C25K really works

[athingthateveryoneneeds]

I finished week 7 day 1 today, and surprised myself by running for 25 minutes without stopping. I could have gone longer, too!

I'm not fast.

I haven't gone further than 3.6 km.

But my endurance has increased so much, even when I'm only managing to get out 1-2 times a week.

So for those of you just starting, or feeling like you've got that wall in week 5, keep going. You can do it!

I'm looking forward to managing a full 5 km one day, and I know I can do it because I've improved so much already.

ToEarly - don't you get really hot? What do you do about stripping off if you're outside?

Up to now all my runs have been on a treadmill inside (too many steep hills near me to contemplate going on the road). It's not the warmest place, so I start off with sports bra, top and running jacket, but I throw the jacket off after my warm-up walk, and then today I threw off my top at some point so I was just in my bra (but nobody else in the gym to terrify with the look of me!). I worry that if I were to run outside I'd leave a trail of clothing behind me which I'd have to retrieve on my way back. So what do you do?

And water, too? I'm not sure I'd want to carry a bottle with me, but I'd have to. Any easy solutions?

athing Certificates are available from the official C25K forum. This month's thread is here.

I love your dog! I threatened two of my rabbits with the gym this morning, but they took off under my bed!

BrassicaBabe - don't stress, the aim of the plan is to get you running for 30 minutes, not 5k. I think they thought "Couch to 5K" sounded better than "Couch to 30 Minutes": it's more catchy and less offputting, maybe (if you think you 'only' have to get to 5, rather than 30).

Because I'm doing anything on the treadmill, and love a good spreadsheet, I've been recording my runs exactly. My 30 minute run today covered 4.73 km in total of which 3.71 were run. It's going to take me about 40 mins to run the full 5k, which is why I'm not bothered about not sticking to the plan strictly. If I can manage to get another 10 mins on by the end of week 9 I'll be ecstatic! If I don't I'll still be thrilled that I actually managed to achieve the goal of keeping going for a whole 30 minutes. I really wasn't sure that would be possible when I started this!

Why why why have I only now just done the maths 5k/30 mins is 6 mins/k!!

I hope you are right Time My current pace is 7.43. Tonight I switched off the gps tracking for the 5 mins warm up/down and only achieved 3.73k.....

Brassica - if you look at the website it does say, somewhere, that it’s 30 mins rather than 5 k. And don't knock you 3.73km, that’s 20m further than I got and I’m well chuffed with how I did! I doubt I’ll ever count myself a runner, but today I ran further than I ever ran before.

I’ve been running for over a year and can’t do a sub-30min 5k it really does depend on other factors like age, height, weight. (I’m short curvy & still overweight..but now run up to 20k a go). It’s more about seeing yourself improve and running for 30mins any distance /time is lapping everyone still sitting on the couch. Gd luck.

Well I decided that another 30 (or even 25) min run today wouldn't be a good idea so I decided to go back to week 1 and try it faster. When I did it for the first time my walk was at 3.8mph, the walk 4.4. (Yesterday's 30 mins was at 4.6 - I really am very slow!).

Today I was planning on doing the 5 min walks at 3.8, the 90 sec walks at 4.6 and the runs at 5.0. That almost worked, but I had to slow down two of the 90 sec walks to 3.8 as it was knackering me.

The result was that I went a whole 300m further than the first time I did it, but used 25% more calories (not that I believe the figures to be exact, but it's interesting how much it went up even so).

So I'm going to stick to doing Weeks 8 and 9 on Monday and Wednesday long runs, and continuing from Week 1 on Thursdays.

Hi all! Did my first run today, it was ok! Not as hideous as I was expecting. I go to the gym regularly but have had a hang-up about running since the misery of the 'bleep test' in PE at school in the 90s
Planning run 2 for Saturday....reading positive stories here is very encouraging!

Well done, ephemeralfairy! You sound the same as me, memories of running from my school days include the bleep test, 1500m and the dreaded cross-country, none of which were at all fun for this overweight asthmatic! Luckily C25K is a totally different kettle of fish!

W8r3 28 mins was painful today. It's windy and raining. But I did it. Phew

Congratulations to everyone here! I've just finished week 8 day 2 and managed 4.95 km. I kind of cheated, though, because I didn't walk during the cool down - I was far enough from home to walk afterwards. ThingDog definitely pulls me a bit faster, though I let her off lead at the beach. She's a nutter, but good company!

My app gives you little animal icons to represent your speed after each run. I've got a full row of tortoises!

I've started this too with the local running club, finished w2r3 this morning :)

thing which app gives you the animals? I've tried several apps so far and haven't found one I love yet...

I have an android phone, it's couch to 5k & 10k.

I use endomondo. That has animas if you drill down into each km. I have tortoises too!!

Finished W2 and doing W3R1 tomorrow!

I completed it 8 years ago and went on to run a couple of 10k. I know it works but phew it's hard!

I'm contemplating getting a motorised tread mill as it's very hilly and off putting here. Trouble is I love the changing scenery and the fresh air when I run outdoors.

Anybody else have a preference when starting off?

I run outside. But then I live in the fens. Hills aren't a problem! I think I'd struggle inside

I’ve done it all on a treadmill so far. There are far too many hills around here for my liking. Plus no one sees me in the gym! I’m visiting somewhere flat later this week and I’m half tempted to take my running gear with me then, but it partly depends on the weather, and partly what else I need to get done there. The thought of having to find a shower somewhere is slightly stressful, as is having to carry water etc with me!

Definitely like running outside- one of my breakthroughs was not caring if people saw me. Mainly because people I bumped into with a red face were so lovely and encouraging!

A treadmill would make it easier to fit running into busy weeks though.

We live near a beach so that is my preferred location. I have the dog to take with me (one of my reasons for getting a dog was to encourage me to exercise more - it worked), so outdoors is necessary. But I do like the idea of a treadmill for grotty weather or longer runs when DH is out.

Sooo jealous of the beach! Are you close enough to not have a hill to climb at the end?
I have gorgeous hills around me and while always have to climb a hill to get home can work out fairly flat runs. Running on pavements atm but looking forward to the footpaths drying out so I can properly enjoy the country side!

No hills, squiggle. Or nothing noticeable, at least. :)

I'm reminded of the cross country runners I used to know, all coming home covered in mud and loving it. Weirdos.

I run round the streets near my house, never not run on concrete pavements.

I see people running by in packs so I assume they're running clubs, I did used to try to say hello but they all blanked me so now I don't

Did W3R2 on the beach! Lovely and not too hard!

Well done! I haven't run in a week or so due to poorly DC, work schedules and DH going away. I'm worried I'll lose momentum and ability!