Couch to 5k

Parkrun cancellations due to cold weather warnings

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9zxgp1301o.amp,

List here

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/cancellations/

I did it! Managed to reach week 9, 30 mins by Christmas.
I did it very slowly - only 3.5 km, so 5k a target that I didn’t reach.
i slothed home today with a big grin on my face - mainly feeling pleased with myself but also happy that I won’t be doing another run this week. I don’t enjoy running. It’s been a slog to get to this stage. However, I loved getting out and seeing wildlife in the park. I hope i am a bit fitter. I plan to continue because I can’t bear the thought of going through the first few weeks again.
well done to anyone else still at it.

Ugh, haven't been out for two weeks! Life and weather have been getting in the way... I'm really missing it and hoping to get out on Friday all being well!

Don't worry about being slow on parkrun though, there's a tail walker who is behind everyone and makes sure no-one is last!

Still stuck on week 5 and now have a ligament injury to my foot! I’m also nowhere near a 5k

How are you all getting along?
I’m looking at the rain and putting my run on hold. Have recently been managing to get out twice a week and am currently on week 7. 25mins is still a struggle and not getting any easier, or faster. I did approx 3km the last time I did 25mins so 5k is looking like an unlikely outcome. A shame, especially as DH announced his intention to do a Parkrun in the spring and I was nursing a fantasy that I might sail round 5k with him lagging behind.
In amongst all my miserable experiences, I had one glorious moment last week - I made my way across beautiful countryside, the sun was shining and the wrens were scuttling around the path. I took a photo to celebrate the time I enjoyed myself!
Dianne Lewis says I can call myself a runner now but I think it’s more realistic to say that I’m a very slow, fair weather runner.

I am really struggling with week 5.

run 1 I did it 6 times before it clicked and then run 2 is defeating me I am just not fit enough to fully complete it, or I’m getting in my own head and struggling. I did it once all the way through but the next time I did it, I failed and I’ve failed every time since!

about 6 mins in I start to struggle and get very hot and high HR, so I slow down but I think I lose my confidence?

I am acutely aware I’ve done no cardio for 45 years so this is not an easy fix!

Fallen off the wagon already... W1R2 still hasn't happened although that's mostly because I had an exercise class on Tuesday that wiped me out 😅 My Garmin said I'm "overreaching". Nice. Hoping to get a run in over the weekend though. Thought about it last night but put myself off so I need to get past that now

Yay! Well done everyone!

Week 6 run 3 done! Can't believe I just ran for 25 mins, even managed a faster pace for the last minute 😁

Thanks. I did the run which is 8 mins x 2 and it was fine but something I don’t enjoy about it yet. This puts me off going up to the next one too fast. I feel like if I repeat them and they become more comfortable I start to enjoy them so I might repeat this one. It’s not about ability now it’s the mental side of things that is a barrier. I don’t want to run and be hating every moment of it

Good luck! You've got this!!

I’m going to try week 5 run 2 again as I can’t put it off forever and keep doing run 1 I’ve done it so many times now 😂

Excellent ! Well done and well done to OP @FunMum2019 and everyone

Week 6 Run 2 done yesterday, I'm generally managing to stick to 2 a week but it's going to chuck it down all Friday and I don't fancy a 25 min run in that so hoping for better weather and a bit of free time over the weekend...
Hope everyone else is managing to get out there now the weather's getting worse and the evenings are getting darker, it's a challenge for me!

Thanks folks. My knees are fine so far but just don’t want to cause any problems in the future.
Maybe I’ll find a new route with a suitable hill - I will be able to walk up then speedily run down 😁

Well done everyone for getting out. @Greyandproud you're doing fantastic! If you feel a bit worried about your knees I would suggest brisk walking or treadmill up a hill and to ease off the running until it feels more comfortable like a PP suggested. I would strongly suggest strength work too, you need the muscles around your legs to protect all those joints 😊 none impact things like cycling is also great cardio and very easy on the joints. P.S. park run is fantastic and you can go as fast as you like - I'm swiftly heading towards 450!

I signed up for parkrun. It's a 5k every Saturday morning (at 9am!)

I've done.... 2 so far. Key thing is you're allowed to walk it too

@Greyandproud its actually probably more beneficial to walk on an incline, not the flat. A walk does nothing to get my HR going anymore I can’t even get it into Zone 2 anymore so I either have to run or walk up hills.

Walking on an incline is v good for your heart health if you have bad knees, it is low impact but takes longer

I’ve just done week5run3. 20mins, didn’t think I could do that but I just kept going and it was possible. I’m still going very slowly. Just looking at the map it seems that I managed 2.25k in 20mins today.
Now, I have a genuine question for anyone who might know, @ThisHangryTiger? - I’m overweight, not fit and this is really hard. I’m doing this to increase my fitness. Are the fitness benefits of running, pounding my knees and dragging my 59 year old carcass around, more than going for a brisk walk?

That's brilliant! Well done you!

I didn’t do my c25k this weekend but I did a mix of steep incline walking and 5 min intervals of jogging to try to improve my cardio then I will try week 5 again

Thank you! X

W1R1 done. Knackered. I managed to run for most of the running bits though, which is more than I expected to do! Wonder how long I'll stay at Week 1 for 😅