More Couch to 5k encouragement!

[PrincessWatermelon]

I hope it's ok starting a new thread. I found the last one so encouraging and didn't want it to stop!!

Also, have to share I've just done W6R3 - my first 25 min run. Wasn't sure I was going to make it to the end, but kept moving (as Jo Whiley told me to) and did it!!

How are others getting on?

Finished week 7 run 2! I find I get really bored and sick of it by about six minutes out, but decide to finish it because I’ve got that far. Then I decided to spend the final three minutes running up a fairly steep hill. I was gasping for breath! Poor life choices there.

Poor life choices here too. Decided to change my route today on w6r3 and it did not go well. First half was fine but then started going uphill and I kept thinking it would get to the top soon but it didn't and ended up walking at 18 mins. Started again after 60 secs but only lasted a couple of mins. Kept walking and eventually did 5 mins downhill home. Total route was 6.5km which I didn't realise.

Will chose a better route next time and trying not to be too disappointed as I still did better than I could have imagined a few weeks ago

Week 5 run 3 done! 20 mins nonstop still alive!

Great work Meg :)

I had a bit of an odd W4R3 - I was trying a new route and the timings didn't work out very well, so I had a few bits where I decided to pause the app (to get busy road crossings out of the way before starting a run section, or because my route unexpectedly went across a cornfield via a 15cm wide stony path I didn't fancy running on). And I kept finding I hadn't paused it or unpaused it so had to try and make up what I'd missed - I think I was way too long on two runs and took an unscheduled break in the middle of another - and added quite a few minutes of walking to the total time. But I'm still going to count it as I'm pretty confident I over rather than under did it. On to week 5 !

Well done @MegCleary.

@JonHammIsMyJamm well done for getting out there again. It gets harder after a longer break.

I'm reporting in with some good news from the week 6/7 doldrums. I struggled with W7R1 and stepped back to W6R1 which I also found a real slog. Low in confidence and having had about 4 days off, I decided to repeat W6R2 today. And I smashed it! Did my 2 X 10 mins and was feeling ok so I kept going and ran the 5 min cool down too (obv then did a walk after). So 25 mins ran, albeit with a 3 min walk in the middle.

Think I will try that a couple more times before moving back up to 25 mins straight. All I need to do is keep getting out there.

'Keep getting out there' is definitely what I need to do.

Thanks for the kind words @CeciledeVolanges!

I went out and repeated a W3 run today. Though I went at 5pm. Usually I go before much. The park was packed! And a few men laughed at me, and one ran along next to me mocking me.

Really dispiriting shit. No one deserves that. I'm not particularly gumpy looking, but I know I look anxious when I run and go quite pink of cheek. Just a shit thing to happen when I was already feeling down.

It reminded me again the extra level of effort and obstacle we face as women doing this. Fuelled the angry feminist in me (once I'd had a little cry).

@LambChopsMcGee oh no🙁 that’s awful, men can be utter shits. I’m sorry that happened to you.

@LambChopsMcGee how truly horrible for you
I get embarrassed very easy whilst running. I have to remind myself that despite being incredibly slow, I'm still quicker than sitting at home not doing it.
Karma will get those men at some point. for you.

@LambChopsMcGee seriously! Some people are such twats.

If you feel like you want to shut out the world, you could try sunglasses but I expect you just got super-unlucky.

That's truly horrible! I can't believe anyone would behave like that. Please don't take it personally and try not to let it put you off. You'll be doing brilliantly getting out there at all.

That's truly horrible! I can't believe anyone would behave like that. Please don't take it personally and try not to let it put you off. You'll be doing brilliantly getting out there at all.

Thanks guys.
Yeah, people suck, huh?

I already wear sunglasses and a hat as I'd found it made me feel less uncomfortable. I'll keep going but I'll avoid the early evenings when groups are gathering and drinking.

I'm always amazed when this stuff happens to me. I'm pretty average. I'm not very pretty, don't have big boobs, not fat and not thin... It really is all women who get this hassle. (Not that it would be ok if I was any of those things, obviously)

Furious on your behalf LambChops, what horrible men! Glad they've not put you off.

