Couch to 5 for an incompetent newbie

[MydogisKing]

The wrong side of 50 and the wrong side of 11 stone but reasonably active.
Which is the best app? I've got a corker of a Spotify playlist which I made sat on the couch.
I live rurally but with steep hills.
Please could anyone share their experiences?

So you are under 50 (the 'wrong' side!)

I did it at 50ish, and it changed my life immeasurably for the better (I have written so many post saying that it must be getting a bit tedious!)

I used the main app (NHS?) with Sarah Millican as my voice of choice. All the apps are fine, just pick the one you like the look of.

I was terribly unfit, didn't like exercise, did it sullenly out with the feeling that I was getting a chore out of the way. It took months before I liked it. A few years in and I run half marathons for fun

I am also the wrong side of 50 and the wrong side of 11 stone

I started the NHS couch to 5k a few weeks ago. Did weeks 1 to nearly three, then came down with a stonker of a cold for a week. Started week three again, only to turn my knee at karate, resulting in another week off. (Maybe the fates were trying to tell me something!)
Just started week three again this week, dragging along my 12 year old son and have now completed that, so will begin week 4 at the weekend.

A couple of things I noted- it took me nearly 3 weeks to work out how to run properly By this I mean how to to work out what was comfortable with footfall, and when to breathe.

I chose Sarah Millican as my commentator because I like her anyway, but also because previous efforts have been commentated by personal trainer types and I found them irritating.

Other than that, the crucial thing I found was not to attempt to fly along, gazelle-like, but rather plod along more like a ponderous elephant. I'm aiming for the time first, I'll work the speed up later.

Oh I would also recommend not letting good runners go out with you (looking at you, ds1). Stick to the plan so as not to get discouraged and don;t be tempted to go off piste, as it were.

I have to admit, I've always loathed running, but I actually don't mind it now (not quite at like or love, but definitely don;t mind)

Thank you so much for the replies.
Day one tomorrow, I going to try. If I have to walk most of the way at least it's a start.
Have found the NHS app.

I like the life fitness app because it doesn’t talk at you if you don’t want. I did this similar age but much heavier...the most important things are a) run slower if you need to...as long as you keep the running movement going it doesn’t matter how slow you are and b) trust the process. Even if you have to repeat a week 2 or 3 times that’s absolutely fine! It’s not a race or a competition...do your 3 times per week and don’t push so hard that you give up. I had to do it twice through (winter got in the way) before I could do the 30 minute run (don’t expect that to be 5k btw and don’t worry if it’s not). My first 5k was over 40 mins...now down to 32 which I know is slow for a lot of people but I’m very proud!!!

I've just finished my first week with the NHS app and it's been really good. Good luck!

Reporting back.
The first couple of quick runs felt odd, as though my extra weight was pushing my knees and ankles but I soon got into a slow stride.
I did end up walking an extra 20 mins at the end because I miscalculated how long it would take me.
The lovely weather is such a bonus.

I've just started too using the C25K app. 40s, no exercise since my daughter was born 2 years ago and v wobbly. Planning run 2 today!

what i would say is don't get disillusioned

i started running in May 2018 and I still can't run 5km in under 40 mins but I really enjoy it

I also made the mistake of going out to run with ds who basically sprints to my running

Did it (NHS app) in my 50’s, I still run every other day, still very very slow but it is a great way to destress and my waist is 3 inches smaller. I have always ducked out of any form of exercise but doing this by myself has been great. Keep going.

Thanks for the encouragement. I do feel like a bit of a daft lump when our roads of full of streamlined Lycra wizzing about.

Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Some people are natural runners who’ve been doing it their whole lives...rest of us are just doing our best!

yes exactly! Do what works for you. I am so slow, I'm sure some walkers could take me over but I've stopped caring :). I also lost 2 stone in the process, even though I'm incredibly slow so it had massive health benefits too! I don't think I will ever be a 'good' or 'fast' runner - i just don't think I'm the right type for it. And I'm still properly out of breath even though I'm going slowly. But it's about all the other benefits it gives you!

I'm super slow too but what the hell. I'm sure we'll get faster eventually

The one good thing ds1 did instil in me is the "Who Gives a Shit?" mentality. So what if I puff noisily or get red-faced and sweaty after two minutes or can't run faster than a tortoise on a bad day- I'm out there and trying so...Who Gives a Shit?