More Couch to 5k encouragement!

38 degrees😱 I’d melt !!

You can't call running for 24 minutes in 38 degrees a failure! That's really impressive, especially if you've only been running for a few weeks. Don't be downhearted, you're still building your fitness and in a few months time when you're regularly running 5k you'll completely forget this little setback

Had a week 9 day 1 failure this evening. I managed 24 mins then my brain said no. I think I'll have to use my long route for my runs from now on. I made up the extra 6 minutes on the way home but it doesn't count. It's insanely hot at the moment which isn't helping matters - was 38 degrees tonight

Haha! @CeciledeVolanges - I welled up a bit the other day when Sarah Millican told me I was doing great - I think it's because she really sounded like she meant it.

You should all be so proud of yourselves. Fuck stupid men who feel entitled to take the piss, they'll never achieve anything because they're twats. I was going to say I haven't had anything like that, but my mum saw me the other day and was apparently tooting and waving like a mad idiot without me noticing, so chances are I'm just oblivious to it

I want a wonderwoman headband.

Amazing! Good for you sex

W7R1 done. Was HARD.

My route has a big hill that I usually only do once but did it twice today, second time right at the end of my run🤮 knackered.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered congratulations on your 20 mins' running! Awesome.

@SandieCheeks I am much less hardcore & determined than @ChanklyBore but I have decided it doesn't much matter. There were some people experimenting with "jeffing" maybe on the previous thread - sticking with planned run-walk as a long term strategy - and I can see that working for me. A minute or three of walking doesn't undo your 16 mins of continuous running which is fabulous. Don't let the programme's sudden jump up make your success feel like failure. You have come so far

I think I would stick with interval runs if they are working for you, and maybe consider running through a walking section if you are having a good day.

Well done to all of you.

Luckily I’ve not experienced any jeering, catcalling etc. I’m really feel for those of you that have to contend with that on top of everything else.

Ds and I managed week 6 run 1 last night. It felt tough after spending the day on the beach but it’s ticked off now.

So happy did the 25 mins today. Stuck to my normal route so that helped. @ChanklyBore your post kept ringing in my ears as I kept wanting to give up. I realised it was the laziness yes I had run further than before but that didn't mean give up I had to finish it.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered I love the Wonderwoman headband and lipstick combo. Looking great!

@notaflyingmonkey glam? I wish! But I do have a great collection of headbands and I always slap on a bit of lippy. I feel really self-conscious and it just helps me get out there.

Ghast do you usually look so glam when you run?

Ah, but we are watching you...

When I feel like stopping I try to keep running whilst I figure out why I want to stop, legs, lungs, or laziness. For me, laziness is the hardest to get past. I can slow down a bit here and there to ease my lungs or legs.

Laziness is just my brain telling me that I don’t actually have to run this, don’t have to do this, no one is watching, nobody cares, you could just walk for a bit now and say it was an intervals day, 3k is still a good run, you don’t have to get to 5k, if you walk for a bit now you might actually be faster overall, those people over there are walking faster than you are running and they look relaxed, why are you even doing this..... I have now figured out that I find the first 1km easy enough and feel all virtuous and fast, the second 2km is alright but I start to feel tired....between 2.5km and 3.5km the gremlins sit on my shoulders nagging me to stop and telling me I look stupid. I know I usually find my rhythm by 4km in so I run 3.5-4km just wanting to get to the magical point where it feels like I can do it....then I run the last km just because I’m so close to 5km I can’t quit now.

Completed W5 today. Was a bit apprehensive because it was so hot, but went out late and managed it. It wasn't fast and it certainly wasn't pretty but I think this sums up how I felt!

completed w2 r3 . Much easier than i thought it would be but cannot get my breathing in time. Knees still twingey.
W3 seems a big jump-eek!

Sandie, what's stopping you - being out of breath, something hurting, your brain saying I can't do this?

I would say retry week five until you can do it. You absolutely can, you are really strong. Just go as slow as you can. You will get there, I promise.

I'm really stuck on week 5/6. I did W5 runs 1&2, but W5R3 I could only do about 15 minutes before needing to walk. Tried it a second time and could get to 16 minutes.
Did Week 6 runs 1&2 fine again but again could only get to 16 minutes on R3!
Last night I did W6R2 again.

Not sure whether to just keep attempting W5R3 until I can do 20 minutes or restart Week 5?

You are all amazing! I’m in awe :)

lambchops what utter wankers. I get very red indeed when I run, it’s a side effect of being as pasty white as I am, but it’s a sign that you’re really trying! I always console myself by cycling as fast as I can on my commute - I have a gorgeous Peugeot bike that is my pride and joy and we have a combined age of over 60 and are absolutely the fastest thing on the road of a morning!

It’s bloody hard to run with boobs or periods or joint issues which women all deal with and everyone without exception on this thread is amazing. I have to confess the first time I heard Sarah Millican (for it is she on my app) telling me I was doing great I burst into tears. If anyone’s near Highgate and needs me to come and kick any annoying males, drop me a line .

May I join you?! I’m on my fourth attempt at C25K. I finished two summers ago, then life got in the way, did it again last summer, injury, tried earlier this year, injury again.

I think I’ve worked it out now. My trainers were awful, so got new ones. I also need to alternate running with doing a session on the cross trainer - I have very dodgy Achilles’ tendons , and the cross trainer seems to help with them not totally tightening up to the extent that I can barely walk, let alone run! Means I tend to only do two runs a week, so making slow progress through the weeks.

Anyway, I’m two weeks in, started a bit into it. Did w4r1 yesterday. The last section was tough, but other than that, it wasn’t too awful.

Would be good to be able to chat about it on here - extra motivation!

Ah, he’s not so bad. He ‘believes me’ in that he doesn’t think I’m making it up or actively lying to him but I don’t think he gets how rampant it is and thinks it’s just part of my frothing feminist agenda . I think it’s more a case of it being so far from his middle aged ‘beta’ experience that he’s finding it hard to relate to.