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

Starlight they do change the music and rhythms for week 2 not that the music gets any better Well done for doing all three runs this week, you've started now, you may as well keep going! Keep that momentum up and you never know, you might start to enjoy it eventually

Go Halle! I'm attempting w6r2 tomorrow morning. Can't wait to see how I get on actually!

Starlight you can get apps where you put your own music on and it tells you when to stop and start.

Am in my running kit and am going to go for a run once the kids are asleep well at least one of them.

I'm not doing 2 rest days because one off-one on is a momentum that I know I can't disrupt or it will be the end.

I'm not sure about the beginner thing. I guess it kinda is because week one can be just your best attempt rather than completed properly, and you keep going with that until you can do the week 1.

I think for me week1 run1 killed but there was also an 'interest' element because I had no idea what was coming next (which would have been helpful when I got to 'eat a banana') which kept me going. The 3rd time I think I was bored AND struggling and I hope to God they change the music and other things for week 2 otherwise I don't think I'll be able to stick with it.

Hey ChopperGirl join right in!

Yes, it really is for beginners! And yes it is only 3 x week. They recommend a rest day between each run and I then have two rest days over the weekend usually, before starting on the following week's runs.

I'd guess you'd want to aim for 5k in 30mins eventually. But I believe that the program takes you to 30m running in 9 weeks, whether or not that is 5k of running depends on the person I guess.

I'd like to join, please. Lord knows I need it!!

I have a few questions:

I am a running noob, is it really for beginners?

Is it only 3 x a week?

What is a good time for the final 5k?

Felicia, for most of the 60 second runs I thought I could continue. The second one today I got my pace wrong and was waiting for the voice to say change your pace. My inner thighs feel a little tight today, I think I need to stretch them more before and after the run.
Lookout I'm using an iPhone app as it gives me distances as well. In fact I accidentally set it up with the distance programme so from week 3 I'll be running distances not times. Hopefully it's the right programme for me.

Well done Faithless and Felicia. I know what you mean about the first runs Felicia, I had had a break from running but wasn't a complete novice when I started ct5k and the first week was weird! I stuck to the program though! Faithless Laura will give you some tips about pacing yourself through the next couple weeks, 'remember it's just a light jog'

Finished W1R1 and no problems with calf. It's strange doing it second time round I felt completely daft stopping after the first minute, I was only just getting into the run!

Going to do 2nd run on Friday and then might skip day W1R3 and do W2R1 on Monday.

W1R2 done! I think I need to work on pacing myself, I wasn't ever a distance runner.

Yeah. I never wear anything on my head either. Rain is cooling.

Ok thanks will give r2 a go on Thursday.

cinnamon so if you run in the rain it just drips down your face? Is that not annoying?

Felicia good luck on your first run and hope that injury has packed itself off for good!

Attempt W6R2. I would.

So if I managed w6r1 but it killed me should I still attempt r2 anyway? Or do r1 again? What does anyone think?

UsedTo 5 times is pretty impressive

I run as soon as I get up in the morning. Alarm goes off at 6.20 and I drink half a litre of water while I'm getting into my running gear and taking my inhalers. Then it's off I go. Somehow the idea of breakfast when I get back really helps

Hello felicia

starlight, I have songs on my running playlist in my iPhone (which is what I use for music when running) which have the right bpm for my running gait/speed. There are some that are better than others for pulling me through a laggy bit of a run and those are the ones I click back on to. I didn't do anything smart or techy to assess their beats per min or anything, I literally made a playlist using my library and by trial and error and a process of elimination I've found songs that 'fit' with my warm up and run pace.

FFs, sorry for repeating myself in that last post. Copy & paste fail.

I'm going to need to repeat w6 r3 a couple of times too. Wk7 r1 on my 10k app is 20min continuous. I can probably managed about 17 if I really put my mind to it, 20 will be a real challenge. I prefer to run on an empty stomach (or at least 4hrs since my last meal), I get a horrible stitch if I run sooner than that

Last night's 7k was a max stretch of 15min running intervals with incline walks for recovery between. Pretty slow. Speed isn't my forte.

When do you run, meals-wise? I find it much easier & more comfortable to run on an empty-ish stomach (or at least 4hrs since my last meal), I get a horrible stitch if I run sooner than that . I've no idea how people can eat and then be out running an hour later!

God yes, lookout, wk6 is terrifying. I'm only just graduating from it, I repeated wk6 r1 FIVE times because it was such a leap and 2 & 3 were so daunting. No shame in repeating runs, that's my mantra

Rugby, I have the couch to 5k NHS podcasts on my phone so there is no timer.

What I have found though is that ONE of the tracks has the beat in sync with my running and that run is by far the easiest. Almost like dancing.

Is there any 'system' that can make all my runs like that?

I had a problem getting the right track on my stupid podcast app so ended up running W8R1 instead. Managed it. So will do the next run tomorrow as won't be able to fit it in otherwise.

Can I join you all?
I started C25K in September and was really enjoying it (though I hadn't ran since school when I hated running).

Unfortunately I got to week 4 and ended up with a calf injury. I tried to resume running 2 weeks later and did fine during the run but the next few days I was in pain again and it took even longer for the stiffness to go.

After that I've just been too busy but want to get back into it again so planning to start tomorrow morning. Just need to find my sports bra as it has gone walk about!

AllFur so glad it wasn't just me! I really struggled this morning. Hoping run 2 will go a bit better otherwise I'll have to repeat it too!

Bloody hell w6r1 almost killed me! I stopped about 6m into the 2nd run it was that bad! I think it was a combination of things, running into the wind, needing a wee, really tight legs. God it was horrific! I wasn't expecting it to be that bad, that 20m run lulls you into a false sense of security! I did try and do the last 5m run, but i just couldn't! Will either try again tomorrow or the day after!

Sounds like everyone else is doing well, good luck to all new starters! I know I've just made it sound like week6 is impossible, but I'm definitely chalking it up to one of those days!