Anyone fancy starting Couch to 5K on Monday 5th Aug?

[workatemylife]

I have not run for YEARS. In the last 18 months I have lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise (walking), and, it would appear, breastfeeding. But I'm back at work, LO isn't drinking me dry any more, my diet is not all that it could be, and the weight is sneaking back on. I don't have the opportunity for long buggy walks with a gurgling baby to toddler groups and playparks, but I do try to cycle to work to get a bit of exercise, although probably not enough. A couple of friends do Park Run eack weekend and I'd love to join them, but at the moment I suspect it would be Park Huff and Puff before Collapsing rather than actually a RUN .

I'm planning to start a C25K plan on Monday next week, and would love some (virtual) run buddies until I feel brave / fit enough to run with real people as well. I've seen some positive comments about the plan on here, although I think I'm still a little about whether it is possible to progress like that through the weeks and actually get as far as a 5K. Still nothing ventured nothing gained.

I have running shoes somewhere at the back of the wardrobe, but might need to invest in some suitable clothing, and have a weekend of overindulgence lined up. So Monday is the day I think. First Monday of the month, and counting. I'll put a big ring around a late Sept Park Run on the calendar and start counting.....

Anyone care to join me?

Ok so I ran w4r3 today and ran all the bits I was meant to, so I was pleased with myself for that. However, I've discovered that I much prefer "nailing" a week before moving on to the next week. I think it's a confidence thing as much as a comfort thing so I'm wondering whether to repeat week 4 and become more comfortable with the 5 minute runs. At the moment I still count the minutes to the end of the ru and I can not imagine that I'll be able to run for 20 mins come the end of this week. I know people say "trust the program" but I think I know my fitness just isn't there at the moment
Would appreciate thoughts and advice on this one.

Hi Ilove- can only speak from experience but I had a terrible run not long ago where I was surprised I even completed the 3 minute burst at one point but I ploughed on and after a few days did the 20 as planned. It was nowhere near as bad as I'd anticipated. Once you're in a rhythm i find it's not so hard to extend the time. I will be able to speak more confidently when I've done 20 mins on the road not a treadmill though.

I personally would keep going until you can't complete a run as advised and then repeat until you're able to do it before moving on. You will probably surprise yourself! If I waited til I felt confident at each stage I wouldn't have pushed myself so hard or achieved what I have, but that's my preference you do what you need to keep you on track

ILOVE just keep going! i second Tinwe's comments about pressing on rather than trying to get better at a repeated week.
TINWE hope you enjoyed the food. We all need a treat! I had a few too many on holiday though!
i plan to go out tomorrow. I did w5r2 so should be on the 20min run. But that was a week ago. I maybe should repeat the second run of week 5, but I just advised ILOVE against that. We will see how bad icecream by the gallon is for training!

Thanks Tinwe and work, I thought that might be the response . I fear I am much less fit than the rest of you though so I really am struggling through the weeks.

I'm next due to run on Tuesday morning so will try w5r1 and report back.

Hi, ilove, I think their advice is good, you know! I think if you waited until you were truly comfortable with each stage you wouldn't push yourself as hard as you need to. BUT, if you do feel you're really struggling, perhaps instead of repeating a whole week, which I do think woud be excessive, perhaps just do one run again, so you're doing 4 instead of 3.

I say that, of course, because I cannot imagine that in only two more runs I'll be ready to move up to W4 so I'm holding on to the thought that I can sneak in an extra W3 run if I have to. Would love to prove myself wrong, though.

Interesting what people are saying about how in a way it actually gets easier as you progress through the weeks because you're running for long enough to find a rhythm. I have a friend who runs marathons and she is always telling me "If you can run for half an hour, you can run for an hour"

I will report back after W3R2 later on. Anyone else going out today other than ilove and me?

Oh, as an aside, has anyone heard anything about compression leggings? I am wondering whether they would be good to protect against (further) injury but they are a little bit pricey to invest in (as opposed to the H&M ones I currently wear ).

I'll third what Tinwe and work said - I surprise myself with how much I can actually do if I push myself, so I think press on unless you really can't manage it.

So I did W4R1 last night and it really was okay. I think somehow I'd prepared myself for it being awful so it could only have been better! It also helped in a weird way because it was that bit further - with the 3 minute runs I'm trying to estimate how much longer I have left to run, with 5 minutes I know it's at least one full song so just go with the flow. Really pleased with myself - as dotty said, I almost felt like a runner - just hope tomorrow's W4R2 goes as well as I'm starting to enjoy it now.

Oh, and I actually ran 0.6 miles in one of my 5 minutes - that's nearly a whole kilometre! I haven't done that since school and that was far too many years ago. Okay, it wasn't super fast, but I'm still quite impressed!

Just back from W3R2. Am really pleased as it was definitely easier than W3R1 in that it wasn't until I got past the halfway point that I wanted to sob .

