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Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

C25K

988 replies

Otistheowl · 01/04/2018 17:12

I'm a complete beginnen, starting tomorrow, anyone want to join me?
The goal is fitness, although weight loss would be an added bonus.
I've a young family so time and motivation are my biggest obstacles but am determined.
Join me!

OP posts:
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7
fishfingersandketchup · 22/09/2018 20:15

Wow that is amazing FATEDestiny! StarStarStar Very inspiring for someone like me who is just starting out on my C25K journey. Did you consciously change your diet too (if you don't mind me asking.) I need to shift some weight as well as improving my zero level of fitness!

CanIKondo · 22/09/2018 22:25

Wow Fate. You are amazing and an inspiration! I only hope I can do half as well. I managed the 20 mins run today, so thanks for all the encouragement on the thread. I think I went a bit fast at first and was tired 5 minutes in, but listened to all the advice and slowed down and proud that I didn't give up.

FATEdestiny · 23/09/2018 07:12

Well done on your W5R3 20 minute run @CanIKondo, it's a brilliant achievement. And recognising your pace is out and amending accordingly is one of the key thing you need to learn as you run for longer, so great you managed it.

Did you consciously change your diet too (if you don't mind me asking.)

Yes, changes to my diet are the main driving force behind my 7 1/2 stone weight loss @fishfingersandketchup. I don't run for weight loss. I mainly run because my aim is to "be healthy" and as well as being a healthy BMI, being healthy also means exercising regularly. So I run very day (just 5k usually) for my heart health.

fishfingersandketchup · 23/09/2018 09:08

Thank you for your answer FateDestiny. The idea of running 5k every day seems way beyond me right now, I have nothing but respect for you! Hope you are having a well deserved day of rest after your half marathon Smile

daphine2004 · 23/09/2018 10:15

Morning, so I’ve finally completed my first run, if you can call it that. Where I couldn’t run I walked, so made sure I completed it. I think doing something like this is quite eye opening as I realised just how unfit I was. In all fairness I haven’t done much on a regular basis over the past four years and drive everywhere, whereas previous to that I would walk everywhere and spin daily.

So my next run is on Tuesday and I’ll be looking to run more and walk less, hoping by the third run I am so the programme as intended.

Hope everyone has had a good week.

FATEdestiny · 23/09/2018 10:35

@daphine2004 well done on starting - that's the biggest barrier overcome already!

Are you using the official NHS podcasts/app from the NHS website? Because their are many copies and you won't get as good coaching and training tips as you do from the official one. If you're a total novice I'd recommend the podcasts over the app - the running music is then specially designed to match your expected running pace:

www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Couch-to-5K-running-plan.aspx

And on the subject of pace - slow down

Assuming you're doing the eight 60 second runs of Week 1, if you can't finish all of the runs then the only reason for this is that you are going too fast.

You are capable of running all 8 florets hose 60s runs in full - right now at your current level of fitness (or unfitness, if you think that way). You are not too unfit for it. Your body can do it and can do it fairly easily. Two things are in the way:
(1) your mind
(2) your speed

The next barrier to overcome is your mind telling you that you can't do it. Because your body IS DEFINATELY capable of running 8 lots of 60 seconds (and more). But you think you can't, so you give yourself permission to walk instead. You can do it though, you really can.

How? Slow down. The only physical thing that could stop up is that your run is too fast. You are looking for a very light jog. Do a running motion but take your pace right down. Go slower, plenty slower, than you think you need to.

Keep the run (jog) going for the whole of the 60 seconds but keep yourself going slowly. Keep all eight runs slow paced, but it's important that you run - don't walk - all 60 seconds of all eight runs.

The way to do that is to slow down.

Slow right down.

Go much slower than you think you need to. Light, light, slow paced jog. This is what you're looking for.

daphine2004 · 23/09/2018 10:55

@FATEdestiny yes it was the NHS app, but I used my own music under the app.

I was on a treadmill and probably going too fast. I haven’t really used a treadmill before, but might do a run outside for the next one. I won’t be faffing with the paddle to slow down or speed up!

PhannyMcNee · 23/09/2018 11:41

Daphine I went out with dc4 who is 9 yesterday. He commented that I run slower than I walk - he was jogging to keep up on the walking bits then walking to not go ahead on the running bits Smile

PetraDelphiki · 23/09/2018 12:19

Dd (11) can’t run as slowly as I go...she speeds ahead in a fit of giggles!!

daphine2004 · 23/09/2018 13:25

Yep, I am as definitely going far too quickly. My brisk walk was 5km and the run was between 8 and 9!

FATEdestiny · 23/09/2018 13:47

Don't start thinking about distances travelled @daphine2004. It will tie you in knots and is not relevant to C25K at all. You don't need to put any numerical values on your running (as in pace values, speed or distance) until after you have finished Week 9. Or certainly not before the long runs of week 7.

Just listen to your body.

Finishing is vital. Completing every separate run section in full is really really important. So it's not OK to give up and decide "I'll walk the rest of this section". That's not going to help, don't give yourself permission to stop.

Instead reduce your pace significantly - massively if needed. Find a pace that means you can finish, completing every run interval in its entirety.

