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

I just completed W1R3, it wasn't too bad. I still cannot believe I'll ever run 5k non-stop but trying to just not think about that and trust in the programme!

Re frequency of runs - are we supposed to do it every other day? I thought it was 3 over the course of a week, so this week it was Mon, Weds and Sunday. Is that OK?

@pardalis ah okay - I was going to move onto week 4 tomorrow but my calves were screaming at me at the end of the w3r3 today so I’ll repeat it tomorrow I think.

I’m surprised at how much get up and go I’ve still got - I haven’t missed a run so far which is v unusual for me. I’m also surprised at how much better I feel in myself (even I don’t look any better because I am an utter chocolate fiend)

@chaosisaladder - I'm doing 4 a week. Also been doing consecutive days. Feels ok at the moment!
I'm repeating runs though instead of continuing

@sanityisamyth - oh really?!! Bumholes

I'm not stressing about W4, I was so worried about W3 but I managed it so I can do W4! The boyfriend is making me watch the London marathon and joking it'll be me next year 😮

Looking forward to starting W4 tomorrow. Never thought I'd say that.

@georgethefirst thanks for that - I suspected it was due to my lack of stretching but bloody hell! It was so painful! Then I made the mistake of taking a prescription strength co-codamol (it really was that bad) which ruined me for a day! Needless to say, I’ll be stretching after every run from now on!

How often are people running - every other day as advised or more often if you feel okay?

@Pardalis have you seen all of the week 5 runs. They're not all the same this week ... 😱

Hip pain - I get this if I don't stretch well after a run. Toe touch, hip flexor (down on one knee, looks a bit like the position on starting blocks) and the one where you lie down, put one foot on the other knee, then lift that knee in the air to a right angle bend.

Google stretches for hip pain if I haven't described it well enough 😀

Just repeated a week 4 run. Was quite tired going out as I had to go to work today (normally just mon-fri) and was on my feet most of it.
Managed it though and did the usual run on at the end. Have looked at week 5. Looks ok. Just all 5 min runs

Just had a moment of madness. Have signed my DS (5) up for a Junior Parkrun tomorrow with friends and I've also registered myself. Not sure how many I'm going to get done, or when I'll be ready to do them but I feel like I have something to aim for now. Didn't think I'd have done that a couple of months ago!!!

@sanityisamyth well done on completing it.

@thisusernameun welcome to the thread.

I woke up to strong winds and rain so the last thing I wanted to do was go running. I knew I'd regret it if I didn't so I went and am so pleased I did. I completed wk3 r2. I did alter my route slightly to avoid running uphill the second half of the first 3 min run but felt so good when running the second 90 sec run that I did run uphill during the second 3 min run and added an extra minute onto the end of it.

I'll probably still do an extra run for this week but I'm feeling more positive this time.

@thisusernameun you're doing well! Keep it up :)

So glad I found you! Just finished w1r3, so still very early days but determined to go through the programme. Was never very sporty. But I Used to go to the gym 2 times a week and did a lot of waking before I had my son (1 year). Need to get back to doing something and I like that it is just 30 minutes and don't need to be in time for a class.

After a horrific run on Thursday I've just been out (on a very windy day!!) and actually managed to finish all of the runs on W4R3. I was repeating them from before my break but I now feel like I'm a bit more back to where I was. Going to attempt W5 next week but I've got a fun run a contradiction in terms on Sunday so I won't do W5R3 until the following week.

Feel like I've got my mojo back 👏👏👏

Did W3R2 today! Need to stop eating all the Easter eggs though but it is helping massively with my mental health

W4R3 done! Not looked at week 5 yet. Too scared!
Will fit in another week 4 run over the weekend

I do feel close to collapse but on such a high when I finish.

I've got a similar juggling act @sanity I might get out my never-used exercise bikes for days that I hsve to miss a run.

Isn't it a great feeling @MyGast? I feel like cheering at the end of each run!

Smashed W3R2 this evening. I'm on such a buzz!

Thanks @MissingPanda going to go out on Saturday when DS is with his father and see how I get on. Can see I'm going to be repeating W4 runs a lot!!!

Completed wk3 r1 today. The first 3 min run was hard, especially as the second half of it was mainly up hill, not a steep hill but still. Depending on how the next 2 runs go I may repeat this run/week before moving on.

@MyGast sorry to hear you're not feeling well.

@sanity don't beat yourself up. Two weeks is a long break, just keep going until you get there. The important thing is not to give up.

@JPDuck I have a zipped pocket in my running leggings where I keep my keys and inhaler. My phone I carry though. I like to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't cut out which to be fair it hasn't done since wk 1.

Gutted :( had to have 2 weeks off as I'm a single mum and had no-one to look after DS whilst I went for a run over the Easter holidays. I had completed W4R3 pretty successfully before the break. Went back to repeat a week 4 run and couldn't do it. Couldn't complete the last 3 runs and feel like a failure. Going to try again on Saturday and stick to week 4 until I can do it competently again.

I 🙈had a horrible run w6r2...... however on the positive side .... my new flip belt to store keys, phone etc is superb and can highly recommend 😀

I did W1R2 today, much harder than run 1, not sure if that's because I was tired after the first run or because I ran after dinner (just ran out of time!). I did it though! It was really nice to be out too.

I tried Jo Whiley's voice today and she was so lovely, really kept me going.