Today I did wk3 r1 couch to 5k and I need to complete it this time !

[Howlongtillbedtime]

For one pointless -excuse- reason after another I get so far and then stop .

This time I have signed myself up for a 5k in May so I have to do it now . I do enjoy it once I get into it and I really want to finish something for once .

If anyone has any hints tips or kicks up the arse spare I would appreciate it .

Well done esssa. It's always hard to get going again. I am hoping that posting here will keep me motivated/too ashamed to quit.

Thanks ladywithlapdog. Let's hope so.

I managed to finish the Couch 2 5k last week, finally got there using the BBC app with Michael Johnson. I found it was a better app for me than the one I used before- 5k Pro. It had a slightly different progression for the runs, e.g. going from sets of 8 min runs to a full 25 min run over a week or so, plus the bonus of Michael Johnson's voice. I don't think I'd have finished it using the previous app.
I'm still pretty slow, as the app measures the time you run rather than distance I can't complete a full 5K run in 30 minutes (I followed the parkrun route and was about 500m short) yet but will keep going!

Congratulations, Melfish! 4.5km in 30 minutes!

I've just started week 9, 30 minutes, 3.25km. It was tough as I hadn't managed to run for 5 days. I'm still very, very slow. I think it may well take me till Xmas to actually run 5K, getting 5K would be an achievement, never mind the time.

I too love Michael Johnson's voice. I can't imagine I could have done it with the other options.

Thank you LadyWithLapdog! It has taken me almost 3 years on and off. I never used to run with music but it has been really helpful when you're having to do longer periods of running in the app. You will get there, don't worry. Michael's lovely voice will be with you!

I run with music (Podrunner tracks or some other psy-trance) or podcasts (today about Louis Pasteur, sometimes The News Quiz from the night before, the Infinite Monkey Cage).

My smart bracelet isn't so smart, I ran further according to google!!

Did the 8 mins and 7 mins of W5R2. Might get there on Tuesday's run.

Definitely need a few more runs before I attempt the 20mins though.

I always used to run with music but never do now. Not sure why I stopped.

Well done everyone.

I am out again tonight so will see what it brings. I don't use an app or music!

I did week 6, day 1 yesterday. It was 35 minutes and I did 4.38km. It was really hard though! I had to pause during the second 10 min run for a minute as I'd just run up a hill and felt like I was gonna die. I was a lovely shade of puce when I finished too.

Well done everyone. I managed W1 R2 today which I know is not very far but am quite proud as AF arrived today and normally I would have used that as an excuse not to run.
Well done mrsreacher . I am terrified of getting to week 6 as that's when I've quit in the past.

Hello everyone.
I’ve just done w2 r3 and feel bloody knackered. I can’t imagine how I’m going to cope running three minutes next week, never mind 5 bloody k.
I’m using the BBC app. I tried MJ in W1 but he sounded so disinterested (compared to Jo Whiley) that I ran too fast and got groin strain. So I went back to JW after that. She may be annoying, but I don’t feel judged by her. I haven’t tried the other two.
I don’t have proper running shoes, just cheap tatty old trainers but they’re comfy and have plenty of room for my toes.

Hi MothQuandary. Week 2 feels like ages ago as in week 9 but what I do remember is the feeling that the next step and the next will be almost impossible. Yet here I am at week 9. This is my first attempt. I'm very slow (though not quite as slow as my "smart" bracelet thinks) and I need to take longer breaks between runs due to knee pain. I won't be ready for parkrun for a good while yet but it's something else to look forward to.

I haven't tried other voices on the app; I thought Sarah Millican might shout at me and get me stressed :)

Checking back in - I’ve just finished Week 5 doing 5K Runner and I seem to have one really tough run per week. The last one was much slower, which may be a combo of more running (2x 8 minutes) plus a headwind. Just tougher! I alternate between runs where the lungs hurt and runs where the legs hurt.

I love listening to podcasts while running - West Wing Weekly, News Quiz, History Hit and a very hilarious Sweet Valley High podcast called Double Love. Perfect distraction and there is almost no other time I can get an uninterrupted half hour. It’s the biggest motivator to run.

Next week is looking pretty daunting....

