Couch to 5k success stories?

[MamaPingu]

Hi MNer's
I had my baby boy on 6th of September by emergency c section so I'm not in any state to get going just yet, but I'm looking for some inspiration to get me excited and ready to go for when i start.

How long did it take you to get to 5k?
Do you still run now you've completed it?
Was it hard to keep motivated?

To me it sounds brill to have a partner or several people doing it together even if the support isn't face to face sounds like it'd keep me going to have someone to talk to about it!

I decided to do it after my baby boy was born. Doctor's advice was to wait 6 months and then I had added health complications so it was probably a year before I got started. I started in January with a 10km race planned in the May. I went on to do a 70km triathalon in the August and have since run numerous half marathons, 10km's, 5km's and adventure races. I have often "fallen off the wagon" as such and have had periods of 4 months and 6 months where I didn't run at all but because I achieved it once I know I can do it again. The trick for me is to have runs as goals so even if I am doing a half M in 6 months time that will keep me (moderately) motivated to keep going until stepping up the training several weeks before the race. I don't necessarily enjoy running but I do enjoy being fit and toned and how I feel after a run. I don't run with a group (though would like to) but I do enter most races with friend.
PS congratulations on your baby boy and good luck with the c25k

Did you have a natural birth or a section also?
That is brilliant what you went on to do, I'd be so proud! Was it something you mainly started after pregnancy or were you quite fit before hand?

I've never been sporty at all - never ran in all my almost 40 years (yes, the age thing did have something to do with getting fit at last) but I live in the countryside so do walk a bit. It was a challenge and the buzz of completing races is what keeps me going. I am a sahm so there's precious few pats on the back for me in my day to day life - the finishers medals provide that for me these days!! I sometimes find it hard to squeez in time to train and I have good weeks and bad weeks but yes, I recommend races - whatever length and definitely try a fun adventure race - to keep you motivated. I had a straightforward birth but got sick after (unrelated) which put me out of action for a while.

I did C25K a couple if years ago. I couldn't really run for more than a few minutes though wasn't too unfit in other ways (I was doing some Pilates and have done other stuff on and off - mostly off - over the years). By the end of the program (which probably took me 8-10 weeks?) I could run for half an hour but in that time I wasn't really covering 5k, more like 3.5-4k. Sorry a bit vague but it's been a while! I found the NHS podcasts really motivational, I had a target and could see the improvement each week. After that finished, I set as a goal to actually run 5k so I just kept running until I could do that. I have also taken part in a couple of parkruns which are great as I always run a bit faster then! On average I probably run once a week (but I would like to do it at least twice). Sometimes more, sometimes I'll go for a few weeks without running. The other thing that motivates me is to track all my runs with an app like Runkeeper or iSmoothRun so I can compare month on month and see the improvement in my pace. I'd say go for it (once it's medically safe to do so). You'll never regret having gone for a run! Even of you hate it at the time or are slow you'll never wish you hadn't been!

Brilliant, thanks for the replies

Where do I find these NHS podcasts, what are they called?

And thanks for the tip about the apps! I will have a look at them I bet they do really help keep you going!!

So I'm looking at around 2-3 months possibly, I think I might enter a run for around 2-3 months time after I start for 5k to give me something to aim for!

Can't wait to get going, just don't have a clue when I can yet!

I'm doing it ATM! I'm on week 6 and really enjoying it.

Have a look at the NHS choices website and you can download all of the podcasts for free.

I did it by myself using an app. Took me 9 weeks to get to 5k and am now planning a MUCH longer target run!

Week 1 looked easy as piss - run 1 minute, walk 1 minute and keep alternating. By the 6th run I was dying.

By Week 6 I think I was running 20 minutes non-stop and felt fantastic.

IT ROCKS!!

Congrats on your DS!

Anyone can do C25K. I started almost a year ago and it took me about 4 months, but I had surgery in the middle so had to take a break. I wasn't really overweight at the beginning but my fitness level was crap. I'd dropped a dress size by week 5 or 6.

Most people I think complete it in the 9 weeks or a bit longer. Almost nobody can do the 5k in 30 mins when they first graduate (I only managed it a couple of months ago), but you can build up the amount of time and get to 5k. Parkruns are really good if there's one near you.

I also used an app (RunDouble) because I wanted to listen to my own music rather than the NHS one.

Make sure you have a chat with your GP before you start, just to get the all clear. Running is a surprisingly good workout for your stomach muscles so you might need to build up your core strength a little bit first with something more gentle. Have you been given any exercises to do?

I'm well into the c25k from the nhs podcasts, not sure if you call week 2 a success story, but at 46 and not having run since enforced sports days at school, it's a major feat for me.

DH has just completed it. He's older than me and now parkruns, training for a race in November. Once he's finished that, I'm going to start parkrunning too!

After my section I did 6 week course of clinical Pilates to tighten up my core which is ruined after pregnancy/csection maybe have your posture checked and consider Pilates before starting as it will reduce injury risk. Hope I'm as motivated as you after DS2 in dec!! Go for it!