Couch to 5k- fantastic plan that works for all!

Ooh, can I join please? I'm desperate to lose weight, and I was recommended C25K by a friend. I got really into running a couple of years ago, but have since had a baby and haven't run for about two years. I did really love it when I was doing it though, so I downloaded the ZenLabs app a few days ago. I'm on W1R2 and I'm going again tomorrow. I'm really hoping that this thread will give me a massive boot to get going when I can't be bothered!

Well done MissSmiley and anja on your long runs.

I managed w5r3 (the 20min continuous run) this morning. YAY

It was definitely a mental game to try and keep going for the last 5 mins - legs felt really heavy. I almost had to actually say out loud 'come on you can do this' ..... but I realised since I was running past the local shops at the time I would probably look like even more of a loon if I started talking to myself.

But, hey, I did it and I really never imagined that 6 weeks ago when I struggled on the first 3min run that I could do 20mins.

So onwards and upwards to wk 6 and parkrun next Saturday (eek!).

Good morning everyone, hope you are looking forward to a good weekend. I just wanted to report that I did run 5k this morning, after successfully battling with my defeatist self. I felt really crap and ran pretty slow but avoided cutting the distance in half after all. I need to explain that my normal 'autopilot' loop is around the block, makes just 5k but there are lots of opportunities to turn off and head straight home (located inside the loop). It went a bit like this:

I made it. Completed w6 r3 this morning. Still sore from the squats but ran for 25 minutes without stopping. I even "stepped it up a gear" as Laura suggested for the last 60 seconds!
Feeling good. :-)

Hi TheresLots welcome! It's great isn't it? Every week I was amazed I had stuck with it! Though I spent about a fortnight on W3

MissSmileyoh my commiserations! I know I have this to come when I finally pick up my kettle bell again. When i get back into it, I normally do a tiny 10m routine after my run, but all the squats kill my legs in the first week...

Big mistake doing 30 shred! I have been unable to run today even walk actually. In fact if I'm honest sitting on the loo has been painful! How can 20 mins of exercise cause so much agony. I'm going to be brave and try w6 r3 tomorrow if my legs can remember how to move...
I will keep you posted.

Hi , can I join you? I'm up to w3r1 that I completed yesterday. I can't believe that I did it, which is my general theme so far. I'm relatively young but so unfit and this seems to be working well.

3k run continously this morning, not bad for first try. Runkeeper is so useful. Now to try and find something to put my phone in while I run. Pants didn't work

Really want to do a park run. No junior one here though

Once I'm up to 5K I might start doing a parkrun. There is one at 9am on Saturdays, in the same town where I teach kids' aikido at 10am, so that could fit together nicely.

Thanks for that cinnamon, maybe I'll pick up the courage for parkrun this year! I know every one recommends it and afaik there are two nearish me.

Oh best of luck for your parkrun experience StartWhereYouStand. I registered about a month ago as our local one has only started. Was planning on waiting until I could give it a decent time but I'm becoming a bit braver about doing it sooner rather than later. After all it's not a competition, it's only between me and myself really.

Maybe wait until I'm fully comfortable running about in the daytime (getting there slowly) before I throw a load of people into the mix :)

Thanks for the parkrun reassurance cinnamon

I love the sound of it and the community, volunteering, non-competitive aspects appeal to my inner hippy sense of wellbeing.

cinnamon - thank you for that link!! I have never heard of Parkrun before but there is one in my town. My 39th birthday is in May so I have just set myself a personal challenge to join them by then

W2R3 completed tonight. Although my overall distance seemed less than I have done before (as I tend to have to do more than 5 mins walking at the end), I had definitely covered further than before by the end of the 6th "run"!

Will be starting W3 at the weekend and that involves a whole 3 mins of running EEK!

I've just finished my second week 3 run. Enjoyed it again. I hope I still do when it involves more running. I've been really inspired by this thread and it's nice to 'chat' to others who are much further on and showing it can be done.

What's park run?

I've started 30 day shred on the days in between my runs. Did first one today and felt quite wobbly afterwards. It's amazing what you can do in 20 mins.

It's w6 run3 tomorrow. I'm not checking ahead so every day is a surprise. :-)

Belated well done Morrigu on your run-and-a-half - 27mins is fab.

I just did w5r2 today and really enjoyed it - could definitely have kept going for more than the 8mins but not sure how I am going to manage 20mins on Sat!

I have rather foolishly told a friend that I will do a parkrun next Sat (as the master plan says i am supposed to be running for 25mins by then!!) but I am really nervous about it as my pace at the moment is somewhere between sloth and snail. Various people have told me that it is all very supportive etc but I am still scared big wimp though I am determined to get doing it as I think it will give me a focus once the c25k is done.

Still can't believe I am turning into someone who actually enjoys running. Hope I can get some of that toned muscle thing going on too, although not noticed much yet glares at tree trunk legs and wobbly backside

For whoever asked about taking samsung galaxy phone with them - I bought a cheap audio/phone waistband holder thing from Sports Direct which has been pretty comfortable and it fits in there just about.

In only three weeks ahead of you petit so not that much really.

Well done Fabulous. I don't do any real exercise as such but I do walk at least 4 miles most days, usually with a heavy buggy and shopping in tow up a hill :) I've been doing that for years though even when I was overdue and huge. Ideally I would love to get back to pilates for my core as I used to do that class and start a bit of strength training but it's just not feasible at present.

Afternoon. :)

Just completed week 1 run 2 and managed it while upping my pace and the distance. Not by much but it's encouraging to think I am 'better' than 2 days ago.

I found the first bit quite hard, a bit like running through sludge, but put it down to being tired from Tuesday and the fact that this is probably the most exercise I have done in three years!

Do any of you do any other exercise in-between runs? I am planning on doing W1R3 on Saturday and then going for a family cycle on Sunday.

Thank you for all the encouragement and advice about weight/weighing etc :)

fullerlonger yes that's exactly it. I just count for 10 secs and multiply by 6

How do you take your heart rate? Just counted my pulse over 1 minute and it was 56.