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 .

I'm likely to still be doing Week 5 by the time you two get to it.

I'm wondering whether this is the limit when it comes to my asthma and running.

Moth how did it go?

Rafals you’ll get there, just think where you were a few weeks ago and marvel at how long you can run now 🙂

I'm hoping to go for a run tomorrow, W9R2. My knee is almost ok but it'll be 6 days since my last run :(

I've been so enthusiastic about a few other exercise drives, I don't want to get all the equipment (£80+ shoes) and not finish.

Good luck to all running. We'll make it to the end!

Sounds like you're doing well. Foot, knee and hip hurts so will see how I feel tomorrow.

I didn’t do it, feral. I’d been planning to run in my lunch break but the time was taken up trying to get a grumpy toddler back to sleep instead. I work from home, while DP minds our DD, but it all went to shit today. I don’t work Fridays and DP will be here to mind the little one (and he owes me, after today) so I have no excuse not to run tomorrow.

Good luck tomorrow, Lady. You’re so nearly there!

Rafals you are hardcore to be doing this with asthma (but, of course Paula Radcliffe has asthma, so it’s obviously not impossible!) I think it’s worse for asthmatics when the air is cold. Don’t know what you can do about that, though.

I did W3R2 today and it was the best yet. I went out when it was still almost dark, so didn’t have to worry about an audience, and I found the 90 seconds runs seemed really easy. They certainly didn’t last week! And even during the second 3min run, I wasn’t constantly checking the countdown on my phone, begging for it to be over. Remarkable. Of course W3R3 could be entirely different, you never know.

Just FaceTimed my sister who couldn’t understand why I’m doing C25K. “WHAT? You can’t run 5k?!!!”
No, obviously I can’t!
“But it’s so easy. I do a 5k fun run every year or two without any preparation!” She has asthma. And she’s fatter than me. How she can run 5k when I can barely run for 3 minutes, I do not know!

Well done, MothQuandary! About your sister, I don't know how some people can just run. I just never could. I can lift weights reasonably (or could, years ago when I last tried), I can cycle, but I could never ever run and in fact quite hated it.

I found the time today to do my W9R2, after a 6 day gap. My knee was almost ok before but it isn't now. It's not just the pain, I have a high pain threshold, but it just doesn't bend properly. It'll be annoying to have to give it almost a week to get better. I have only ONE run left!!

It's a glorious day, sunny and warm over here, how is everyone else doing?

Week 6, run 2 down. But it was hard! Does it ever get easier? I had to take a break in the middle of the second ten min run and I was so slow I was practically going backwards. People in later weeks- will I laugh in the face of ten minute runs soon?

MrsR, I still find it hard and I have only one run left. I'll get the 9 weeks out of the way and then I'll concentrate on getting some speed as I don't run 5K in 30 minutes. Also, runner's high?! Never felt this or is that for proper speed and distances only?

Moth I just did my w3r2 today too.

I found it harder than the last one but I’m putting it down to time of the month as I never have any energy.

Still I ran the three minutes and am still here.

At what point should I be buying ‘running’ shoes rather than going in my trainers?

Hi everyone, can I join you?? I've just found this thread and have been doing c25k on and off for what feels like years! Yesterday I finally completed w5r3-20 minutes non-stop which is my best progress yet! Doing it for weight loss and to de-stress and I'm actually quite enjoying it this time around

I celebrated by stripping off to sports bra and pants and swimming in the sea which felt amazing! (Going home with no bra on was less fun though...) I'm looking forward to starting week 6 tomorrow and lining up a playlist of ted talks to listen to as I get bored easily.

I really need a decent pair of trainers to support my dodgy hips and ankles though-any advice? I can't spend much unfortunately...

I'll be checking in tomorrow hopefully with a good run done (need to be accountable to someone)!

Well done for doing it, feral, even though you found it hard. It seems pretty random whether a run is easy or hard - not that I have a very big sample size so far! One reason today seemed good was because no one else was out. My worst run was W2 R3 on Sunday afternoon, when it was really busy. I spent the whole run speeding up and slowing down to get past other people and I really struggled.

Well done, Lady. Of course you can work on your speed later. You’ve nearly finished - I’m jealous!

MrsR I am in awe of ten minute runs! I guess you must laugh in the face of 3 minute runs, though.

Hi Sagely. I also have a dodgy ankle. I broke it 16 years ago and it still has metal bolts in it. So far, running doesn’t seem to have done anything bad to it, but I am thinking about getting some proper shoes. I should have some spare cash next month. I don’t know the difference between running shoes and trainers, if there is any difference.

Hi Sagely. Well done. At this point 20 minutes is just a dream!
I want it so bad!!

Thanks for the welcome! feral I never thought I'd be able to run for 20 minutes-had to have a stern word with myself especially as I had struggled to do five minutes the week before... Listening to something interesting helps a lot!

