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.

I feel your pain Athing. Term life is so manic. I’m due to do week 8 run 2 next so don’t want to slip either.

I managed to do 2.5 km (including walks) mid week. 5 minutes warm up , 10 minute run and 5 minutes walking home. Because it was a short run, I did push a bit though.

I could have gone out earlier tonight but would feel guilty about all the things I should be doing, so that’s it- I’m only going to get one run in this weekend now!

athing - I had three weeks off between 5/2 and 5/3 (THAT 20 min one!) and it was surprisingly fine. I wa dreading it, and was going to go back to 5/1 but it was either someone on another thread had just done 5/3 and I thought "Sod it! If they can do it, so can I!" I hadn’t planned on having three weeks off but I was I’ll the first week and running just wasn’t an option, then it was the two weeks of Christmas holiday and I was away.

I’m starting week 9 on Monday. Can’t believe it! Have been running 35mins for the last few runs and I upped the pace a smidge on Fri. If I can get up to 40 mins at that speed by Friday that will be a whole 5k run!

This is not me! I was looking up Parkruns yesterday. And DP asked if I was training for a half marathon the other day. Didn’t realise my incredible secret idea was that obvious!

Oh that is encouraging! I'm feeling quite antsy to get back to it.

Well done on your successes!

"This is not me" Time Me too!

I finished week 9 yesterday. I don't love it at the time but I love the sense of achievement. I'm going to repeat week 9 to consolidate my fitness before pushing the time or distance.

I love my new thighs too

Brassica - huge congratulations! That’s brilliant! I’m so chuffed for you!!!!! Hoping that will be me next weekend. What are you planning on doing next? The 5 to 10k plan?

Glad you’re liking your new thighs, too. Mine still have a way to go to get rid of the flab, but I definitely know I have muscles there now. Standing up is a whole new sensation!

Where does everyone live, btw? Wondering if we could meet up for a run somewhere...?

Thanks Time. I'm planning on repeating week 9 for at least another week. Maybe 2. I like the chat and the countdowns. I'd like to consolidate my fitness and hopefully pick up my pace a little.

I've downloaded a few pod casts and apps for post 5k. But a bit scatter gun like. I haven't decided on what to do next. Mustn't loose momentum!

I should expand, the front of my thighs are fab. The insides are just as jiggly as ever!!

I start run 6 tomorrow. I have done run 5 twice. It's going to take some effort though, 'cause each one gets longer....and harder.

I like the voice over track and the pop music.

I live in the east of England if a meet up is ever arranged.

(You wouldn't believe I ran the Paris marathon in 2010 when I didn't weigh anywhere near as much as I weigh now.)

Brassica Babe, what post 5km run pod casts are there ?

Well done everyone. Interesting to hear about post 5k plans. My plans have been a bit scattergun too-but then so is life!
I’ve managed to squeeze in a 20 minute run this weekend. So week 5 run 3 instead of the week 8 run I’m due next. I should be able to squeeze 5 in over half term so hopefully will get to the end of week 9. Maybe lighter nights will help midweek too?

Then I might join you all on a post 5k mission.

ToEarly I've downloaded the pod cast "NHS Couch to 5k+" and app "5k pacer" which is an 8 week program. Not listened to any yet

Brassica - the 5k pacer isn't free, is it? Can you let me know what it's like, please? Am tempted to get it, but would rather hear your review first. Thanks!

I was about to come.on here and say I'd made it to 5k today, but I forgot that distance included the warmup. Noooooo! So disappointed. It was a tough run today, bit considering I haven't been out in over a week, I am quite pleased!

I think if you’ve moved 5k without stopping, you’ve done 5k...

Maybe you could be faster (and you will be) but still, 5k is 5k.

I think 35 minutes (I’m guessing?) is pretty decent.

I do wonder if everyone at a park run starts walking in circles at 8.55!

Oh, that's a nice way to think of it, squiggletea. :) I'll count it, then!

It was about 36 minutes, I think. Or 39. I'll have to check the app later. I am very slow!

Week 3 run 3 in the snow!! Going to repeat it again before moving on to W4... 5 minutes sounds like a long time!

