Couch to 5k newbies - who's in??

[PlaymobilPirate]

Just downloaded the app. First one 2m!

That is amazing, I am very proud of you.

Just done wk6r1, second run without my daughter in the buggy... it’s so much easier without her. I nearly put off wk5r3 but was inspired by this thread

I bit the bullet and joined the gym so I can keep up with the regime and not be thrown off because of the weather. No excuses now!

I have to admit my preference would be for outdoor but it was nice to see all the facts of how I was doing. I did end up faffing about trying to get the tv to work so accidentally put the app on pause so ended up doing 15 minutes for the first run rather than 10 and still did the 10 minutes afterwards (W6R2).

I'n away to London tomorrow and have taken my running gear and hoping to do a run around in Hyde Park on Thursday.

Well done to everyone else that is keeping going.

Did Week 6, run 2 today. Tried to go faster but I couldn't. Also accidentally pressed the emergency stop button on the treadmill midway thru. So had to restart to complete the run, restart from where I was, not the whole thing. I struggled a bit in the last 10 minutes but I did it. Next run is daunting, walk for 5, run for 25 minutes! I'll be doing that on Thursday, hopefully outside

Well done everybody! My pace is still ridiculously slow and I appear to be covering less distance the longer I run! But in the last 60 seconds last night I did find something in me which, while not have been running faster, was at least a lengthening of stride.

That’s great; I also feel I am slower each run but I am hoping that will improve over time.

W7r1 done between torrential downpours today, even sleet, but I managed to choose a blue sky hour to get out.

I had to change my route a bit as one of the paths was icy, but the alternative christened the most expensive shoes i own in mud.

What a backdrop today though - see pics.

And between my running - 25 minutes - and my walk either side my lap today was 5k, which I completed in 41 minutes.

Beautiful view!

W3R2 for me this morning. Just about beginning to get easier. Thick fog today but the sun is forecast for Friday. Still can't believe that I am dragging myself out of bed 3 mornings a week to do this.

Gorgeous view!

Thanks to the weather and the fact I mostly run in the evening, I'm doing most of my runs on the treadmill at the gym. It'll be nice to get out in the fresh air again, though my views won't be as nice as that!

Run 1 of week 6 for me tonight, despite only doing 3wk5 yesterday. I won't get a chance to go again until next week though, so will just have to suck it up.

I've just downloaded the Zombies, Run! app. Now that my runs are getting longer (and I can easily time on the treadmill) I don't really need to listen to the c25k pod, so thought I'd try something else. Has anyone used this? It seems like fun!

W5 R1 for me today - the pavements were like an ice rink so I had to go even slower than usual (didn't think that was physically possible ) but good feeling of achievement when it was done!

Repeated W4R3 today - we’re off skiing for half term so going to step up to week 5 after that! Strava tells me fastest pace yet!

@CormoranStrike, still one run behind you :) I woke at 5.15am full of good intentions, before realising I had woken before my alarm due to torrential and noisy rain! So I set about my morning, before waking DC to discover they were sick and therefore I would be working from home today.... so in a brief window of non torrential rain I have just done W7R1! I still don't think I have Strava sussed as it only recorded 35 mins although I was out longer, but it measured 4.5km which is good enough for me.

@IToldYouIWasFreaky I've just looked up Zombies Run! and think that app is the next one for me. now that I have got to W7 and it's all 25 minute running (can't see what's going to change but do shout at me if I am wrong!), I'm feeling I just want to get this bit out of the way. I honestly credit the success of me actually running and sticking to a plan this time around is all to do with technology. DH stuck on his trainers one day and went out for a run to see how he could do. I have the C25K app, Strava, Spotify and have to fire them all up before I leave the house!
Also, has anyone seen the Beat the Beethoven thing for Sport Relief?

I did the first Zombies, Run! run last night!

So, the way it works basically is that you are a character in a story, running from zombies. You get little snippets from other characters ("run to the hospital and pick up some medical supplies!" etc) and you also collect random things as you run. You can play your own music while you run and the app just cuts the music out when it's time for a snippet of story...if that makes sense. You can set it to be however long you want. You can also turn on "zombie chase" mode where you get randomly chased by zombies every so often, so have to speed up, but I had that turned off for my first run.

I really enjoyed it! I struggle to listen to podcasts while I run but get a bit bored of music and this was just the right balance to keep me interested and motivated. I even sped up at the end when the zombies were chasing me to the gate!

@sovielverloren - I'm totally the same, apped up to the max! I get really motivated by recording and tracking. I used to use MapMyRun but I have a Fitbit now and use that instead.

I haven't heard of Beat Beethoven but it looks like a great idea! I have just signed up for the Vitality Running World Cup, where you have to run 3k in 30 mins and you represent your country, like any other world cup. It's good to have something to focus on.

Ooh, I love hearing reviews about different apps. I use my fitbit watch to track my runs, but despite usually going on the same route, it often wildly varies the distance by up to 3/4 of a mile! Is strava more accurate?

I did W6R2 yesterday and really enjoyed both ten minute bursts. 25 mins tomorrow! I walked for an hour earlier just to keep my legs going, so I hope I can manage it on the first go.

Strava seems accurate for me. It also has ‘segments’ I presume that others have put in and it gives you medals with you get personal records for various distances and segments which I like! I’m taking it slow though so still on week 4. That zombie game thing sounds good though for later on!

W7r2 done - it’s funny, the biggest change I notice is I am not counting down the minutes, not saying please let me be half way through etc.

I’m pretty good at knowing now, and to being relaxed about still having 12.5 minutes to run. That’s real progress for me.

Hope it's ok if I join you. After about 20 years of no exercise and bring pretty much the only one of my friendship group that doesn't run, I thought I would give this a try.

I made it to W6R3 today and it was the first time I had to walk before I was meant to. At 22 minute I had to walk for about 30 seconds, but then I pulled it back together and ran the last couple of minutes (and an extra 30 seconds out of guilt!!)

That sounds like very good going @Florabella - welcome to our group

Right, W7R2 on its way. Need to get this done before wind, rain and general weather arrives! Wish me luck...

Good luck!

@Florabella, don’t feel guilty! Be proud that you didn’t give up. You kept moving and ran after a very short rest. It’s proof that you’re pushing your body out of your comfort zone and you’ll be better able to get there next time.

It’s a bit blowy here already, but I’m doing my W6R3 no matter what. ☺️

I'm back! Harder work at times against the wind and I did a different route which left my last five minutes with an uphill. I've avoided hills so far by fitting the up bits in my walking time but misjudged today! Good luck anyone going out today, it's starting to sound a bit wilder here!

Welcome @florabella!

I finished week 7 yesterday and I'm so glad I forced myself to go out. The weather today is awful!! Good luck if you're running this weekend!!

@florabella - welcome! rather than worrying about 30 seconds, concentrate on the 22 solid minutes you did and the fact you didn't need very long to recover. Could you have said that in 2019???
@redavocado was it you who was running in Westminster (apologies if I have got you mixed up!) - if so, can I PM about routes as I think I will need to incorporate runs into my commute very soon!