Too unfit for couch to 5k...

Right... I've just come back to this thread and am immensely cheered by the comments to the effect that its ok to run slowly, even slower than you can walk. I really need to start trying to do this again. I've never followed c25k as I didn't have an ipod or smartphone, but just worked out my own run/walk intervals - maybe I should do it 'properly'. Given I'm not quite 'couch' , do you have to start from the beginning or is it ok to try to figure out where to go from? (if that makes sense).

Oh thank you both for being so kind Pippa and Trevor, but honestly I am fine I am pleased that my nugget of info helped you though Pippa! You runners never fail to impress me!

(I tried it several times and my friends saw how crappy I felt each time and wisely counselled me that I didn't have to do it and I could just do something else I would enjoy more. So I stopped trying to force myself to run and now ride my bike a bit instead. I can do that and it makes me happy!)

I literally cannot even run for a bus, but that's ok. I'll just get the next one

Shots you are not shit at all so you must not feel shit. Just because running's not for you it doesn't provide any reflection of your character!

Hope you're enjoying the other stuff you do

Shots don't give up it was your advice that made me have such a good run yesterday . I do understand though especially if you do other things well .

Pippa Afraid I have already given up, it was just too demoralising for me to constantly fail at it. I do other exercise instead though!

Well done OP for starting. A mistake a lot of people make when they start this sort of programme is to assume running means running as in school sports day.. it usually means a slow jog. A good tip I was given when I started was to walk as fast as you can until you find the "break point" where you have to start jogging and to try to jog at or just below that pace. Going out with a fitter friend is good once you are running 3K plus as they will encourage you to up the effort but at the initial stages it is often not that helpful.

Well done Howlong!

I've done C25K and variants of it about 3-4 times now, and even after my most concerted effort, your time was still faster than my best one! I have concluded I am just not meant to run, even at snail's pace - it just makes me feel so shit to be so shit!

I certainly haven't told my dh how long it takes me , he would be lovely about it but I am quite happy only telling strangers on the internet than people close to me I have failed on the weight loss and exercise front so many times that I just want to get on with it this time quietly .

So wk3 r1 is now under my belt, what week are you on ?

Well done on starting the programme! Remeber, it's not a race.

Are you running too fast? Someone once told me that the ideal running speed for someone is one they can hold a comfortable conversation with.

I do c25 on the running machine. I repeat earlier weeks if I feel tired. It doesn't matter if you take 10 weeks or 10 months to get to 5 k, doing 30 minutes regular exercise is brill. Don't be defeated, do it at a pace that suits you.

I purposely haven't told anyone I'm doing this as I have a lot of friends who are proper runners and I know I would start to become too critical of my own efforts. We are not Usain Bolt but we are well intended!

Thanks dudsville , i know it's not a great time for people that are runners ( my dh does it in about 25 ) but I am pleased . I do think I need to relax more about the times but I am competitive .

Sounds like you have had a good one today as well , good way to start the day which I never thought I would say !

Morning howlong! 5k in 42 minutes sounds wonderful and I know what you mean about taking the pressure off. I treated yesterday as a learner session and did a lot of research about the things I struggled with. Today, instead of having the rest day i decided that I didn't do much of anything yesterday and headed out again. I took a different route that was on a gentle hill. I used the running down to focus on the things I'd learned about my posture and used the uphill (it really wasn't steep) to work on slowing my pace. I learned I preferred running uphill, something about the posture just felt better than when running on level ground where I just feel gravity in a serious way!

Well if this is officially a support thread then I am back .

I have just been to the gym and it was great . I really enjoyed it , i took the pressure off myself and relaxed into it . So much so that I did 4 reps instead of two . I figured I should make the most of enjoying it and keep going . I know I shouldn't concentrate on the times but I am really chuffed that even with the walking I did 5k in 42 mins.

Yay pippa!

Thank you Trevor , i am def going to persevere. I am doing it at the gym because I know too many people locally and I just can't face people just now

I am also going with a very fit and competitive friend who kept telling me to go faster, I think it might be better for me to go by myself

OP, did you know that your running pace can often be slower than your walking pace when you start out? But it's a different type of movement.

So it 100% DOES NOT MATTER if you are slower at the running sections than you are at the walking bits.

Ps, I really had to battle the public-ness of it. Anyone else? I'm sure that will pass soon. I saw a woman go running past my house earlier and I just admired her but I assume people are looking at me and thinking "oh dear"!

(madly waves) Is this a support thread? Please say it is! Today was day one for me and I knew to expect it to be hard, and I'd already lowered my expectations of what I thought I could do before I started, but I had to reduce it even still. I think I'm just under 12 stone now at 5'7" and I struggle with other forms of exercise due to an injury that effects what I can do with my arms. So I read about c25k and bought some trainers. The app I used was awful and I won't use it again. No entertainment, just timed cues of when to walk and when to run. What apps are you using that you like? Mine was time focused and broke the 30 min down to a 5 min walk, then 20 mins of 60 second runs interspersed with 90 seconds walks, followed by a 5 min walk. I couldn't run for 60 seconds, and like others are saying here, I could not work out how to run slower, so although they were shorter runs I still did the reps. I'm looking for inspiration as I want to keep going. I hate gyms and swimming pools and need something I can do in my own time for free and am no longer able to do things like the 30 day shred because of my arms so I'm really hoping to get in to this! Anyone have any tips?

howlong it is definitely worth perservering! There is no international standard for an acceptable speed, just go at your own pace.

If you find you don't actually like running then of course look for something else to do, but please please don't be put off because you think your pace doesn't measure up somehow.

Definitely keep going at your own speed. It's take me 6 months to get to week 7 and I found weeks 1 and 2 the hardest. You've got to fine the right speed for you, fast enough that you're pushing yourself and your heart rate is up but slow enough that -you can still breath- you can complete the section. You can do it.

Your 'friend' was being a tit, unintentionally I'm sure. It's vital to go really slowly because this is mainly mental. I did the whole c25k, repeating as much as I needed to, did a lovely 7k event with a friend where I didn't stop(my goal) and then ruined it all by doing a parkrun to support ds and getting accompanied by a volunteer who ran me much faster than I wanted to go. I haven't really run regularly since. However I do know that the mental breakthrough that you basically can run indefinitely if you go slowly enough is still there.

Oh god don't take a friend! You need to be able to shuffle at your own pace without criticism until you're ready to speed up.
Why can't you listen to music? My c25k lets you have music in the background