Couch to 5k- Cage your inner chimp and get started!

[cinnamongreyhound]

A thread for those thinking of starting, just starting, making good progress or finish the c25k. For all abilities and stages, come and join us for support and advice, we're a lovely bunch!

Old thread

Well done Faithless and Felicia. I know what you mean about the first runs Felicia, I had had a break from running but wasn't a complete novice when I started ct5k and the first week was weird! I stuck to the program though! Faithless Laura will give you some tips about pacing yourself through the next couple weeks, 'remember it's just a light jog'

Felicia, for most of the 60 second runs I thought I could continue. The second one today I got my pace wrong and was waiting for the voice to say change your pace. My inner thighs feel a little tight today, I think I need to stretch them more before and after the run.
Lookout I'm using an iPhone app as it gives me distances as well. In fact I accidentally set it up with the distance programme so from week 3 I'll be running distances not times. Hopefully it's the right programme for me.

I'd like to join, please. Lord knows I need it!!

I have a few questions:

I am a running noob, is it really for beginners?

Is it only 3 x a week?

What is a good time for the final 5k?

Hey ChopperGirl join right in!

Yes, it really is for beginners! And yes it is only 3 x week. They recommend a rest day between each run and I then have two rest days over the weekend usually, before starting on the following week's runs.

I'd guess you'd want to aim for 5k in 30mins eventually. But I believe that the program takes you to 30m running in 9 weeks, whether or not that is 5k of running depends on the person I guess.

I'm not sure about the beginner thing. I guess it kinda is because week one can be just your best attempt rather than completed properly, and you keep going with that until you can do the week 1.

I think for me week1 run1 killed but there was also an 'interest' element because I had no idea what was coming next (which would have been helpful when I got to 'eat a banana') which kept me going. The 3rd time I think I was bored AND struggling and I hope to God they change the music and other things for week 2 otherwise I don't think I'll be able to stick with it.

I'm not doing 2 rest days because one off-one on is a momentum that I know I can't disrupt or it will be the end.

Starlight you can get apps where you put your own music on and it tells you when to stop and start.

Am in my running kit and am going to go for a run once the kids are asleep well at least one of them.

Starlight they do change the music and rhythms for week 2 not that the music gets any better Well done for doing all three runs this week, you've started now, you may as well keep going! Keep that momentum up and you never know, you might start to enjoy it eventually

Go Halle! I'm attempting w6r2 tomorrow morning. Can't wait to see how I get on actually!

Hi everyone. I started the c25k on the 1st December and so far I have not missed a single session. This is truly a miracle as I am such a quitter!

I am loving the fact that its free, it only takes 40 mins, all I have to do is stick my trainers on and go.

Last night I did w6r2, and I found it really hard. In fact the last 2 runs have been a real slog. Partly due to running up hills for some of it which is really doing me in. What hasn't helped is the NHS podcast has not been counting down my time properly as I have had it running in the background on my iphone. It has taken me a while to figure this out!! I'm such a wally. Still looking on the bright side I have run longer than I was supposed to!!!

I have to do the w6r3 on Friday which is 25 mins of running which is going to be tough to say the least.

I must say I feel exhausted today, I intend to rest up tonight and tomorrow night to prepare for the big heave ho on Friday. Good luck to anyone running tonight.

chopper welcome. It absolutely definitely is for beginners. I ramble on about this a lot but when I started I was recovering from chemo and major surgery, and I had barely done any exercise for about a year, so I really wasn't fit at all.

I haven't been out for a run since I finished the programme last Thursday I've had genuine reasons, it was really stormy on Saturday when I'd normally run and since then I've had a bout of pain in one of my surgery sites which makes running tricky. But I've been not really bothered about it, and not pushed myself where I might have done when I was on the programme I think maybe subconsciously I'm thinking, I've finished the programme, no more running! So I think I might just start my 5K Forever app straight away as perhaps being on another programme will help with motivation. Plus I can just repeat the programme over and over again to improve my 5K speed so then I'll never be finished

I wore a baseball cap the other day when it was raining. That helped keep the rain off my face but it did feel a bit hot, I took it off when it stopped raining.

