C25k - just did my first run!!!

[flossyfloo]

I can't believe I managed to do it! I am very unfit and about 3 stone overweight. But I did it

Just wanted to share with someone as I'm very proud of myself at the moment

[TerrysNo2]

hi c25k-ers! I just wanted to say hi and well done, is awesome to start running, I did my first c25k day on 1st October and yesterday I completed a half marathon in 2 hours and 8 minutes! I'm not showing off (much ) but if anyone had told me 6 months ago that I would've done that I'd have laughed at them!

Oh and I've lost about half a stone too. Good luck everybody.

[meebles]

Sounds like everyone's doing well, and well done Terrys!

I have managed a fluke injury which I'm being a bit of a wuss about - I tripped over standing up, stubbed my toenail into the carpet and now it's black and blue and very sore. Also have a humungous cold which I have used as a great excuse to not go running recently.....yes, do shout at me!

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Terrys - that's very inspiring. Well done you. Couch to half-marathon in six months!

Meebles, no shouting from me. If you've got a cold and feel rubbish, stay in. I didn't, and ended up having a week off running. You'll get back to it. We will shout at you if you don't, though .

Hunter, my philosophy is, you can't go too slow. As long as I'm actually making running type motions and not walking, that's fine. I daren't up the pace in case I run out of steam. It's working so far.

[HearMyRoar]

Hi guys, glad to hear people are doing well. My ankle has recovered from my rubbish running injury. Did my w1r2 at 6am Sunday morning, it was hard but good. Unfortunately didn't get a chance to run again until this morning and it was a bit of a disaster. Just didn't get into it and ended up giving in half way through so feeling a bit dispirited.

I am going to blame a cold and dd's complete failure sleep last night which mean I am rather exhausted. Think I might do week 1 again as I just don't feel even close to being ready for week 2 yet.

[HunterWellies]

Morning runners! Thanks for the tip NoBusiness. W2R2 was much better yesterday at a slightly slower pace. I'm trying to make my last 90sec run as good as my first by going very very slowly.

Roar - I think it's really easy to lose momentum in the early days and setbacks are just that - but all part of the journey. Just start where you feel comfortable and go from there. It's is very hard on a lack of sleep so you have my sympathy...

Did I mention I am running with my dog? Not sure he is thanking me for it but he gets a pitiful lack of walks since ds2 arrived. He is 6 so I figure that's about my age in dog years. If I can do it so can he!

W2R3 tomorrow.

[EauRouge]

Morning all. I went out yesterday just to see how long I could run for (24 mins btw), no pressure to finish week whatever, and I had so much more fun.

Hunter, that's ace that you take your dog, we're hoping to look for a dog at the end of this year as a family pet and a running buddy for me. Have you seen Cani-cross? Looks like loads of fun. Apparently you can take dogs on Parkruns as well.

HearMyRoar, I've given up on a couple of runs, it's an awful feeling isn't it? Don't be too downhearted though, I've often heard that sometimes the hardest part of a run is getting out the front door and you did that part- next time will be better, I'm sure :)

[Thistledew]

Hi eightytwenty - I'm no expert and happy to be corrected by someone more knowledgable if I am wrong, but I would say that it doesn't particularly matter whether you build up your training by increasing your distance or by increasing your speed. All that matters is that you try to increase your fitness rather than let it plateau at just enough to complete the distance you are aiming for- you want to be able to complete each element comfortably so you have something left to combine the three.

It is probably a good idea to mix up your training- so sometimes you extend the distance and sometime you do a shorter distance but work on your speed.

I have not had much time to run this week so have only done run 1 of wk 5 so far but I felt pretty ok with it- I made an effort to push up my speed for the last couple of mins of each 5 min segment, and even added another run on at the end as I wanted to go to the shop after my run and was quite a way away when I finished.

For the first time I'm actually starting to feel it in my legs and core muscles when I run, so I must be doing something right!

[HunterWellies]

Eau do it! Running with my dog makes it so much more fun. Pooch to 5k is worth a look, especially if you haven't chosen your dog yet, good advice on running breeds... There's a special programme for dogs to download too. You can't run with pups until they are at least one I think, so bear that in mind too - it's bad for their bone development.

Did final run of week 2 this morning. Found it reasonably challenging. Not sure how I'll get on with week three. Doing some googling I see at lot of people quit at around week 3/4.

Don't let me give up guys! I think I need to focus more on my nutrition actually. I really go for sugar far too much and if I felt I was losing weight because of the running that would really motivate me.

Unfortunately, it is Easter weekend and I love chocolate... Oh dear...

