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 totally failed W9R2 this morning. Started feeling calf cramp about 1.5k in. By 3k it was agony and had to limp home. It's so painful that I'm having to go up and down stairs on my bum! DH thinks it's torn so probably going to have to rest up for a while. Old me would have been secretly pleased with an excuse not to run but I felt fit and fast today, even when pushing through the pain, and was so geared up for graduating on Tuesday!

Oh no @Cmini! Hope it’s better soon.

@Cmini I had something similar and was out for a good 3 weeks, I don't think that was a tear though, maybe a nasty strain. Am strict now on doing calf stretches before and after runs. It doesn't take much for mine to pull. Really hope yours isn't a tear.

I fell over today so I had to stop half way through the run and walk back. I hit my knee but the grazes seem fairly superficial so I’m hoping it’s just bruised.

@Fauchelevant

I fell over today so I had to stop half way through the run and walk back. I hit my knee but the grazes seem fairly superficial so I’m hoping it’s just bruised.

Hope you’re ok I’m such a klutz I’m surprised I haven’t fallen yet!

Hope those of you with injuries recover quickly.

Ds and I did week 7 run 1 today - it was a warm one but we did it. Only covered 4.2k in the entire 35 minutes though so I’m not sure we going to hit the 5k mark u less our pace increases significantly!

Not worry, we’re all definitely making progress.

My dog is enjoying couch to 5K - I did week 9 run 1 today so getting there

Thanks sex I’m fine I just feel a bit daft!

@bengalcat

My dog is enjoying couch to 5K - I did week 9 run 1 today so getting there

Is that a grey?

@Sexnotgender she’s a retriever whipper cross

Ah, thought she was a grey. I have 2, I’d love to take them running but my husband tried and they were seriously unimpressed!

Whippet not whipper

This is me!

Good morning all

I am about to get ready to start wk4 . Worried about the jump but I am trusting the programme. I have a really busy day today but I am still sitting in pyjamas reading through Mumsnet!

Off to get ready now (honest)

Good luck Twilbury. I did W4R2 this morning. I definitely find R2 each week harder than the first run. I keep thinking I must have paused Jo Whiley.

Did week 5 run 1 this morning which almost felt good in some parts (especially when I’d finished).

Thought my warm up walk was a bit long and then realised I’d paused it

@MirandaWest Be thankful you paused it on your walk, I realised mine was paused when I was on my 5 min run. Turns out I had run 9 ! No wonder I was finding it tough.

Hopefully wk4 r2 will feel a little better because of it.

Thanks @Hopethiswilldo Can bear weight on it today so hoping it's just a strain after all. Definitely taught me to stretch properly. Must admit the stretching's been a bit hit and miss!

I own this t-shirt!
I didn't get out at all last week because - life - but I'm hopeful I can pick up where I left off. Last run was W5R3 and I know W6R1 is gentler then that's!

Love that t-shirt MyGhast! Be wary of W6R1- it has intervals again but it's actually longer than W5R3 and I keep hearing about people who found it much harder than they expected. I found it ok yesterday but I think if I'd not been forewarned I'd have set off too quickly!

I did W5R1 today and I'm amazed how far I've come! Feeling really nervous for the other runs this week though!

Jo W said that a lot of the struggle is psychological and that felt very true today. But I knew if I didn't finish my final 5 min I would feel terrible, so I had to keep going!

One thing I noticed on my Garmin (DP is a keen runner and gave me his old one...) is that my heart rate is already a good bit lower than in my very first runs. I am obviously getting fitter!

I ordered some new sports bras, a vest and some socks to encourage myself further.

I did 5k!
Yesterday was my first post graduation run and it was awful. I only did 3.5k and had to stop twice. I was too fast so and my boobs were hurting.
Tried again today and success. 7mins 29secs per km though, so I'm a way off 30 mins.

@HelpMeh

I did 5k! Yesterday was my first post graduation run and it was awful. I only did 3.5k and had to stop twice. I was too fast so and my boobs were hurting. Tried again today and success. 7mins 29secs per km though, so I'm a way off 30 mins.

Well done!!!

@NCTDN that is me too! I reckon C25k is going to be about a C23k for me if I'm lucky. BUT running for 25mins is a huge leap forward for me, even if the difference is barely perceptible to others as a PP said.

@HelpMeh amazing, well done.

@LambChopsMcGee go girl, you can do this

@LambChopsMcGee

I did W5R1 today and I'm amazed how far I've come! Feeling really nervous for the other runs this week though!

Jo W said that a lot of the struggle is psychological and that felt very true today. But I knew if I didn't finish my final 5 min I would feel terrible, so I had to keep going!

One thing I noticed on my Garmin (DP is a keen runner and gave me his old one...) is that my heart rate is already a good bit lower than in my very first runs. I am obviously getting fitter!

I ordered some new sports bras, a vest and some socks to encourage myself further.

In my experience at least 85% is psychological and it's very easy to convince yourself that you can't go any further. If you go slow enough, you should be able to complete most of the runs, your lungs adapt quite quickly. I think I had brain fails in weeks 6, 7 and 8.

If you have a bad run, it's very important to forget about it and move on.

I know everyone says slow down, but I cannot emphasise this enough. Check in with yourself every few minutes and if you can slow down, then slow down. You'll accidentally keep speeding up and once you wreck your breathing it's hard to recover.