Anyone fancy starting Couch to 5K on Monday 5th Aug?

I not U. Honestly, can't even type, never mind run...

I am just about to go out for my inaugural 20 minuter. Yikes! If I don't return with stats you will know I have expired in a sweaty mess of pain somewhere en route

Will catch up with everyone's recent exploits if and when u return.

Well done Slev! Must've been tough getting back to it but the rest obviously served you well!
I missed a run yesterday, even though I was due for family reasons (out all day sorting DHs outfit for a wedding and DDs shoes, then poorly baby, visitors coming in the evening etc). No way I'll be finishing for my initial target date but hoping to go out later today and plough on... Really indulged yesterday and still have the wedding next month to trim down for

I'm back! And have done W6R2 which was not fun. Mostly because it was so hard to motivate myself to get out there after a week off. But it's done and I'm quite pleased (if somewhat scared) that that's the last of the interval ones out the way as I definitely find it easier once I'm into a rhythm rather than a stop start.

Total GPS fail but I've plotted it manually on the mapmyrun website and they reckon I covered 2.55 miles in 23 minutes so 9.01 min/mile. Which sounds fast but also possible - I took workate's advice and looked up that website to find songs that matched the pace I know I can run at and it definitely helped giving myself a beat to run to. So including the warm up I covered the 5k - now I just need to run it.

But it's good to be back!

Did you go out again today Harry? How did it go?

Well done Workate - you've graduated twice now! Completing week 9 should be a breeze as you've done an almost 30 minute run twice already! That must make you more relaxed about it all, including socking it to those people you know on the Park Run you mentioned

Long strides aren't wise for lots of reasons regarding the least economical and causing more joint stress but I guess very short strides probably aren't either- even if only for your dignity!

Well done Lurking! Good solid times there and right on course.

Your minute by minute description made me smile- very familiar (although lately the "when will it end?" bit has been creeping earlier and earlier!)

Back from W6R2. It followed the same pattern as usual:

first five minutes: oh this is really hard and I haven't warmed up enough

second five minutes: oh this is really quite ok after all, I am almost enjoying myself. I am nearly a Proper Runner.

third five minutes: I wonder how long I have to go

final five minutes: will this never end?

stats not too terrible:

4.51km
average speed 7.20/km
running speed 6.41/km (slower than last time)

I'm averaging out at being able to run 5K in 32 minutes, which isn't horrible slow, I suppose. Will try to get that down to 30 after I've finished the programme and before I attempt a Parkrun.

Sunday is the dreaded 20 minuter. I am going to spend a bit of time putting together a brand new playlist so that at least I have some new music to spur me along.

Who else is going out today? Is anyone on W9 yet?

Oh well done, tinwe for getting through it. God, no, I don't have the runner's high when I'm out there. I look forward to doing it, really feel great when it's done, have an overall feeling of satisfaction that I'm getting fitter, doing something really good for myself and that it's having all sorts of benefits that I can't even see ... but actually enjoy the run itself? Not really, other than for maybe a minute or two at a time occasionally I think perhaps you're right - we're constantly pushing ourselves to go further and faster so each run is a real challenge, rather than just something we do. I am curious to know if that will change.

Off out for W6R2 in a bit. Today it's run 10, walk 3, run 10, in preparation for the 20 minuter on Sunday. Must keep thinking positive thoughts. Will report back later with stats.

Anyone else out today? dotty, how are you doing with W6?

Thanks Slev Unfortunately I read your message when I'd finished my run! I think I probably feel/think like you've described when I'm in a less hormonal mood

W8R2 done. A tough one. I've been struggling to mentally get into the mood since I hurt my foot (which incidentally is still sore when I run). I was shattered and for various reasons hadn't had more than a biscuit all day too, so had no energy all the way through. I felt like I was going so slow I was running on the spot sometimes!

Strangely enough I bumped into a friend who's a personal trainer on the way home and she gave me some advice about eating before a run (when and what etc), which reassured me a bit. I think I need to take this a bit more seriously- change my thinking pattern as all the way through I keep thinking "I can't complete this one" and take more care with what I eat/drink before a run.

My stats aren't right either as my app played up and I was stood there a minute before I could stop it but I expected to be a lot slower this time.

