Couch to 5k Run 1 done....the jogging continues!

[GuyFawkesDay]

Thread 2

Run one done! Thought if I didn’t get up and do it first thing I’d talk myself out of it. Went off too fast for the first run but apart from than I was ok.

Well done everyone else getting up and out early.

Does any have a link to a good post run stretching routine?

Hi all, I'm a Jeffer not a couch to 5k er, but Pahla Bs post run stretching is good (YouTube).

Good luck everyone!

Morning everyone just finished w8r1 this morning too. Really enjoyed it until the last 5 minutes, really had to dig deep and push myself to finish but I did 4km in 28mins.

@GuyFawkesDay I think I’m going to do similar when I finish the programme and just keep running until I get to 5km. Hoping to do it in about 35mins eventually, it’s my mental stamina I really struggle with!

@GuyFawkesDay you'll find your watch will help loads when you "just keep running" because you'll be able to flick your wrist and think.. okay I'm tired but I've ran for 4.8km.. I'll push to 5. You can do little goals in your head.

@MissOrMs 4k in 28is great! I'm averaging about 32 mins for 4k (when I decide to just keep going)so I'm fully expecting myself to be 40 mins for 5k and I'm okay with that! (Obviosuly would love to get it down)

I did 3k in my 25min run this morning. It was my first run of week 7 so I’m hoping to go further by the end of the week.

The running shirts I ordered have just arrived. They look hideous but they fit, which is about all I can hope for. They are from Decathlon and are the biggest size they do (XL). I’m not skinny but I wouldn’t have said a size 14 is humongous but I kind of feel it now 🙁

Shorts, not shirts 🙄

Week 3 Run 1 today. It was better than I thought it would be! I had serious doubts about making it to three whole minutes of running but I got through the whole thing. I'm really pleased.

Well done, @Hedgehog26 - once you have started it's not so hard to carry on.

Sorry if this has all been discussed before but how do people space out their 3 runs per week. Does it just depend when you can fit them in? Do you have weekends off?

@Ijustcalled I am doing 4 per week and generally run mon/wed/fri/sun so a rest day between most of them.

I’ve just completed it this morning! It was a hard run for some reason. Possibly due to being up at 5.30am with toddler and mistiming my breakfast so I had a stitch for most of the run. But I still did it. I run every other day if possible. It all depends on when my husband is around to have kids. He does shift work.

@Ijustcalled I do 3 per week so always end up having 2 rest days at one point which does me the world of good and I normally end up running better after that one.

I'm so excited for those starting it. I know how bloody hard it is and how hard it can be to see past where you are now.. but the best is yet to come. It will hurt. It will be physically and mentally exhausting. But you will surprise yourself with how much you can run (yes even when 3mins hurts!) And I cant wait for when it does happen

@Sunshineandflipflops @TwistyHair thanks I’m sure I’ll work our what’s best for me with rest days soon enough.

Definitely can’t imagine being able to run 25 mins but will have faith.

Wow TwistyHair well done!! And MissorMs and Castoreum.

@Ijustcalled we are only on week 4 so maybe a bit early to tell yet, but we are trying for every other day. We both get headaches and I'm exhausted a lot so we don't always manage it, but we aim for that and normally manage the 3 runs over 7 or 8 days. We are not in a hurry and are expecting to repeat runs or whole weeks.

We started on a Sunday. Then I can wake up on Monday morning and tell myself I only have 2 runs to do that week

W1R1 done! Actually wasn’t too bad but I had horrendous indigestion before I went which wasn’t helpful. Hoping next one is better.

@Ijustcalled you’ll work out what works soon enough. I started with only 3 times a week and as I didn’t want to overdo it. But every other day is easier for me to keep track off. So I do that mainly now. I honestly could never have imagined I’d be able to run 30 mins. But I can! It’s incredible. It’s hard still and I run really slowly. But I’m still doing it. Speed can wait.

@ITonyah never heard of Jeffer. Had a quick look. Seems similar in the sense that it’s walk/run/walk? I’ll check out the stretching vid. My calves are getting tight.

Does anyone have any strengthening video recommendations? I find strength stuff sooooooo boring.

@Murmurur love the psychology of starting on a sunday!

Yes if you'd told me 8 weeks ago I'd be able to run for 30 minutes I'd have said no. I'd started the c25K programme a few times and not made it past week 2 or 3.

I'm shocked and a bit perplexed as to why it's worked this time...weather has helped, and the slower pace of life has given me the mental headspace to take on a challenge.

I ran 5k! I’m so excited! Week 9 Run 1 today. Week 8 run 3 was horrible and I practically gave up less than 9 minutes in and stop-started the whole of the rest of the awful way, came in covered in sweat and really cross. I’ve been really struggling with going too fast, getting to the end of the long runs without stopping and walking, dreading even the slightest uphill, and I’ve been considering going back to week 4/5. Today I gave myself permission to be slow, I did the boring things like thought about my stride and my breathing. And I ran 5k. Slowly. But I did. And the best thing was, by the time I was 4km in I was feeling strong and in a rhythm. It took me 37 minutes 53 seconds and my last km was the fastest one.

Just had to share.

Well done @ChanklyBore

I've had the exact same issues. Failed W8r3 then past it at the second attempt with my best pace so far then did the same with w9r1. Got my best pace even though I was forcing myself to go slow and just get the time. Covered 4.3km in 30 minutes but actually felt good and could have gone longer. Wish I had now, you're inspiring me. I also felt like I had lost all fitness and needed to go back a few weeks. It all a mental challenge isn't it.

I'm so shocked that I have finished week 5 I have always been told that I am useless at running at it became a self fulfilling prophecy. I managed 3K in my 20 minutes and I am so pleased and surprised! Hopefully I can continue but am so chuffed at this progress! I definitely have to go first thing before it's too hot or busy (and I find excuses not to!)

My husband is leaving for work at 7am and not back until late. I'm going to attempt a run at 6am tomorrow! W1 R3

Liking all the new runners! Great to see you all getting started - sexnotgender, carrottopper, hedgehog, everyone else on the other pages whose posts I have read and enjoyed - sorry no namecheck.

I read something randomly when I first started c25k where someone said they weren’t cut out for running and there was a response something along the lines of - we are all made for running, look at our upright posture and the length of our legs! It was better than that but it kind of resonated, perhaps running isn’t the thing for everyone, but look at our legs and the huge muscle structures in our thighs. I think we all have the potential to run, at least. Maybe not marathons - but this thread has made me trust this programme and I now generally think it’s 1/3 head, 1/3 legs, 1/3 lungs.

Today I had a little battle with my head but I controlled my legs and lungs and I ran the 5k, albeit slowly.

On Saturday I lost the battle with my lungs, legs swiftly followed, head went too and there was no getting out from under that house of cards.

Next time out I’ll probably get cocky and not make it round!

Nice one chankly! I’ve not run 5k yet coz I only manage a bit over 4k in half an hour but I’m going to map a route and try it. I finished yesterday but managed to sprint the last 60 seconds so I definitely have a bit of spare energy in me.