Yayyyyy I got a second hand motorised treadmill with motorised incline too! I'm on week 1 day 3 on Thursday morning. I'm loving it ❤️! I'm struggling to jog but will walk faster if I'm not jogging. I start at 4.5 and 'run' at 6 so far. I have speeded up from week 1 day 1. 😂. Leiliiii asked if anyone else was treadmilling it. Well here's one whilst I trim down and the mornings get better.

Time I'm repeating C25k week 9. But I'll have a listen to that pacer app and report back.

Finally remembered to check my times for yesterday's run. 39 minutes. Would've been slightly faster but for the walking warmup. I look forward to improving my time...

Jealous of the treadmill Paper! I reckon I won't get around to buying one for some time yet, if at all. :)

I've only got one run to go! I can't believe it!!!!!!

athing - you're definitely right with your title. It really, really, really does work. You remember I mentioned a few weeks ago about starting from the beginning again to get my running speed up? My aim was to get my pace up from 4.6 to 5 mph, so when I did R1W1 for the second time I tried to do the intermediate walks at 4.6 and the runs at 5 so I did 18.5 mins running as opposed to the 30 min 4.6 run I'd done the time before.

Anyway, I'd only done that run at that pace, but have been slowly increasing my pace on the longer runs anyway. Today, I managed 35 mins at 4.8 with a further 5 mins at 4.9! So, actually, I'm not that far off running for 40 mins at 5mph anyway!!! Am wondering how much I can up my pace. I doubt I'll ever be able to run 5k in 30 mins, but who knows?

(And, amazingly, thanks to my wonderful new inhaler, my lungs don't mind the upped speed! They've always been the reason I've kept the pace down and upped the time, as if I went at a speed they deemed to be too fast they'd simply go into bronchospasm. They seem much happier these days!)

Brassica - thanks! There's no rush - I'm now thinking about seeing if there's a Woman's Hour podcast to listen to, but it would be great to have some further guidance in the future.

Time that is so amazing! You are such a great example. I was feeling less than motivated today with this cold snap, but I will start working on my speed now, too.

just finished 24 minute run, am on target for a 30 minute run on Sunday

when I manage 5k, its in 2 x 20 minute runs with 2 minute walk between

I've been on this plan since last October!! the '9 week' plan just didn't work with my shifts and had to have 3 or4 week-long breaks for various reasons- I've had a leisurely 22 week plan instead

I hope by this August I'll be completing the 5k in one run- hopefully under 40 minutes

Still pleased though, as I started as a size 18 56 yr old and aim to be a size 14 57 yr old in June .

Those are excellent gains, guffaux. Well done!

I feel like the thread cheerleader, but I really am impressed by everyone sticking at it, and your posts here really keep me motivated; my dd has been ill for a while so I've been housebound for two weeks now. It's been hard for me to get out.

My internal commentary today.

Home:
don't want to run today
Must run today
Get on with it

Outside:
Really don't want to run today
Maybe I'll just go for 15 mins
Don't be so daft, get on with it. Just go as a slower pace.
1km pace 7.06min/k: Ooooh, that's not to bad at all, faster than Monday
Right we can do this, keep going. Feeling quite good
2km pace 7.12min/k yep, not too shabby keep going

*Brassica - that's brilliant that you kept going! The weather and hills are the main reasons I run inside, on a treadmill. Well that and the fact I don't want anyone to see me! You are so speedy as well! My pace yesterday was 7.75 mins/km.

I do want to try running outside for the experience, but I'll probably do it somewhere far away where I don't know anyone, and where the ground is flat. I'm sure it's a different experience when your legs set the pace rather than the treadmill. I tend to set it an whatever pace I'm going to do and then leave it there regardless (though sometimes I'll up it a little at the end). What's interesting is that at some times I'll feel like I'm flying along, and at other points in the same run I feel like I'm going really slowly. It's fascinating!

athing - you're doing great as the thread cheerleader. You've made me feel good about myself for one! Hope your dd gets better soon so that you can get back to your running. You're so close to the end!