Couch to 5 K Its not about Speed (5!)

[addictedtosugar]

So, we seem to have filled up the 4th thread. Anyone want to join me here?

Thanks toothless and well done on your runs!

I was hoping for the "addictive feeling" to kick in and it has. I downloaded the zenlabs app and have now done my first run of the c210k I was able to skip to week 9. It felt good. Really hope I can keep it up.

good luck everyone, please keep posting your progress.

Moved to week three today. Managed the two 3 minute runs ok actually. Surprised.

Only one cat came with me today and stopped at one point to fight with a passing dog (I felt sorry for the mutt). It rained the whole time and I was blown home afterwards (which was great .

If I can get up early every morning (I just walk on the rest days) in weather like this (snow, ice, wind, rain, coldddd) then it will be easy peasy when it get warmer, lighter and more pleasant. Looking forwards to Wednesday when I next do Week 3. It is good to read your own experiences too .

Well done deadwitch!

I haven't been myself so I've not been back yet. I say yet as I am missing it! Can't wait to get back. But I know I'll make myself ill so being sensible.

Did day 3 and I've got major pain in my left knee so I'm going to have to rest up.

It's a great feeling isn't it when the elements are in full force and you just keep going?

Yes definitely rest up if you're feeling ill, tired or have an injury. Earlier on in the programme my 3 year old dived onto me while I was lying on the sofa and managed to get his knee in my neck. I ignored it and went for a run the next day but god, it really hurt. It took ages for the pain to go away and made my runs miserable. I should have taken it easy for a couple of extra days and then gone out. I'm more careful now.

I've decided February is the start of my new me program.

I'm 40 and at my heaviest. I've never been particularly athletic but I can no longer lose the weight by watching my diet alone. Quite depressing really.

I've done week 1 run 2 this morning and I really struggled but felt good at having finished.

Am hoping that posting publicly will keep me motivated and accountable.

Week 6 run 2 here tonight and I've done over 4k for the first time. Well chuffed. The first 10min run was great cod the wind was behind me, the second crap cod I was running into it. Still, it's progress!

I've completed C25K but I'm having trouble with weak knees (see previous thread) but I also don't seem to be able to consistently run any distance on more than 1 occasion. My longest has been 5.5k but the runs around it haven't been more than 1.5 - 3k. Any tips to improve would be grateful

Can I join you? I've been lurking on this thread for a bit but wasn't quite brave enough to admit that I am actually trying Couch25k in case I gave up after week 1.

I've completed week 4 and don't feel too bad. Due to work I've had to do all 3 days back-to-back which isn't ideal and I have very, very achy legs.

I'm a bit nervous about the fact that next week ends with a 20min jog...

Just back from week 1 run 3. I plan to run/walk 5 days a week and rest on weekends. I covered 3.67kms.

I know it's early days for me but when did you notice any changes to your body and weight?

coolpattern I noticed my stomach was flatter and my thighs were firmer after about 4 weeks. My weight has stayed exactly the same. I think running alone won't do it for me, I'll have to get a handle on my food intake.

keepon I was so nervous about the 20 min but went into it thinking I'm going to just keep going and see at what point I collapse and maybe repeat the run later. To my amazement I finished it without throwing up This was the turning point for me with regard to stamina and belief I could actually finish the 5k.

pgtips def see your doctor but also worth thinking about knee supports for when you walk and run and maybe some glucosamine supplement. I have read online that manganese is good for knees too.

well done rjnomore!

The DC have had restless nights so that means sleep deprivation for me. I'm not looking forward to my run tomorrow but will try to compensate by having an early night tonight.

Didn't manage to start when I intended due to a bug - thanks Dd2 - but I've just finished week 1 and I'm still alive! So far so good. I'm super motivated too as my own mother has laughed at me for doing this so I'm reverting to teenage rebellion mode and wanting to prove her wrong!

I decided to do a bit of jogging/walking through the woods yesterday. It wasn't a Cto5K day so just a bit extra and for a while it was enjoyable. However I tripped on a root and fell hurting my ribs on left side. Its really sore now .

Despite that I did Week 3 (fourth time) earlier this morning, carefully. I will do it another two times before moving on to Week 4. I prefer doing each week six times rather than three. I'm in no hurry . I estimate it will be 18 weeks not 9 before I can run 5K, that will be April some time. After that, who knows?

PJtips I remember in the first week I did then Cto5K my knee started niggling and it wasn't until I listened to the second week that Laura said to make sure to put your heel down first when jogging. When I concentrated on doing this a realised the knee pain stopped happening. I think putting the heel down acts as a shock absorber so less stress is placed on other joints. It has really made a difference to me and I make sure every time to place heel down first. I wish I'd known this in the first week though.

I am sure too that Laura says to contact her if you have questions. So it may be worth going on the NHS Choices website so see if you can get advice. Good luck.

I completed week 1 4 times last week and moved up to week 2 this morning. Has taken me about an hour to recover! Hopefully I'll be finding it easier as the week progresses.

Great reading everyone's experiences here, really motivating! Have decided to take the plunge with c25k, so hoping I can join you all here now. I'm hoping to feel fitter at the end of the nine weeks (doing the NHS one) - w1r1 starts tomorrow morning.

My end goal is to finish up c25k with my local 5k park run

Good luck to you, let us know how you get on tomorrow.

Thank you, I will - just placed my 'running clothes' on the floordrobe all ready for the morning

So w1r1 was harder than anticipated - definitely less fit than I thought! But I did it all. The hardest thing was breathing - felt a bit out of control and puffy when running, and the cold air made my throat sore. But I'm looking forward to w1r2 in a couple days still!

I struggled too, but my next run was slightly easier. I'm a week ahead of you and this morning did week2 run2. Today was easier than yesterday so the programme must work.

Keep it up

That's brilliant that you can feel yourself improving, what great motivation

Posting for some inspiration please fellow Mumsnetters. Tonight is run 3 of week 6 (25 min continuous run) please can someone try and convince me I can do it?! I managed the 20 min continuous run last week but have struggled with the much shorter runs in between so am panicking about tonight! 25 mins seems like such a long time. MUST.NOT.GIVE.UP

I am sure you can do it, Laura always says to do a gentle jog and try to carry on even if you're tired. Why not repeat a week before moving on when you're ready?

I'm only on week three and doing it twice. Doing all the weeks twice actually. Works for me as I have virtually no fitness and, after fall at weekend, sore ribs. There's no hurry to complete it, I'll take as long as it takes.

I DID IT! And it wasn't bad at all. So pleased. 6 weeks ago I could hardly run for 1 minute let alone 25. Really excited about reaching the end of the programme now. Onto Week 7 on Thursday

Great stuff! So pleased for you .

That's a great plan ThatsIrrelephant!

I did c25k a year ago and have been parkrunning ever since. I find it very motivating and satisfying knocking time off my pb :)

I actually had a break over the winter as I had a couple of chest infections which flared my asthma up. I was worried that my fitness would have really declined, but this weekend I did my first parkrun since October (having only been out running 3 times since then!) and it was surprisingly ok!