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.

W4R3 this morning. It was COLD at 8 but I loved it and really noticed today that I am getting fitter.

Feeling excited for week 5 but a bit scared!!!

Week 3 run 1 done today. Mega slow still but getting quicker. Can’t believe I can run for 3 minutes now when 1 minute seemed so long in week 1

Hi! Joining in :)
Week 3 Run 2 done today. Havent exercised 4 years and I wanted to vomit after the first 60 seconds in week one and now quite shocked I can run for 3 mins. Scared of Week 4 though.

Just did w5r2 but the app crashed near the beginning of the second run so I had to just keep going until I was sure I'd done 8 mins. Which made me super slow . I'm tempted to repeat so I head to the dreaded 20 min with a more positive attitude

I just did W4R2. After Monday's failed attempt, I wasn't looking forward to it, but I slowed right down, covered my calves in white Tiger Balm before I went out and I actually did it. At one point, I didn't want to stop running and start walking again. Gives me confidence for R3 on Friday, although depending on how I get on, I may repeat it before moving to W5.

Despite my knickers trying to sabotage my run I managed to complete week 5 run 2. I quite enjoyed it, apart from the continual pulling up of pants and leggings.

@DivisionBelles @Aimee99 I had a shocker W4R2. Legs like lead, really struggled....but Run 3 was bloody fantastic. I was shocked how different it felt, just 2 days apart.

I'm finding running first thing in the morning works best for me. Every time I run later I feel heavier, more tired and often realise halfway through I need the loo and that is not good!!

Well @choc27 W8R2 this morning. I thought about my stride length and thought I had increased it and was sure I was going faster. Last run 3.6km. This run 3.7km At least it was a small change in the right direction but I was mildly disappointed. I think i'll just go back to not thinking about it at all!
Good luck for tomorrow. Can't believe next week is the last.

Hi all!
I'm glad I found this.
I started couch to 5k before I was pregnant but never made it past week 5 run 2.
Yesterday I completed week 6 run 1!

Just looking at fitness watches so i can eventually start my timer at the beginning of the run without faffing around with my armband and phone.

Well done to all others doing it!

Just to add.
I'm doing the BBC one!

Week 1-3 doable.
Week 4.. failed. I hated those intervals like nothing else.
Week 5. R 1 and 2 achievable but I thought 2 × 8 mins was going to kill me.. how on earth was I going to do 20mins running (therefore I repeated week 4 again. And failed. Agai.
Week 5 R3... how on earth did I run for 20 mins.. how. Was I hallucinating.

Week 6. R1. Intervals. Meant to have been easy. Hahahahaha. Not.

@mama4321 oh no! But every little bit adds up. I have only gone a tiny bit further each time but over the last 3 runs that has added up! Yes w8 r3 tomorrow and then onto week 9!

What have people used after completing C25k? A different app to track distance and calories etc? I think my dh used runkeeper when he did the marathon. Any other recommendations?

It depends what you want to do, @choc27? Do you just want to log your runs? If so, runkeeper, strava or just apps that come with fitness watches are fine if you aren’t interested in split times etc.

If you want to move on or improve 5k then there are loads of other apps, either increasing distance (I’ve got the c210k app but the first half is just the c25k programme) or decreasing your 5k time/increasing your speed via more interval training.

@TryingToBeBold week 6 is the wall, lots of people find that the hardest after the confidence of W5r3.

@mama4321 well done, another 100m is a great achievement.

@choc27 my plan is to consolidate the 5k first, I'm nowhere near that distance at 25 minutes so can't see me reaching it at 30 minutes. I think I will keep upping the time every few weeks till I reach 5k. There's a great community on healthunlocked.com of current c25kers and graduates with loads of advice on consolidating.

@RonBurgundyspanpipe

Totally get that. I felt so cocky going into it. The last 60 seconds of the 8 minutes and the last 5 minutes were difficult in so many ways.

@TryingToBeBold I went in too fast thinking 5 minutes was a piece of cake but paid for it later on. It teaches you to pace yourself.

Can I join? I did week 2 run 2 this morning. I’m running with the pram so it’s incredibly slow going but the dog runs with me and tries to encourage things along.

I don’t remember running feeling so slow or tough. Must be age catching up with me

@choc27 I’ve kind of moved onto a 10K programme. I’m currently running 6.25km in 40 mins. I was following the c210k plan but found the stopping and starting hard on my knees. Instead I’m now using the Nike Run Club app on my watch and it has set a mass of activities for me to improve with. I’m loving that. I’ve synced it to Headspace so am doing some meditative runs.

Just snuck 6/1 in. I usually do every other day but really fancied a run today. I wouldn’t usually run every day, I prefer to have recovery days between. My app is two 10 min runs split by 5 min walk break. The first 10 mins were harder than the second.

That is commitment to the cause @JonHammIsMyJamm! Well done on going out, you can always take ax extra few rest days if you need it tomorrow and Friday.

To be honest, @titsbumfannythelot, it was a combination of being in the mood and guilt from a mid-afternoon snack attack . I’ll probably take tomorrow off, if I do 3 in a row I’ll be tempting injury.

So many awesome runs! I had a terrible run on week6 run 1 too Tryingtobebold - last Saturday, it was a hilly route and I had to stop during the last run. I came here to complain and got some sympathy and advice! Glad you made it through unscathed JonHamm.

Welcome GemmeFatale. Pram and dog sounds tough! We can all sympathise with week one, it’s hard to get going, but if you have chance to skim the thread, it’s very encouraging! I did my first run on 8th April.

I went out for week 6 run 3 today, and I ran for thirty minutes without stopping That’s my first objective completed! I came into this programme wanting to run 30 mins without stopping, then to run 5k, then to run 5k in 30 mins. First tick.

Today’s run said to do 25, but when I got to 25 I was so close to my 30 min objective, I thought I’d keep going. I did 4.37km. I can’t actually believe it, I’m buzzing. Is it wrong to open a bottle of wine to celebrate?

I hadn't really thought about what I will want to do next! Once I've got a decent timed 5k maybe 10k?! I don't really know!

If it helps anyone I run 3 times a week. And start the week again on the Monday.

@ChanklyBore I feel like I'm cheating.. unless I run up hill I always run away from home. And the last few minutes so far is down a lovely hill (I have to walk up it to go back home).
I have read that even downhill can be difficult to maintain pace but I feel like I'm cheating?

Hi. I didn’t want to join in the conversation before. I’ve just finished Week 5 Run 3. Delighted with myself. Never thought I’d be able to run (jog) for 20 minutes. However my distance was 3.28km. I must be jogging very slowly. I guess I’ll just have to build up to 5k

Everywhere is hilly here but some bits are hillier than others. It’s OK to know which are easier routes and which are harder and run accordingly, I think. I’ve finally devised a nice-enough 5k circle and it varies the terrain - there are paths, fields, public parks and not too many stiles, slightly more roads than I’d like, but finishes on a nice downhill. I chose that one today. But I have much harder loops, where the paths are very rocky, bridleways which are muddy, a lot more stiles, a lot more hills, scary cows, far too interested horses, and getting stuck at the level crossing is a hazard of one, too!