And I run first thing in the morning. It's a great way to start the day.

Got up early and managed a 12 min run, 3 min walk and then an 11 min run (last 3 up a really steep hill hence not being able to manage the last minute). I was proud of myself, but have decided I don't have enough time to run in the mornings...shame really but I may need a 5.30 start and frankly that isn't really that possible most of the time because of getting to work.

Anyway, I have definitely reached the limit of skipping past weeks. Started on Boxing Day at week 1 of the Running Mate C25K 101 and am now on week 6 and that is where I'll stick.

Fingers crossed for some nice evenings and a good weekend so I can try to do 2 proper 12 min runs

NotHer Hi! I'm doing w6r2 tomorrow and a bit worried about it! Hope your run 3 goes well!

AllFur are you on r2 tomorrow too?

I did W8r2 yesterday and ran an extra 5 minutes. Still didn't run 5k but got very near. Was great. Could have kept running. Its the first 5/10 minutes I find toughest but not so bad after that. Apart from some of the hilly bits.

For those who doubt it. It really is for beginners. When I first did it quite a while back. I was quite fit but couldn't run at all.

Bleurgh. Today's run was just awful. No idea why but it just felt like everything was going wrong! Fingers crossed next run is better

Good work Halle! I guess the first bit you are finding your pace which makes it harder? How long ago did you finish the program?

RunRun Chalk it up to a bad day and hope the next one is better

My w6r2 was brilliant this morning. Much better than run 1 so I'm glad you guys got me to try it! Last five mins were tough but doable so I'm just so pleased with the progress. 25m continuous running on Saturday morning though...

I finished it October 2012 ish. I don't run very fast.... But its definitely running or jogging of sorts.

I'm starting to worry about having the weekend off, should I run on Sunday and start wk2 or run wk 1 again on Sunday and start up on Monday with wk2 or just take the weekend off and hope I don't lose the momentum.

Faithless I take the weekend off and have done since the start. It hasn't done me any harm but you may feel it would interrupt your rhythm. If you didn't want to take an extra day off, I'd go straight onto week 2 though, rather than re-do week 1.

Halle I don't run fast either, that's why I'm asking And if you don't run fast but are not far off 5k that is awesome news. For you and eventually me haha!

Isn't it funny how some runs are easier than others?

Today I repeated wk6 r3 of my 10k app because I'd really struggled with it on Mon night and barely scraped a 15min straight run without a walk break, even though I was 'out' for 65min and did 7k in the end (averages out as s-l-o-w !).

Today it was like I was on someone else's legs , I sailed through and did extra on the second run phase because I was so comfortable. I feel confident about wk7, with it's solid 20mins run now. I'll do it on sat am. Maybe I've turned a corner? Or maybe my diet & hormones were in sync today, whatever, it worked and long may it continue!

Sorry. For iPad inserted apostrophe & random punctuation/autocorrects

Hi ChopperGirl2014! Yes really for beginners, I hadn't ever run before. I ran every other day when I did it just to keep my momentum so 3x one week and 4x the next. I think a sub 30 min 5k is everyone's aim, I did my first in 36mins.

Hi NotHerRealName, a lot of people found w6r1 a struggle.

Well done ShineyBlackShoes! I run at least once a week at 6.15, not sure I could mange earlier!

Me too HalleLouja! Even though I've now run a half marathon, the first 5 mins are miserable at times, tough other.

Yay UsedToBeNDP!!!!!

well done/welcome everyone!

I only started 15 months ago, at the grand old age of 47, having HATED running with a passion all my life. And now I am completely hooked and running most days of the week and doing 10 k in a day without even really feeling the pain. Amazing.

Well I did run 1 of week 2 like you all told me I should and bleugh.

Just bleugh!!!!

Did it though

Well done StarlightMcKingsThree!