Couch to 5k - any graduates

I hated running too, Baking, thought I was hopeless at it, then last August I started C25K and realised that I'd never learned how. And now I'm hooked. I'll never be that fast but I can run!

Me!

I hated exercise but particularly loathed running. Used to refuse to do PE in school. In November a friend talked me into doing C25K with her and we signed up for a charity 5K to motivate us to make it through to the end of the programme. It worked! Was so proud of us for persisting, going out in the cold, rain and even snow on occasion. We're slow runners but were really pleased with a 32 minute finish time when we completed the charity 5k in freezing temperatures.

Not done a run in a few weeks though and I've surprised myself as I've missed it. May get my gear on to do a small run after I've walked DD1 to school this morning.

Stone, obviously

Me! Started on 27th Dec and couldn't run the 30 secs to start with.

I'm doing my first 10k in June and now run two 5k's a week. One at Parkrun and one with great run local.org. Also do interval training and classes/weights at the gym and have lost around a Stine. I also LOVE running and have found the support amazing.

Waves to Skibike and Empress from the C25k and bridge to 10k threads.

I did it years ago. It's great,it lead me to doing three half marathons. Stick with it, make sure you have a really good stretching routine and that your shoes are decent.

I don't run at the moment,am doing some HIIT classes because I have had an injury but going to get back into it soon

Like Rupert, I did C25K last year. Couldn't run for 60 seconds at the start!

On Sunday I'm doing my first marathon - London! Waves at Rupert

Stick with it, it works!

I'm one of those annoying evangelistic C25k graduates who was converted from a background of half hearted, stitch ridden staggers on the school field, who then learned that actually you can learn to run and do it half decently, and ENJOY it

If you'd told me as I laced up my trainers that 364 days later I'd be doing a half marathon, I'd have pissed myself laughing, and not entirely due to the recently healed birth injury that contributed to a serious loss of fitness

Good luck. Trust the programme; it works, even on muppets like me!

Graduate here. Did c25k 2 years ago and now do half marathons.

Never thought Id have done 5k back then.
'Proper' runners were lovely and supportive and my locla parkrun was such a lovely motivating experience.

Now, i make a point of helping other new runners by running with people who've not done our course before. I dont feel like a 'proper' runner half the time now, but wherever were at in our running thing there's always developmeng.

And for those starting c25k now, I am envious as it's such a buzz to do that first 5k. Trust the programme, it works.

Empress - yes it seems a bit of a leap and one I'd never thought or had in mind.
When starting c25k "proper runners" I knew were (and still are) really supportive. They were the marathoners.

I distinctly remember thinking why the hell would anyone want to run further than 5k.
But once you crack c25k you do realise that the training works, and then it is could I go faster or further .... and that leads to all sorts of mad places.
I shall wave to you at Deptford - I'll be doing a fast shuffle.

I just completed my first week. The 3rd run was definitely easier than the first one. I'm 7 stone overweight so I'm not very fast. I'm doing my first Parkrun on Saturday but will be walking/running.

It's such a boost hearing these stories.

Well done on the first run OP

I did 5k in 42 mins today in a HIT treadmill workout. So one min fast walk, one min 70% effort, one min 85-90% effort. That 42 mins inc a warm up so I reckon without it counting the warmup distance I could do it quicker.

I'm keen to try and build up to doing the whole distance without walking.

I am! I did it 2 years ago, and on Sunday I am doing the London Marathon!

Before getting my marathon place I had only ever run 10k so I have done a mammoth amount of training since Christmas.
I clearly remember how sore I felt the first few weeks of c25k, but you can train your body (and mind - it is more in the mind) to do these amazing things.
I am nearly 50, and have never been an exercise bunny.
This is now what I love to do and I have made some fab friends through it.

Waves at arch & empress Yes I'm a C25k graduate (wow can't believe I'm typing that ) started in late Sept hit 5k in Dec, had a few weeks out due to horrid viruses in winter but kept at it. I've got upto 8.5k but happier at the 5-6k mark. I love the convenience of grabbing trainers and nipping out for 35-45min, it fits in well with family life/jobs and great for mental & physics health. Good luck

And yesterday I managed 5k!

Congratulations!!!!!

I love that moment when you realise you're almost there.

I love hearing how people have done!

I'm about to finish week 4, so a way to go for me, but it is really inspiring hearing the progress, and how it's changed people's shape and size!

I started c25k in January and can now run 5k without stopping. I do parkrun on weeks I'm not working and my best time is just under 39 minutes. I'm not fast but I can do it! I'm doing the Great South Run in October for charity so will be moving on to 10K next then 15! It is hard but such a sense of achievement when you can run for longer!

Me! I didn't do the actual proper thing I just built up myself. This time last year I was an unfit size 18. I started walking, then swimming then other classes like Zumba and spin. I only started running really this year.
And yesterday I managed 5k! Ok it took me 40 minutes but it's a start.
Oh and now I'm a size 10

Definitely take it at your own pace. I think most of us on the 5-10K thread are doing our own thing now & sharing progress / encouragement / tips.

I did the zen labs C25K and it had this idea that by the end I should be able to run 5k in 30 mins, so towards the end of the programme I ignored the suggested time and focused on distance instead.

I'm a graduate! Started as a non runner aged 50 running but more walking round my garden.

I've done 10k races now, and my first 20 mile race is coming up in May.

My advice would be - don't rush it, do it st your pace, if you have to repeat weeks that is absolutely fine.

I'm almost a graduate, on week 7 day 2 after many false starts.

I can now run 25 mins without stopping and it feels amazing!

My only tip is to just keep going, I put my running gear on and announce to the family that I'm going for a run before I can talk myself out of it. I never regret going for a run and wish I'd persevered with it sooner.

The biggest benefit for me has been the difference it's made to my self esteem and confidence. I feel so much better about myself than I did 7 weeks ago and feel a real sense of achievement

Oooh Hi Empresss, I will pop over, OP the C25K thread I met Empress on was brilliant. I def needed the support and encouragement to get through some weeks.

Around Week 5 I repeated quite a few of them.

I'm not quite a graduate but I am on w8r2 so very, very nearly.

8 weeks ago, my one minute runs were tough and on Saturday I ran for 28 minutes straight. It's completely blowing my mind that it's something that's even vaguely possible.

There is a thread for c25k runners full of support.

Keep going, there will be tough weeks, I repeated a couple of runs so I was confident to move on to the next. There will be harder and easier runs but it's well worth pushing through them.