Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

OK C25k week 1 Day 1. Too hard

40 replies

Katisha · 09/06/2015 20:23

That was depressing. Just tried the very first day and could only do 6 of the 8 "runs". And that's after a couple of weeks of working up to it with doing much shorter intervals of running.
Surely if you are properly " couch level" you can't just suddenly zip off and do 8 x1 min runs?

OP posts:
Furball · 09/06/2015 20:37

Rome wasn't built in a day as the saying goes.

I think you should be proud that you actually got off the couch. Keep at it, it's not a race and maybe next time you go you will be able to do the 8 runs.

When I first did it and I ran so slowly to start with I couldn't hardly catch someone walking. Smile

CMOTDibbler · 09/06/2015 20:38

Just keep at it, and try running slower - its tempting to really run, but you should be very slowly jogging at this point.

Indomitable · 09/06/2015 20:41

Oh yes, slow down! I am a Slow Runner but it's either that or walk. (And that's a fine line sometimes!) keep going, trust the programme. And well don for getting out there!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/06/2015 20:41

Keep at it. I literally went from couch and currently in Week 6, although it's taken longer than 6 weeks to get here due to repeating some of the weeks I found particularly hard.

I love the achievement if it. I ran 15 minutes straight today, and I never thought I would be capable of that when I was starting out in Week 1.

Join the long running thread OP. It's very inspiring.

Original poster
Katisha · 09/06/2015 21:02

Thanks all. Crikey. I just think that as this is such a fantastically popular programme then the rest of the world must have a lot of residual fitness to achieve Day 1 even! Could you all actually DO the 8 runs in week one? I can assure you I was not doing anything that could be described as fast!

OP posts:
howtodrainyourflagon · 09/06/2015 21:07

I was red like a lobster and counting the seconds on day 1. I'm now on week 8 and can do 28 minutes without dropping dead. Keep with it. Slow down the pace. Repeat the week 1 runs a few more times than you need to to build confidence. Get some music on your phone or mp3 player you can listen to with the app.

wasabipeanut · 10/06/2015 13:04

Hey hang on in there. I've done day 2 and it I did find the running parts challenging - partly because I live half way up a hill and whichever way i cut it sone of the runs are uphill! I have been doing Jillian Michaels DVDs for the last 18 months though so that does help.

I really wanted to see if I could translate my increased muscle tone into stamina if that makes sense?

You can do it. One of the things I've learned from Jillian (!) is that you need to be uncomfortable. If it's easy breezy you need to be working harder! So if you are finding it really difficult you're already getting fitter. "Transformation is not a future activity," is a fa quote to temrmber.

Shall we be virtual running pals? Smile

wasabipeanut · 10/06/2015 13:19

I promise my motivational support will be better than my typing Blush

Knittingnoodles · 10/06/2015 13:21

I think the hardest part was getting my arse of the sofa. I lurked on the C25K thread for ages before I put on my trainers and went out of the front door. So you have already done the hardest part.

I think you are running too fast. And 6 runs is 6 runs. Next time it will be 7 and then 8 and before you know it you are running for 10 minutes. Stick at it and slow down. You will do it. I am saying this as someone who cannot believe that I went from struggling to do Week 1, to running for 20 minutes. I truely do not recognise myself. Please keep going. It's such a good programme.

Original poster
Katisha · 10/06/2015 14:05

I am up for motivational bad typing!
Yes would be great to be coming on here in a few months saying I couldn't finish day one and yet here I am doing 20 mins at a time! But for now getting round the block is but a wild dream...
I'll try going slower next time but will have to look out for snails overtaking me.

OP posts:
EnchantedBunny · 10/06/2015 14:45

I started C25k this morning, w1 d1, and boy was it difficult! I very nearly walked for the last 2 runs, but found some willpower from somewhere! I was barely faster than a walk though... The path I ran is flat and punctuated with lots of trees, so I did the whole 'I can stop when I get to the next tree' motivation. I am under no illusions that when I do day 2 on Saturday it will be just as difficult!

Original poster
Katisha · 10/06/2015 16:41

Well done for doing all 8 though Bunny. Maybe I should have walked those last two as well instead of falling through the front door back onto the sofa

OP posts:
EnchantedBunny · 10/06/2015 17:06

But that can be your goal for next time, doing all 8 reps, whether walking or running! Mine is to get a little bit further distance wise.

TongueBiter · 10/06/2015 17:44

I found it ridiculously and embarrassingly hard to do week one, and it pretty much put me off. That, and shin splints Confused Really must dig trainers out again!

MrsMook · 10/06/2015 19:19

It is hard, bit that's fine and it's doing you good. I repeated a few runs during C25k, but most times the 3 runs of that week had me ready for the next week, as tough as it felt.

I also agree with slowing down. C25k. is about gaining stamina, not being fast.

Original poster
Katisha · 10/06/2015 22:27

This is somewhat my point - that for real couch potatoes week one is horrendously hard. I would have thought they could start a bit further down the scale , rather than people being given the impression that 8x 1 min is somehow an encouraging entry level?

OP posts:
Original poster
Katisha · 11/06/2015 23:44

Well you're all right. I was going too fast. Managed all 8 this evening!

OP posts:
Furball · 12/06/2015 08:12

Yay! Grin

EnchantedBunny · 12/06/2015 20:23

Fantastic! Well done! I am going for day 2 tomorrow morning. No matter what the weather. Gulp!

Original poster
Katisha · 13/06/2015 15:49

Did you do it EB? I've just done day 2. DH walked while I " ran" ...

OP posts:
EnchantedBunny · 13/06/2015 20:54

Yep I did it! My pace was a minute faster than day one, and I went a tiny bit further, so I was very pleased with myself. Day 3 on Monday! Did you find it any easier? How did your dh find it?

Original poster
Katisha · 13/06/2015 20:59

Well done! Yes it was marginally easier. Well dh is much more fit than I am so is coming along for my benefit not his own - he is kind of acting as personal trainer ...

OP posts:
EnchantedBunny · 14/06/2015 22:11

I'd love a personal trainer! And chef. And housekeeper. And enough money for them all! But for now I'll focus on day 3 tomorrow!

knackered69 · 14/06/2015 22:28

Well done everyone! It does get easier - I've just done c25k and today I did my first 5K race Blush it was brilliant fun, and I did it in 33 mins .There was a hill where I had to fast walk for a minute ,but apart from that ,I ran all the way - the feeling as you get to the finish line is great !

I found it helpful when doing c25k to actually enter for a race, as it gives you something to aim for and a motivation - at the end of the day you can always walk bits of it - other people do .

Keep at it !

LookingForDave · 14/06/2015 22:35

5 weeks ago I struggled with week 1. Today I just kept going and did 6.5k!! Further than I have ever run before! Even in my young thin fit days.

Keep Going!!@

Swipe left for the next trending thread