To ask about Couch to 5k!

[Trapordo]

Just that really. I started tonight. I done it, feel great for it.

But got home and googled. A lot of websites online and old Mumsnet threads seem to suggest you shouldn't run run the first week or so, and that you should Jog?
An American blogger ive followed also says the same thing.

Can someone explain which is it, do I run or jog for now?

I started just before lockdown (a couple of weeks or so), then started taking ds2 with me.

Starting week 6 tomorrow- but I've already run 4k!!! This is entirely down to ds1, who is a sneaky bugger (and one of those annoying people who can get up one day and think "Hmm, I'll run 10k today" with no training whatsoever ) telling me we were nearly at 3k, not 4.

Now if you'd told me 5 weeks ago that I'd be able to do that I'd've laughed in your face. But here we are.

The most important thing for me though was to slow down. Right down. Like, snails would pass me on a lazy day. A light jog, as my narrator would say (Sarah Millican, as it happens).

Build up the stamina, then work on speed. That's my motto.

I’ve done it with a group of colleagues and the ones who were most successful were the “plodders” - I am terrible at pacing and go too fast then struggle to increase the distance I can run. I’m sure I read somewhere that you should aim to jog/run at a pace where you can still speak/hold a basic conversation I can’t even do this while walking

As everyone else says, it's the same thing.

I remember being out for a run once and was approaching a man and his 4ish year old.
'watch out for that lady running Olivia'
'jogging. Daddy she's jogging'

Little shit.

I had a fairly large spinal surgery this time last year, and I’ve put on so much weight in the last couple of years. I’m going to give this a shot, although I’m not supposed to do anything high impact, so thinking I’ll do a ‘racing walk’ kind of speed/motion instead of the running.
Do you think I’d be wasting my time doing it that way? I really want to get my fitness back, and I was swimming 4 times a week until everything shut. I really miss it. 😔

I’d like to do this but don’t know where to start

I am a runner and have used couch to 5k with my son who has Downs Syndrome-we have found for him the run for 8mins walk for 5min run for 8mins is his limit -do this 3times a week and his health has increased so much.

I had started it in January and had reached week 5 or 6 when I had to go in for emergency surgery. Still in recovery but hope to start again soon. My only concern is that I will now be doing it outdoors rather than on the treadmill at the gym and I am really apprehensive about it

The one linked to the BBC Get Inspired let's you choose a voice. I went with Sarah Milligan 😁

Thanks all! I'm ashamed to admit that I wasn't aware a jog and a run were the same thing blush with a jog just being a slow run.

Don’t be ashamed! It’s great that you’re doing it. I started running a few years ago and it took me ages to work out that slowing down was a great way not to get tired out as quickly! I think I used to try and run as fadt as I could so it would be over...

Out of interest, what did you think the difference between ‘running’ and ‘jogging’ was?

@happyteacher75 - May I ask what app you use to measure distance alongside the C25K app please?

There's a big long C25K thread somewhere here on MN, you'll get loads of support there.

We are about to embark on week 5. 4 weeks ago I nearly vomited doing the 60 second run. Yesterday I did 5 minutes in one go. It's quite amazing !

Not sure about the looming 20 minutes one tho.....!

Otherwise known as Jeffing; the walking and running combo progression.
Fartlek is running faster and then running slower combo.

FWIW the first time I did it my walk was possibly faster than my running...but I promise it does work! Had to do several weeks Twice through before I felt I could progress but don’t let that make you feel bad!

I use run tracker by life fitness for distance tracking (didn’t bother paying for it) - gives you spoken indication of elapsed distance/time/speed if you want (sometimes I do, sometimes not) plus distance and 1k splits at the end.

NeverForgetYourDreams I was apprehensive about that 20 minute run too. And in fact, the first time I tried, I only made it to 16 minutes before I felt like I was going to vomit. I was so pissed off!

I gave it a couple of days, went later in the day (cooler) and had a banana half an hour before and then managed the 20 minutes easily (even managed to up my speed at the end, to 'race' ds2).

Then, as I said earlier, I did 4k a few days later (26 minutes, super slow but I do NOT care )

You'll do it fine.

26 mins for 4 k is not super slow!!! My first 4 k was more like 45 mins!!!

Start off slooooowww and what you manage to get around. It's the best way. Don't go for a full out 'run' at the beginning or you will give up by week 3.

Don't be afraid to repeat weeks if you don't feel like you are ready to move on I remember week 3 and 5 I repeated a couple of times as they seemed to be big jumps to the next level and I felt I needed more time.

Can't recommend enough. Jan 2019 I could just about do 30 second very light jogs. Since finishing c25k I run weekly 5k parkruns at 31 minutes and I've ran 2 non stop quarter marathons in an hour and 20 (including one which was almost all hills!) and my next event is a half marathon.

I've done C25k about 6 times now, each time starting from a slobby 'no exercise' period. I'd suggest you go slightly slower than your fastest speed and slow down as necessary as you get tired. I frequently find myself coasting through runs if I start off too slow because I don't feel like I have enough energy to go faster, but if I start off fast and slow down, I can maintain a higher speed if that makes sense.

You've now guilted me into going for my run today (W5R3) , best of luck finishing!

Best advice I can give is join Run Mummy Run community on Facebook - it's really helpful and supportive and you can get answers to any questions you have

26 mins for 4 k is not super slow!!!

Really?! Well then consider me even more chuffed with myself

That's made my day, that has.

I did it last summer, and got to Week 5. I'm going t start again today, but I don't want to go right back to the beginning, so I'm going to try from
week 4 and see how I get on. If it's too much, I'll try starting further back.

I’ve just started going out for quick walks and want to turn them into jogs/runs in time. I’ve tried the C25K before but very half heartedly whereas now I’m keen to do it. However, how do you know where to go? Run halfway then turn round and come back. I know at the end the idea is to do a 5k so I can plan a route for that, but in the first few weeks how far would you say you were going? My quick walk at the moment is about 3.5k and it’s taking me 33minutes roughly!

BBC inspired one is great
I went out this morning and i forgot to stop ( my music was really good). So when I realised I had run for 8 mins instead of 5 I carried on jogging
So now I know I can jog for you 10 mins 😂
I’ve done it a few times gettting as far as week 8 but never week 9
I’m using lockdown to get to week 9

@Wallabyone
That’s what I did. I started at week 4 as I was confident I could do that
I often do it twice though so when I have Finished it once I do it again
So I’m getting around an hours or so exercise each day as I am doing it every day atm as I’m bored 😐

Ok. I’ve just done week one day one! Is it awful that I did not find that easy at all? In fact I walked a little bit more than I should have! 😳