New year C25K. Anyone care to join me?

Madcats ive been running to podcasts as I found them more distracting than music. Today's parkrun was the first time I ditched it and didn't listen to anything and it was actually much better. I was more 'in the moment' as such and chatted to a few people on the way round. Not sure what I'll do when I'm on my own again yet.

@Madcats I used to run to podcasts, but as I progressed past 20 minutes I found music easier to keep going with, so switched to that. I found that podcasts made me slow right down while I was thinking, and so I lost momentum quite badly. I've stuck with music ever since!

Thanks all! I appreciate the support.

Congratulations to those doing parkrun, that's very exciting! That's always been my aim eventually, but every time I get to 5k (twice) I promptly stop, so that definitely needs not to happen this time...

I went out about 5 hours after originally planned in the end, but at least I did it! W4R3, and for the first time this week actually completed (this run is the same all week on my programme)! I will probably repeat it on Monday to make sure it's definitely there, but today was the first time I felt like running was a manageable thing I can do again, so I'm counting that as progress!

Hi Delarnira. I found it massively helpful to tell people that I was doing C25k. It is astonishing how supportive some people I barely know have been (and on here too!).

Well done to the Essa and Iwanna. I might have to look at my parkrun route after I finished wk7 (but can't imagine that I'd be speedy).

One more run to go before I get my easter egg (am tempted to just run round the local rec multiple times as I think my normal routes will be full of bikes/families/dogs tomorrow).

Does anybody jog to podcasts/talking books? If runtastic is anything to go by I run at a very erratic pace (sad person that wants to keep in time to whatever I am listening to).

Bazing have you finished wk7 yet? And a brief hello to ski (I'll need to linger here for another month or 2, but useful to know there is another thread).

Sweet treats tomorrow, have a good Easter break everybody

Parkrun done! PB 34:14 so very happy. So much easier this week. Felt like I was properly in the rhythm for the first time. Guess I won't hang up my running shoes quite yet.

Well done deianira starting is the hardest and you know you can do it because you've done it once before.

Well done on parkrun Esssa. That's a brilliant time if you're walking as well. I slowly plod around but can see people well ahead of me walking so I'm very slow. Oh well we're beating the people sitting at home.

Hope everyone has a good Easter. I'm now off to eat ALL the chocolate. Can't understand why I'm not losing weight despite all this running

Just done my first parkrun this morning, waiting for times but should be somewhere around 36.30 I think. Was bloody hard. First time running has made me feel ill. Had to walk a good 4-5 times too. But I did it. Hats off to you iwanna for getting round yours without stopping!

I'm back again, and determined to stick at it this time, so thought I'd come get some motivation from this thread. Over the summer I completed the programme, but then I got a new job in August, and basically stopped. I've restarted as of last week but am struggling with motivation a lot - managed to restart at week 4, as week 3 was too easy but having said that, am finding week 4 very hard! I think I'm partly discouraged by how bad I've got since stopping - which is silly, but it gets to me. I've also put on weight since, due to eating badly due to the stress of the new job, which doesn't help. Heading off for Week 4 run 3 in half an hour or so, and hoping that posting here keeps me accountable!

Thanks bwatch. Reluctantly about to do parkrun. Slightly terrified. It will either be fine or possibly my last ever run.

Nooo @Iwannasnack you have been doing brilliantly!
Keep at it!!

Ahh Worst. Run. Ever this afternoon. Did the same route as I did on Tuesday but was struggling almost straight away. Had to walk for a bit at only 12 mins. Then my pelvic floor was struggling despite having been for a wee just before I left. Had to do a little alfresco squat in the bushes . Was so paranoid making sure no-one was around that I didn't notice the stinging nettles...
Even after that I had to run walk home and there was some ahem, leakage.
Sorry for the rant and oversharing. Feel like hanging up my running shoes for good.

Oh Bazing, I've just done that run (told you all I was slacking off a bit). I started off very slowly (as haven't run for almost a fortnight ), and had to hang about for a busy junction, but it felt so much better than the earlier ones in week 6. I can see that I even got a bit faster for the last km.

