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?

The Niko Niko video just made me want to go to Japan! One of our vague holiday plans for this year that won't be happening now ..off topic, sorry!

I'm repeating W6 as I'm a bit particular about which days I run the long ones etc (Sorry I've forgotten the username of the pp who suggested I just continue with the missed one) and I also just didn't feel like the 25 min today, haha! It's going to be hot again later in the week though...

I was super slow today but happy enough. I've really made it a habit, it feels like! I really hope I can become a runner and stick with it.

W4r2 loving week 4 favourite so far. Just hard enough. Tough day yesterday DP wouldn’t eat or speak or move. His brain just shuts down if he gets stressed. By bedtime he had managed a cup of tea and some spoonfuls of rice. Better day today we hope.

Did week 7 run 2 this morning. Except I decided to keep on running and ran for 30 minutes 😀

I did the speed graduate NHS podcast this morning. Omg! It started off a lot faster than normal because I was running to the beat, they said it was intervals so I was expecting a nice walk to break it up. Oh no faster running! I couldn't finish it all because I had to get home for Dp to go to work and I didn't realise the 16 minutes would obviously have walking to warm up and cool down. Bit of a disaster but I will try again Thursday when I don't have to rush back.

I'm rooting for everyone! You are all doing so well, especially with the heat.

I was meant to be starting week one again with my son yesterday but a change of plans meant we were moving it to today. Then disaster struck last night....had to nip to work and sort out all the stuff for PAT testing and managed to drop a 12.5kg weight on both of my bloody feet 😭. A bit battered and bruised this morning so having to put it on hold! Monday though, as along as I'm healed up.

Well done everyone. So glad I made it out at 6am today - it’s super hot now and it was so beautiful and still this morning. Did week 7Run3 - the full 25mins which I was super pleased with!

I’m glad I made it out in the dry - is pouring down now

Long time lurker, so please be gentle but so inspired by you all. 😃 I started C25K a few weeks ago. I’m not terribly overweight (Size12 /11 stone was 12 stone but been doing 16/8 for six weeks)but have wanted to get fitter just for me.
I’m currently on week six run two. Have done everything the programme says , found each run a struggle but never gave up...until today. Tried the dreaded week 6 run 2 and just couldn’t run/ ridiculously slowly jog for more than two minutes at a time yet run/snail jog the 20 Min one last week.
Had a reasonable week six run one on Sunday Eve covered 4.02 Km including walks and today I covered 4.01 inc walks and extra walks still in 34 minutes but had to keep stopping . Feel so utterly disheartened . Not sure what to do . Feel like giving up thinking this running lark isn’t for me but then feel so so disheartened and angry with myself 😔 Not sure whether to try again this evening as maybe because I’m on 16/8 I haven’t got enough fuel in the tank... I stop eating at 8pm the night before so maybe the evening runs are better for me as I’ve eaten in the day . Can’t pin point what went wrong today...I never get a stitch, don’t get breathless , my legs ache a bit but not much. Good running shoes. Is it all mind over matter? I so so want to be able to run freely like I find walking but never seem to get it, and it doesn’t click into place like so many of you find. Never felt a “rhythm” either. Sorry for moaning just looking for some help before I quit.
If you’ve got this far through my post then thanks .

It’s just a bad run, @Needmybuttkickedintoshape.

They happen. Eat a banana before you go out next time, and don’t let it put you off.

Thanks for replying @LunaNorth... I hope it was just a bad run. Could I try it again tonight as there were lots of intermittent walking today or should I just crack in with w6r3 on Thursday? Do most people generally experience a bad run? If anyone can share some inspirational stories that would be much appreciated .

My bad runs are usually psychological. It sounds to me like you are on the money with your idea that there just wasn’t the fuel in the tank.

If I were you I’d wait until Thursday and then repeat W6 R2. You’ll feel better knowing you’ve conquered it, and it’s important to do every run before progressing.

But make sure you have fuelled up!

Also, as far as rhythm goes, it took me ages. Things that helped:

1. Making a Spotify playlist set at random. Choose stuff with inspiring lyrics and the right tempo. Weirdly, I really like dance and hip hop to run to, even though I don’t listen to it at any other time.

1. Don’t over-breathe. Just try to breathe naturally.

1. The first twelve minutes of any run are usually foul, for me. After that, my body and brain align, and it all falls into place. But never expect to enjoy the beginning of a run.

1. Try the niko niko approach. Gentle and controlled.

1. Think about anything but running. I used to stump along thinking ‘I can’t believe I’m running. I hate running. This hurts. I won’t finish.’ Blah blah blah. Things improved when I decided to use running as my headspace time.

@LunaNorth...number 5 is so so me 😂. I have tried to breathe through my nose out of my mouth but find it takes too much concentration. Naturally when I’m —going at a slow arsed pace-- jogging I breathe through my mouth and out of my mouth ...that’s what seems natural to me and anything else requires too much concentration.