Also, I just looked at the stats on my phone and I went a bit further and a bit faster than last time. Still quite slow though (running speed is only 12 mins per mile) but I don't care about that just yet. Also I don't feel like I've been kicked by a donkey today (although that may come later).

I'm going to have to change route, though, as yet again I was running into the wind both there and back, and this new route I've been taking includes a giant hill just at the last long run, when I'm really struggling anyway. Honestly it feels like I'm scaling Everest and yet it's probably barely on an incline at all . Am determined to find a route that is nice and flat.

I actually think I'm beginning to enjoy this. .

Hello lurking and welcome back from scaling your Everest! All in a good cause, but I know how you feel about every bit of wind / incline mattering....

I went out today for the dreaded week 5 run 3 - the 20 minute jog. I'd been building it into a big deal since I saw it on the schedule, but as someone said a few days ago, I recognised just how much of all this is mental. I felt unprepared for it after the best part of a week off from running, and was out in bright sunshine on a hot day, in the middle of the afternoon when I usually do dawn / dusk training. There was a slow minute in the middle where I was just about crawling, and wondered about stopping and having another shot later in the week, but then I got momentum back and finished. Hot, sweaty, redfaced and ecstatic.

I never quite believed that it was possible to go from 30 seconds to 20 minutes in five weeks, even when ladies from the main C25K thread dropped onto this thread to tell us their stories. Knowing that tinwe had done it also helped a lot! No offence Tinwe - I didn't doubt that you would get there - but it all seemed so much more 'real' to have someone I'd been chatting to on this threead get over this particular hurdle.

I see that things ease up a little for the start of week six, but then the schedule seems to assume that we'll just go out and run for more minutes every time. Trying to keep the faith

Just popping by, will catch up later with a proper post but woooop workate on the 20min run !!bet you feel awesome!

workate, I bow down before you. Another Proper Runner in our little team . Amazing!

It really is quite extraordinary to think that little more than a month can get us from the couch to actually Properly Running. I am looking forward to getting out there for W3R3 on Wednesday.

Tomorrow I'm due to go out for w4r1 and my app says two x 3 minutes and two x 4 minutes for running. My last run had the longest as 3 minutes and I literally counted down the seconds and had to really push myself not to stop sooner. I know to trust to programme but my mind is really getting in the way and I'm thinking about chickening out and not doing it. It sounds petty but those extra 1 minutes added on seem like hours?!?! Need help/advice/confidence boost please!!

Lurking - I think I saw compression trousers for running for sale in Lidl today. Don't normally go in there so have no idea what their quality is like though.

Lurking - I am also avoiding inclined for now. My plan is to conquer the stamina and endurance to cover 5k then build up speed and inclines. Had a look at 5-10k plans last night and they seem to include incorporating some inclines.

Slev - I think the "no point watching the minutes" mentality which you've had in your latest run helps with the 20 minutes too

Well done Workate! You did brilliantly! I hope you're treating yourself/celebrating tonight

Ellie - I think the building up a minute at a time can feel harder than the bigger jumps later in the plan but they are possible if you just plough through. Even if it feels only just possible, the programme seems designed to keep you at the edge of your ability. I adopted the mentality of "I will repeat a run if I can't complete it, if I complete the run I'll move on". Working for me so far!

Sorry for multiple posts, I can't scroll up and down during typing on my iPhone.

I completed W6R1 today. Back on the road after a week of treadmilling. Was tough but the plan drops back a bit to build up to 25mins at the end of this week so I can reacclimatise. Weird to think I'm 2/3 of the way through the programme now. Nice to know you're hot on my heels Workate! I'm really pleased my 20 mins reassured some people, just got to keep going now so I don't let the side down!

Ellie, just go for it. If you chicken out and stay on the couch you'll feel disappointed with yourself. I think you need to just get out there and tell yourself it can be done (even if you have to slow to a limping, crawling sweaty jog as I have done more than once). As tinwe says, the worst that can happen is that you can't quite manage it and have to repeat it. But I bet that won't happen.

I find it helps if I stop gazing at the pavement just a little bit ahead of where I'm running, focusing only on my steps and counting down the seconds, and actually look around me and try to think of something else.

I'm using a different app from the rest of you and my big 20-minute run isn't until W6R3 so I have another 3 weeks to mentally prepare.

Tinwe thanks for the Lidl tip! There is a Lidl quite near me so I'll scoot down today and have a look.

Good luck everyone. Ellie, get out there and report back when you've done it.

Hey all on this misty Tuesday! Go for it ellie honestly just keep going, slow right down if you have to, look around you and just keep going, and give yourself a massive pat on the back when you finish! I do the 'just to the next tree', reach it, 'ok I made it, just to the next tree' and repeat until the app lady tells me I can stop if I'm struggling.

Have to agree with what workate said upthread, knowing you guys have managed it makes it seem much more achievable, so big thanks to everyone!