I had knee pain around weeks 2-3 but targeted stretches plus some strength work seems to have really helped.

What do people wear to run as it gets colder? Before this I was a treadmill runner but I can’t justify the cost of the gym!

Hi LadyWithLapdog. I know I just have to stick it out. Week 9 is only 7 weeks away. That’s nothing, really (although it seems like years!). Well done for making it that far.

I’m looking forward to parkrun. If I can’t do the whole 5k running, I’ll just run for half an hour and walk the rest of the way. Plenty of people go very slowly indeed. I’ve seen facebook posts from people who’ve taken over an hour. But anyway, that really is a long way off.

Here’s a useful post from HealthUnlocked about what clothing to wear, Jassy. So far, I’ve only progressed from leggings and a short sleeved t-shirt to leggings and a long sleeved t-shirt.

That’s so helpful, Moth, thank you!

I did w3 r1 today. The change from 90 seconds to 3 minutes was nowhere near as bad as I’d feared. Really no different from the increase from 60 seconds to 90. I realise, in the grand scheme of things, that “running” for 3 minutes is nothing, but I really can’t believe that I can run for that long, when I was struggling with 60 seconds only a couple of weeks ago.

My bum seems wobblier than it did two weeks ago. At least I am conscious that I can feel it wobbling and I hadn’t felt it before. Not sure why that should be?! Am I shaking the fat loose?! I hope it doesn’t end up banging against the back of my knees.

I’ve accidentally given up smoking. I didn’t plan to stop, I just didn’t fancy a fag for a couple of days last week and, once I realised I hadn’t smoked for 2 days, it’s been surprisingly easy not to go back. It’ll be a week this evening since my last fag, with absolutely no willpower on my part. An unexpected bonus!

Wow, well done Moth that is amazing!

My foot really hurts. Guessing plantar whatchimicallit... won't get out till Thurs/Fri anyway but may have to look at more supportive trainers.

Well done, MothQuandary. That is an amazing bonus and even better than the running.

Well done moth. Accidentally giving up seems like the easiest way to go.

I've gone back to Week 5 run 1. Chest seems a bit tighter this week. Possibly all that Saharan dust. I've just been cheered on by the leader of what I think might be a women's running group that runs the same route I normally do. I'm not sure if that's encouraging or if I genuinely looked like I was dying out there

Should probably have put a plaster on the cut on my foot before I went out too.

Was the women’s running group leader cheering you on as you raced past her or as she raced past you, Rafals? I find an audience really off-putting. I dread people saying ‘hello’ as I pass them, because I’m too busy breathing to reply, but maybe I’ll feel differently when I get to W5. Hope the foot is better soon.

I was running in the opposite direction. Which is how I know he hadn't confused me with one of his runners.

At least he was trying to be encouraging. It could have been worse.

This reminds me of an early Saturday when I went running. Someone overtook me, probably did a whole lap of a nearby park, then rejoined the street where I was plodding along not having advanced very far. A bit embarrassing but everyone starts somewhere.

I'm going to invest in running shoes. I can't really afford it at the moment but I'm taking far too long between runs now due to pain.

Hi everyone. I’m w3r1 completed and amazed I ran 3 minutes without dying - and in the rain with a headache 😎

The running group are great. I find it’s friends and family who are the saboteurs e.g. friend who used to run all the time telling me she did c25k in June and it nearly killed her, so how do I, a never runner, expect to do it?

I’m pleased to find this thread, good read positive stories.

Oh yes, Rafals that makes sense.

Lady, I worry that people are judging me as I run but I doubt they are really. And we are going to get better. It won’t be like this forever. I want new shoes too but I absolutely can’t afford any this month. But I don’t know if these shoes will last until week 9.

Hello feral. It’s good to have someone at the same stage as me! I’m going to do W3R2 today. I’m hoping W3R1 wasn’t a fluke, as I was surprised how do-able I found the 3 minute runs.

When I started, DP said “I hope you don’t become one of those fitness fanatics and start wearing Lycra all the time” which wasn’t terribly encouraging. But I’m doing this for myself, not him, so he can just suck it up if I start doing the washing up in a leotard and sweat band.