I’m sorry that happened LambChops but it is all on them and nothing that you did.

Unfortunately a run without a comment from a man is the exception rather than the rule here. I have taken to telling DH about them when I DP get back, mainly because I rant about everyday sexism which he thinks doesn’t exist at least on the scale I know it does. Some of them aren’t aggressive/mocking like yours was, LambChops, but I have had men do the running alongside me laughing thing twice. Other comments include ‘you’re going fast, what’s the rush, are you trying to get away from me’ ‘go on girl, I’ll catch you up later’, teenage boys jumping into my path and out again on purpose, running at me and stopping at the last second with an aggressive kind of roar/boo noise. ‘I’ll let you past, it’ll be a nice view’ and assorted beeps, toots, shouts from cars, vans slowing down when passing for no reason, incoherent shouts and whistles. It is total shit.

What absolute bell ends he and his little clan are, @LambChopsMcGee. Good news that a handful of gobby dicks haven’t put you off.

Yes, my DH also thinks I overplay the everyday sexism stuff too I might start wearing a bodycam so he can see what it’s like being a (perfectly average) woman going about her business in 2020.

What a bunch of saddo wankers lambchops. Please don't let it set you back.

I was walking to the shops yesterday wearing a mask (I have health issues), and two teenage boys decided to take the piss out of me. FFS.

Unfortunately there are some boys/men who seem to think it is their right to pass comment on us and our bodies. Wankers all.

Potty mouth aside, I did W3R1 this morning, which came as a surprise because I was intending to repeat W2's runs.

After a 3 minute jog I looked like I had just completed a marathon.

Next time you're out running, Lambchops, please imagine a whole bevy of mumsnet women behind you ready to hurl imaginative invective at anyone who dares to look rudely in your direction!

@JonHammIsMyJamm

Yes, my DH also thinks I overplay the everyday sexism stuff too I might start wearing a bodycam so he can see what it’s like being a (perfectly average) woman going about her business in 2020.

It’s awful that even your partner doesn’t believe you! I’m such a raging feminist.

Ah, he’s not so bad. He ‘believes me’ in that he doesn’t think I’m making it up or actively lying to him but I don’t think he gets how rampant it is and thinks it’s just part of my frothing feminist agenda . I think it’s more a case of it being so far from his middle aged ‘beta’ experience that he’s finding it hard to relate to.

May I join you?! I’m on my fourth attempt at C25K. I finished two summers ago, then life got in the way, did it again last summer, injury, tried earlier this year, injury again.

I think I’ve worked it out now. My trainers were awful, so got new ones. I also need to alternate running with doing a session on the cross trainer - I have very dodgy Achilles’ tendons , and the cross trainer seems to help with them not totally tightening up to the extent that I can barely walk, let alone run! Means I tend to only do two runs a week, so making slow progress through the weeks.

Anyway, I’m two weeks in, started a bit into it. Did w4r1 yesterday. The last section was tough, but other than that, it wasn’t too awful.

Would be good to be able to chat about it on here - extra motivation!

You are all amazing! I’m in awe :)

lambchops what utter wankers. I get very red indeed when I run, it’s a side effect of being as pasty white as I am, but it’s a sign that you’re really trying! I always console myself by cycling as fast as I can on my commute - I have a gorgeous Peugeot bike that is my pride and joy and we have a combined age of over 60 and are absolutely the fastest thing on the road of a morning!

It’s bloody hard to run with boobs or periods or joint issues which women all deal with and everyone without exception on this thread is amazing. I have to confess the first time I heard Sarah Millican (for it is she on my app) telling me I was doing great I burst into tears. If anyone’s near Highgate and needs me to come and kick any annoying males, drop me a line .

I'm really stuck on week 5/6. I did W5 runs 1&2, but W5R3 I could only do about 15 minutes before needing to walk. Tried it a second time and could get to 16 minutes.
Did Week 6 runs 1&2 fine again but again could only get to 16 minutes on R3!
Last night I did W6R2 again.

Not sure whether to just keep attempting W5R3 until I can do 20 minutes or restart Week 5?