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!

I found out just how bad my breathing sounds this morning when my headphones disconnected and wouldn't reconnect.
It's embarrassing

So glad I did eventually go out this morning because this run was much better than the last one which I found tough. I felt better all the way and ended up running further than I have ever done (4.5k) and I conquered the hill at the end of my route . Just about collapsed on the side of the path at the top mind you! I figure my next goal should be trying to do the magic 5K on flatter ground (just have to find some round here!).
@Namechange1245 I also find my weakness is my lungs but that is definitely getting better over time. If you have to walk more than they say in the programme, don’t worry just take it at your pace and repeat as necessary.

@Talksunderwater well done glad I could help

Today w3 r1

Today was a good run! The 3 mins sections I was dreading were fine. Beautiful day outside and a very high tide this morning.

I have a question. So today I ran more than any other day. But I didn’t get as far along the route as normal. I have a landmark I’m trying to get to, but today the halftime bell rang what seemed like too soon as I was no where near. So my question is...am I slower running than walking? Or is it something else?

This is so embarrassing if I’m slower running than walking.

It felt like I hadn’t done as much today, which was odd. But I was out for the normal time.

My route is very flooded in places so I look like I’m playing hopscotch! Dodging the flooded parts.

Jo said to run slow which I was. My legs are so heavy, I don’t know if I can run faster and still be running at the end of the section.

I suppose I can try and run faster, but I’m worried I’ll burn myself out too soon and have to walk. I wasn’t desperate for her to tell me to stop running like I was in the first week. That said I’m quite pleased when she says to slow done and walk!

Ah Dobby we did our W3R1 together I did mine at lunch today, I found the 3 mins bloody difficult tbh. But I left it 3 days since my W2R3 which is probably a bit naughty.
If you look at the times you're only running/walking for 28 mins in W3 whereas W2 is 31 mins, so don't worry you're not running slower than you walk!!

Well done cavagirl!

How exciting you are on the same week as me.

I’m not saying the 3 mins run was a breeze, but I thought it went better than I thought I would be. I was glad when Jo told me I was halfway through. I feel like the end of the 3 mins I was hardly moving!

I do walk fast, when people walk with me they always ask me to slow down. I don’t have long legs or anything! but I do walk a lot.

I suppose we have another 2 more of this run to perfect it. My knees are feeling sore now.

I’m running on the flat which is cheating probably.

I failed to do my run today the DC are off school and by the time DH could watch them, it was dark and I was too chicken to run in the dark.

Determined to do it tomorrow though

Tomorrow's another day minipie

It's funny, I'm too chicken to run in the light! Might brave it on Saturday morning

Well done everyone. I love to hear about everyone’s running experiences. Another run completed this morning. Still working my way up to W1. Running shorter runs/jogs each time. Taking on board the great advice on here. I did some stretches. Still some discomfort. I feel as if my body is screaming, ‘No, you don’t want to do this!’ I feel that if it hadn’t been for the pain I could have run for a little longer. If it wasn’t for the support on here I probably would have given up by now. Thank you all again.

@minipie my last couple of runs have been in the dark. I carry a small torch with me. I think I prefer it because I feel as if nobody can see me.

@minipie I never run in the dark. We are rural though so I'd be v nervous on lanes. I wear high vis even in the daytime.
Keep at it @namechange1245, every run is a positive step, even a bad run - as Sarah Millican keeps reminding me! Adding a tiny bit extra each week will really help your fitness.
I'm on W9R2 today and absolutely astonished I've got this far. I'm so chuffed. DH has started running with me now as he used to do it but hasn't for a couple years. Annoying that he's straight back to 30 mins with no challenge when I feel like this is a massive achievement for me 😂. It's blowing a hooley outside but I'm looking forward to it.

I prefer running in the dark too; I live down a twisty dark lane with no lamp posts, so I'm trying to get in the habit of taking my running stuff to work and stopping off in the next village to do my run on my way home. I find if I go home first I'll sit down and make excuses not get up again , so it's better to get changed at work and just get it done, plus has the added bonus that this village is a lot less hilly than the one where we live!

I find running in the dark weirdly relaxing and peaceful, and pretty with all the Christmas lights atm, will be sad to see them go. Did week 3 run 2 last night, hoping to finish week 3 at the weekend. Week 3 weirdly feels easier than week 1, though when I was stretching yesterday I noticed I've got a blister on each foot, never had one before, they don't hurt atm so hoping that they won't be a problem for doing a run at the weekend.

Lovely to see everyone else on here working their way through the weeks , I was nervous about starting week 3, but seeing other peoples progress on here gave me the motivation to give it a go.

Hi all, great to hear everyone is sticking to it. I ended up taking 3 days off again (bad habits creeping in I see) but forced myself to run tonight - more so for my dogs sake then mine (been on calls since 8am and we both hadn't left the couch all day). It was warmer tonight and boy did I sweat - unless I shift this blubber before spring I don't know how I'll survive running. Soooo much harder when I'm hot and sweaty! Also finally measured my run and annoyed I didn't run as far as I could - I was 200m away from 4km and if I knew I would have done it. Determined to try to do it tomorrow.