Anyway, stats:

29mins, 4.55km at 6.2mins/km
(Removing my stationary minute I think it's about 6.1mins/km)

Off out tonight. DDs have colds and im weary with lack of sleep. 5 am on Monday before bed and midnight yesterday. Plus been non stop over the last few days. When does it get to the point where you've been running a while and are not looking forward to it being over? Last few runs I've been mentally willing the time to pass. Anyone actually got the runners high/"could keep on running for ages yet" feeling when out? Maybe you only get that when you stop progressing and therefore aren't making each weeks runs harder (ie finish the plan)!

Good luck to anyone running today, we need stats and stories to pore over...

Hmm, my phone goes in my bum pocket (so to speak - there's one on my shorts!) and I didn't have a problem until last week - unless I just had an unusually warm backside that time round? I'm inclined to think GPS and cloudy English weather don't mix.

Good luck Dotty for tomorrow

To add to the evidence, I carry my phone in a pack on my arm and that seems to work

Well done Workate! W8R2... only 4 more runs left

Hi all quick comment on the GPS - could it be that in a leggings pocket there is no clear view of the sky (needed for GPS to work) whereas on the arm there always is. Although I like the hot stuff idea too!

W6r1 tomo morning here I come...

Harry - well done on another run completed, don't be so hard on yourself that you had to slow down for a bit though! Everyone has bad runs at times and (according to my long term runner DH) it's part of becoming "a runner" that you become more confident in your skills overall and that future runs will be better. Since all the runs in week 3 are the same I'd continue through the week and do any repeats you think necessary at the end. You might find that you feel ready to progress after doing the same run three times but if you're still struggling with week 3 you can repeat until you've mastered it, you won't be the first!

Lurking- well done! Another one checked off and good times too despite it being "challenging"

Never heard of an app malfunctioning due to the user being hot stuff before!

harry, I seem to remember Week 3 being really tough. I think it's because Weeks 1 and 2 are really like an extended warm-up (although they don't feel that way at the time!) to get you used to the programme and then Week 3 seems to get suddenly harder. I remember just aching that week.

No shame at all in having to walk for a bit. The next run will be better, promise

I'm just back from W6R1. This was quite a short one (my app is weird and seems to alternate between shorter and longer runs) but manageable apart from the last five minutes when it was a bit challenging. A good blast of Stevie Wonder carried me through to the end, though

Distance: 3.94 km - 2.45 miles
Average speed: 7.24 mins/km - 11.55 mins/mile
Running speed: 6.26 mins/km - 10.21 mins/mile

Well done, workate - another one under your belt. Sorry your app seems to be having a mind of its own. I had to stop carrying my phone in the little pocket in my running leggings as I finally figured out that's what was causing the app to freeze. I expect it couldn't cope with being so close to my overheated body. Any chance it's something similar with yours that's causing a malfunction? Mind you, you're so close to the finishing line that it probably doesn't matter too much now!

Oh, and I cannot say that I actually need jeans in a smaller size now. It's more that they feel a tiny bit looser but, alas, not so much so that I need to keep them up with a belt

I started my 3rd week this morning and I found it really really hard. I had to walk a bit of one of the runs. First time I've to do that. I just couldn't stretch to 3 mins. I'll have to repeat that workout I think. The tops of my feet were killing me.

Ha ha tinwe, no I'm not planning on doing the 60-minute run at all! The programme stops after Week 8, at which point I should be able to run for 30 mins, all going well. After that, though, they've just tacked a few spare runs on the end that I guess are meant to be optional extras. I'll do the 3 x 30 minute ones to try to get to the point when I can do the 5K in the 30, then I think I'll leave it at that and move on to another programme.

Well done on your first W8 run - what a fantastic speed. Two more minutes and you'll be there

workate I would love it if you casually turned up to a Parkrun, all nonchalant about it, and then proceeded to run it in less than 30, possibly with a victory lap at the end

I'm off out for W6R1 later on. Run 8, Walk 3, Run 8 - that sounds fairly manageable, although I didn't get to bed until 1 and have been awake since before 6, thanks mainly to snoring husband. Am feeling quite exhausted but hoping I perk up a bit in a few hours. Will report back.

W8R1 done Foot/ankle still sore but back fine. I was very tired though as I went out and very unmotivated!

I measured the stats differently today following Working's impressive last run. Instead of letting the app measure the whole session, I just did the running bit so that I wasn't guessing at my speeds for each respective part. Stats below:

28 mins, 4.65km, average speed 6mins/km