Week 1 couch to 5k bit easy

[Welder]

This is not a stealth boast. I've never really run in my life however do 3 gym classes a week (circuits, kettlebells and a cardio) and occasionally go on the cross trainer So I suppose I've built some stamina I didn't know I had.
I downloaded CT5K and did the first run earlier today and found it ok. I finished the 20 mins and then decided to see if I could run until the end of a song and managed another 3 mins before I felt I needed to concentrate on my breathing.
Has anyone skipped a week ahead? Any advice would be great. Thank you.

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

Take it week by week.

FWIW, I’ve never known anyone to manage to get through week 6 straight. Always has to be “redone”.

[Mrscog]

If you already do gym you could easily start on week 2 or 3. Week 1 is for people who do zero exercise.

[LooksBetterWithAFilter]

It is fine to skip ahead a week if you found the first one too easy. You are probably already fairly fit so skipping ahead won’t do any harm. I did it a couple of years ago and never did week 6 twice. It was hard going but actually completing that first long run is such a buzz and spurred me on for the rest.

[jackio2205]

My thoughts exactly @Mrscog, its couch to 5k, not 3 gym sessions already.
Good for u for giving it a go though OP! X

[Welder]

Ok thank you for the replies. My last memory of running was coming last in long distance in school, so I think it's tied up with some feelings of being pretty useless. Now I think about it I'm not really at couch stage but I was so negative about the whole thing it was hard to have confidence.

[TooStressyTooMessy]

If you already do all that in the gym you will be bored out of your mind starting on week 1. Week 1 is aimed at total newcomers to exercise or people returning after a long break. You need to start on at least week 2. Probably week 3.

[Welder]

Ok great, I'll give week 2 a go next and if it's not hugely challenging I'll give week 3 a go!

[JackieJormpJormp4]

I do similar gym 3 times a week (circuits/spin/body attack) & have been really surprised at the impact its had on my running. Pre gym I struggled to run more than 2.5k even though I was doing it fairly often, I then gave up and joined the gym instead. I've recently added running to my exercise plan again and found the first run I did 3k no problem and the second 6k. That doesn't account for my speed though, I'm probably still horrifically slow...

[NotAgainKen]

The early weeks are partly about acclimatising your body to different stresses - I've done the C25K programme through a few times now, and each time my body's ached in new places, regardless of what other exercise I've been doing.

But it sounds as if you've got a decent base level of fitness, so probably not the complete couch potato beginner it's aimed at!

[Pardalis]

Week 1 I found the hardest! But my only exercise was walking before. I would say to keep to the schedule. Only because it's so satisfying! I only have one week to go and I'm already mourning the loss of the routine and sense of achievement!
I am busy looking for alternatives!

[SingingGoldfinch]

Hi - I've just started C25K today. I used to run (even managed London marathon in my 20s) but have been failing badly at it recently and desperately want to get fit again so have decided to go back to basics in the hope it'll build my fitness and confidence levels back up again. I walk a lot but don't do much exercise apart from that. I did my first 'run' this evening and found it fairly easy but i think that's what I need. Determined to complete!

[Welder]

Hi Goldfinch! Wow I'm impressed with your marathon, my end goal is just a 5k without stopping 😁 I'm sure you'll build back up in no time.
I tried w2 and found it ok, after a kettlebell class. So last night I tried w3 and think I'll follow the programme from here. My stamina felt fine but my leg muscles were feeling the burn in a way I'm not used to, so I don't want to push it!

[SingingGoldfinch]

Hi Welder - I ran the marathon a very long time ago!! I was young and naive and a bit too laid back about it. There is absolutely no way I could do it now!!! I've always considered myself to be a runner but recently no running routine and a few dire efforts have really battered my confidence - hence my decision to go back basics and start with week 1 of C25K. I'm hoping it'll give me my running mojo back. I'm due to do my second run tomorrow.

Good for you doing a run after a kettlebell class! Sounds like you've found the right place for you to start the programme which is great!!

[ShowOfHands]

I never used to run but did lots of interval training and weights, plus cycling and climbing. I decided to do couch to 5k, found week 1 too easy so went out for a steady run to see how far off 5k I was. 7k later, I realised I didn't need to do the programme! I trained for a half marathon instead.

[SingingGoldfinch]

Good for you ShowofHands! What a sense of achievement that must've been. I just wish I found it that easy!

[Outtheforest]

I skipped to week 3 when I started (now week 7) it has been working fine for me like you I also did no running but was pretty active in other ways.

[Desmondo2016]

If you do three classes a week I would imagine that actually you could go the full 5k if you pushed yourself. Running is hard, you go through a mental barrier at about 15 minutes and it suddenly doesn't get any harder after that! I still get the barrier and I run miles and miles. Running is largely a mental game as much as a physical one ime .