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?

Petra I went slower - -than a snail- - for my repeat of week 4 run 1 and I managed to complete it. Now I’ve finished the whole week and am on to week 5. Run 1 doesn’t look too awful but run 2 and the dreaded run 3 are looming. Please tell me that some people aren’t instantly able to run 20 mins...theres no way I’ll manage that!

W5R3 tomorrow. 20 minutes running.

Aaaaaarrrghhhh I'm nervous already!!!

I found W5R2 fine @NoTeaForMe, if just pottered on through.

The first 10 minutes for me is all uphill....then I turn round and I will be so grateful for the downhill!!!

Keep going ! We are on final run on Tuesday. Got to 4K today on the 30 minutes run so reckon to get to 5k running going to be about 37 minutes not sure we will make 5k just yet but will build on stamina when final run done!

I just did Day 1 of Week 1 today! It went ok, I walked the last run, as it coincided with a steepish hill. My shins are a bit achy. I am 55 and never ran before. Fingers crossed that I stick with it.

We did W4 R1 yesterday. Have been really nervous about it but managed it apart from the last 30 seconds of the last run as the dog stopped for a poo 🙈.

It actually wasn't as bad as I thought. And whereas last week I found the 3 minutes running hard they didn't bother me at all.

Next week looks scary though I must admit. But I think every week ahead looks scary tbf. I just can't believe I have gotten this far. Am fat and 42 and disgustingly unfit.

If nothing else lockdown has been good for this!

I did it!!! W5R3 smashed!!! It's uphill in the first 10 minutes and 5-10 where it's steeper were hard work but the thought of the downhill 10 minutes kept me going. Can't believe I just did that.

Legs felt weird when I stopped!!

Anyone who.looks at that run and thinks "nope" well you absolutely can do it.

NoTea well done on week 4 - you’re doing brilliantly!!! Don’t stress about the w5r2 run - I promise you it’s doable!!! Don’t go out when it’s too hot, stick to snail pace (that’s what I did) and just keep going! And even if you don’t make it the first time I bet you will still go for much longer than any previous run...which is still amazing! Every time you go for a run you are doing further and better and almost certainly faster than the previous!

If you want a morale boost one day redo w1r1...

That's s good idea!! I run 2 routes round the village but have been doing the straighter farm path/track one for the last 2.5 weeks. I haven't done the up and down 3km block round the lanes since week 3. And I found that week ok but couldn't imagine running all of it. I've started c25k 3 times before and never made it to week 4 on any of them.

I'm saving it for when I think I can just run the lot. I reckon 3km is about what I'm doing now so maybe next week I'll run it. All of it. I walk it on my rest days with the kids and it's gorgeous. To run it all will feel magic.

Week 4 R 2 done today.

Was hard, went a different route that was less peopley but a bit more up and down. Just about managed it, had to walk about 15 seconds of the last run to get our bearings.

Finished it!!! 30 minutes running non stop but 4K not 5k. Now to keep going and improve stamina and hit that elusive 5k. Think 35-37 minutes should do it but will have to go out early now as it's too hot in afternoon. I nearly bailed today but DS14 kept me going.

4K in 30 mins is amazing - well done! My first 5k was over 40...down to a best of 32 ish (only managed that once though)...

Congratulations 🎉 to everyone doing this, no matter where you are.

I finished C25K last week and switched over to the 10k app (also a gentle build-up, if you need it).

One tip I did get from other lovely C25K's is that once you have achieved that lovely 5, you can improve your speed by doing w1r1 as sprint intervals. Plus, you will feel very, very smug at your improvement..

Wow! Well done to those completing it! That still feels a long way off for me - I did w5r1 today and I’m feeling ridiculously proud of myself. I don’t see how I’ll be able to complete it in the given time though as those long runs feel really long. I’m very prepared to be repeating weeks and/or runs from now on. However, I felt the most comfortable doing the run today out of all of them. Including the runs in week one so who knows!
Good luck everyone.

It was so hard tonight as was quite a hot afternoon I nearly gave in but I knew I had done this amount two times before. I still can't believe it when I actually vomited on week 1 60 second run lol

Thanks for the congrats :-)

www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/average-5k-time

I found this yesterday. It breaks down the average time to do 5k based on age and sex. For my age it should be around 38 to 43 minutes. I did 2k in 16 mins yesterday so am not a million miles away. Once Ive started doing 30 minutes running (which seems impossible!) I will start to increase it I think until I am running 40 minutes then see where I am distance wise.

W1R2 today. I changed my route to avoid run uphill for last run. It went pretty well.

W6R1 this morning.

Was harder than the 20 minute run. Weird!!

GuyFawkes I said that too when I did it!

A few pieces of advice:

• made sure you go every 2 or 3 days, don't skip if it is cold, you are tired, it's too dark, too much traffic, ..etc.. Just DO IT ... You will be happy afterwards

• stretch/warm up (I know it is in those apps), but just don't get up from you desk and go

• time it so you are not hungry

See I go first thing in the morning. I find if I go later I feel sluggish and end up needing a wee 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I do warm up and stretch though!

I did W5R2 today. SO unbelievably proud of myself. Two lots of 8mins runs! R3 still feels totally unmanageable though...😩

Where they much worse than the week 4 3min/5min runs notea?. I've finished week 4 today, bizarrely I am finding the 5 min runs easier than the 3 min runs.

Felt really good after todays run. Last bit on our route is a bit up and down a banking type thing so walked over that but it's literally 10 seconds but did every minute of every other run even though I had horrible period pains and we were running into the wind. Last minute of last run some old lad with his dogg stood and clapped for us which spurred me on to do the last bit smiling.

I'm fat as fuck but am finding my body noticeably changing. My bum is much firmer, I have definition on my calves and my thighs are less lumpy.

My aerobic fitness has improved so much as well. First couple of weeks it was running out of breath that was the issue now it's wobbly legs but even that's getting easier now. And even after 16 mins of running on a pretty warm day my head wasn't as explody.

Frouby The first 8 min run was fine. Possibly could have carried on in fact. The end of the last 8 mins was hard but not really any harder than the first time I ran 5 mins. Really don’t think I’ll be completing the 20 mins though. Surely people don’t do that on the first attempt? 😳

NoTeaForMe. I did it on the first attempt. Was hard but just keep going you will feel so good when you do it!