C25K newbies support thread

[UnconsciousCoupling]

Hi

Has anyone recently started or just about to start? Would be great to have somewhere to check in and cheer each other on.

I've started very slowly and am about to embark on week 3. I'm spending 2 weeks on each week if that makes sense!

Look forward to anyone else joining in.

Running downhill only sounds sensible! Do you feel ready for the W5R3, Annette?

I'm not sure. During today's run I was sure I didn't feel ready for W5R3, but I've recovered quickly, I wasn't gasping when Ibfinished and there are no aches. So I'm not feeling quite so daunted now. Wait till Sunday though, might be different then, but I'll have a go. Going to pick my flat run as there are no walks to help with the hills.

TBH I thought that the 8 mins x 2 was going to be too much but I decided to go for it with the idea that if I couldn't cope and it was just before 5 mins then I would swap to 5 mins x 3, but the not coping didn't happen and I didn't check the time until after 6 mins and then I kept going as by then there was only really 1 1/2 mins left ish and I didn't feel like I was about to drop.

Maybe ignorance about R3 is bliss but at the moment I'm feeling like W5 looks more daunting than it really is.

That's really encouraging. Good luck for Sunday.

I'm running to the music of Robert Ullery's podcast from 2006 once I've done the whole thing I'll run to my own music.

I will also try some sort of intervals training to speed me up - I think some of it is psychological as I feel I can't do it but I probably can and just need to make my legs go quicker

that sounds very encouraging, annette!

I run to classical, which is maybe not great pace, but I like it.

I'm still trying to get a week of 5min x3, or maybe a 6 min in there. But I have at least 2.5min walking in between. 90 sec sounds way too little! But it is taking forever to build up any stamina. Even adding 30 sec feels like ages, and I'm constantly counting down to the end of the interval.

I never have muscle soreness or anything afterwards and my heart rate recovers fairly quickly (I stay sweaty and red for hours though). But it's more pain in my ankles and shins that is the problem, and that doesn't tend to go so easily. Or just general muscle tiredness as I'm running!

Guess I need to investigate caps with longer peaks if it's going to keep raining.

Just done W4R1... I was dreading it and thought there was no way I could do the 5 min runs but I did!! Was hard but doable...maybe I'll get there after all!

Scarlett

I've just been out for a repeat of W4, R8, and made it through this time, though slower paced than I have been. I've also added in several extra runs now, increasing the times by only 30 sec instead of a minute each time, so now I'll have about 12 runs in each 'week'. I'm aiming for 5/7/5 of running to start week 5 now, and still with 2.5 minute walk breaks between each one. I probably should spend some time reducing the walk breaks but it feels so much better with them in that I might keep them for a while, and try to increase the running first. There's no way I can really keep to the official program and be getting to 20 minutes any time soon, so I think I'm going to gradually increase the runs until it's 20 min total, and then start putting the walks a bit later each time, and maybe eventually reducing them - months from now!! I am amazed at how much stamina other people are building up and how they can move on.

Well done Scarlett

Same plan here Crochet - aiming to 2x6 minutes tomorrow with 3 minute walk inbetween and build up what I think I can do from there.

Personalisation is sounding like a good idea all round!

Just did it! 2x 6 minutes with 3 minutes walking + 10 minute warm up and cool down.

My plan is to go totally off piste now and add in another 3 minute run in when I next go out and then aim to get to 3x 6 minutes and then string them all together.

well done!

I'm using an app called Interval Run to set all my intermediate plans so that it still tells me when to walk and run.

At first I had 9 runs for each 'week', but adding a minute on each time was too much for me, so now I'm just adding 30 sec. Even that might start to get too much soon, so I might spend a few days on each of those before moving to the next one. I seem to be so slow at building stamina! But any more intense and I get too much pain.

I really need the walk break, 2-3 min. between. I can lengthen the individual runs a bit and the whole thing is more than it used to be, but trying to shorten the break was a nightmare! It's probably a combination of physical and mental (I need something to look forward to!).

Everyone is ploughing on! Loving this thread, COME ON TEAM!

Doing w5 r2 tonight. After run one (which was 3x 5min runs on my app) I kept on running for an extra 2 mins on the last run so I now know I can run 7 minutes. I think tonight is 5-8-5 so I'm feeling confident.

Just hoping my foot doesn't get any worse or I might have to stop.

Loving this thread too! Crotchet, I think you're doing brilliantly. Basin, I'm right behind you! Hope your foot stays ok.

I've been away for the past week so did W4R1&2 elsewhere, but I did R3 this morning on my usual route & found out I'm going 320m further than I was at the end of W3 and wasn't struggling, which makes me think maybe I am ready for W5.

My schedule's a bit messed up so I'm going to do one more W4 run this week & tackle W5 Monday.

that's impressive!

I've now had almost 2 months on week 4 style runs. And still struggling!! Such a slow process. But I think I'm making progress at least. I need to go to a sports shop and look at caps soon, as it's too easy to put off going out if it's raining.

I did a 3k run on Sunday with DH although he was rather quicker than me. Really must go running tomorrow morning - I have two more 28 min runs to do for week 8.

DH and I are going on honeymoon in a couple of weeks time to New York. Last time we went to New York we did some running in Central Park and were planning to do that again

W5 r2 done. It was 2 X 8 min runs and it went really well. I think I could have kept on running but I didn't, said I'd stick to the plan and I am so didn't want to push it.

Basin And how's your foot?

Foot is OK empress thanks. Holding up fortunately!

Well done Basin. You'll be fine with run 3

Just been out for week 8 run 3. Another 28 min run under my belt. Will work out how far I went later on.

Cheers Miranda, yeah I'm really pleased with how it's going. You must be too, nearly there!

Have many of you repeated a week? I've just finished week 4 and it has been really hard. The 5 minute runs have taken everything out of me...honestly can't see where I'd find any energy to add a few extra minutes on next week.

Was running today and actually started to think maybe this isn't for me? I'm not a natural runner but I was determined to give it a go. But it was damned hard. Can't see me ever getting there

I'm planning to do a few more 5 min runs before braving W5, Scarlett.

Quite a few people are spreading the weeks out a bit - have a look at Crotchet & Costa's plans?

OP here with another name change

Scarlett I did every week twice as it doesn't come naturally to me either and now I've gone completely off plan.

Well done to the rest of you all doing well! I am going out tomorrow and might break the rules even more and go out again Friday as we're away for the weekend so I won't have time.

scarlett if you are doing 5 min runs then you are doing great! If you need to repeat or go 'off plan' and add 30s or 1 min at a time then do it that way instead. Every time you go out you have achieved something if you starting from running 0 minutes!