Couch to 5k- Cage your inner chimp and get started!

If you can run for 20 minutes you can run for 25!

W6R2 done. Now very scared about 25 mins on Monday! Thought about repeating W5R3 and doing the 20 min but I think I will at least try the 25 mins. I know I can do 20 so I will at least do that. Will aim for the 25 but if I can't do it I will just do what I can and repeat week 6. If I can do it I will be chuffed and progress to week 7. Am trying to trust the programme!

FunnyFace I always find the second run of each week by far the hardest.
Dawn.. thanks for the inspiration.. 20 mins seems such a long time.. I get loads of confidence from this thread with people who can run for 30 mins..

Mairead - in my book, that means you've graduated - congratulations!

Well done to all starters and progressers ( I KNOW that's not a word.. ) much better than being on that couch eh?

I graduated months ago, and still haven't done a 30min 5km.
BUT I can run for a full 35 mins! That is a massive improvement in fitness, and I can see it in other parts of my life. Just wish the waist would follow

Thanks, I used map my run to plot where I'd run. I'm now deflated at how slowly I must be going!

Mairead does that mean that you've finished the programme? Well done if you have, what are you planning on doing from here?

Iwish www.mapmyrun.com if you know where you've been.
It seems to have most of the cycle routes I use, with one massive exception, but will let me tell it I'm going off the road, and just join the dots where I go off road, and onto cycle path about 1km later!

I had two days in between runs and although I have never run before I would say I am reasonable fit have done the Shred a few times this year and do plenty of dog walks.

Didn't get an gait analysed though so maybe that is it. I will stick with it and as you say trust the programme - Thanks

W9D3. My legs hurt.

Funnyface - did you have a rest day between your runs?

How fit are you? You have proper shoes, but have you had your gait analysed?

It could just be reflecting your level of fitness. But I would also say just trust the programme!

Week 6 run 3 done

25 minutes of running solid - I can hardly believe it! I have no idea how far I've run though. I'm using an iPod nano - apart from my iPad I don't own anything technical - so I'm desperately trying to find an app that I can trace on a map where I've run and it'll tell me the distance. I don't suppose anyone knows of such a thing?

funnyface. I found the first run in weeks 1-4 surprisingly ok, but the other 2 felt terrible! I have no idea why, but stick with it. Trust the programme!

Can I ask a question. I just did W1 R2 and found it much harder than my first run on Tuesday. My lower back ached every time I started to jog although I felt fine after the run and completed it all. Is that normal as I have ever run before and don't know if I just have to keep going sort of thing.

I have proper running shoes and don't think I was pushing myself that hard.

Did week 5 run 2 a bit earlier on - think someone put lead in my legs! Am definitely a morning rather than evening runner (although sunset was beautiful) but needed to go into York this morning which I did at least do by bike.

Minday will be week 5 run 3 and I'll find out ho far I can go in 20 min :)

Same here dawn I did 20 min run of w5r3 yesterday and it felt good!!
I can't believe I did it - unthinkable a few weeks ago (well pretty unthinkable a few days ago actually!)
It's the first time I have started a run and thought 'I think I can complete this' as every other run has had me plagued with doubts and desperate for Laura to say 'slow down now, you've done it'
Trust the plan indeed!

Wizzler, it's fine. Took me a couple of goes, but see above post!

Wk 5 run 3. I ran for 21 minutes. Bloody Hell! Only took me to 2k, shows how slow I am, but I don't care, I ran for 21 bloody minutes, without stopping, Bloody Hell!

vagn I reckon you will find the Wk5 runs easier second time around - I did today

Me too, Reiltin

My knees are protesting a little now, but only when I stop. I'm not worried, losing a quarter of my body weight will help that ;)

Wk5R2 this morning. I felt as if I was struggling but when I got home and checked my times I was pleased to see I'd done a sub-6 min km and a sub-10 min mile!

Guardian podcast recommends completing the Wk 5 runs four times, not three so I'll be doing it again a couple of times.

Then it's on to the 20 min non-stop run in Wk 6

Welcome vagn You sound like me - I had stops and starts due to illness etc. It took me a year from when I first started. In the end I was just determined to do it and made it my summer project.
Having finished c25k I thought I'd have a break from podcasts for a bit and just do 5k runs and some shorter ones going a bit faster.
Ive discovered that doing one 5k doesn't mean they are easy from then on! I managed 4k yesterday though and enjoyed it. Could have carried on but time was limited (tea in the oven). What's good to go on to after c25 k?

wizzler I did Wk5R1 this morning

Finished w4. Preparing for week 5 but it looks daunting, someone please reassure me that it is not the insurmountable hurdle it appears to be!

Wk 5 R 1 done this morning. As I was up half the night with a dodgy tum, I thought that was a good effort!

Week two - done! So proud of myself! Well done to everyone for keeping on keeping on

Dialled back to W5R1 again... Took a different route which led me up a bit of an incline. I definitely struggled in the 2nd running segment and had to walk for a minute in the middle. Tried to make up time by tagging an extra 90 second run at the end of segment 3 after a minute or two of recovery. Bleh! I'll try W5 R1 again on Sat. I'll be on week 5 forever.