With the 5 minute warm up and cool down I managed 4.56km (then runtastic crashed in shock so it possibly was 5k by the time I made it to the front door).

Laura very kindly observed that, because I had run for 25mins non-stop, I could call myself a runner.

Mallow you can check out the recent running times for your local parkrun on their website (and I am sure everybody will be really friendly and encouraging).

For the comparative newbies, please don't be disheartened in the earlier weeks. I really have been astonished that running 5k seems quite achievable now.

Keep going Madcats!

Thanks Mallow, I need to keep this going and just need I think to remember like you said 7 weeks ago I found 60sec difficult.

BWatch you're doing fab! I'm going to finish the programme and maybe then do some of the 5k plus podcasts as there's a few to help improve speed and stamina so will help me I think as I'm still slow as!

Congrats on Parkrun IWanna! That's a fab time!

Skibike, sounds like you're doing awesome. I'm looking forward to finishing these 9wks and hopefully getting to 5k, though that feels a way away still.

So I managed Wk6R3, didn't feel so bad looking back but my pace is still low @ 10'30"/km. Wondering if I'll ever get quicker right now

Your all doing brilliantly- I started C25k in sept and was gob smacked I reached 5k in December. There are few of us on the bridge 5k to 10k thread if you fancy joining us I switched from the NHS C25k app to using strava and my music once I got past 20mins as it kicks in every 0.5k with a time and logs all my splits. I did recent try the NHS podcast 5k stamina which was good for trying to get bit faster. I've learnt not to worry if I still walk 60secs a couple of times as it helps me build distance and speed. I've not hit 10k yet (8.5k) my longest as illness & sore hips kept knocking me but I'm really enjoying doing a solid 5-6k I'm still size 16/18 though!

I did w7r3 this morning and almost managed 5k. I'm building up the courage to do a park run.

If I manage it in about 35/40 minutes will I be at the very back?!

Well done @bazingababy. Hope it went well

Go go go@BazingaBaby!!

Not run since Wednesday last week! Just off for W6 R3, wish me luck!

Well done @Iwannasnack!
Very proud of you!!!

Well parkrun done. 5k no walking in 35m 49s. Obviously right down the bottom of the results page but I'm delighted with it!
Hope everyone else is managing to get out there.

@bwatchwatcher hope you feel better soon. Yes I've done a bit of lurking on the 5 to 10k thread, all seems a bit advanced at the moment but then the thought of running for 20 minutes was laughable a few weeks ago.
I think I'm going to attempt parkrun again in the morning. Someone's got to be last right?!

@Iwannasnack, I just want to complete it and then move on.
There were a good few apps upthread I think for after the couch to 5k is done.

I have done nothing since Tuesday as I have a cold sniff sniff!
Glad to see everyone else up and about!
By the way if you're on facebook, the run mummy run group is brilliant!

W7R1 done this morning. Anyone else thinking of moving away from the program? I was meant to run for 25mins but actually managed over 30 (only because I was running downhill at the end). Now that we've finished the intervals it feels a bit pointless. Think I might plot a 5k run and work on my pace.
Next run at some point this weekend. Not sure whether to brave parkrun again. Would ideally like to be a bit faster first but I guess that will never happen unless I push myself.
Well done everyone else, especially to everyone near the beginning. Keep on running!!

Well done Bazing. I know how you feel though, the next few weeks look daunting.

It looks like you, me and Iwanna are at very similar stages.

I'll be running w7d1 on Saturday.

Trouble, 7 weeks ago I was as unfit as they come. I tried c25k a few years ago and couldn't manage the runs on the first day so wasn't terribly optimistic when I started out again but I've kept going and have been committed to three runs a week (even if I have to go at 5.30am or 7.30pm to fit them around the kids).

You can absolutely do it. There will be harder points. I've found some weeks really tough and I have repeated a couple of runs when I felt I couldn't move on and didn't want to feel demotivated. However, I've done that far less than I had imagined I would need to.