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Original poster

C25k / couch to 5k - Spring 2019 new starters. All welcome!

938 replies

C25kTrier · 29/03/2019 15:11

Hello to anyone who wants to join me over here Smile

A few of us tagged onto the end of the new year/new you c25k gang but they were already at the end or had finished and so perhaps it is best for us to have a new one to discuss our newbie woes, aches and pains?

I’m at the beginning of week 3. Just been out again today, I should’ve done W3R2 but repeated w3r1 instead as I wasn’t comfortable last time, I think I took it too fast. Plus, it is ruddy boiling here today! It went much better and i’ll move on to w3r2 on Sunday.

Please join me, say hi and let us know where you are on the programme and update us on how you’re finding it.

OP posts:
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MyGastIsFlabbered · 21/05/2019 17:56

I'm out of action.., again. Now it's my actual foot that's playing up...it's swollen and really painful. I'm so upset. First time I've ever found an exercise plan I'm enjoying and looking forward to and I've got to stop.

Outtheforest · 21/05/2019 19:39

Congrats squishy I redid the 20 min run today just to prove to myself I could after finding the two 10mins so hard. Now ready to face upping it further

NomNomNominativeDeterminism · 21/05/2019 20:56

Oh, MyGast, that’s really bad luck. Is there any chance finding a way to run without injury?

crumpet · 22/05/2019 10:53

I’ve just done w7r2, and also finding that at some point in the first half it’s really tough and then eases off. Does anyone more experienced know whether this changes over time or is it all part of the body realising it actually has a bit of work to do at the beginning of a run.

I’m enjoying podcasts more than music at the moment - think it has something to do with counting off each 3 mins or so for each song, and have also downloaded episodes of tv (generally stuff I have watched before so I can just listen only)

sanityisamyth · 22/05/2019 13:52

I'm on a break from running and I'm gutted (never thought I'd say that!). Have got ear infection which isn't shifting and really sore. Also moving house on Friday so trying to pack the house into boxes and then it's half term so no childcare. Hopefully will restart (again!) after half term!!

Well done to everyone still going. Be very proud of yourselves!! X

MyGastIsFlabbered · 22/05/2019 15:01

So I'm going to be out of action for quite a while. I have a fractured metatarsal (bone in my foot) which will take at least 6 weeks to heal.

FATEdestiny · 22/05/2019 15:15

@crumpet the first 10-15 mins of a run is always the hardest work, even for experienced runners. It takes about 1 mile / 2km to "find your stride"

sanityisamyth · 22/05/2019 16:09

@MyGastIsFlabbered 😱😱😱 how did you do that? Impact of running?

Hope it mends simply and you can continue running x

CurlsandCurves · 22/05/2019 21:35

Oh no, MyGastIsFlabbered what a shame, how on earth did it happen?
I was talking to a lady who is a regular runner. She’s had an enforced break for about 6 months but in the last few weeks has got back into running. Her advice to anyone coming back after a break, start again at week 1. Don’t push yourself, you’ll soon be back at where you were. 5 weeks in and she’s running over 30 mins, because she’s done it before and knew she could progress quicker.
You’ll get there xx

chaosisaladder · 23/05/2019 08:30

mygastisflabbered I’m really sorry to read this - go easy for these 6 weeks. You’ll be back!

I haven’t posted much but I’m still at it, on week 7 so just the 25 min runs which I’m finding hard due to being exhausted from work. Glad to read that others find the first 15 mins hard - my DH says for him the first 5 mins are hard, but then he’s fine, so I’ve been feeling a bit daft

MyGastIsFlabbered · 23/05/2019 12:03

It's a stress fracture which can be caused by a change in activity levels so I think my 'running' caused it. I'm actually quite gutted.

SquishySquirmy · 23/05/2019 22:51

Take care of yourself, sanity.
Probably best to allow your ear to heal, then make it worse and end up needing a longer break!
How annoying Gast! Hope you're not in too much pain.

I've been very on/off with c25k - never made it as far as I am now, but each time I had to stop I went back to the week 1 or 2.
Found it so much easier the second and third time around! Psychologically as much as anything else I think... I had done it before so I trusted myself to do it again.

Just crossed off week 7 run 1. Ran sooo slowly but did it for 25 mins.
DH has just started c25k which is great, but what peeves me a little is that from comparing routes I suspect he covers a similar distance to my week 6 runs on his week one runs! He is tall and long legged, so his brisk walk is my slow jog 😁

I am glad that c25k is done by time rather than distance for that reason- it's inclusive in that tall, short, male, female etc are all equally challenged iyswim.

