C25k get your encouragement here.

[StripyHorse]

As the last thread has been going so well, with graduates aplenty, here's a new thread for encouragement. Everyone is welcome!

@JustCallMeGriffin I don’t feel very gazelle like! My route is also very flat. I’m going to stick to it until I “graduate” so hopefully by then I can run it in 30min reliably. I’ve then got another route in mind that might be better as it gets darker but not sure of the distance so need to check that out. I’m going to try and get out again on Sun when the weather forecast here is a little better.

I’m thinking of getting some sort of running jacket for winter, more for the wet than the cold. I also think that gloves would be good as I often get cold hands but my big fluffy mittens for walking don’t really look the part for running in!

@Gordonsgrin and @JustCallMeGriffin thanks for the Parkrun suggestions. Cardiff is about 3.5 hours away I am afraid...although at the moment that's academic because I can't leave the county. (Written like that it sounds like I am under house arrest or something. 😧)

Who knows by the time they are back up and running I might be ok with hills - my whole town is on a hill so it is hard work to find a flat (ish) route! Failing that, there are a couple just over the English border that are flat enough, I just naturally thought of the park run in my town.

Week 8 done. It was a bit wet, and very blurry... 10 minutes of wishing I had windscreen wipers before giving up and stuffing my glasses in my pocket. It's a shame, because I love all the random things you notice when you are running.

On the plus side, when I got back DH had run me a hot bath and DD1 has just made me a coffee. I could get used to this!

I can't believe it!

I got absolutely drenched but feeling incredible that I've managed to achieve this.

@StripyHorse well done on completing week 8, final stretch now

Well done @JustCallMeGriffin! Bet you must be buzzing.

Congratulations @JustCallMeGriffin !!

Amazing! Well done @JustCallMeGriffin

Massive congratulations @JustCallMeGriffin! Especially well done in today’s awful weather.

Well done for persevering in the rain @StripyHorse as well.

I’m hoping it dries up a bit by tomorrow afternoon.

Thank you all. I'm still grinning!

New plan from next week. My knee new injury has starting hurting over the last couple of runs but really wanted to get to the finish line so next week will be two 30 minutes on exercise bike instead of run 1 & 2 then a run on the weekend.

I'm actually enjoying being someone who exercises thanks to C25K so want to keep this up.

A little update from me. Last time I I posted I had done wk5r2 and was so unsure of r3. I’ve had a really rubbish week and just wasn’t mentally prepared so didn’t run until yesterday where I did r1 and then today I thought I would do r2 then attempt r3.

Well I did to wk5r2 and when I was coming towards the end I felt like running, I thought 5 mins at first then 8, then 10 then set the target of 15 but then thought what the hell and I did the 20 mins! I then walked for 5 mins. Felt great but I must admit when I got to around 12 I could defiantly feel the strain on my fitness. Legs felt better then they did in the early runs. Really pleased with myself, I think breaking it up into chunks and not having the pressure of actually being on that run on the ap helped.

Well done to everyone’s who is moving forward on this, I’m amazed how quickly I’ve progressed and how much achievement I felt today. Plus burning the calories was great too!

Well done @JustCallMeGriffin!

Thanks everyone for the welcome. My race went well, I think - 1.7 miles / 2.7km, and I did it in 18:08. I did walk at some points, but only for about 20 seconds. I'm quite pleased with that, given that I'm only four or so sessions into C25K.

Does it count as a personal best if it's your first one?

Well done @Mortgagehelp2020 and @Sonmi451.

I did 5k today but it felt much harder than Thursday and it took me another 30sec. I think I peaked too soon!! Today I tried a new route and I definitely did the first 2k too quickly, got to a sensible pace for the 3rd k but was knackered for the 4th and just managed to pull it back for the 5th. Several times in the 3rd and 4th I had to stop running and walk for 10-20 steps instead. So I learnt an important lesson about pacing myself! But, I think the new route is better for the dark evenings, it feels safer and the footpaths are much wider, so I’m going to try to stick with it this week.

