C25K - did anyone manage it in 9 weeks?

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

DS13 wants to do park run. He's been doing a scheme where you say you will run "x" distance in the month and they send you a medal.

I want to be fitter, I am on medication for blood pressure and am a good 5 stones overweight. I previously stopped C25K and did walking instead because my heart rate wasn't safe (that's how the BP was picked up), but, I feel much better on the medication.

If I lost weight I'd not need the medication.

There is an online 5k run for Easter - but, it seems impossible. DS would love to do a training programme with me, and in lockdown it's even more important to be fit. I don't want to sign up and let my son down - is 9 weeks to go from not just the couch but from being unwell because you are so unfit, realistic?

Anyone got an inspirational tale to tell?

I did c25k in 9 weeks, had not done any running previously. In conjunction I lost three stone over 8 months and have continued running and do half marathons for fun!

I did it in about 6 weeks! I've never run, even at school I was a hopeless runner, although I am fit through swimming and spin classes. I didn't really follow the program tbf, I just started by using my old commute time to run. Started off with a combination of running/walking (I could manage about 5mins of running when I started) and built up to a 6k run after 6 weeks. I was going out about 5 times a week and DS is a county level runner so I did have him to encourage/pace laugh at me. I think you'll be fine in 9 weeks!

Well that's encouraging!

I'll give it a shot. My trainers are not that great, but, they'll do to start off with. I can reward myself with a decent pair once I've finished it.

I'm not keen on running, really, but, it is quick and easy exercise - and DS is so keen that supporting him makes it feel like an option. And I DID get wireless ear phones for christmas, may as well put them to use.

My DH did it about three years ago. He is overweight in in medication for high BP. Although he enjoys walking, I had never seen him do any other exercise really. He was too self conscious to do it outside, and often needed to exercise after dark, so he bought a treadmill and did it on there. He now goes out and does 10-15km three times a week, and often uses a cross trainer on other days. He’s not fast, but hems still going and outperformed many of our ‘fitter’ friend who did it around the same time and mostly gave up!

Yes; I did it and ran my first 5k after nine weeks. I stupidly stopped running, having achieved my goal to run one, but I have picked it up again and have just finished week three of this sorte.

I’m actually enjoying it more this time as I KNOW it is achievable.

I am also very overweight with high blood pressure.

Ps when it is icy or snowing I am doing it in my living room - I must look ridiculous to my neighbours but I am not quitting.

@CormoranStrike

Ps when it is icy or snowing I am doing it in my living room - I must look ridiculous to my neighbours but I am not quitting.

Intrigued, i would like to start this but not keen on the dark nights. Do you jog on the spot?

I did it in the 9 weeks and had never done any running before - I was amazed! But if your trainers are very old it might be an idea to get some new ones - you don't want to get halfway through and get dicky knees or something because they didn't have enough padding or support.

Give it a go! I'm not a huge running fan either, but half an hour seems a decent but not too huge an amount of time - and I feel very virtuous afterwards!

I did it in 9 weeks. I began with 8 year old trainers, an old t shirt and a pair of £5 leggings.
After the first day I discovered that if I listened to music I could run further.
After a week I bought new trainers and it felt like flying.
In the first week or so I did find it hard but there were compensations. I remember lying on my back on a bench on our local common, out of breath, heart racing, eyes shut, listening to the birds singing.
That was last summer. I now run 3-4 times a week and I love that it is something I can do with my daughters.
Good luck!

Sometimes @jojogoesbust and sometimes I run from the hall through the living room to the dining room.

It’s not ideal, and I am still perfecting my technique

I did it on the first lockdown and have carried on running. I finally got some decent trainers in the summer and run 5-10 k a couple of times a week. Had a 10k booked but that’s been cancelled. Just try it and repeat runs if necessary.

I really rate the app - I found Sarah Millican telling me how far I'd gone really helpful, it gave me a sense of perspective. I used to be able to run 5km in the gym but outside I was crap until o used that app

This is really encouraging. I have recently started it again after a failed attempt last year. I hope I can finish it this time.

New trainers might be a good idea! Any recommendations?

I did it a couple of years back - I started in March, did it in 8 weeks and started doing park run regularly, by the September I did a 10k race.

Totally agree - get decent trainers. I went to have my gait analysed and got ASICS. We’ll worth it.

It’s completely doable in 9 weeks. I did it in 9 weeks the first time (pre dc) and went on to run 2 half marathons that year and was regularly running 10 miles every Saturday. As a parent with no free time, it took me closer to 3 to 4 months because I ended up having to miss weeks here and there. From a fitness perspective (I’m overweight and asthmatic), totally fine, it’s just having the free time.

Completely doable but do get some decent trainers. If you pick up an injury early on then it can really set you back and proper shoes help.

Listening to music really helps me. I listen to the stuff I used to go dancing to makes me smile every day.

I also take a supplement to help with bones and muscles, it seems to have kept the injuries away.

Do it, you will feel so much better for it, and the programme is kind of like magic. It doesn't feel at all possible in week one, and then somewhere round week 6 you really start to see how far you have progressed.

i got bored and switched to the bridge to 10k at week 7. then got bored again and signed up for a half marathon. love doing half's

go for it.
I did c25k in april with my teens.
I still run regularly and now that schools are closed the teens join me ocassionally.

9 weeks is do-able, but there is no shame in repeating weeks if you feel you need totake it slower.

make sure you have suitable shoes and bra.

good luck!

On week 8 now. I bought trainers the first week. Definitely buy good shoes before you start. Hadn’t run before. I also use a fitness tracker to check my heart rate.

Even if you haven’t finished it you can still do the 5k at Easter. By that time you’ll be used to the level exercise & can run & walk—lots of people don’t run the whole 5k or go really slowly.

Week one - done.

I'm VERY slow, there isn't really much difference between my walking and my running - but I'm nervous about my heart rate so want to keep it down. it sits about 160 even when running slowly for 1 minute.

But, I did it. And my HR won't improve by wishing, only by moving.

Go me.

I definitely would suggest some trainers that offer good support I got awful plantar fasciitis, it hurt like hell.

I done it in the allotted time because I was determined not to give up and was very overweight. I was slow to start then every time I started getting faster and shaving a second or more of my PB keep going

The thing to bear in mind though, is that C25K is more of a catchy name than anything. It's designed to get you running for 30 minutes non-stop, but that doesn't mean you will necessarily be running 5k in that 30 minutes. Maybe I am wrong but I don't think that many people are actually running 5k by the end of it. I was a good 6 minutes off. It's a great start though.