Moth I have no idea where to start with the trainers-mine are from Primark and have holes in them! I have my eye on some Asics on Amazon for trail running as there are loads of costal tracks and vineyards here, but I probably should go to an actual sports shop and get advice...

Sagely I’m not sure who has the shittest trainers here... Primark is obviously a contender. I think I got mine from SportsDirect. It was quite a long time ago, maybe 8 years... not that I’ve worn them much in the last 8 years. I do remember that I was pleased they were only £15.

I’ve been reading up about shoes on the web. I’ve discovered that you can look at the wear on the soles of your shoes to see what type of running shoe you need: (1) stability shoes for people with flatter arches and/or who put more weight on the inner edge of the foot and (2) neutral shoes for just about everyone else. I think that’s pretty much it.

My soles have most wear on the toes and heels, which doesn’t fit any of the diagrams I’ve found. You can also put your wet foot on a piece of paper to see what print you leave. I may try that.

OK, just re-read and realised your trainers have holes in. You win.

I will be investing in new trainers over half term-looked at the wear pattern of my shoes and realised I definitely overpronate which is my new word of the day! W6R1 went well, I kept going at the end just to see if I could...

Well done, Sagely, sounds like you’re doing brilliantly. I was paying attention to my feet as I ran today and I’m pretty sure I’m an overpronator too.

I did W3R3 this morning. It was much worse than W3R2. I accidentally pressed pause during the first 90 second run. I don’t know how long I was running for, but longer than 90 seconds. Then my headphones fell out, then my shoelaces got untied. I generally felt really pissed off, but I finished and that’s all that matters. 3 weeks down, 6 to go. A third of the way there, already. That feels good!

Well done! You completed week 3 in tough circumstances! I get so pissed off with headphones sometimes too, and my own hair bobbing around drives me nuts too...
Haven't been out since Saturday as I have a house full of guests, but have been doing walks every day at least. Hopefully I'll get a run in soon as I don't want to lose the little fitness I have gained...

Argh, lost my message. Mainly saying well done for completing another stage.

I feel as if I’m hogging the thread, but I wanted to say I did W4R1 today and it was OK. I felt terribly apprehensive setting out. I found 3 minutes OK but 5 minutes is a lot longer and the first 5 minute run was really hard, but I was going slightly uphill on the way out, so the second 5 minute run, slightly downhill on the way back, wasn’t bad at all. In fact, when Jo Whiley said “you’ve only got a minute to go - if you’re struggling, slow down!” I actually sped up and practically sprinted the last bit. Obviously, not really sprinted! Just a bit faster than my usual shuffle, but it felt good. I can’t believe I can run for 5 minutes. It’s a bloody miracle!
Has anyone else been out for a run? MrsR? feral - have you finished week 3 yet? Lady - how is your dodgy knee? I hope it’s improving, ready for your graduation run this week.

Well done, MQ! You're all fired up!

I haven't been for my final run and I do wonder if I'm hiding a bit with this excuse. But I feel my knee is weak and I really don't have the time or money to spend on physio if I do anything serious to it. So I'm trying to balance whether to spend money on good trainers or risk it and then spend it on physio. Prevention better than cure and all that so I'll wait it out a bit longer. I want to have it over and done with this week. So maybe on my day off on Friday 🏃🏽

Moth I also did w4r1 today and really struggled and fast walked half my five minutes twice 😩
I’m gonna do r2 on Friday but give myself a longer break between the 3 min and 5 min to build myself up. I’m NOT going to quit! Even if I repeat this week I’m doing it.
Well done on your sprint 😁

Hi Everyone

We completed week 7, but it was a hilly one, and my youngest refused to run a lot of it. Then life got in the way, and it’s been about 10 days since we ran. Since we’re so close we didn’t use the app today and just ran a known 5k route. Again youngest couldn’t run it all, but eldest made a good stab and I managed it, reckon on 35mjns for 5k (including about 3/4 minutes of initial warm up walking), so I’m happy enough with that. Might try to convince everyone to try a Parkrun on Saturday, never done one, but that’s what I wanted them to be able to do. Great to think they’ve come this far in only a half term. Will be challenging for them especially to keep it up as the nights draw in, but if we can try to at least get out once a week hopefully they’ll maintain their fitness (obvs they’ve got their PE lessons and they both play tennis, so that should hopefully fill in some gaps).

It’s still always a battle getting them out the door though.

Hello newbie here just completed day 1 so w1r1! I also have asthma and size 20 so not in best running shape but I done it! Finished about half hour ago and breathing is now calming down but do cough every now and then! Hoping it can get easier ! I Do go on treadmill relatively easier and have started with PT every other week and do yoga once a week which i love so not completely begining on exercise just need to keep going would love to know how u keep motivated !