard each session and stretching their ability. Breathing was the biggest challenge but by this stage it was getting slightly easier as there was less stopping and starting.

On week 5 there were three different runs, 5 minutes, 8 minutes and a final 20 minutes without stopping. This is tough and a steep increase but the whole group pushed through and were rightly proud of themselves by the end.

At this stage illness began to spread in the office and people began missing session but they always returned. Others were not working on some days but still did the session in their own time. Their commitment was superb.

In week 6 and 7 we extended the run to 25 minutes and then 28 minutes in week 8. The final week was 30 minutes in total without stopping. 30x their original distance and everyone managed it despite the 50mph head winds as an Atlantic storm passed over Folkestone.

On the 16^th March all but two of the group (one through family commitments, the other through injury) arrived on The Leas promenade in Folkestone to run the 5k parkrun. This was to be the final session when they would run the full distance and graduate from C25K.

By 9 o’clock the gales were again blowing down the Leas from the top of the hill to the bottom. We were due to run up it. Twice. 227 people were out despite the conditions and we joined them for the start. One of the group, Martin, was doing the race briefing and explained the course and how to scan your barcode at the end. Dead on 9 the run began and there was no turning back.

Each person ran at their won pace and every single one showed incredible perseverance, strength and character to cross the finish line 3.1 miles later. The fact that they managed to do so in terrible conditions and on a hilly course was testament to their resilience and team spirit with everyone cheering one another along.

We celebrated with medals, coffee and cake at a local café. The big question now is what next?.....