NutBiscuit · 24/05/2019 22:10

Sorry to hear about those of you that are on enforced breaks from running. Hope you heal quickly.
I've just completed W4 today, which feels like a big achievement. Almost half way through the program! Week 5 looks tough ahead though....
My calves/achilles tendons are so sore when I run - wondering if I just need to do more stretching beforehand?

CurlsandCurves · 25/05/2019 09:50

I did w5r3 yesterday, 20 mins non stop, soooo chuffed! I actually think I might be able to complete this now.

SquishySquirmy I know what you mean. I’m not bothered about the 5k bit, I just want to see if I can run for 30 minutes consistently.

franklymydearidontgivea · 25/05/2019 10:22

Curlsandcurves I just did the same, can't quite believe I did it, 5 mins in I thought no way I can keep this going but I did, my DH who is super fit was very proud of me, which was a great feeling. I was really pleased that someone commented on my weight loss yesterday, I've been quiet in rl about what I'm doing so great when someone notices really adds another incentive....only another 3 stone to go 😬

chaosisaladder · 25/05/2019 12:57

I’ve realised that my pace really is quite slow GrinBlush I’m managing just over 13 mins a mile and I am SO chuffed with that but since some friends IRL have disclosed theirs, I feel a bit embarrassed! Anyone else the same? I’m on the 25 min runs now, but I’ve had to stop using the app because it kept freezing!

SquishySquirmy · 25/05/2019 14:15

Congrats all! (And yes, it IS an achievement nutbiscuit!)

Chaos, I think with the speed thing if you want to go faster, and if you have a bit still left to give by the end of your runs, then go for it.
But I think (or I'm hoping!) that increasing speed is something that will follow naturally, once I've built up the time. I know that if I went too fast at the start of the run, I wouldn't be able to run the full time and that's my priority. Once running very slowly for a certain time stops requiring all the effort I have, I'll try running slightly faster.
I have noticed myself speeding up fractionally with the week 6 and 7runs.

Comparison is the thief of joy etc, and it's hard to do a "fair" comparison anyway - people have different leg lengths and body shapes, and I think running routes will make a huge difference (maybe you do more hills than your friends! Wink)

I am frankly amazed that I can run for 25 minutes!

I did week 7 run 2 today, and my first park run! I was going to wait until I had finished c25k and was a bit faster, but was up so early today (thanks ddHmm) so thought I'd just go for it. I ran for 25 minutes, then when the voice in my ear gave me permission to walk I walked for a bit, then ran/walked/ran etc till the end.
It was more fun than I thought, not intimidating at all, and I'm very pleased with my time. Smile

Pardalis · 25/05/2019 19:18

Completed W8R2 today. Was supposed to do it on Thursday but no childcare so I did yoga that day instead. That was bloody hard work! Will complete week 8 tomorrow and then it's the last one!

BedraggledBlitz · 25/05/2019 21:55

Hi all, sorry to hear of injuries and illness, hope you have speedy recoveries.

I did w5r3 the other day. I felt so proud of myself. I ran 20 minutes!! Me! First 5 minutes and last 5 minutes were hard.

I'm repeating w5 now, just to make sure it wasnt a fluke!

Pardalis · 26/05/2019 21:28

Week 8 complete. One more left!

BedraggledBlitz · 27/05/2019 18:36

Well done @pardalis! I saw on another thread there's a follow-up program from the nhs. Wonder what that involves.

Is anyone using a running app? I have runkeeper, I like how it shows a map of my route. Unfortunately I pressed the wrong button and its recorded a very flat ski session. Interested in anyone has found a better app?

Pardalis · 27/05/2019 18:42

Someone recommended Nike Run Club to me so I've downloaded that. Not looked at it yet though.
Heading off shortly for a run - my first 30 minute one!

Pardalis · 27/05/2019 20:09

And it was just fine! Barely noticed the extra 2 mins!

wiltingflower · 27/05/2019 20:17

I'd like to start this, just need the trainers!

SquishySquirmy · 27/05/2019 20:39

Do it "wilting flower*!
Starting was the hardest part for me. Now running regularly has become a habit (never thought I'd say that!) and while the runs themselves aren't easy, it's become a lot easier to fit them in.

I use the Strava app bedraggled. I use it for my commute to work as well, and I like seeing the milage stack up! I set it to private though, because I don't want to share my runs and cycling stats with anyone Blush (there's the option to share info with other users, so people compete over who can cycle a certain section of the road the fastest etc. Imo this occasionally encourages some daft behaviour from over competitive male cyclists).
Well done Pardalis!

Going to do week 7 run three this evening hopefully. Shattered though and summoning up the energy! Grin