Couch to 5K - Run 1 done...

[resipsa]

I did my first 'run' today. Think I'm going to need help to go all the way to week 9 but determined to do it before I hit the big 50. Anyone else started this week? Fancy a support thread? Couldn't see an active recent one.

@resipsa absolutely! total game changer! it helped me with so much!

when i'm riding - remembering to breathe when cantering or jumping - better results!

when doing yoga or pilates - better results

running - better results!

amazing

Week 4 run 1 done, was nervous but loved it. Breathing was steady all the way round, kept thinking these aren't my lungs!! Also gained distance, went from 2.78km to 3.78km!!! My running must be faster than walking

I've realised I must have been shuffling along.

I've done 2 runs with no DOMS unlike previous attempts but I've been focusing on bring upright, lifting my knees and opening my stride but keeping same cadence. It feelseasier. I'm not so puffed out.

Hope week 2 feels so much fun.

So glad I found this as I've just started (W2R2 tomorrow!) and could do with some motivation to keep going. I've never been into running though I've tried a couple of times but I need something to see me through lockdown and I'm hoping it will help me get fit for other sports when things ease off. I've been finding it OK so far apart from achey thighs while I'm running . From reading this, it sounds as though things step up in wk 4 though.

I think it feels like a step up each week. It seems daunting but then it becomes manageable. I've been following the routine religiously, no skipping rest days or runs and my stamina seems to be building with it. I'm sure I'll hit a wall at some point, only week 4, but someone said earlier it's all in the head rather than the body and that seems very true.

W6R1 finished. I did it yesterday and repeated it today because I was feeling tired, had a rubbish nights sleep.
The last 5 minutes run felt very hard, especially since it's uphill but I did finish very slowly.
Any recommendations for a bouncy playlist?

I hate uphill. My circular route runs entirely uphill (half fairly gradual, half more noticeable), with one sharpish downhill. Obviously I.could run it in the opposite direction to make it easier, but that feels like cheating!

I find the most tedious part of this is changing my playlist all the time! I'm on a cheesy disco week right now: From Paris to Berlin and I Feel Love are a good pace.

W1R3 done.

My playlist (from last year's c25k attempt too!) I find Dare (Gorillaz) is a good warm up/cool down walk pace.

I like Bloc Party, Bombay bicycle club, Calvin Harris, then chuck in some old school Outkast, Green Day, Killers and a little bit of 90s dance to mix it up. Showing my age 🙈

I was a fool last week because I decided to map out a proper 5k course and try to get round it as quickly as possible. Reader, I was only on week2 run3. Why did I do that? Because I was finding week one and two easy. And I wasn’t trying to run the 5km, exactly, I was just seeing how fast I could manage it. I also for some reason mapped out a route that crosses the A road out of my village and into open (hilly) countryside - so my 3.4km half hour plods round the local park on flat paved routes became 5km of 20+ stiles, herds of cows, rocky bridleways and crossing streams. And hills. Lots of hills. I clearly don’t have enough patience for the slow burn! I completed my 5k course in 42.5 minutes.

Of course I came home puffing and I don’t think the red faded out of my face for an hour. And yes, I hurt my knees doing it, because I am a fool. So they have been burning for days.

That was Saturday and I am boringly back to being a sensible plodder , week 3run 1 was completed yesterday. Knees still burning.

So to anyone tempted to blast their way out of the programme - just don’t.

Words of wisdom, @ChanklyBore. I am so tempted to skip the rest days, but then I remember the year I spent recovering from a running-related injury... and I rest.

So true, @ChanklyBore & @Baseline2815. I used to run and knackered my left knee overdoing it on the road. It took ages to recover with loads of rest and physio and it still niggles if I do too much. Hope you’re back on form ASAP, @ChanklyBore.

So to anyone tempted to blast their way out of the programme - just don’t

Exactly. The programme is about establishing a very basic level of running fitness, from scratch. Speed and distance and additional sessions can come in time. But for now the aim is to get to 5k, steadily, without being injured.

Yes, I’m ridiculous. I know! I have a long-distance walking habit and I’ve trained for a few long-distance, walking marathons and hill walking events and I get a bit into my average times and speeds so I don’t embarrass myself. Amusingly my decent walking speed when I’m in shape for these is faster than my slow running now. I’m not in shape for anything at the moment, running is new to me and I need to remember that!

I’ve just done w3r3. When I do it I then walk the rest of the route so I have done 5km in total. The steady progress with how much you run each time is really helping me. So impressed by all of you who have been doing it for a while and can now run 20 plus mins. I can’t imagine that yet!

Can I still join in? I'm shielding due to medication for chrons but I do also have asthma so although I did go to the gym, I have no stamina or ability to control my breathing it would seem. I bought a treadmill and am determined to see this to the 5k end!

Got Week 3 run 2 tomorrow and am actually looking forward to it, I was amazed to manage 3 minutes as my first 1 minute nearly killed me!

Course you can, @HGC2 , these threads often have people joining and leaving throughout, so we’re all at different stages I’m doing it on a treadmill too (better for an old knee injury), you’re a week or so ahead of me. Take care balancing this with your medical needs.

Of course HGC2. I am also doing w3r2 tomorrow so you are exactly the same as me!

Keep going everyone. Just done W8R1. Knackered now! Another day of trying to work from home with 2 kids under 10. Not feeling the buzz today ☹️.

Amazing resipsa, how did you find it?

@ChanklyBore your post about routing the 5km did raise a smile for me. I think it must be really beautiful where you live with hills, styles, and rocky bridleways.

Welcome to @HGC2 - I'm impressed you managed to buy a treadmill. DH was saying that they are really hard to get hold of at the moment.

I'm having a difficult week; definitely a sad lemon right now. My mum died yesterday - she was 86 and frail so it wasn't unexpected but still very sad. I know I need to keep running to keep my spirits up but I really just want to wallow a bit. So I shall see how it goes but will try and get out later today.

@chanklybore how did you get on? I put on INXS and ran away this morning, was good!

@HappyLemonSadLemon so so sorry to hear about your mum, hard antime but particularly now when you can't get out and about, big hugs to you xxx
I ordered the treadmill early as I knew I'd be stuck in, think that was why I was lucky!

@HappyLemonSadLemon so sorry about your mum. Even when it's expected it's still horrible. Give yourself a break for a few days, you won't lose what you've achieved in C25 in the short term

And thank you for the playlist suggestions. My top offers are
Calvin Harris Promises
Another day of sun Lah lah film
She's so High Tal Bachman
And for the very last few minutes when you really don't think you'll make it William Tell Overture

HappyLemonSadLemon So sorry about your mum. No matter how old we are, the loss of our mum's cuts deep. If you need some time to wallow, don't deny yourself x

@HappyLemonSadLemon

I am so sorry. It's awful at any time but trying to arrange an appropriate farewell at the moment must be heart wrenching. Poor you and family.