@Namechange1245 honestly I would never have thought I could run 30mins a couple of months ago. The first week was by far the hardest - I actually found that 1min running wasn't enough for my breathing to settle down. It wasn't just that I was unfit (and boy was I!), I didn't know how to breathe so I spent every minute of running gasping for breathe. Actually when I moved to week 2 it got easier. Now I can see it takes me at least 5-7mins to get my breathing into a rhythm. It's the same when I swim, 1st 15mins I'm struggling to breathe well, 30mins in an it's settled down and I'm cruising. DH says most people struggle to breath when running more so because they don't know how to breathe well vs pure lack of fitness. Don't know what to suggest though.

Good luck everyone on the next week - I'm hoping if I put in a massive effort over Xmas to run and swim regularly I might hit 5km by end of the year! Whose up for a challenge to run their PB on the 1st? Doesn't matter what time/distance as long as it's your Pb?

@Jibberoo I'm a sweaty Betty and lost a stone since starting to run and I hate to say it's not improved any.
I'm bang in the middle of healthy weight according to BMI , my breathing is all over the place too.
I'm aiming to do a 10K on the 1st , I've been building it up every Saturday, this week I'm up to 8, or will be once I've done it

That's 8K done this morning need to warm up now as I got really warm and have now cooled off and got the chills.
Wishing you all a happy weekend with good runs

I finally got out and did w6r2, a bit of a struggle probably due to having done nothing for the last 3 days, also wore too many clothes. But it is done!

I think I’m only running about 3k-3.5k distance so must be going pretty slowly... I’m not going to worry about that yet though.

Jibberoo totally agree about getting into your stride around 5-7 minutes and I think as you say, it is the breathing as much as the running that gets into a rhythm. I find I breathe better if I’m not thinking about it! Music really helps with that so I can’t hear my —gasping— breathing.

Well done @minipie that's fab.
I'm still in vest and 3/4 lengths but I'm sure January will see to that

Very muddy again this morning so I found it hard going. I had to walk a bit in the middle of my run and didn’t get as far - too much puddle avoidance messing up my stride.
@Jibberoo I am aiming to conquer the magical 5km sometime very soon (think it will take me maybe 38-40 mins at my slow pace) and definitely by 1 Jan.

Thanks schoolcook! Your 8k is so impressive an inspiration! When did you complete w9?

Well done. schoolcook 👏🏼

That’s impressive.

Lovely to hear all these positive runs.

I did w3 r2 today.

Very wet and flooded on my route. I walked further along before I started the app so I would be running on firmer ground. So did an extra 10 mins walk, but it was fine.

First run was difficult, but got more into my stride later. I feel like Pavlov’s dog when the song starts to fade I’m ready to slow if
Jo starts to speak! Must stop that.

When I walk I’m striding, but when I run I’m almost jogging on the spot. I don’t know why I do it. I want to take longer strides, but my legs don’t seem to understand. Last run section lasted ages and I was very slow at the end of the section.

Beautiful day again...really high tide and the gig boats were out.

Thanks @minipie and @DobbyTheHouseElk

I started C25K last week of August so I think I graduated around Halloween or thereabouts ?

I do 5K every Monday Wednesday and Friday then each Saturday I am adding on 1K so I can do a 10K on New Year's Day.

I won't say it's easy

Well done Dobby !!!
It was raining here today so I've put my W3R2 off to tomorrow
I know exactly what you mean about stride length. On the W1/2 runs I felt like I might look like I was running quite well and had a decent stride at points. Any longer though (ie now in W3!) & I'm knackered and my legs won't do what I want, I feel like I'm just hanging on at a slow jog until I can walk again.
Experienced ones does this get better? Do you all now run with a lovely long stride??

Cavagirl you’ve explained that better than me, thank you.

I’m not sure I was ever striding in my run. But it’s got silly now. I feel like I’ve seized up and not running well. It’s a silly jog on the spot. Also I’m leaning forward. (Who else is getting an attractive image here!)

I remember when I ran before it took me a while to work out how to effectively run, but I can’t remember how I did it.

Haha Dobby I think I just wrote the same as you I think for me the problem is poor hip adductor strength. If I do leg raises I find my legs tire before my stomach muscles having not done anything like that for several months this is now probably a lie So I think I lack the strength to lift my thigh higher and extend more forwards to get a longer stride IYSWIM. Having said that, when I make myself, I do find I can make my stride a bit longer at the back. I need to run along a building with windows that reflect!!!
I feel like on the 60-90s intervals I could think about technique whereas for 3 minutes I'm just concentrating on being able to finish the interval.
Hopefully it comes! And I probably can't ignore my shit adductors anymore if I want to get better....

That’s really interesting Cavagirl

I think my hip adductors are strong, but tight. I might have a practice run tomorrow and get DH to watch. (Only in the garden) see if he can see where I’m going wrong.

Maybe I’m too fat to carry on striding, I’m too heavy to lift myself up and propel forward?

I did however use my arms a lot more today. Sort of using them in time with my legs (I think I know what I mean) pumping them at the side of my body.

When I trained before to do a 10k run my trainer said my feet weren’t hitting the ground at the right time, so I might look into that. At the moment I’m so concentrating on not stopping, I’m not thinking about my posture.

But Jo said if someone was the other side of the hedge, I shouldn’t be running and bobbing too much. So the person the other is de of the hedge shouldn’t know if I’m running or walking.

I’ve been watching my shadow when I run for clues, but all I see is a middle aged woman shuffling along.