To be hating couch to 5k

[ihatetorun]

I can’t stand it. I’m sat outside the gym trying to force myself to go in.

I’m wondering if it’s worth persevering or not? I know everyone says it’s worth it but is it?

I guarantee that if you are struggling with ax to 5 k in the gym it is because you are setting the “run” speed on the treadmill too fast. The advantage of running outside is that you can speed up almost imperceptibly so that you start off only a tiny bit faster than a walk and if you want to slow down you just do it, no fiddling with speed controls. What speed are you setting for the “run” bits?

Why is a tarmac path in a park too hard for you? If you have joints issues that do not let you run on a park path then you should not be running at all. If you don’t have a medical issue then it’s just normal discomfort and you will get used to it.

Look, I hate anything that involves co-ordination. I detested running at school and I get asthma. But I was where you are and 2 years later I ran a half marathon. Running by yourself outside on a flat route with headphones on is much easier than faffing about on a treadmill. It even benefits you if you walk the whole way. The process is very slow, the key is making it a routine and not rushing. Try restarting the C to 5 k and giving yourself 2 weeks at each level instead of one.

Use the gym time for weights instead. Building lean muscle will help with weight loss and bone density and you don’t have to overload yourself to get a benefit.

Good luck.

What puts you off weights?

And are you modifying your eating or just hoping that exercise alone will result in weight loss? Sadly you do need to do both but no need to follow a strict diet, just practise a bit of portion control and say no to pastries and cake.

I never took to running.

As said, you need to keep trying to find something that you like.

Running on a treadmill is absolutely miserable. I can run 20 miles+ for fun outside on trails but struggle to manage more than 5km on a treadmill.

It’s so so worth it. I totally hated it too. Only got there in my third attempt. But I am so so glad I did. The exercise is so good for my body and so good for my mind. Honestly. Persevere. You won’t regret it.

Walk, honestly just get out and walk. Listen to a podcast, get out in the fresh air. If you hate running you aren’t going to stick at it. Walking is good for you - it’s not getting your heart rate up but if you can walk 5k 3 or 4 times a week, you will be going a long way to being healthy.

I enjoyed it until I got to the 25 minute runs, when the fucking plantar fasciitis that stopped me running a year ago came back. Been in agony for a couple of weeks now after a couple of good months!! Might just keep doing interval instead of solid runs

I ran at 5.30am outside to begin with because I didn’t want people seeing me. Now I’m more confident I’m happy for people to see me puffing and panting away.

Do you like music?
Pick some decent tunes, shut your curtains and have a half hour solo disco.
You should see what it does to your heart rate!

Walk fast an hour every second day just walk. You will feel the benefit more than running badly.

Life is too short to do something you hate. I tried running over the last few months to save the gym membership and got up to 3k. But I hated almost every step so I’m going back to HIIT, even though it means having to pay for a gym membership again. HIIT is bloody hard work but I enjoy the challenge, it’s short enough blasts that I don’t get bored and I get an endorphin high afterwards.

Another vote for walking here. I got a dog (not for that reason - getting a dog was always a dream of mine) but means I'm out walking every day now. Walking helped me lose 3 stone I'd put on post-baby combined with diet. Exercise only ever works alongside sorting out your nutrition though. For me it helps purely because time spent doing that is time not shovelling food down my chops. I'm a terrible boredom eater and so a lot of it is about replacing bad habits with good ones. Getting out the house is the most important thing for me. The dog motivates me to get out the house whatever the weather (Glasgow, so you can imagine!)

But running is definitely not for everyone. I have friends who absolutely love it and it's transformed them they say, and other fit/exercising friends who hate running. As others say, it's about finding something you like.

I completed C25K in June and have run 5k 2-3 times a week ever since.

I see it as the opposite of drinking, in that you feels like shit while you’re doing it and bloody fantastic afterwards.

There are some good books on the subject. I enjoyed Run, Fat Bitch, Run! which is a bit brutal, but in a tongue in cheek way.

I wouldn’t say I love running, but I love the sense of achievement after 45 years of indolence.

What is couch to 5k?

