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Original poster

Do you hate running and want to be mercilessly bullied into it? Cod's couch to 5k

256 replies

iCod · 23/10/2026 14:08

If so I am your woman!
You might remember me from other successes as ' Potty training boot camp with Cod' and ' the Horned Hoofers". But now, in a Moment of Madness, I decided to do 5k, my reasoning being that all sorts if idiots can run, so so can I.
I finished it a week ahead ( GET ME) and now after not wanting to run, ever, and being unable to do 5 minutes, I can run for 35 without stopping

What is in it for you?
You will do couch to 5k in the 9 weeks and no slacking
I will bully you

Result
You will end up loving running as much as I do now. Its free, its quickly over (!) and its transportable.
If I can, you can.

What do you need?
Trainers
A sports bra
Music if that is your thing
The Couch to 5k app
Its even better if you have a smart watch ( can plot the incredible change to for eg your heart)

What I can't allow for
Lazy fuckers who don't STICK TO THE PROGRAMME
anyone with health issues - soz, am not a doctor, not interested in your wonky knee..

We start NOW

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7
Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 11:06

On August 19, I couldn't run for 90 seconds.

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 11:05

Totally agree.

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 11:05

Also for those of you thinking of doing it for mental health

Do you hate running and want to be mercilessly bullied into it? Cod's couch to 5k
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Exercise & fitness Fitness
BIWI · 25/10/2026 11:04

I remember getting to that long run and thinking WTAF! But once you start, and do it, you realise you CAN do it, and that a lot of this is all in the mind.

Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:56

Also The 25 minute run, I think I must've wasted about 25 minutes talking about it before I got there and then in the end, as I say, if you just go slowly, it's absolutely fine. You're totally fit enough to do it.

Now I'm sounding like Laura off the app.

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:55

Oh, that's good. I remember when it was like eight minutes run at one point thinking well I could just carry on further and that was the great pivot moment for me.

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fudgecat · 25/10/2026 10:50

@iCod today was 10 mins run, 3min walk then another 10mins run. Next run is 25 mins none stop 😯

Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:36

Yes ! @fudgecat I noticed the proper runners smile too.
what's week 6 made up of?

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:35

@MyCatLovesMeSometimes go go go.

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fudgecat · 25/10/2026 10:34

Just dragged myself out of bed to do week 6 run 2. Sunny but windy. Overtook a blind man with a cane and smiled at some "proper" runners. Now off to garden centre to point at Christmas stuff

MyCatLovesMeSometimes · 25/10/2026 10:24

Im in! Just downloaded the app I did it 10 years ago and was running really well up until April this year when my energy just went.

Been diagnosed with an auto immune condition which seems to be under control so am starting again (on the treadmill today though!)

FacetiousFace · 25/10/2026 10:23

IzzyLeng · 25/10/2026 07:51

Dh, while I appreciate is not a woman, is in his 60s and runs ultramarathons….think 500 mile distance marathons on rough ground with loads of ascent and descent.

He runs two marathons a week for training and his knees are fine. But he probably spends as much time stretching and doing bodyweight exercises as he does running to prevent injury and build joint strength.

Show quote history

The whole running destroys your knees thing is a myth. People who run recreationally have a much lower chance of osteoarthritis in their hips and knees as they age than those who don't. Exercise causes very slight damage to muscles, tendons, bones and cartilage but also leads them to grow back stronger and healthier. So running is actually protective of your joints as you age.

TheDevilWears · 25/10/2026 10:11

@Solotravelwonder You are today’s inspiration. Please let us know how you get on. Wishing you the best time 🌹

IzzyLeng · 25/10/2026 10:10

iCod · 25/10/2026 09:03

Hi Izzy.
yeah, I just took a picture of the whole summarise screen that has the splits at the bottom I use Gemini because it's logged into my Google account and it remembered all my runs and it's really nice because you don't have to bore you relatives with it

Thanks. Have set a folder up to save screenshots in now Love a bit of data.

Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:08

Anyone running today bear in mind the wind is pretty hard

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:08

Blimey @ImNotAsCooperativeAsYouMightWantAWomanToBe. You've had major surgery! Well done to you.

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:07

I used the official Couch to 5K app which cuts in over your music, but you can alter the way in which it cuts in

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 10:06

Lads news just in from me !!

my before work runs are about 3 km because I can get up and do that about six in the morning, but I've just been out and did 6 km which is the furthest I've ever ever run. (That sounds great until you put it into Miles and there's only 3.72 miles!)

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MinnieMountain · 25/10/2026 10:00

Go on @Solotravelwonder . You can do it!

ImNotAsCooperativeAsYouMightWantAWomanToBe · 25/10/2026 09:35

TheDevilWears · 25/10/2026 05:12

Which app do you use? There are loads 🤦🏼‍♀️

Ditto. I don't want music or anything else, I like to listen to a podcast when I’m exercising. Any recommendations? I literally want something that just says run or walk at the appropriate times.

I've been doing plenty of walking on the treadmill as part of my rehab after my recent hip replacement and would like to run to burn more calories, improve my cardiovascular fitness, and just to get the bloody exercise thing over with more quickly.

I did couch to 5K once, many moons ago (two hip replacements ago) and hated every minute of it so I'm ready to hate it again purely for the absolutely brilliant feeling of stopping at the end of a run 🏃

So, which app?

Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 09:09

This is HOW IT LIFTS
beer tax as my sons say

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LoudSnoringDog · 25/10/2026 09:05

Going once this hangover has lifted 🥴

Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 09:04

Just click on the run and you get the date and time and location of the run at the top

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Original poster
iCod · 25/10/2026 09:03

Hi Izzy.
yeah, I just took a picture of the whole summarise screen that has the splits at the bottom I use Gemini because it's logged into my Google account and it remembered all my runs and it's really nice because you don't have to bore you relatives with it

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IzzyLeng · 25/10/2026 09:00

I’m spinning today not running but I did it yesterday instead so feel it’s in the bag

@iCod when you say you posted screenshots from your Apple device to ChatGPT for it to look at improvement, what screen did you screenshot? Your splits?