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!

Had a bit of a revelation today in that I ran the new flat route- absolutely beautiful morning, and I felt fine the whole way. Happy even . When I checked at the end I had been running for 50 minutes- slowly - but still for me that’s sort of unbelievable. The progress C25K can give is just amazing. Also after 3 days break which I expect helped. Anyway I’m going to try the bastard hill route next time which is much shorter and just see if I can do it or if flat is my friend , and if it is I might just stick with that. Just wanted to say well done to everyone getting up and getting out ,even in the dark and rain, and stick with it , it really does work.

Sounds like good progress happening for all this week. I had wanted to run this morning but couldn’t find time before work so decided on lunchtime - but then work got in the way so I ended up with only a very short timeframe. Rather than not go, I decided to go for a shorter run and try to go faster. Exhausting! I’ll see if that makes any difference to my normal run in a day or two.

Well done @Misandrylovescompany it's so exciting when you realise you can do more than needs isn't it!

And I'm mighty impressed at you ladies running hills - flat and cold seems to be my only way maybe one day I'll venture to other side of town where it's hilly.

Mad day at work so enjoying a rest day today but looking forward to repeating w5r3 tomorrow. And yay! They're opening gyms and pools so have booked in a session every day next week - will have to make sure I don't miss too much running!

Keep running all

Finished w7 today. Haven't checked into the thread for a bit but it's good to see everyone's progress - well done all. W8 doesn't seem too daunting, just adding 3 minutes on, so that should be ok next run hopefully.

Hi Runners

I'm new to the thread and currently on week 8. Up until now I've had no problems, each run has been hard but manageable.

Week 8 run 1 was absolutely fine, but run 2 was awful - I got terrible cramps in my calves about 20 mins in, to the point were I was limping and had to stop and walk for a bit, but recovered after 2 or 3 mins.

Attempted it again today, made sure I had plenty to drink and did 10 mins of stretches beforehand, but once again got really painful calf cramps at the same point, this time I didn't stop running but had to really slow down to nearly walking speed. After about 5 mins they wore off and I finished ok, but the 5 mins of pain was quite bad :(

I'm not sure where I'm going wrong, but has anyone else experienced this?

@mysocalledlife you mention stretching beforehand and I’m not sure that it is always a good idea to stretch cold muscles? Do you stretch afterwards? I was led to believe that was more important.

As for me, I ran up three hills today on w5r1w3 with a hangover and so even I have to admit that it is time to give in and move on to w5r2.

Glad to hear everyone is still going

I am having issues with my Fitbit measuring the same route at 3 different distances

What do you all use to track your runs ?

Apologies if I've asked this already but I'm starting to doubt if I've ever even run 5K because map my run has my usual 5K as 4.8.

I was thinking of getting a garmin watch but I've only recently got the Fitbit and there are way too many options for garmin !

Think I’ve sussed it out - Fitbit uses stride length which I’ve probably set wrong - map my run is gps so most likely more accurate. Which means I’m slower than I thought

mysocalledlife I got tight calf muscles in W8 and have never had a problem since. Have also been quite slack with post run stretches recently so need to sort that out before I invite problems
schoolcook I use Strava to track runs and think it's fairly accurate
Haven't run since last Thursday as felt headachey and run down over weekend. Need to get out this evening. Have been regressing back to 30 min runs (4K ish) instead of pushing for a regular 5k, need to get some new 5-6 k routes and push myself a bit

It's so irritating that the Fitbit doesn't accurately do what it's supposed to !
I've a fair idea of what 5K actually is now though.

Set off to do well 7 run 2 today and was halfway up the big hill when the 25 minutes where up. Decided to see if I could continue to the top and by the time I got there I was at 29 minutes so did the extra 1 to reach 30!
Feeling very pleased with myself, was a very slow 30 minutes only covering 4.2km but I'm more pleased I managed to run all the way up the big hill than anything else.
Question for anyone who runs on trails not tarmac do trail running shoes make that much difference? I run on dirt trails through farmland and find I have to go very slowly downhill when its wet or risk sliding down

Wow forest 30 minutes and ending uphill!
No idea about trail shoes sorry I am very much in town so my usual hazards are dodging toddlers and dog walkers...!

Did W4 r1 today and really enjoyed it, I felt like 5 minutes running is just long enough to get into a rhythm? Weirdly found it much easier than w3 r3 but think that’s cos I did that one soon after lunch (not recommended!)

I repeated week 8 run 3 today and had no calf pain at all! So I'm hoping it was a temporary problem like yours LakeFlyPie
Moving on to my final week on Wednesday...

@foresttheout that's amazing well done !
@minipie it gets better and better 
@mysocalledlife exciting

@foresttheout

If this pic works (scuse the mess/uncleaned shoes) from L to R you have my slightly grippier than average road shoes (Mizuno Wave Kizunas), some light trails (Salomon's, not one of the "cross" range) and some "mud" shoes (Karrimors).

The Salomons are quite grippy but not great on thick mud as the teeth get clogged up. They're quite "solid" on roads - great for tracks, not so good on full on mud, especially if it's steep.

Karrimors are good at full on mud and tolerable on road. More padding than the Salomons but definitely not a road shoe.

It's all about the teeth. I do enough "shortcuts" off road on predominantly road runs that I always make sure I have some grip on my road shoes

@randomsabreuse that's really helpful thankyou! I think something like the middle shoe would help. My usual route is around 1/3 broken tarmac 1/3 grass trail and 1/3 mud. The mud trails are technically dirt roads so generally quite compact but like ice in places when wet. When it's very wet I detour slightly to take smaller grass/dirt paths to avoid breaking my neck but I find my current road shoes to slippy even on those. I'll have a look online, I also need stability shoes or I get awful shin splints so hopefully there's something which can do both that won't break the bank

This has really motivated me...took a pic a couple of months ago at start of health kick...I am feeling healthier so took another today. Running legs!

wow! That’s amazing user! Have you made other changes as well as running?

That's amazing user!
My first run since last Thursday this evening and probably the most enjoyable yet. Managed 5.25k comfortably, it's funny how some runs feel hard work and others just flow.
My reason for doing C25K was to try and enjoy running (did it several years ago and really didn't click, every run was a chore) and runs like this evening make it feel like I've achieved my goal

@LakeFlyPie that's such a great feeling isn't it !
I've always looked at people running and thought I wish I could do that.
And now I can. Albeit slowly but I'm absolutely loving it.

@minipie Dietary. By eating 3 regular meals I've cut down on chocolate binges.

Oh well done! I really need to work on cutting down the snacks.

In fact you have inspired me - I think I will take a photo this eve and use it as a benchmark.

ARGH - I bldy did it - week 5 run 3 - did it; ran for 20 minutes - it wasn't pretty and it was certainly not fast but I did it!!
Ever since being told I would at best be mediocre in PE to being told I run like a duck (thanks mum) to a fitness obsessed ex telling me I would always be built for comfort I have been convinced I can't run but today I bldy did it (and I'm a bit giddy about it can you tell? )

Ah well done Sultanas that’s fantastic!