Does couch 25k actually work?

[JizzPigeon22]

I’ve just finished week one and can’t imagine for a second being able to run for half an hour after just 9 weeks!
Aibu to think this is a big con and I’m going to be disappointed? Currently doing it with my 5 year old and having a lot of fun but worrying ahead of time
Has anyone done it and want to share their running success stories?

Well, on the back of this thread... I'm supposed to be running W2R1 tomorrow! We're forecast torrential rain from 5am though so I'm a little dubious about actually running tomorrow. I was planning to run 6-6:30 because I start work at 8...and it takes about an hour and a half for my face to stop being bright red!

Any cures for the ?

fell you do get competitive, club level runners doing the parkrun 5k though, which can skew the average. DH, for example, runs anything from 5k to marathons, and he can run 5k at parkrun in less than 18 seconds. —I am more like 18 hours—. So he and others like him (and theee are a lot of them at our local parkrun when they are in full attendance) will skew the average quite considerably.

Less than 18 seconds?! Wow!

But club runners aren't skewing the average... we are average, when it comes to running. In fact most of us are ex c25kers (at least in my club anyway), and are, realistically, running times all c25kers could be aiming for.

When I finished c25k, for example, I ran 5k in more than 31 mins. Now it takes me 20 mins and, depending on the Parkrun, I'm usually in the top 3 women. That's as a mid-30s mum-of-two. There aren't many super-fast people running Parkruns in 15 mins and skewing the stats.

I know it might sound bonkers to be describing 20 mins as an average parkrun and a few years ago I'd have agreed .. but after a couple of years with a running club,
now I know it's pretty average!! All relative, isn't it.

@Silverstar2

Everything just hurts. My calves, knees etc. It's ok, I have accepted that running is just not for me. I have tried so many times. I do other exercise instead.

I hated it too, but I'm sure my running would have improved if I'd kept at it. But I don't think I'd have enjoyed it any more.

Started running using C25K about 10 years ago and have done 4 marathons, numerous halves and walked about 5000km across Europe.

It's great, and if I have a running hiatus (I'm more of a winter runner) I go back to C25K principles. Keep at it 👍

Oh I just started the 5k one and done my first i couldn't even complete half of it I have leg problems and can barely walk after my feet are now swollen too

Yes it absolutely works! Just trust it and keep those legs moving. I was 17 stone when I started and I competed every single run, no repeats! I'm going to do it again and get my speed up.

I highly recommend the FB group Couch To 5K UK - great support!

It defintely works, I did it and then kept running and completed a 10K run. I am now in the habit of running a couple of times a week (except this week because its too hot where I am and Im a wuss) and started other exercise as well. WHile Im not pretending to be super fit I am definately much much fitter than before I did it. I normally run for 30 minutes-40 minutes without needing to stop and like you theres no way I could have imagined being able to do that before! One thing I found helps if you find it too hard to keep going for the set time is to really conciously slow down your pace - I was basically trying to sprint at first and wanting to collapse well before the 90 seconds was up.

I am doing it, started just after lockdown, im on 12 week programme and at week 8 stopped and starts quite a bit but havent give up can jog 20 mins now! Still cant quite believe it! Will get there!!!

I mean just after lockdown started

These stories are so encouraging. I have just completed w2r1 and I seem to have done something to my knee! It's so sore. Does anyone have any tips to help it heal, I really don't want to give this up it's the first thing I've stuck too

Yes I was a total non runner and barely managed week 1 - week 1 is probably the hardest
I now still run 5k twice a week
My tip is to do the workouts 3x a week with rest days in between
You will find your lungs ache the first couple of weeks and then your calves and then around the 20 minute jog you start to feel like a 'proper' jogger.
The first ten mins of any run are always the hardest for me still so I think the early weeks are physically challenging

Just to add I am slow- 35 mins I'm pleased with for a 5k - but i think being a bit slow has prevented any running injuries after three years of regular jogging and it's still a challenge

It’s definitely not a con - I did a ‘couch to 5k’ course with a local running coach. At the beginning I couldn’t run round the block without getting out of breath. Ten weeks later she had me running 6km and enjoying it 😱😱 it can be done but you have to run at least twice a week, be sure not to go too fast, and follow the walk-run-walk-run instructions of someone who knows what they’re doing.

I’ve been doing it - and really enjoying it!

Got up to week 7 so far and 25 mins is fine.

Not getting to do as much as I’d like at the moment in the school hols!