[EauRouge]

Pooch to 5k. Thanks for that, looks brilliant. I think we'll be looking to get an adult rescue dog anyway, I wouldn't know the first thing about training a puppy!

[Thistledew]

So I did my first 20 min run yesterday I managed not to make things easy for myself by picking a route that turned out to be into a headwind for most of the way, and as a result I was super slow- but I did it and managed to run the whole way! That is quite possibly the furthest I have run for in my entire life.

I actually found that legs and energy wise I was fine- as usual it was just the lungs that were protesting. My breathing did become a little easier after about 8 mins but by the end my lungs were actually hurting. However, I managed to stop my breathing becoming ragged and if I had had to continue reckon I could have done.

I wanted to use MapMyRun to see how far I had gone but there didn't seem to be enough data signal so it wouldn't even open when I was outside. Looking at a map I did about 3.4km in the 20 mins, so although I was running really slowly I reckon I could do the 5k in 30 mins. I have a faster pace that I can now comfortably hold for about 5 mins, which I am aiming to be able to sustain for longer.

I'm just a little stiff in my legs today and have been thinking back to January when I was feeling miserable at the end of the 90 second runs. I definitely would say that the program is working well, so have courage week 1&2 runners!

[EauRouge]

That's brilliant, well done :) Once you've cracked that 20 mins then the rest is pretty smooth. It's a huge thing to overcome and you did it!

[HunterWellies]

Very inspiring Thistle! I did W3R1 yesterday and was pleased to have managed the three minute segments!! Next one tomorrow. In trying to get far enough that I can complete a circular route I have mapped out which is 2.4 miles in total. So far I have made it to one mile at the halfway point of the run so I need to either up my pace or be patient and wait until there is more walking than running in the 20 minute section.

Anyway, still here and still running so quite happy with that for now :)

[HunterWellies]

in I'm

[HunterWellies]

W3R2 this morning. Worked up a bit of a sweat even though its freezing here... That's got to be good hasn't it?

Quite enjoyed it!

[meebles]

ok, does anyone have any suggestions? I have developed painful knees and when I run I get very sharp pains around the kneecaps, especially on the insides. I can't believe I have damaged myself in week 1!!

[EauRouge]

Nice one, Hunter, that's brilliant that you're enjoying it so much.

meebles, you could try knee strengthening exercises but it's also worth having a look at your running shoes and your technique. There's some good tips here. When you run, are you landing on your heel or mid-foot?

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

I did week 5 run 3! 20 minutes too, Thistledew. Well done to us. I had a horrendous night before with dd waking twice then ds who peas sleeping with waking between 4-5am and noybhoing bck to sleep. He finally went about 6.15-30 after having some weetabix. Then dd woke at 7.15... So I was shattered but I thought I've go to give it a try so later that morning I set off with the north easterly wind and nailed it. O wasn't out of breath at the end either it's a mini miracle.

Hunter glad you are enjoying it too. It does become addictive. It a bot like starting a love affair. Excitement, highs, lows, building up to doing the deed (the 20 minutes of course!). Am I reading too much into it do you think?????

meebles hope your knee improves.

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Peas? Should be I was - iPhone random intervention there!

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

That is all.

[EauRouge]

I did get the general gist of your posts Well done on the 20 minute run! Bet you finally feel like you might actually be able to run 5k after all.

[meebles]

Thanks Eau, I am printing out the exercises now. I'm not sure where I land on my foot. I've had a rest for a week while on holiday, and it feels better now. Might attempt something later on after some good stretching and warm up and see what happens!

[EauRouge]

I've skipped ahead to week 9, I did the first yesterday and got even faster! I managed almost 5k in 30 mins which I was so pleased with. I've entered a 5 mile race in July and I'd love to be able to do it all without having to walk.

[HunterWellies]

Brilliant Eau. I would say 5 miles running by July is a very realistic goal, if you can do the 5k now in nearly 30 minutes, well done!

Week 4 starts for me tomorrow. 5 minute blocks of running, not sure if I am excited or scared...

[Thistledew]

Well done Eau - very inspiring. It is good when you get a measurable bit of improvement- it's a reminder that you are on the right track.

Hunter- very soon, 5 mins will feel like an easy amount, I promise you.

I did run 2 of wk 6 yesterday, so that is the last of the segmented runs. It is just a question of increasing my distance and speed now!

It should make it easier to use MapMyRun as well, as my average speed has been knocked down until now by the walking segments.

I tried running to music yesterday for the first time and am not sure if it helped or not. I had to put the radio on as I don't have music on my phone. I did find the music distracting, but I'm not sure whether that was in a good way as I normally have to focus quite hard on my breathing especially.