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?

I would say retry week five until you can do it. You absolutely can, you are really strong. Just go as slow as you can. You will get there, I promise.

Sandie, what's stopping you - being out of breath, something hurting, your brain saying I can't do this?

completed w2 r3 . Much easier than i thought it would be but cannot get my breathing in time. Knees still twingey.
W3 seems a big jump-eek!

Completed W5 today. Was a bit apprehensive because it was so hot, but went out late and managed it. It wasn't fast and it certainly wasn't pretty but I think this sums up how I felt!

@UnaOfStormhold

Sandie, what's stopping you - being out of breath, something hurting, your brain saying I can't do this?

Hmm... not sure actually! Just feeling too tired I think I can do 10 & 10 with a minute or so walk in between so really I should be able to do the whole 20. I might just redo week 5 this week and see if I can push myself.

When I feel like stopping I try to keep running whilst I figure out why I want to stop, legs, lungs, or laziness. For me, laziness is the hardest to get past. I can slow down a bit here and there to ease my lungs or legs.

Laziness is just my brain telling me that I don’t actually have to run this, don’t have to do this, no one is watching, nobody cares, you could just walk for a bit now and say it was an intervals day, 3k is still a good run, you don’t have to get to 5k, if you walk for a bit now you might actually be faster overall, those people over there are walking faster than you are running and they look relaxed, why are you even doing this..... I have now figured out that I find the first 1km easy enough and feel all virtuous and fast, the second 2km is alright but I start to feel tired....between 2.5km and 3.5km the gremlins sit on my shoulders nagging me to stop and telling me I look stupid. I know I usually find my rhythm by 4km in so I run 3.5-4km just wanting to get to the magical point where it feels like I can do it....then I run the last km just because I’m so close to 5km I can’t quit now.

Ah, but we are watching you...

Ghast do you usually look so glam when you run?

@notaflyingmonkey glam? I wish! But I do have a great collection of headbands and I always slap on a bit of lippy. I feel really self-conscious and it just helps me get out there.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered I love the Wonderwoman headband and lipstick combo. Looking great!

So happy did the 25 mins today. Stuck to my normal route so that helped. @ChanklyBore your post kept ringing in my ears as I kept wanting to give up. I realised it was the laziness yes I had run further than before but that didn't mean give up I had to finish it.

Well done to all of you.

Luckily I’ve not experienced any jeering, catcalling etc. I’m really feel for those of you that have to contend with that on top of everything else.

Ds and I managed week 6 run 1 last night. It felt tough after spending the day on the beach but it’s ticked off now.

@MyGhastIsFlabbered congratulations on your 20 mins' running! Awesome.

@SandieCheeks I am much less hardcore & determined than @ChanklyBore but I have decided it doesn't much matter. There were some people experimenting with "jeffing" maybe on the previous thread - sticking with planned run-walk as a long term strategy - and I can see that working for me. A minute or three of walking doesn't undo your 16 mins of continuous running which is fabulous. Don't let the programme's sudden jump up make your success feel like failure. You have come so far

I think I would stick with interval runs if they are working for you, and maybe consider running through a walking section if you are having a good day.

I am very fortunate not to have experienced any kind of jeering or unwanted attention. I live in a smallish town and people generally seem pleasant. But then I have sunglasses and my music on, so not really paying others much notice.

I loved your post @ChanklyBore. I tell myself that I have the legs and lungs for it, as I've got this far using the programme and I trust it. I also am within the normal BMI range and still this side of 40, so think I have no excuse! In terms of the laziness, I have a colleague (who winds me up no end) is also doing c25k and is further than me. So i chant to myself that if x can do it, then so can I!! I refuse to let her be better than me 😂

W7R1 done. Was HARD.

My route has a big hill that I usually only do once but did it twice today, second time right at the end of my run🤮 knackered.

Amazing! Good for you sex

Haha! @CeciledeVolanges - I welled up a bit the other day when Sarah Millican told me I was doing great - I think it's because she really sounded like she meant it.

You should all be so proud of yourselves. Fuck stupid men who feel entitled to take the piss, they'll never achieve anything because they're twats. I was going to say I haven't had anything like that, but my mum saw me the other day and was apparently tooting and waving like a mad idiot without me noticing, so chances are I'm just oblivious to it

I want a wonderwoman headband.

Had a week 9 day 1 failure this evening. I managed 24 mins then my brain said no. I think I'll have to use my long route for my runs from now on. I made up the extra 6 minutes on the way home but it doesn't count. It's insanely hot at the moment which isn't helping matters - was 38 degrees tonight

You can't call running for 24 minutes in 38 degrees a failure! That's really impressive, especially if you've only been running for a few weeks. Don't be downhearted, you're still building your fitness and in a few months time when you're regularly running 5k you'll completely forget this little setback

38 degrees😱 I’d melt !!

Thank you @MsPants. I think it's because I completed all the 28 min runs with no issue that I'm feeling crappy about this one. I shouldn't have gone back to my old route. I run near a running track so did two laps round that on the way home which is about 6 mins so I've made time, just not all at once. Hopefully tomorrow.

You do get used to the heat - I only ever run in the dark but if you're already having a bad run it gives you another reason to stop... It's my mind that is my enemy.

I've completed the program before so I know it's possible it just doesn't feel like it some days. I'm only going to be reaching 4k in 30 mins so there is much work to be done.

I think I'm the same - I'm up to 20 minutes and I'm only getting to about 3k with my warm up and warm down walks. I've decided to just concentrate on getting the time up, maybe the pace will come eventually. I've got about 4st to lose too, so I'm hoping I'll naturally get faster as I have less weight to lug around.

W2r1 for me this evening. My treadmill is in my garage and I was properly sweating by the end. Felt like I could have run longer than the 90 secs so that bodes well for the future

4km this morning. Just did thece0 minutes as had a week after waiting for me new boob scaffolding to arrive.

Just went with how I felt. No programme now, just my music and my watch buzzing every kilometre. I didn't use mapmyrun. I didn't look at my pace. I just pottered about and went with how my body felt and actually did 4km in 30 minutes.

5km tomorrow once I get home from school I think. I want to try out my new watch without my phone, see if it does Spotify and gps like it says without me needing the phone with me.

I did my W1R2 run today... and realised part way through that I forgot to put my sports bra on!

My M&S bra wasn't too bad. It's this range (but not this design): www.marksandspencer.com/flexifit-non-wired-full-cup-bra/p/clp60438189?image=SD_02_T33_3210_Y4_X_EC_90&color=BLACKMIX&prevPage=srp

Looking forward to my third run (will double check I've got the right bra on though!).