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

[PlaymobilPirate]

Just downloaded the app. First one 2m!

Did Week 8 Run 1 today - was painfully exhausting - I wanted to quit after 3 minutes! Had leg cramp, a really painful stitch in my abdomen and pain in my shoulder. I always find the first 6 minutes or so utterly exhausting (probably because I start off with too much of a high speed). Regardless, I was pleased to finish the whole 28 minutes running and achieve exactly 5k in that time period.

Does anyone else find that what time of the month they're in affects their performance?

Did my 1st 5k run outside yesterday. My goal was to do it before my birthday today. Wohoo so pleased !

@frustratedashell how did you find running it outside? I have only done mine outside as I'm not a gym member and love how energised i feel getting out even when it's cold.

Just done W9R1 and with my warm up/down walks covered 4.5k which is my furthest yet so really pleased. First 15 mins felt hard and then seemed to get easier

Didn’t run at weekend and finally went today. My headphones ran out of battery and I ended up with no music. I think I only ran for 25 minutes in the end, but better than not going again. I am starting to think about eating better now as I think losing weight will help me go faster eventually!

W9R2 and covered 5.2k including warm up and warm down walks! I'm so pleased and not sure where I found the extra speed to add that much distance compared to W9R1! Only one left to go (and then it's down to me to keep it going!)

Wow @Jfw82 that’s amazing!

I did W10R2 today - managed to cover 5.1 km in the time inc walks. Was pleased with that. I think I am going to try just starting strava when I start running now and see how far I go in that bit alone.

Just completed week 8 runs. Only week 9 to do now..!

I did it! Still only just did 5k in the time with warm up and down but am going to keep going until I improve my pace and maybe look at building up next to 10K!

Well done @howow just one more week to go!

@Jfw82 🎉🎉🎉

Thanks @MrsHerculePoirot :)

Ran today, but I was hot and weary and so only ran for just over 20 mins and covered only 4K. Still better than not going though I guess.

@MrsHerculePoirot yeah I think every bit of running helps maintain and improve fitness :)

@MrsHerculePoirot only 4k in just over 20 mins!! Bloody hell. It takes me 55 mins to do 5k.
@Jfw82 I usually run on the treadmill but obviously cant get to the gym now. I do struggle a bit outside because of uneven ground and inclines but I'm improving. I'm still slow but gradually getting a bit faster.
Have done another 5k outside now. Then 3k. I'm just plugging away. It definitely helps to have the distraction of music now that I've got earphones

Well done everyone 🎉

I completed this program 2 weeks ago, it's fantastic!

I've managed to keep running 3 times a week but probably only 20 minute runs each time.

@frustratedashell it was 20 mins running plus about 10 mins walking!!!! I’d be amazed with myself if I could do 4K in 20 mins.... don’t know whether to go today or tomorrow when cooler? I could always just do 20 mins again today and then go properly on Tuesday again maybe!

@MrsHerculePoirot that's still good! I've been going out about 6/7pm . I was going to get up early this morning and go out but..........I'm not a morning person! Will go later. On the plus side I've lost 1.5lbs this week.

Just did Week9R1 - 5.4km in 30 mins running. Only 2 more runs to go! Nearly threw up near the end :/

I almost want to consider myself done with the "Couch to 5k" program seeing as I was running over 5k even in week 8 but especially now, I'm running the full 30 mins and covering 5.4km. Was hard going though and won't feel the satisfaction of fully completing the program without the next 2 runs of week 9 I guess.

You’re much faster than me! I went today in the end - went slow in order to run the full time and did 4.6 km so was happy with that and don’t have to go tomorrow now!

I just started this week - finished week 1 today.

I'm finding it quite difficult (late 40s, unfit).

I worry that I won't be able to do it when it gets harder!

Thanks @MrsHerculePoirot but I’m always exhausted halfway through so probably going a little too fast..! Are you still using week 9 voiceover from the couch to 5k app to keep yourself motivated after completing the program?

@Orangesandbananas you’ll be surprised how quickly you can improve. I found the first few weeks tough too - if you’re finding it too tough, just try reducing your speed a tad bit. It’s normal to feel a bit sweaty and breathless and still manage OK with the next week’s longer runs. & I had tons of good and bad days throughout the program (I’m on week 9 now)

@howow thanks that's good to hear. I'm doing it with my teen who is finding it easy!

@howow yes I’m using the last podcast on the app. I know when she says all the five minute bits so I know if I’m roughly faster or slower than usual.

@Orangesandbananas I’m in my 40s very unfit and a good three stone overweight. I found it hard - but actually found week 2 easier than week 1 as for me slightly fewer runs even though slightly longer mentally easier for me I think. I repeated a lot of runs in both weeks 3 and 4. Some days I still find it hard (by some read nearly all 🤣) but i have just kept going, slowly, and used strava to track it. I can massively see my progress even though I usually don’t cover 5k yet I’m just keeping on plodding on for now!

@Orangesandbananas I just finished it and was surprised how manageable it was working up to it. I'm not fast (far from it!) but can manage a slow and steady 35 mins run now which is more than I've ever run even going back to school!

Hope it's ok to join. I have just started- did W1 R2 on Saturday. I'm not a runner and generally would scoff at the thought of it but need some "head space" outside the home (DS 2 is finding lockdown very hard so of course its made harder for us as well) and thought I'd give it a go. Very unfit and think I'll need to do each week twice at the minute but I've decided anything is better than nothing. So many of you have done so well so this gives me hope it will get easier.