Couch to 5k...it's not about speed (thread number 3).

[CruCru]

Hi all

Here is the new home for our chat. Hope to see you all soon.

Love

Cru

Well done Science! Try to take today's run as proof that you can do this and put thoughts of failure out of your mind. It's really hard when you struggle on a particular run and, I find, it really knocks your confidence. I also know from doing lots of sport and training when younger, that it's perfectly normal to have good and bad days for no obvious reason. You just have to move on from each session and take the positives - for me at the moment, it is getting out of the house for 30 minutes and sticking through to the end of the session after months years of inactivity.

You are right, of course daftmaul. I think I have a deep rooted belief that sport isn't for me, as I was always distinctly average at school (I was one of those who excelled in academia, but not on the sports field) and having two older siblings meant that I was always last on the home front in terms of sports and games as well. Doing C25k has actually been good for me in terms of sticking to something and proving to myself that I can get better at something, so failing with one of the runs hit me really hard.

Still, onwards and upwards. Well, maybe not upwards, I'm not keen on hills!

Ok excuse my shouting and swearing.

YESSSSS!!! I only fucking did it!!

W1r1 done properly with all the runs included, had to go slower because it was muddy and slippery but went further whoever said slower would help was right thanks!
My face looks like this
I just have to get over the mental block that says at the end of the warm up walk I have to pop behind a tree for a wee, doesn't matter if I go before I set off its just the end of the warmup?
Anyway...
I'm excited and all you got me through it, I was thinking the whole time that if I pushed harder I could post to say I'd done it and how much better that would feel than saying I'd failed again.

Some of the time 60 seconds didn't even seem that long and on two of them during the rest walk I even said out loud "come on then Laura I'm ready for you"

Feel amazing now!

Science, I know where you are coming from - I have always been the more academic, overweight, less sporty younger sister too!

I haven't told anyone what I am trying to do (except for those people who have seen me out running!) as I am doing this for me and, I think less pressure of failing if fewer people know. It is definitely as much a psychological battle as a physical one! X

Yay Spidey. Brilliant! Well done.

I'm the same daft, barely anyone knows I'm doing it the same as barely anyone knows I'm dieting, I've always failed diets and things before because of the pressure of people asking how it's going all the time and I also have a psychological issue connected to my mental health problems where I get upset and frightened if people think I'm attractive (it's bizzare but I'm working on it) my weight has been my shield since I was a teenager but it's time to drop the shield. No one can hurt me now I have Dh to back me up and I'm going to be a fucking Amazon.

And if anyone tries anything I can run away lol

Daftmaul - shins were better, but not perfect. Ta for asking.

Spidey, you did it!!!

Three weeks of physio and an expensive pair of trainers . . . . but I am back. Albeit back to square one! W1R1 just done, no pain in Achilles. Yay. Physio has been really helpful - as well as exercises to sort out the knackered Achilles, she's worked on my core (which is not as shot to shit as I'd feared) and helped to sort a turned in foot. My Spidey, DaftMaul - I will only run in the dark. Only a few people know I'm doing this. The physio assumed I'm doing it to take part in a formal run. I said nope, I'm doing this just for me. I owe it to myself and to DH and DD to get fitter. Well Done everyone who's progressed whilst I've been out "injured"

Have just read your I did it post, Spidey. Huge kudos - mega WELL DONE!!!

Green card- that's great news. Well worth doing the physio. I've been out of action and no time til the weekend- but looking forward to getting back to it. I may try a 30 day tricep thing (or I may not of course ) I realised at yoga that my latest collapsing malarkey has made me all lopsided again!

Yay! Laura has just told me I'm a runner she's lying, but still

Week six run three done!

Well done spidey and buster! And welcome back greencard!

Off to remove the layer of sweat in the shower

Oh no, I've killed the thread

No way Science - this thread is very alive. I have been so inspired reading all the posts . I went out yesterday (r1 w2) and tried a new route. The start of it was great but on the 2nd bit I saw a rat and what I am pretty sure were drug dealers. May find another route in future :) . On the plus side I managed the run - I didn't think I was going to make it but did.

I'm doing my last run this morning...w9r3...sob...

then I'm lost as to what to do next.

I've been looking at some of the comments on the NHS website about the C25K+ podcasts and they sound a bit technical...running to a certain number of bpm and all that.
I also think that I'm losing my motivation because I'm not enjoying the solid running - I think I prefer the intervals.

I think I might mix it up a bit. I'm currently only running/walking about 4.4km total in my 40min session so I might try and push my distance a bit further each run to achieve 5km.

Or I might go back to my lamp post intervals - but with longer and faster intervals and see if I can push down my old race for life time (which was actually quicker than I am currently running which I find frustrating).

or I might just go back to the couch..... (joke...I think).

A question for those that have graduated....what did you do next? And how have you progressed since?

Edwina I agree mix it up, do not go back to the couch!

It's running today, I had a very bad day yesterday and need to get out and clear my head. I'm so glad I started this as otherwise I'd be in a downward spiral now and but instead I'm strapping on the trainers and getting out there.
And great news my new tracky bottoms shrank in the wash so they fit better now, I might not have to tuck them in my socks lol

I've just run for 20minutes (W5R3)!

Phew, I was really dreading it. Had to stop briefly a couple of times to wait for cars when I crossed the road and in the final minute, I was following a bloke who moved to the side (probably as he heard me gasping for air behind him!) but I just kept going slower and slower so I didn't have to pass him!

Good luck on your last run, Edwinia. Running for 20 mins today reminded me just how boring I find it! So I can see mixing it up would help, or maybe finding someone else to run with but then I'll have to come clean to people!

Well done Red, rats and drug dealers sound like my area!

Yay, Science. A runner! Welcome back Greencard.

Well done Spidey, sorry about your bad day but hope your session helps put it behind you.

may I join you? I have only just discovered this thread! I am doing c25k with the lovely Laura, and did W6R2 this morning. Having never been a runner, and being generally unfit and overweight, I am actually loving it!

Hi Truly, welcome. How have you found W6? I have that challenge next!

Hi all!

I've been away for a while. Took a 10 day break then tried a 30 minute run and was useless. Have just done W5r3 (20 minutes) and that was okay - think I just need to build my stamina up again.

Yay! I didn't kill the thread!

Daft well done! The first big run was a huge thing to me, and I bet you felt amazing for having done it.

cru running 20 minutes is great. Horrible how quickly stamina drops and how long it takes to build up though.

redcliff maybe you should stick to the same route on the grounds that it might make you run away quicker! Rats and drug dealers - eek. Stay safe!

truly welcome. You are at much the same stage as me and daftmaul so we know how it feels to have got this far.

*Edwina" you have graduated! Huge congratulations! I have several friends who have just stuck to running 5k after finishing the programme, so you don't have to keep doing more and more. Maybe enter a local 5k or parkrun as a challenge? Interval training sounds good too.

Busti why are you talking about zombies?!

Kate - snap. I had just been reading about the zombie run that morning and it did cross my mind. The rat did make me run faster .

Do you guys all listen to music as you run? I do but am thinking of swapping to an audio book.