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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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Thread gallery
7
Callmecynical · Yesterday 08:29

I’d like to join you but I’m very slow. Please can everyone keep quiet about their fantastic times while I puff and wheeze my fat old bod through the program?

Itsallpoison · Yesterday 08:31

I used to run years ago, but had to stop due to recurring injury. I miss it so much!
I keep talking about doing a c25k but I’m always putting it off because I want to work on my strength and flexibility first. But I never do these things.
I want to join. Thank you for the thread😃

Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 08:55

MORNING RUNNERS! Have a coffee, if you know you know, then get out there

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Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 08:55

@Callmecynical it's not about timing it's not about speed. It's not about any of that. It's about commitment and doing it at least three times a week.

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iCod · Yesterday 08:56

@Gloriia thanks mate, but scroll past

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Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 08:57

Solotravelwonder · Yesterday 06:46

I want to be bullied 🙋

I have always wanted to run but never managed it. I feel dizzy and sick when I run.

But, I am recovering from severe depression, just left DH of 20 years and obese. No better time to start.

Obstacles I need to overcome: I'm obese, I have plantar fasciitis but its been OK recently, I live surrounded by hills and no pathways which I think will be tough on my feet.

Positives: I have always wanted to be able to run. I'd love to be able to take myself on a solo holiday and do a 5k at 7am alongside the beach. I like being out in the rain. I've been waking early so could fit a run into my morning.

I could buy a treadmill to overcome the obstacles of the uneven hill-y roads..

Please accept me to the thread and bully me into completing C25K.

Okay, I'm launching a new thing. Today. @Solotravelwonder is our featured runner of the day!
We're all sending you loads of love and want you to keep with us.

guys! Pile on!

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IzzyLeng · Yesterday 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?

Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 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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Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 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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LoudSnoringDog · Yesterday 09:05

Going once this hangover has lifted 🥴

Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 09:09

This is HOW IT LIFTS
beer tax as my sons say

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ImNotAsCooperativeAsYouMightWantAWomanToBe · Yesterday 09:35

TheDevilWears · Yesterday 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?

MinnieMountain · Yesterday 10:00

Go on @Solotravelwonder . You can do it!

Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 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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Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 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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iCod · Yesterday 10:08

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

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iCod · Yesterday 10:08

Anyone running today bear in mind the wind is pretty hard

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IzzyLeng · Yesterday 10:10

iCod · Yesterday 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.

TheDevilWears · Yesterday 10:11

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

FacetiousFace · Yesterday 10:23

IzzyLeng · Yesterday 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.

MyCatLovesMeSometimes · Yesterday 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!)

fudgecat · Yesterday 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

Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 10:35

@MyCatLovesMeSometimes go go go.

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Original poster
iCod · Yesterday 10:36

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

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fudgecat · Yesterday 10:50

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

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