I tried 4 times to take up running as an adult (I loved it at school, but once I went to college I stopped all exercise) before it stuck. Its hard. Ive been running nearly 8 years now. Countless 10K races, numerous half marathons and about to do my second marathon next month.

I do agree, though, that it really isn't for everyone and I dont get why people do it if they dont enjoy it. Unless you're good enough to make a career out of it or to get a bit of spare cash from it, then there really isn't much point. So many other forms of exercise to take up: Cycling, Swimming, Gym, Team sports, walking. The list is endless.

The only reason why I kept trying is because it was something I really wanted to do. Once it stuck I loved it. Yes I've had my downtimes with it. There are times when I swear Im never going to run again (usually 70-80% into a race), but I always come back. I genuinely love it. A lot of it for me is the races and the friends I have made. It changed my life for the better. I also love the air in my lungs and the running high I get after a good run. Mind you there is also the low after a bad run that you have to contend with from time to time.

@callmeadoctor lmgtfy.com/?q=couch+to+5k

Totally agree with everyone saying (a) running on a treadmill is miserable (having to change speeds every 2 mins/trying not to fall off/going too fast), and (b) that running outside is better (changing scenery/can go sloooooooower/fresh air). I've done C25K about 5 times now, always up to about Week 9 and you just have push through a few weeks. Is there nowhere outside the gym that you can run? One of the best things about running outside is that it's free and you can spend the gym subs on Sweaty Betty leggings

That said, I've recently joined my DH at the gym and gone back to doing dance-based cardio classes and I really, really enjoy it. So much more than running.

If your difficulty and unpleasant experience is because you’re unfit, can only really change through effort (doing the activities of your choice, which may not be jogging). A heartrate monitor might help you stay in a cardio or gentle exercise “zone” rather than peak zone, which can feel unpleasant.

Is it because like some PPs you dislike the treadmill? Or the idea of

I started running 15 years ago. It is never easy but feels good when I’ve done. It allows me to eat my body weight in chocolate!! Run in the morning really early then it’s done & less people will see you. Believe me even now I prefer that! Also here’s something I often think - I’ll run but only for 10 minutes one way then I’m coming home - oh that’s 20 minutes then. But once I’m out the door I forget this & go for much longer. If running was easy EVERYONE would be doing it. Well done you, keep going.

I hate, loathe and despise running. It makes my whole body ache. So I do other cardio and weight training. If you have a gYm membership, you can do all sorts.

I did couch to 5 k to loose weight, hated every second, people kept telling me I would grow to love running.....errrr no.

So I have switched to Jillian Michaels app and am following one of her 90 day programs, it's 25 minutes per day, at home in front of an iPad and it's working....I'm feeling myself getting fitter, more flexible and slimmer. It's all 20/25 seconds of each exercise, so not too boring either.... 23lbs down so far, that is supported with a healthier eating plan, but the real key is that even I can't pretend I can't find 25 mins to do someth8ng ☺️

I put on weight doing it as well

I feel like you just want a good justification for still doing it even though you've written off the idea.
I will say try doing it outside because you can control your pace and it's much easier than a treadmill. Dust off that fear and just do it.
A bit of advice the app gives is that if someone walked past you running but there was a hedge between you.. your head bobbing should be gentle enough that they cannot tell if you are running or walking.

If that doesn't work.. try something like clubbersize, it's in the dark and you can slow down the routine to suit you.

Last resort. Eat less, move more. Just healthier eating,smaller portions and walking will be better than doing nothing and staying overweight.

if you have music and ear buds go in and start on something easier, like sit on the bike for 20 mins, take a break and jump on it again, or move to a different piece of equipment, like the rowing machine or stair climb, you can set them for the easiest setting and increase over time... start slow and steady... you can do it!!!
Also if you really want to lose weight, be sensible and hire a personal trainer for a session or two, there are some who specialise in helping overweight people, that way you will get advice on what exercises will work for you and how to do them safely and show you things you can do at home in between gym sessions, and if you find one who does work with people whos goal is weight loss they are normally very supportive and not judgmental... they want you to get healthy in a safe way