Couch to 5k

I just started today. Does anyone have any recommendations for running shorts that don’t creep up please? I’m at best size 14 (creeping to 16 thus starting C25k!) TIA

Repeating week 4.
How are the rest of you doing?

@RunningForCalm I'm so glad to hear the running helps. I would run every other day, otherwise you'll be prone to injury. In those other days you could walk, cycle, swim or even strength work.

I’d like to join, if I may. I have a lot to contend with at the moment and started walking to try calm my thoughts and still my anxiety. It helped, but not enough. So I’ve started Couch to 5K.

I’ve never run before, but maybe because I started with walks lasting an hour and a half, the transition hasn’t been bad. In fact, I feel like I could do more. It has been better than walking for my mental health.

Now I am frustrated by the day in between - my anxiety and stress rockets. How critical is the day off? Do you think I can move onto next runs each day or should I just walk again? I can’t do nothing.

Yes, I think I will repeat a form of week 4, too. I only run twice a week, alongside other activities, so I need to build before moving on or I will become demotivated.
Good luck!

@Buntyforgirls I managed it but I did find it tough. Running for 4 minutes is a massive improvement for me from when I started I was out of breath after a minute at the beginning.
I’ll see how I feel at the end of week 4 and if it’s still hard I might repeat it again

How did it go @JustSayingReally ?
I am just finishing week4, although I might add an extra week- not sure I'm ready to move on to more than 5 minutes , if that is to come next.

Thanks @SoftIce, that is reasurring.
My run today was a 2km walk / run around the park.

I forgot I was on this thread!
I didn’t run for a couple of weeks, been back at it this week and I’m doing week 4 run 1 today.
pray for me 😂

I'm really pleased with 37:40 today. 😀It's also the first time I managed 4k in 30 minutes!

@Buntyforgirls When I did C25k I also ran the first "long" runs (5+ min) in slow motion. I wouldn't have made it otherwise. I could definitely have walked faster! I think you need to build up endurance before you can build up speed (that's my theory anyway), so I think you are doing it exactly right!

I just search Spotify for a running playlist I like - Happy Rock is my happy place at the moment. Once you get into longer runs you can search by bpm to help with pacing.

Thanks for the advice and support @BetterOffNow and @ILoveCatsAndKittens - it is very motivating.
I also need recommendations for any playlists, please? Have to say, my favourite for getting me going has to be Come On Eileen!

Just wanted to say, don't be afraid to repeat runs or weeks - as long as you're out there doing something it'll all help!
I got to the end of week 8 + injured my ankle (no idea how!) so took a few weeks off and went back to week 4. It's easier second time round 😉

3k yesterday in 17mins 26 seconds (fell over after 1k but tried to continue).

5k this morning in 29 minutes 33 seconds.

@Buntyforgirls I need to update my running playlist, getting a bit fed up of the songs.

Good to see some new people on here, keep on running!

Thank you, find it inspiring to read all the achievements of others.

Hello to @ProfessorLayton1 , I am a beginner too, almost at week 5, but taking it slowly alongside other exercise (yoga/ pilates, and started 30 days shred)
Enjoy!

Week 4, run 3 today. I ran to music rather than listening to an audible book, and that helped lots- lifted me from the plod by keeping pace with the music- otherwise my walk and run were at the same speed!
5 minutes still seems quite long (!), so will repeat the run as my target is to be ready for an Autumn park run- comfortably, so I have time.
I enjoyed running shorter intervals post the session so will add in this.

Well done @BetterOffNow , that's a huge milestone! And welcome, @ProfessorLayton1 !

@ILoveCatsAndKittens: I do, but truthfully I don't really know if that has made the difference or if I'm just improving because I've now been running for longer.

Managed to run week 2 run 1 today , want to complete 5k as per the plan. Ideally would love to run a 10 k race at some point. I am 52 years and it’s all new to me!

Week 6 run 3 in the bag 👍 Not used to running in this heat 🥵 but I finished it!

@couch25kagain im not really sure of a goal, my original goal was to bring my cholesterol down and I’ve done that. I would like to get my 5k down to 26 minutes like I used to do but that was many years ago when I didn’t have as much weight on me!

@SoftIce I should give what you are doing a try! Do you go as fast as you can during those minute runs?

@Buntyforgirls that sounds like an extremely painful injury, I am not surprised you are sticking to the treadmill. I have a few times nearly tripped, mainly towards the end when I’m tired. Lots of curbs on my route.

I hate Fridays as I can’t get out as early as I like to.
4k done in 23 minutes 16 seconds. New route and as soon as home was in sight I decided not to do the full 5k, lazy of me really as it would have only been a few more minutes to finish the 5k.

Inspirational posts!
I completed week 4 r 2 yesterday, slowing right down for the 5 minute runs. They were slower than my walk breaks!
Just trusting that my stamina will build.
I used to run 5- 20k but that was many years ago.
Also, I fractured upper and lower jaws while running on pavements and tripping a few years ago. Horrendous!!! So now Im sticking to treadmill, and occasionally the park.
Running outside is so much more challenging though, and I end up finding short cuts!
Happy running, all

I haven't been able to reproduce the feeling I had some 2-3 weeks ago, when running felt really easy and free. Desperately trying to figure out what caused it! 😀For now I am back to running feeling slightly tedious and exhausting.

However, my pace has finally improved a bit! Shortly after I finished C25k (end of February, I think), I ran 5k in 40 minutes, but that was with four walking breaks. My average 5k time in March was 42-43 minutes. Now (two months later) I am hitting just below 40 minutes consistently and today I even managed 38:31, which is a new personal best! So I think I'm finally improving.

I don't have a schedule / app anymore so I'm now trying to run per fortnight: 7k, 5k, 5k, 7k, 5k, and 1 x interval workout (6x1minute at target speed with 4 minute breaks in between - probably not what normal people understand by "interval workout" but this is the setup I can mange). I think intervals really help @ILoveCatsAndKittens if you want to try to become (even) faster!

Amazing time @ILoveCatsAndKittens! Doing the full 5k in under 30 is a huge milestone. Do you have a firm next goal in mind? Not sure where I’ll go after the programme though I’m getting ahead of myself as I have nearly 4 weeks left to go