Couch to 5K - Run 1 done...

Well done! How did you feel when running and your heart rate was that high?

W1R3 done.

I have a high resting heart rate (90 to 110). When I measured my heart rate just after the final 1 min run, so when I was walking, it was 169. Is that too high?

Worried I might have a heart attack....

I must look like a boiled ham puffing along the road. I am sure at lesst half of the people moving out of my way are doing it out of alarm

Flamingo Lingo -

I look like a beetroot whenever I do any exertion, and the beetroot look persists well past the exercise period (I’ll still be red 90 mins post run) . I am white skinned and have a kind of translucency that I think lends itself to this. My skin is also very easy to mark/scar and even small bruises or surface scratches take a long time to heal. It has put me off exercise for years. Exerting myself in PE at school meant a whole afternoon of teasing.

HappyLemonSadLemon. - hope your are holding up ok. I do think this programme is some kind of magic. And I think you’d get a psychological boost from moving onto week five. Are you drinking enough water? It is very warm. Perhaps change the time of day you run?

Can I join in please? I’ve just done my second run on Garmin’s version of C25k (bought a Garmin to bully me into doing some exercise). I’m not a runner, and I hate running - I feel ok before the run, really hate doing it, feel great after. But 5 mins of running feels horrible, and in under a week I will have progressed to 7 mins at a go which feels impossible!

I have a couple of questions:
I look like a tomato/beetroot at the end of my run. I don’t feel as though I’m dying, but I look it. Is this a thing?
I have an old Achilles injury that I don’t want to re-inflame. Any ideas on whether there are specific supplements I should take for tendons?

Congrats @choc27! I have only once sorted Strava + Spotify + C25K at the same time. Too much app juggling! So I don't know how far I am going.

@HappyLemonSadLemon It's trite, but just don't overthink the runs before you go. Just start, and try, and see how you go. The worst thing that will happen is you have to slow to a walk. So what? You can just try again. Most likely, you will finish once you start. I try to treat myself by finding some great music to run to.

Finished W9R1 today, and it felt okay. I was ready to stop at 30 minutes, but not exhausted.

Everyone is doing so well! So many people saying they are struggling or scared of the next run but doing it anyway is so motivating, thank you!
Completed w8r1 28 mins today and upped my speed a bit and finally hit the 4k mark! Yay!

@HappyLemonSadLemon you are doing amazing. Use the time to reflect and just take it run by run. It’s strange but I felt psychologically afraid of week 5 but when it actually came to it the run came together. At this stage just build a habit and keep running. It will definitely be helping in many ways.

@CeibaTree it’s amazing to think how fast behaviours can become habits. I actually like my running time now.

@titsbumfannythelot well done. It’s so encouraging for everyone to see.

Keep on running people. Today I am trying to do a 7km run. My knee has been hurting so I’ve ordered some new shoes and a brace for it. I know it needs strengthening so I’m working on exercises with it. I did a 10km walk yesterday which was very hilly and I was frustrated to not be running some of it. Who would have thought?!

Absolutely, @titsbumfannythelot. @HappyLemonSadLemon, you’re doing amazingly by just getting out and putting one foot in front of the other.

I think it's an achievement just to have kept on getting out there @HappyLemonSadLemon given what you have been through recently. Maybe just slow right down?

I hope you and your family are doing ok

Hello everyone. I am so impressed with the progress of everyone on this thread; it is such a positive place.

To the person who asked about sore shins- I had this. I rested for a bit, used some ibuprofen gel and they eased up soon enough. Google Shin splints.

Ok I am STILL on week 4 - been in it for three weeks. I've had a lot going on that has stressed me out, so I was eating badly, not sleeping well etc which made running very difficult. Rather than stop entirely I've just stayed on week 4. Hopefully I'm beginning to feel brighter and I've just done the second run again, with a view to doing W4R3 on Monday and moving into week 5 on Wednesday. The trouble is that I still find it do tough. By the end of it I'm a bit dizzy and my legs are jelly. I'm very daunted by week 5. Any tips?

@middleoftheroad I can barely last the minute at the moment though I was exactly the same when I started, but I just finished week 7 and can now run for 25 mins without stopping. If you'd told me a month ago I'd be able to do that I would have just laughed. The program really does work which has really surprised me as I am definitely NOT a natural runner! Good luck :)

Good luck today @middleoftheroad, I bet you will surprise yourself. You can do this!

You're

Well done tits
Your proof that this can be done will motivate newbies like me.

I've just completed week 4 which I am chuffed about after a tough run 2 on Wednesday.

Have a good weekend everyone and thanks for the encouragement.

Thanks Oh and congrats on getting to week 4. I can only dream of it!

Thank you fallen, well done to you too. I am just aiming not to stop, no matter how slowly I go.

Well done wanting and good luck middle.

Going to do W1R3 today.
Should have been yesterday, but a neighbour invited me to have a drink (street party) and the rest is history.

I can barely last the minute at the moment though (47 nearly, 2-3st overweight and very unfit).

Did W2R3 today and surprisingly enjoyed it!!! Miracles can happen

Well done @OhTheseSummerNiiiiights it's so easy to decide against the run and to have gone out when you didn't feel like it is brilliant! I did W4R2 today. Thought it was a good run, but was slower than W4R1. Trying to console myself that any run is better than no run though.

I DID IT!!! Wk 4 r1 DONE!!!

YY I notice how nice and encouraging people are too. Lots of nods and smiles so far.

I am so chuffed with myself. I had talked myself out of it last night but I DID IT!!!

Thanks @JonHammIsMyJamm

I ran past a neighbour who was barely breaking a sweat on his return home from his run, he does iron man competitions so is really fit. I was bright red and literally on the last 60 secs and he shouted 'well done, you're moving, keep it up.' Really made my day

This thread is just full of awesome.

C25k is some kind of witchcraft, I swear. It seems to work AND enthuse people. Perhaps it’s the endorphins.

I was running along the other day and someone moved their kids out of the way as I ran past, I said thank you (I could talk! I wasn’t too out of breath!) and she said you’re the one doing the hard work - and that’s exactly the type of thing I do and say when I see runners. Only this time, the runner was me. I can’t explain that strange feeling.

Have to say, today I am a bit sore after 20/25 min runs this week.