Too unfit for couch to 5k...

I am doing this at the minute as well , for those that say run slower, how slow do you mean ? I measured 5k and it took me over 45 mins which seems really really slow to me . Is it worth persevering?

I got as far as wk 8 a couple of years ago and then broke a toe and didn't get back into it but I worry I am wasting my time and running just isn't for me .

Family parkruns are a wonderful goal to have. I repeated weeks many many many times before I finished it early last year and did a charity 5k. My DC were so keen they went the following week to junior parkrun and the next month started the main parkruns with me. DH then started. We're all heading towards our fiftieth runs at the moment. I've done 10ks and even a half marathon since.

I'd never run before and I'm certainly not fast or pretty running now but I absolutely love it, the best thing I ever stuck at.

I started on the couch25k just over 12 weeks ago and like you I have found every step really tough but I have ploughed on and on. I'm not able to do a full 5k without needing to walk a bit but I probably manage to jog slowly run about 90% of it now. Stick with the programme and if you need to repeat a week it's fine. I used to feel absolute dread at the idea of the increasing minutes of running but it really is doable and I am the wrong side of 40 and quite overweight so if I can do it anyone can. I joined a couch25k group to join via my local Parkrun and I would recommend that if there's one near you as they really motivate and encourage you as well as giving you practical tips on breathing, posture, pace etc. good luck and keep at it.

I tried it a few years ago. But found one that was literally starting with walk 2 minutes and jog one! Have a look at other programmes.
Do repeat weeks whenever you need to. Remember that every step you take is improving your fitness and taking you further on your journey.
Good luck.

You could try an audio book instead and just go out walking/listening to the book for 40 minutes and build up your cardio etc before undertaking the programme or doing it in your inbetweeny days to maintain the habit.

Sounds like you're doing great!

I'm another one who took a while to get going with C25K, had to repeat the early weeks, walk some of the "run" sections at first etc. Six months later I ran a 10k! It's totally worth it if you can stick at it.

I was the same when I tried it, just couldn't hack it at all. Instead, in Jan this year, I started walking everyday (I got a dog which means I now have no excuses!). I walk with my sister who walks really fast and within about 4 weeks of daily 3k - 5k walks I noticed massive improvements in my health and fitness. Over the past 6 weeks I have really stepped it up and have also started to do a daily 7 minute workout (app on my phone) a few times through and also do boxing and weights. I have unbelievably discovered I love it all!

I still really struggle with running though, for some reason it just seems so much harder than anything else to me.

So I'd say, try other stuff if the c25k isn't working, find something you can love rather than that feels like a trauma!

I came to post about this. Exactly the same issue.

I can walk an hour easily but i cannot do the walk/run more than the first two sixty seconds of run.

I tried at 16 stone and hurt my achilles! I loved it but I'm scared to try again for the same reason. I was advised to do no weight bearing exercises swimming /cross trainer to get weight down and a bit stringer first but it didn't have the same appeal!

Yep maybe go on your own if your colleague's "encouraging words" are bringing you down!
I'm sure she means well but everyone needs to go at their own pace.

Don't worry about running or going faster - just go! slowly or walking, it's all a step in the right direction

I started c25k 6 weeks after dd2 was born at 17st. Hadn't run anywhere since school. Finished it in the 9 weeks and ran race for life 5k in 35mins.
You can do it!
The best advice I read was to run slowly. I thought I was running slowly but when I really slowed it down it got much easier to do the long runs. Interestingly the first few weeks are the hardest. By the time you get to the 20min run the 90second ones will seem like a lifetime ago

Have your music ready to listen to as a treat for finishing the run, keep it upbeat and you might find you keep moving, whether that's walking or jogging, for longer.

Good luck and stick with it! xx

Massive well done op !!!!!!

Just do what you can. It will get easier I swear!!

I'm on week 5 after about 10 weeks haha... I CANNOT go faster, and when I try I am totally knackered.

Don't go faster, stick with the pace you can manage, even in you complete C25K at a constant jog / powerwalk... that's fine, you'll do it, you don't need to look like Paula Radcliffe while doing it

On week 3 after I had finished the podcast if I managed to I tried to do an extra run... rather than listen to the warm down I would switch to my own choice of songs pn my phone, walk for2 upbeat songs then jog to a song... that extra effort at the end always finishes the exercise in a good mood and feeling like I'd got one over the very nice helpful lady narrating the session

Op, I started this a few weeks ago, I'm just over 13 stone, I've got to week 5 and I really struggle, the bit that made me think 'Ehh??' was when the lady said if you're feeling the strain go slower and I thought 'I can't go any slower!! I don't think I'm doing it fast enough!!' but go at your own pace.

If you are struggling, stay on week one for two or three weeks until you
are ready to go on to week 2. On week two there is good advice in that wjen you are running (I never ever runm,a best a wobbly jog) imagine there is a hedge next to you and a person is walking at the other side of the hedge. Ideally they should not be able to tell if you are walking or running, you must takeit steady and not be too bouncy

(can any one tell I stuck on week 2 for a while? )

Good luck op, take it at your own pace but don't give in!

Stick with it. You can do it. Just repeat each week if you need to progress slower.
Finish this week, then do week 1 again next week. If you're not finding it any easier then maybe think about switching to power walking but just give it this go first.

Honestly, if completed the first session, running at the times it's asked you to, your doing really, really well. Don't give up now, your amazing having gone out twice!!
Stick with it. Maybe do the first session a few more times, and then risk session 2. It's running, it's HARD, and your doing it. A whole 8 minutes worth, which is more than a lot of people have ever done. Go girl. Keep running!!