Well done @JustCallMeGriffin what a great moment!

And @Mortgagehelp2020 well done, you beat your mental block brilliantly.

Week 6 R1 tomorrow, hope the deluge has subsided a bit by then!

So I did I’d W6 run1 today. Carried on running at the end to get to 15 mins. So what I have works out at about the 25minute mark my legs feel better. This is worrying me for week 3. I’m wondering should I start the run by doing 5 walk and 5 runs then start the programme so I’ve added 12 minutes on? Has anyone done something similar? Just feel that doing 25 mins after 5 min warm up will be too much and I seem better when I have had a few goes at walking running.

W4R1 done. My legs felt like lead for the first one but gradually seemed to get better. Panicked at the thought of W5 already!

@Mortgagehelp2020 it sounds a little bit like you're overthinking the running bit.

My legs would alternate between feeling like they were wading through treacle and more free flowing where I felt more like it was actual running but I just focused on following the plan as per the app. I can't cover 5k in 30 minutes...but I can run for 30 minutes non-stop.

Just have a go at week 6 run 3 as is and see how you get on, I'm sure you'll be OK.

@Jujuball well done. The jump up looks enormous but if you look at total running time the app really does step you up in small increments...it just sounds much bigger than it is.

@Mortgagehelp2020 I agree with @JustCallMeGriffin, I think you are over thinking it! Just got for it!

Well done @Jujuball, you can do it.

Milestone run for me tonight as I ran outside in the dark for the first time ever! My super stylish (ahem) hi vis running jacket arrived so even though it was later than usual I decided to set off for a run. I actually thought I might just go for a little run but I ended up doing the 5k route I tried on Sun. I’m really pleased I went for it, it felt really peaceful running in the dark, although with plenty of streetlights, and my pacing was much better today so I’m going to stick to that route.

So now I’ve ran in the rain and ran in the dark. Once I can set off for a run in the dark when it is raining, then I’ll think of myself as a runner!

Thanks both 

@Ikeameatballs you are definitely a real runner! That's goals to me

W6 R2 done this morning. Chose a hilly route for a change - and because I am definitely not doing hills for R3 later this week

Was cold but sunny this morning. Better than Monday's R1 when the ground was distinctly swampy. Ugh. I don't mind running in the rain but somehow running through soaking ground on a dry day is worse - perhaps because it's only your feet that get squelchy and the rest of you is dry so you're more aware of it?!

Hello everyone. I started C25K a few weeks ago. I have never been a runner (or even an exerciser!) but am keen to stick at it. I did Wk4R2 today and like @Jujuball I am terrified of week 5 next week. I’m finding the final 5min runs in this week’s programme quite difficult (I get slower and slower...) so the thought of 20mins without a rest is daunting. Am reading with interest all your tips.

Ooo hi @Talksunderwater, nice to see somebody at the exact same point as me! I'm planning W4R2 tomorrow morning and R3 on Saturday, all being well

W4R2 done ✅

It's so dark going for a run before work now!

Hello everyone. Welcome to any newbies.

Those of you in week 4/ 5 you will be fine, just take it nice and steady!

I am so impressed by @Ikeameatballs and @Jujuball running in the dark - rain is one thing but I haven't ventured out for a dark run yet! I am especially impressed by anyone who can get themselves out of bed early to run. I love my sleep too much.

I can't believe I just have one more run left until I graduate - so excited!!

On a totally different note, I noticed Aldi have winter running leggings and softshell jackets coming in next week. 😀

Oooh thanks for the tip about legging @StripyHorse!

I've been on this thread before but have changed usernames. And am thinking I may need to restart C25K as I have lost all my fitness got up to week 8 but then we went on holiday, DS1 was ill, etc etc... and now I think I may be back to square one...

I ventured out in the dark this evening, W5 R2. It was ok! Am actually looking forward to having a go at the 20 min stint next time - thought I'd be dreading it but quite enjoyed my steady 8 min plods this evening. Am still amazed at every run after nearly dying after 60 secs on W1!