C25k / couch to 5k - Spring 2019 new starters. All welcome!

Hi! I am due to start week 3 tomorrow - eeek! Only exercise before was walking (although a fair amount of it), so it's a bit of an adjustment - wanted to run this evening but as I ran yesterday I stopped myself - taking wanting to run as a good sign!

Will look into Strava!

Haven't posted for a while but have been running. Completed wk7 r2 this morning. Found it easier than r1 although I felt a bit crappy when I woke up. Feeling a bit off again now but am at work every morning (including a couple of long days) for the next four days so probably won't run until Monday now.

@sisterfaraway I'd try wk2 again when you get back into it and if it goes okay then carry on with wk2.

I’ve just repeated run 3 of week 4 as I’d missed almost 2 weeks through working at odd times and other reasons. Felt ok and not like a massive back step, and more confident with moving on to the next week properly next time. I’m a treadmill runner too atm as I like weights afterwards.

I've started two weeks ago and did Run 1 of week 2 on Saturday, but have now come down with a bad cold and cough, so no running until that's over (or at least better).

Shall I start over again or can I just continue where I left off? What's the advice on that?

Thanks squishy, it's just weird being only my right side, I'm going to try and loosen my laces and hope it improves!
Bwyddda, I've only done 1 of my runs on a treadmill and did find it easier than outside, but it'll still be working either way!

Can I join? I've just done week 2 run 2.

Has anyone else done this in a gym? I'm doing it on a treadmill, but yesterday tried outside in the real world- my god it was so so much harder! My calves were in agony. I've done day 2 today in the gym again, at a fair pace and with an incline, and whilst it hurt, it wasn't like yesterday. I ran on rocky ground so I guess it could be that. Will it be just as effective in the gym?

sulkey my ankles ache too after running. It's like the mild ache i get from sore muscles, rather than the kind of pain I'd associate with damage if that makes sense. Is that the same for you?

I think it might be because the muscles around my ankles are particularly weak (which makes sense as I've gone over on my ankles before just walking along the street!)
I think this probably means I am quite susceptible to twisting an ankle, so I am being extra careful about where I put my feet when I run.
I am hoping that the muscles will continue to strengthen over time.

I wouldn't run if they were properly painful though- that might risk doing damage that requires a long break from running.

I've tried to get into regular exercise so many times and this is the only thing that's worked - cannot believe I've now done 2x 30 min runs - would not have believed that a few weeks ago!^^ Anyone thinking about it, just do it!

But... anyone got any good ankle pain stories? My right ankle is really hurting when I run. It seems to feel slightly better towards the end of the run (and isn't swollen) so I'm really hoping it's something that will magically just disappear... 🤞

I got a new phone and the apps just don't seem to want to work on it so I've just been gradually upping my distance/time can now easily manage 22mins and about 3.25km aiming for 25 and 3.5km next. Cannot believe I can now run for so long I struggled with 1 minute at the start

For those of you thinking about starting or at the beginning, a few words of encouragement. People are starting to say to me that I look well and I've lost weight (I'm a fatty!!)
And I feel good! In bad news my clothes don't fit me anymore !
I even got on a pair of jeans that I bought yonks ago and have been sitting in my wardrobe ever since!

Week 7 run 3 done.
Very, very rainy but the most enjoyable run yet.. turns out I prefer running in the rain! I don't get too hot, the streets are all mine, and it's weirdly invigorating. 🌧️

@FATEdestiny, thank you - it helps knowing that it’s normal!

@BedraggledBlitz - I use the free part of strava, you can pay more for extras.

Do it "wilting flower*!
Starting was the hardest part for me. Now running regularly has become a habit (never thought I'd say that!) and while the runs themselves aren't easy, it's become a lot easier to fit them in.

I use the Strava app bedraggled. I use it for my commute to work as well, and I like seeing the milage stack up! I set it to private though, because I don't want to share my runs and cycling stats with anyone (there's the option to share info with other users, so people compete over who can cycle a certain section of the road the fastest etc. Imo this occasionally encourages some daft behaviour from over competitive male cyclists).
Well done Pardalis!

Going to do week 7 run three this evening hopefully. Shattered though and summoning up the energy!

I'd like to start this, just need the trainers!

And it was just fine! Barely noticed the extra 2 mins!

Someone recommended Nike Run Club to me so I've downloaded that. Not looked at it yet though.
Heading off shortly for a run - my first 30 minute one!

Well done @pardalis! I saw on another thread there's a follow-up program from the nhs. Wonder what that involves.

Is anyone using a running app? I have runkeeper, I like how it shows a map of my route. Unfortunately I pressed the wrong button and its recorded a very flat ski session. Interested in anyone has found a better app?

Week 8 complete. One more left!

Hi all, sorry to hear of injuries and illness, hope you have speedy recoveries.

I did w5r3 the other day. I felt so proud of myself. I ran 20 minutes!! Me! First 5 minutes and last 5 minutes were hard.

I'm repeating w5 now, just to make sure it wasnt a fluke!

Completed W8R2 today. Was supposed to do it on Thursday but no childcare so I did yoga that day instead. That was bloody hard work! Will complete week 8 tomorrow and then it's the last one!

Congrats all! (And yes, it IS an achievement nutbiscuit!)

Chaos, I think with the speed thing if you want to go faster, and if you have a bit still left to give by the end of your runs, then go for it.
But I think (or I'm hoping!) that increasing speed is something that will follow naturally, once I've built up the time. I know that if I went too fast at the start of the run, I wouldn't be able to run the full time and that's my priority. Once running very slowly for a certain time stops requiring all the effort I have, I'll try running slightly faster.
I have noticed myself speeding up fractionally with the week 6 and 7runs.

Comparison is the thief of joy etc, and it's hard to do a "fair" comparison anyway - people have different leg lengths and body shapes, and I think running routes will make a huge difference (maybe you do more hills than your friends! )

I am frankly amazed that I can run for 25 minutes!

I did week 7 run 2 today, and my first park run! I was going to wait until I had finished c25k and was a bit faster, but was up so early today (thanks dd) so thought I'd just go for it. I ran for 25 minutes, then when the voice in my ear gave me permission to walk I walked for a bit, then ran/walked/ran etc till the end.
It was more fun than I thought, not intimidating at all, and I'm very pleased with my time.

I’ve realised that my pace really is quite slow I’m managing just over 13 mins a mile and I am SO chuffed with that but since some friends IRL have disclosed theirs, I feel a bit embarrassed! Anyone else the same? I’m on the 25 min runs now, but I’ve had to stop using the app because it kept freezing!

Curlsandcurves I just did the same, can't quite believe I did it, 5 mins in I thought no way I can keep this going but I did, my DH who is super fit was very proud of me, which was a great feeling. I was really pleased that someone commented on my weight loss yesterday, I've been quiet in rl about what I'm doing so great when someone notices really adds another incentive....only another 3 stone to go 😬

I did w5r3 yesterday, 20 mins non stop, soooo chuffed! I actually think I might be able to complete this now.

SquishySquirmy I know what you mean. I’m not bothered about the 5k bit, I just want to see if I can run for 30 minutes consistently.