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.

Week 9 for me. Never could I have believed on 13th March when I was huffing and puffing after 60 seconds that I'd be running for 30 minutes and almost enjoying it.
I've given up trying to go fast, after the advice on here and am settling for achieving a full 5k.
Keep going ladies, if this tubby, middle aged, flat footed woman can do it anyone can.

Well done Blah
I'm a tubby, flat footed middle aged woman and you are my inspiration.

Run 1 completed yesterday - I'm so unfit!

@HandsOffMyRights, thank you. I'm absolutely not an expert but this thread has kept me going.
Putting your trainers on and getting out there on week one is the hardest bit. My advice would be to follow the plan but if you're struggling the odd day it's fine to repeat a run until you feel confident.
And a good playlist really helped me.
Good luck!

@Bubblysqueak Thankyou! Just about to have some breakfast then trying 😁

Fuck me, I've completed week 6 ... I'm officially a runner!
How the hell that happen?
Michael Johnson - you're magic!!

Sorry about the boast 🙊🙊 Well done to everyone else doing this!!

I did W7R2 this morning and was just glad when it was done really. Hope I'll be feeling a bit more positive for R3 on Friday. @choc27 I hope your next one goes well, and @CeibaTree - I hope your W7R2 goes better than mine. Are you doing it today?

And well done to everybody else on your various running achievements. It's great to hear how you are all getting on

Well I managed to do W4R1 and I'm feeling rather proud of myself, even if it was a very slow pace
The first 5 minutes I found surprisingly manageable but on the second 5 mins I was glad Sarah was telling me how much longer to go.
It's a beautiful morning for a run!
Quick question, those who time their runs, do you start the clock to include the warm up and cool down walks, or just the main run part?

@mama4321 I did it this morning! It went ok thanks - I am going very slowly and only covered 3k, but managed to do it without stopping :) I am not too bothered about distance though, it's more about the stamina of being able to 'run' for a length of time for me! Hope your next one goes better and good work in completing the run today even if you didn't enjoy it :)

Just a quick check-in to log w4r3. Week 4 done and dusted. Felt really good but very warm!

@FallenSkies, I include the whole thing. The warm up makes up about 0.3/4km of my total.

I need a shower now though as I can feel the sweat running down my sides 🤢

Feeling really proud of myself having done W2 R2. I’ve never come so far in a fitness endeavour since leaving university (where I captained the football team, hahaha, unimaginable now). My goal is to be able to do a Park Run with DC2 by the time those are open again...

I’m running laps of my garden, mostly because it’s easiest with the kids (DH working out of the house), I’m guessing at some point though this will become less practical, so not sure what I will do then.

Thanks for the thread. I completed wk1 r1 yesterday. I am an unfit overweight 50 year old with increasingly aching joints. I haven't exercised (apart from brief episodes of swimming) for years. I found the biggest difficulty was my lower legs aching. Might need to buy some proper trainers rather than converse!
I can not imagine running for 30 mins! Tbh if I can make it through this week I'll be chuffed

W6r2 done, felt good and coped with the heat better than normal, is that a sign I'd improved fitness?? Thought my pace had gone up as I felt faster but strava says no. Did my fastest 1k and my second 10 minute run was faster.

First time I've thought about something else than the running too, did some work planning in my head. Another milestone I think.

@JonHammIsMyJamm ditto the sweat running down my back and forehead.

Now bring on the longer runs, toning and weight loss

W4R1 today too. Second 5 minutes included a hill for me and I was almost going backwards I was so slow but I ran all of it. Fab day for running.

New running shoes arrived too. Hurrah.

Well done on completing your first run @Motherofchickens1. Treat yourself to some proper trainers, you don’t need fancy trainers but you do need something more supportive than converse .

It was week 4 run 2 for me today but it was too busy along my usual route in the park on the way home so I diverted down another path which was a bloody enormous hill. I ended up walking for 30 seconds, so I'll probably need to do another two week 4 runs before progressing.

In my defence it was warm and AF arrived this morning but still feeling deflated as this is the first time I have found it difficult rather than hard work.

Running for 8 minutes feels quite impossible after this morning.

I’m finding it helpful to think of it not as a transition from running 5 minutes to running 8, but as a transition from running 5 mins and fast walking 3 mins, to running 8 mins. A slow run is just a tiny bit more hoppy than a fast walk. It’s not about speed I don’t think, it’s about the running motion.

I started on the 8th April with that horrible feeling of not being able to breathe after 1 min running and yesterday I ran 20 mins without stopping. I’m a good stone overweight and nearer to 40 than I’d like. I think if you are suffering with sore joints, as I have been doing, make sure to respect the rest days! One thing that I have been feeling astonished about is the way my legs feel on rest days, like they are healing and strengthening somehow, I can feel tiny tingles and pulses and like something is definitely going on, especially around my knees and shins. It feels good!

Lovely day for a run today, hope it is as good tomorrow for w5r3

Keep going everyone!

@JonHammIsMyJamm thank you for the encouragement, I will look at new trainers, an excuse for a bit of online shopping!

I have just started this I did my first run yesterday but I really struggled with the 60 second runs I hope I improve as I really want to do this

Thanks @mama4321, and CeibaTree good to see someone else at the same stage! I'm doing w7r3 tomorrow, another 25 min one I think.

Honestly, @Nowayhozay, if you read the thread you’ll find loads of us felt the same way during week 1 and are amazed to find ourselves halfway or further through the programme. The plan is great and is designed for absolute non-runners. Repeat a run if you feel you need to (maybe you don’t feel ready to move to the next level) but believe in the programme, it works so long as you have the pace right for the ‘run’ sections. Don’t try to go too fast, you should be able to talk (it might not be comfortable but you shouldn’t be so breathless that you can’t speak, if you are, slot it down).

Has @happytobemrsg been on lately? I wonder how she’s getting on with the modified plan her DH made for her?

*slow it down, not slot it down

Excellent run today. I have moved onto the 10K training app but after an aching run on Monday when I had to cut my run short at 38 mins by just 2 minutes due to knee pain I was rather frustrated. It’s not overuse I think it’s mechanical because there is no pain on walking or on certain running speeds just my normal plodding pace. I gave it a rest yesterday and then today my Apple Watch arrived. I love it! I’ve gone for the Nike variety and am using the Nike Run Club app. I set it to a 35min recovery run today and it plays curated music alongside a mindfulness guide from the headspace people. I finished that run with a pace of 7.4mins per km and I still felt capable so I then added a 15min quick run too. Cannot recommend them enough.

My advice to all the new runners is concentrate on slowing down to speed up. I think I was managing to get through the early days through stubbornness, I really started to enjoy it when I wasn’t racing through the run minutes but rather focussing on my technique, posture and breathing.

Still not lost any weight yet but my armband is loose now and I’m definitely seeing some increased leg definition.

I’m going to start really geeking out about all the data I have so I apologise in advance if I’m annoying! 😀

@Nowayhozay just concentrate on the next step/breath/15 seconds. It will all come together. I managed 50 minutes continuous running today from a starting date of 6th April. So in a month I’ve gone from urrrgghhh when thinking of a run to hmmm, I’m actually looking forward to this.

@ChanklyBore I know exactly what you mean with your legs healing comment. I wake up in the mornings feeling new.