I did notice when I got home my adidas 3/4s were on back to front and maybe that’s why I had to keep retrieving my phone , which usually just tucks into the waste band from half way down my leg every few minutes today 😂 . Don’t think that helped either ...or am I just looking for excuses.

Have you completed C25K @LunaNorth ?

@Needmybuttkickedintoshape yeah, I’m the same with breathing. I sexilymouth breathe all the way round now, having previously struggled with the nose/mouth thing. I just ended up making myself dizzy.

I’ve been running on and off for about 4 years now, so I’ve completed C25K a couple of times - I even managed to run all the way round a 10k race three years ago.

But I’ve had a tough few months and didn’t run at all for about three months, so I’m using C25K as my way back in. It really does work.

@LunaNorth I just want to say in a few weeks I graduated . Hopefully just a blip today. Thanks for your messages 😀

You will. You absolutely will.

I agree with @LunaNorth

It sounds like a bad run - but you've come so far and achieved so much, that it would be such a shame to give up now. I bet you didn't think in week 1 that you'd manage 20 mins!!

I run on half a banana, before breakfast. And like you, I don't eat after 7/8pm. But I do need something. Enough water before hand is also important.

I would say to give yourself some time to rest and then try W6R2 again. Many people find week6 a struggle - mentally as well, since you've already done a 20 min run. So then you wonder why this is harder. But it really takes 10 mins at least to find a groove - and these last interval runs aren't allowing that.

Believe in yourself - you've got this

All of that was directed to @Needmybuttkickedintoshape - I forgot to tag!!!

Someone else asked earlier about how long to count distance for - to include the warm ups/downs or not. I did initially, as it helps to know what distance you're covering and that's all important to see. So you know that you can cover 4k or 4.5k even if 10 mins is walking. It's also a pain to stop/start with all the intervals. But I was treated to a fancy pants Garmin watch towards the end of c25k and now I start when I start running and stop when I stop. So I know my running distance.

@PrincessWatermelon I’ve never felt the groove. That’s why I’m not sure if I’m really cut out for this as much as I’d love to be. When I did the 20 min last week I was as slow as dog with three legs and on crutches , but so pleased I did it. I keep telling myself maybe was going too fast today. The whole C25K is such a small thing in the grand scheme of things in the world, but I so wanted to achieve it for me.

Going slow is great!! Keep doing that. And you've barely had time to get in a groove, so don't write yourself off yet 😘

Just coming on to say that I totally agree with the ten minute thing. My runs usually go something like this...

• 0-2 minutes: What the fuck am I doing. I can't run. I hurt already and can't breathe. No way can I do this.
• 2-5 minutes: This is awful, why am I doing this? But then again, I feel like this on every run, so just keep running (sung Dory style).
• 5-10 minute: Ok, this is tough, but maybe I can do it.
• 10 minutes onward: Right, now I'm in the groove and almost feel like a runner.
• Final couple of minutes:

@LunaNorth @PrincessWatermelon @TeamEponine thank you all so much for your words of wisdom .

@teamEponine your breakdown in minutes is me down to a t but I’m not experienced enough to agree with the 10 minute onward thing.😃

I find my body baffling. I don’t get all huffed and puffed my chest doesn’t hurt , legs twinge a little but ok. Don’t get aches the next day so it’s all very frustrating that I just can’t/ won’t get into a rhythm .

Maybe I’m just a lazy arse 😂

Apologies for my moany rants today... Especially being a newbie but I’m over analytical Of everything I do and find it hard to switch off .

On rhythm, would running without music help for a bit? Maybe have an audio book or a podcast to listen to but nothing that has a beat that might throw you off from your natural rhythm. Might be worth exploring breathing rhythm as well, though I've not got that sorted myself yet - I've had people recommend three strides for each in breath and each out breath but never quite got that to work.

Omg..... I have just completed w6r2 after my failure this morning. 😃 😃 😃 Pleased doesn’t even come close. It’s been playing on my mind all day and being an over analytical person I know I would dwell on it until Thursday when I scheduled myself to try again. I listened to everyone’s advice and I’m so grateful that you kindly took time to reply to a newbie especially @TeamEponine as your breakdown someS me up completely.

Don’t get me wrong I was deliriously slow and only covered 3.24 km in 34 mins inc the warm up and warm down walks but I didn’t stop and keep seeing on here that not stopping is the most important thing rather than distance at this time. When Michael tells me I’ve got one more minute left on each of the 10 mins I did try to go a little faster . Now onto w6r3 on Thursday which seems daunting Any tips greatly received 😀

Was meant to go out this morning but it was bucketing down so didn't. It still hasn't stopped but after a long day at work just went for it.

First 5 mins was about to just go home. Then thought I would run for 6 songs. Got that far and kept going and made it to 30 mins.

I'm happy with running for 30 mins and so glad I e reached this point. To everyone working through the program stick with it