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Original poster

More Couch to 5k encouragement!

970 replies

PrincessWatermelon · 30/06/2020 09:05

I hope it's ok starting a new thread. I found the last one so encouraging and didn't want it to stop!!

Also, have to share I've just done W6R3 - my first 25 min run. Wasn't sure I was going to make it to the end, but kept moving (as Jo Whiley told me to) and did it!!

How are others getting on?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

FloatOn · 21/07/2020 14:19

So nice to hear everyone's success stories, hop all of you with injuries heal up soon.

I took a week off last week as I was camping, I'd completed W6 R2 up to that point, so I just went back and did W6R2 again this afternoon and actually succeeded! Cant believe it, I though after a week off I'd be back to W1!

HelpMeh · 21/07/2020 11:00

[quote notaflyingmonkey]@HelpMeh - sorry, what do you mean by complete all your intervals? Do you mean the walking bit in between the running?[/quote]
You wish! We can all manage the walking

I mean if you can complete all your running segments without stopping (even if close to death), then I would carry on with the program schedule. If you fail a day then repeat that day, but don't hold yourself back. You'll be surprised at what you can manage.

HelpMeh · 21/07/2020 10:53

@PrincessWatermelon Good god, I'm amazed you got anywhere near 30 mins. Well done! I actually would've died.

UnaOfStormhold · 21/07/2020 10:21

Fabulous work Princess. Very rare for anyone to do 5k in 30 mins on their graduation run so getting that close!

StillDumDeDumming · 21/07/2020 10:04

Speedy and fantastic well done!

Polkadotties · 21/07/2020 09:46

Well done @PrincessWatermelon

mumto2unicorns · 21/07/2020 09:41

Well done @PrincessWatermelon that is a really good pace.

I've just completed w8r2 my husband is impressed I've got this far he thought I would quit after run 1.

Sexnotgender · 21/07/2020 09:28

Well done @PrincessWatermelon! That’s quick too!!

Stopthehop · 21/07/2020 08:57

Well done @PrincessWatermelon

Original poster

PrincessWatermelon · 21/07/2020 08:37

I am a graduate! Final run today and I pushed and pushed myself. Almost died, but managed 5k in 30.33. Phew! Cannot believe I've done it. Would've been nice to have completed it on a sub 30 mins, but that seems a bit too much to expect.

Now gonna try my Garmin training for 10k.

Well done to you all. Keep going and trusting the programme.

OP posts:

StillDumDeDumming · 21/07/2020 08:12

And well done!!! Keeping going is a bit tricky once you’ve done the program

StillDumDeDumming · 21/07/2020 08:11

Ah that’s a shame about the zombie app. NHS choices have a few c25k plus podcasts. They’re good and work in stamina and pace.

NCTDN · 21/07/2020 08:05

Wow well done @Stopthehop

Stopthehop · 21/07/2020 07:55

Just done my first post graduation run. I did download the zombie run app but it kept crashing so was pretty rubbish. I set an alarm for 20 minutes so I could turn around and head home. I did 4.19km, the furthest I've gone and the fastest pace.

StillDumDeDumming · 21/07/2020 07:24

@notaflyingmonkey I’d carry on to the next run if I were you. You may well surprise yourself. As someone else said - put less comfy runs behind you. Great advice.

StillDumDeDumming · 21/07/2020 07:22

@notaflyingmonkey I think the other way - the running part between the walking

I have just done W2r2. In the local park. I’m lucky to have it right there - coupla pot heads but the sunshine was beautiful. I am on 75 squats for the challenge now.

notaflyingmonkey · 21/07/2020 06:21

@HelpMeh - sorry, what do you mean by complete all your intervals? Do you mean the walking bit in between the running?

StillDumDeDumming · 20/07/2020 22:23

This is all very encouraging - well done everyone. Tomorrow- as early as possible- I shall be doing W2 R2 - in my local park. Feels slightly momentous. I have laid out my gear. What could possibly go wrong 😁

HelpMeh · 20/07/2020 20:04

@LookDontTeuch

Finally did W4R3 after days of putting it off and it was...okay? I can't see how I'll possibly be able to run longer though, I barely manage the full 5mins! I'm going so slowly that I might start reversing

Bearing in mind I'm carrying lots of extra weight, is there any benefit in repeating week 4 to make sure I can run the full time or are you as well just pushing into the next week and giving it a go?

If you manage to complete all of your intervals then I'd carry on. If you fail the next run which I think is 5, 5, 5(?), then repeat that one.

LookDontTeuch · 20/07/2020 19:51

Bearing in mind I'm carrying lots of extra weight, is there any benefit in repeating week 4 to make sure I can run the full time or are you as well just pushing into the next week and giving it a go?

HelpMeh · 20/07/2020 19:46

@LambChopsMcGee

I did W5R1 today and I'm amazed how far I've come! Feeling really nervous for the other runs this week though!

Jo W said that a lot of the struggle is psychological and that felt very true today. But I knew if I didn't finish my final 5 min I would feel terrible, so I had to keep going!

One thing I noticed on my Garmin (DP is a keen runner and gave me his old one...) is that my heart rate is already a good bit lower than in my very first runs. I am obviously getting fitter!

I ordered some new sports bras, a vest and some socks to encourage myself further.

In my experience at least 85% is psychological and it's very easy to convince yourself that you can't go any further. If you go slow enough, you should be able to complete most of the runs, your lungs adapt quite quickly. I think I had brain fails in weeks 6, 7 and 8.

If you have a bad run, it's very important to forget about it and move on.

I know everyone says slow down, but I cannot emphasise this enough. Check in with yourself every few minutes and if you can slow down, then slow down. You'll accidentally keep speeding up and once you wreck your breathing it's hard to recover.

Murmurur · 20/07/2020 19:40

@NCTDN that is me too! I reckon C25k is going to be about a C23k for me if I'm lucky. BUT running for 25mins is a huge leap forward for me, even if the difference is barely perceptible to others as a PP said.

@HelpMeh amazing, well done.

@LambChopsMcGee go girl, you can do this

Sexnotgender · 20/07/2020 19:24

@HelpMeh

I did 5k!

Yesterday was my first post graduation run and it was awful. I only did 3.5k and had to stop twice. I was too fast so and my boobs were hurting. Tried again today and success. 7mins 29secs per km though, so I'm a way off 30 mins.

Well done!!!

HelpMeh · 20/07/2020 19:20

I did 5k!
Yesterday was my first post graduation run and it was awful. I only did 3.5k and had to stop twice. I was too fast so and my boobs were hurting.
Tried again today and success. 7mins 29secs per km though, so I'm a way off 30 mins.

LambChopsMcGee · 20/07/2020 18:53