Did w4r2 this morning, was hard (in fact r2 of each week always seems hard, why is that!?) as my legs were tired from buggyfit yesterday but onwards and upwards :)

I really want to get that 20min run behind me, even though it seems a bit out of reach ATM, so that is my current motivation!

Ellie we're all going to nag you until you do it, so you may as well just get it done! I'm off for W4R2 later although probably a lot later by the time DH gets home from work. I completely agree, when I was doing the 3 minute runs in W3 I didn't think I'd be able to run for longer but you really can, you just have to be mentally ready. As dotty says, just think in terms of next landmarks or number of songs, that sort of thing. Go on, do it and report back later - I will if you will!

Oh, and lurking, I was reading the blurb in the FAQ of my app and they say that to get to 5k you need a 10-minute mile which they think is very ambitious for beginner runners. So I wouldn't worry too much about time/distance - that can come later - when we're all Proper Runners!

And congratulations workate - can't believe how well we're all doing!

Hi Lurking, I haven't been on here or been out since my last run on August 29th, so while I would love a running partner, you've gone past me!

I haven't done W3R1 yet, although I am going to try to go after the school drop off tomorrow (yikes! I might see people). That said, I'm not looking forward to W3R1 after your comment above!

Oh, don't worry, Rosina, it was a killer but W3R2 was much much better. I am skipping around today and feeling quite limber

Hi all! Anyone running today? Nice weather here.

On a personal note I'm sorry to be negative but I really need a bit of cheering on/up :(

I'm finding it tough going back to road running this week (my 20 mins was on the treadmill) and running at 6.50am I needed a boost. I read back on this thread to inspire me but I'd never read the early part and ended up even more demoralised when I realised that most of you have been very fit and even experienced runners in the not too distant past (10ks!) I've never run or done any aerobic exercise (other than a few months of gym visits to lose weight for my wedding) Also, some of you are so slim, by the weights people listed I'm at least 3 stones overweight

Anyway, I went out thinking that the plan was probably meant for slimmer, fitter people just regaining fitness and I'd have to drop back soon... And not surprisingly I had a bad run. Got a stitch, legs ached and felt like lead, counted the minutes, nearly gave up. I made it - just - but have even less confidence in doing 25 mins road run next time

Sorry to be negative when everyone's doing so well.

Oh tinwe, I'm so sorry you're having a crisis of confidence.

I did used to run and could do 10K but there is a huge difference between running when you're in your early 30s (as I was) and running when you're 45, after a gap of nearly 15 years doing sod all exercise apart from Sunday walks in the country.

I am absolutely starting again and trying to ignore the dodgy knees and general aches and pains. Every time I go out I have to stop myself from thinking that 45 is far too old to be taking up running. But that's nonsense - I only have to look around me and I see evidence that that's just not true. My SIL took up running in her late 40s and did a marathon this year. My dad is 75 and walks 5 miles every day. I have a friend who is by no means slender and she does half marathons.

We are absolutely all on a level playing field here and I don't think the difference in age or weight between us really puts anyone at an advantage so get that thought out your head, woman

Also, what's the alternative? Every time we go out there is half an hour not spent on the couch. No matter how hard it is, it can only be doing us some good. You are doing amazingly well. At the moment I can't even imagine what running for 20 minutes might be like and fully expect to struggle through it weeping and gasping. Everyone has a bad one now and then. The important thing is that you made it.

Just remember that things didn't always go so well for Paula Radcliffe, eh? At least you didn't have to pee at the side of the road with everyone in the world watching you on telly

I am going out later for W3R3. You are way ahead of me and your next one will be better. Don't dare give up now. The team needs you!

W4R2 done last night. Not going to pretend it was easy but I did it which is the main thing - did have quite wobbly legs for the rest of the evening though. I blame the heat - it was quite warm when I went out and by the time I got home I was one big sweaty mess. Plus I walked faster than I ran for one bit but never mind, it's not about speed at the moment.

Tinwe you're doing fab - if anything, surely the fact you haven't run before and yet you're our first Proper Runner means you must have done even better? Can you honestly say that when you started however many weeks ago you'd have thought you could be running for 20 minutes at a time? You should be really impressed with yourself - I am, and I've never even met you but in my mind you must be reasonably fit and healthy because you're running for that long!

If it helps, I hadn't run since school - and that was 15 years ago (plus I suspect I ran a great deal less in the later years!). I in no way think of myself as fit and haven't done any other exercise since other than the pre-wedding gym trips (yep, guilty of that one too!). I'm 10 stone so not hugely overweight but as I'm only 5ft2 I should be lighter than I am (as my doctor reminds me at every pill check ). But none of that's really the point - regardless of shape or size we should all be damn proud of ourselves that we're getting off our arses and actually doing something while the rest of the world is slumped in front of the TV. Even if you're only a beginner, it's making the effort to change which is important and we're all well down that path.

Lecture over But seriously, chin up - you're an inspiration to lots of people on here, just read some of the comments and remind yourself of that bit!