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’m wearing Nike pegasus 36, they’re in the sale currently.

Just finished my first run in the rain. At least I didn't get hot and sweaty

Hello all! Well done to all those still going - I think we have a few coming towards the end. Keep going with it - I recall week 8 and 9 seeming to last forever!

I ran on Saturday- it was raining a bit but my DH said to just get out there. So I did. And it turned absolutely torrential. Stair rod rain. Bouncing off the pavements. I wear glasses and very quickly couldn't see a huge amount, so instead of being able to leap, gazelle-like, over the puddles, I ended up wading through them all. Often up to my ankles. As it was so unpleasant I pushed hard to get it over and reckon I almost did a sub-30 min 5k. It recorded as 30.04, but I stopped too soon as my watch bleeped!

On holiday now, so currently eating and drinking too much to run!!

Nice sum up of pace, @UnaOfStormhold

Hello, can I join in? I am the furthest thing from a runner, i have knees in the wrong place and the flattest feet you've ever seen, I've also torn the meniscus in both knees (on the inner and outer side on my right knee!) but I'm fed up with being fat and unfit and I have just turned 50 so perimenopause weight is piling on!

I started C25K and thought I was going to die on the first 60 second run. I have persisted (despite hating it) and completed Wk4 R2 today and I can't tll you how proud of myself i was at shuffling along for 5 minutes! I am dreading next week when it suddenly jump up to 20 minutes though and I know it's going to demotivate me if I can't do it. Any advice for the sudden escalation next week??

Well done JustHere! I'm impressed by 5 mins - still at 3 mins here, although I've tried adding on a little bit before and after, it's not the same as knowing it's not optional!

I think you've just got to believe in the programme that got you from feeling like 60 seconds was pushing yourself to the limit, to doing that without even thinking and managing 5 minutes today.

I read a great post on the HealthUnlocked forum which a) suggested that looking ahead wasn't actually a great idea, better to just face what's right in front of you, but b) if you're going to do that, realise that ACTUALLY week 4 is a far bigger jump in terms of the length of time you run - and you're doing that already!

A huge part of it is definitely mental. I've seen a lot of people move on to podcasts for the longer runs. I'm torn between that and saving my very best running tracks to keep me going when it comes to it. I was feeling really puffed on my 2nd 3 minute run today and then Lady Gaga came on with Edge of Glory and I floated home on a blazing cloud of fabulousness

Any advice for the sudden escalation next week??

Do it SLOWLY!

I’ve graduated and if I go too fast initially I really struggle but if I keep my pace around 8 minutes a km then I can plod on for ages.

Yes, agree, do it slowly. I never thought I could do a 10 minute run let alone 20 and now 35 but somehow it happened!!

I did week 9 run 1 this morning . Thought about keeping going to 5k but when it said I was done I realised my legs didn’t want to keep going any more .

Might give it another try on Wednesday. I did about 4.5k in 30 min so don’t need to keep going for much longer but as soon as I hear it telling me I’ve finished I know I’ll just want to stop

What are you all using to record your distance?

@notaflyingmonkey

What are you all using to record your distance?

I use my Apple Watch.

I use Strava (free version) but one of my routes takes me beside a river and it keeps showing me as having crossed the river which mucksbup the distance and pace data.

I used to use Pacer and it did the same though so I think the gps on my phone that's a bit rubbish.

It's so good to hear everyone doing so well with the later runs. It is making me start to believe I can get to 5k.
I have 3 targets now...
Finish the programme
Run 5k (I know this will probably take me more than 30 mins)
Run a Park Run when they start again. The last one will be a bit of a challenge because our local one is one of the hardest in the country

Second post C25k run yesterday, still strange without Jo in my ear but at least I had music this time. Getting a bit dark for running safely on uneven ground in my favourite field tracks so I am trying to find interesting lit routes in preparation for winter. Managed 5.5k which I was quite pleased with!

I'm using strava paid for the beacon feature, route planning and total distance with the app for my cheapo heart rate monitor for the run section. I can combine the data in strava but am mostly not bothering.

W6r1 time is flying. I had always remembered how hard this one is. As you have to go back to intervals and stopping and starting. My understanding is that the body at first is crying out for energy and then it reaches a kind of stable point. When you stop and start, you are starting again practically all the time – that’s why it’s so hard. Apparently even athletes have the same thing although of course they are a fair bit fitter than me!!

Anyway my next run should be Thursday morning, but it’s results day and so I might have to change days.

Run a Park Run when they start again. The last one will be a bit of a challenge because our local one is one of the hardest in the country

There aren't any Parkruns that are "harder" than others- it's all about perspective Yes, some are hillier. Whinlatter in the Lakes, for example, is really quite hilly. But it's not "harder" than a flat one, because you just go slower, and the finishing times will reflect that.
I'm more than a minute slower, for example, on one of my local parkruns compared to a flat course, but you still finish in the same sort of position.

I've done my first post graduation run that I didn't have to stop because something was hurting. I'm feeling pleased with myself. I slowed right down which helped. I'm back in work now so struggling to find time or energy to get out now much.

W8R2 done this morning. I got through the first 5 minutes ok and settled in to cruse control - and then hit a psychological wall at the 10 minute mark. I was overthinking everything - whether the woman I could see on the other side was walking faster than my 'run', etc, then started looking at my shadow and thinking how ridiculous I must look lumbering along. It was my self criticism at its worst and it nearly got me.

'Big yellow taxi' came on, so I started singing along with that instead of listening to the voice telling me to stop. (I can't hold a note, but nobody else was about - it did the trick).

Thanks for the positive advice ladies, sorry for not replying yesterday - I got dragged into GCSE dramas and dreading Thursday! @sleepyhead that's a really good way of looking at it. I am always so tempted to look ahead and get a bit panicky when I see the times but I'm trying to take the attitude of 'give it a go, you never know'. Good lively music is great to keep me going, are there any good suggestions for running albums?

I have enormous Spotify playlists that I put on shuffle so I always get a surprise, but my most uplifting tracks so far on my "Happy Running" playlist have been:

Town Called Malice (release your inner Billy Elliot)
Ain't No Mountain High Enough (quite slow in comparison to some but it makes my heart soar)
Proud Mary (Ideally you'd have your warm up walk for the slow bit at the beginning and then start running when the horns come in. Simply the Best is also good - Tina is cheering you on.)
Don't Stop til You Get Enough (Michael Jackson seems to have a perfect beat for slow running but this one makes my toes feel particularly twinkly)
Eye of the Tiger (because I'm running through the streets of Philadelphia in my mind)
Don't Stop Me Now (Freddie can persuade me that I'm having a good time. Even when I'm not having a good time)

I think I love big anthems that make me feel like I'm in a training montage in a film and it's going to finish with me triumphantly throwing up my hands at the finish

Ooh they sound good, I had Footloose, Dr Beat and Wake me up before you Go Go keeping me going the other day. I might try and put my own list together then, was just being lazy hoping there was a good album out there.

Panicked there thought I'd lost this thread, I took a few weeks off as I've decided it just depresses me to try and run during my period, I'd be unlikely to be able to complete WK1 for some reason.
Then I was away camping, so I started back this morning W6 R1 (for the third time!) and I nailed it, cant believe it, even managed a wee sprint at the end.

Well done FloatOn!

@notaflyingmonkey that’s a tough melody- well done!
@FloatOn epic well done - I defo had no drink in me this morning on the same run!
@JustHereWithMyPopcorn solidarity- just want Thursday over with then perhaps we can move on!

Drink? I mean sprint!

Drink might have helped at the moment!