I was on a treadmill and probably going too fast

I've never used a treadmill so don't know how it works. But I'd suggest finding your brisk walk pace and then going one or two "notches" (or whatever) up from that for the run section. See how you are going and maybe by the 7th or 8th interval you might feel confident to go up a tad more. Maybe you won't, that's fine too. But definitely start as slow as you need to.

  • Your run needs to be a running action and not a walk. But it can be as slow as you need to, as long as you're running and not walking.
  • your walk should be brisk and fast paced.
  • don't stop in between.
eatyourveg · 23/09/2018 14:32

@FATEdestiny - fantastic achievement on the half marathon! Star I have been in lyme regis for a minibreak and so not run since thursday. will be going out tomorrow for W6r1. Got a niggle behind the back of my knee which is fine until I bend my knee back too much and then it hurts - sound familiar to anyone?? should I be putting ice or something on it or keep it moving or rest it? Came on yesterday when out walking in the torrential rain up a steep hill. (not sure thats relevant but it was knackering)

fishfingersandketchup · 23/09/2018 14:55

Great advice FATEdestiny, I will be following it myself as I am still on week 1.

fedup2017 · 23/09/2018 18:08

Hello all.
I just thought I'd pop in because I'm feeling really proud of myself.
8 weeks ago I was knackered after 1minute of running.... My 11 year old literally was running rings around me!
Today I did my first post graduation run. I just kept going and ran for 3.5 miles without stopping!!! It took 39 minutes so I won't win any races but I can't believe I ran/jogged the whole bloody thing.
I feel a bit giddy and already planning moving towards 10k
For those of you starting out-you can do it! If I can anyone can :)

FATEdestiny · 23/09/2018 18:26

Fan-fucking-tastic @fedup2017! That is absolutely awesome, you are right to be proud of yourself!!

DropZoneOne · 23/09/2018 18:44

Popping back in to hopefully add some motivation

I graduated a few weeks ago and lost my running mojo for a while without an app prompting me to run. Anyhow, just been out and managed 5km in 34 minutes. Each time i run, I'm getting a tiny bit faster - the first time I carried on running after C25K said "that's it", 5km took me 38 minutes. And I swear there were bits when I was barely moving forward because my legs were so tired!

Now, I can manage 4k fairly easily, so my focus is on those last 7 minutes and building up stamina so that it gets a bit easier. 3 months ago, I struggled to run for 3 minutes!

PetraDelphiki · 24/09/2018 16:57

Ended up doing w7r2 on a treadmill today...couldn’t work out if it was easier or harder!!! Definitely less fun and far far worse psychologically actually seeing the speed/distance counters!

FanciedAChangeToday · 24/09/2018 18:20

Hi all have just restarted c25k today, do d it 2 years ago and was amazed how it worked! I expect it's been asked a hundred times (sorry) but what's the best app that has music built in that I can download please? The NHS one is ok but needs my data on the run to use it, do they all? Thanks X

PhannyMcNee · 24/09/2018 23:37

I downloaded the nhs one as a podcast so no data. I use an iPod rather than my phone.

W2 finished - ready for week 3 to start Weds Halo

FATEdestiny · 25/09/2018 08:09

If you download the podcast FanciedAChangeToday then it doesn't use any data to play it back. Then use the music app on your phone to play it. It's Samsung Music on my phone, others phones will have similar manufacturers music apps.

FanciedAChangeToday · 25/09/2018 09:04

Thank you both

eatyourveg · 25/09/2018 13:17

Not sure I am going to make it to 5K I did W6r2 this morning and put a distance tracker on my phone. I only did 3.15km Blush Presumably the only way to get the distance up is to run faster but I don't think I would finish if I went any quicker and I am knackered by the end as it is! Had thought I needed a floor to couch programme before the C25K and think this might be proof Sad

FATEdestiny · 25/09/2018 16:32

You're not aiming to run 5K with the program @eatyourveg, so worry not!

The aim of C25K is to teach you to be able to run non-stop for 30 minutes. You'll definately be able to do that by the end of Week 9. The aim is made clear that it's teaching you to run for a set amount of time, not at set distance.

Not many people are covering anywhere near 5km in 30 minutes when they finish. Some men might because they naturally have faster paces, but a 30 minute 5km time for a woman is fast, it's way past a mere "light jog" which C25K teaches you.

When you can run for 30 minutes at the end of the program, then you decide what to do next:

  • just do a half hour run a few times a week for your heart health but don't bother about time or distance covered
  • extend your 30 minute run to 35 minutes, then 40 minutes, then 45 minutes and so on
  • track your distance and aim to increase the distance covered by 0.5km by running for longer each week.

My first 5km run took me just under 42 minutes.

eatyourveg · 25/09/2018 17:28

You're not aiming to run 5K with the program Am I missing something? I thought that was the whole point and why it was called couch to 5K rather than couch to 30 minutes Confused

FATEdestiny · 25/09/2018 17:42

"Couch to a 30 minute run" doesn't have the same ring to it.

The "patter" in the coaching on the NHS app/podcasts do explain that the clear aim of the program is to run for 30 minutes. Distance covered is never mentioned in the entire 9 weeks of coaching.

By the end of Week 9 you'll be able to run non-stop for 30 minutes. That's a massive achievement!