C25K encouragement continued

[Jibberoo]

Hi everyone

I've started this thread as I couldn't add any more posts to the other one. Hopefully you all find this thread!!

Hope everyone had enjoyed their day - so bored at home right now I'm glad I have the run to look forward to. Waited till it got dark and I headed out with my new running buddy - my 11yo ds. Yes he ran ahead of me and stopped a few times so I could catch up, but we ran 4.46km in 33mins and I'm so proud of both of us! (And little dog of course who's my faithful running buddy). It was a bit drizzly tonight which was actually quite nice as it wasn't that cold so the rain cooled me off a bit.

I've been thinking of how I can improve my stride length and I wonder if I can use my rest days to do W1r1 and try to do it with much longer strides? Seeing my son running I realise how inefficient my stride is. If I can only learn to open my stride I could run much further in the same time. If I can walk tomorrow I might try that to see if I can.

Hope everyone is enjoying their runs today!

I’m going to start parkrun when they open again. I promised my friend I’d join her. Although she is super fit.

I’m happy to take middle of the run. I’m old and fat. I’m happy to be running again. I did 10k’s when I was younger and had thought I wasn’t going to be running properly again.

My old town parkrun was anything from 15 minutes to over an hour. My 4 then 4 year old took about 50 minutes of sprint and stop and the tail runner wasn't visible when we finished so if you can walk a steady 5k you should be nowhere near the back...

Quicker last finishing times were generally in foul weather on hilly courses. My highest ever finishing position was ironically my closest to last except on a couple of winter runs with 4yo where we were with the tail in a hilly muddy trail parkrun...

Is a parkrun always 5k?

@Fellrunner85 and @Likeamillpond thanks for the advice on inclines. I had a horrible feeling that might be the answer. I will make sure I put a few inclines into my next run and see how I get on. It will allow me to vary my route a bit more.
Thanks for everyone sharing their stories. I find it really motivating that people running marathons started where I am now.

W8R2 done this morning - brrrr. I actually don't mind the cold, since I come back tomato red anyway - Thursday it was actually quite warm and I was overheating, who knows how I'll cope when the days warm up! The last couple of minutes of these 28 minute runs have been quite tough - I like to tell myself that it's cause I'm going fast, but the distance I'm actually running in those 28 minutes suggests that isn't the problem!

Getting a little excited now that I only have four runs left, so I should be graduating a week on Tuesday(!) and I genuinely can't remember anything lately that I've been more proud of. I hope Sarah is suitably impressed, I'll be very disappointed if there's no fanfare in my ear

Whilst I'd like to think I'll get a bit faster, join in park runs and perhaps work my way up to 10k at some point, I'm under no illusions that I'm going to join running clubs or start running marathons. I'm just aiming to keep up this new habit of running three times a week. I've never run before - used to skive off cross country at school and always hated it when I tried in my 20s, but eight weeks in I feel fitter and healthier and can't believe I've made it this far - and that I actually enjoy it (some of the time!). Now, if I can just stop stuffing my face with food, I might even lose a bit of weight to see the (presumably) more toned muscles underneath...

Also, I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but I find the arm band for my phone comfortable so far - I forget it's even there and it was v cheap from Amazon.

Forgot to add two things - I'm planning to use the (free) Nike Running Club app after I graduate, they have lots of guided runs that look good - different ones based on distance, speed, interval training etc.

And welcome newbies - you can do it!

@WellJuhnelle - love the username. Do you have feathers in your hair right now?

Hello can I join please? I've just started C25k, I finished week 1 today. I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying it as I've never really been into running.

I'm pleased to have found this thread, it's great to see that people are progressing so well.

@Onedropbeat

Is a parkrun always 5k?

Yep! Although at the one near me a handful of people would go round twice to make it 10 - obviously they don't get an official time. Same course every week, 5k.

Also welcome Violet

W1D2 done today - was harder than Saturday (I still had achy thighs and went before breakfast to see if it was easier or harder) but I still finished so I am counting it as a win! Might redo week 1 because I’m not sure I will be able to run 90 seconds by Saturday!

Enjoy your run today @Inastatus - is this your last day of week 1?

Completed wk 4 run 1 this morning - whilst it wasn't 'easy' it was certainly easier than I expected it to be !

@WellJuhnelle - thanks and well done to you!

I’m just waiting for my friend to let me know when she’s ready to go. It is technically my last day of week 1 although my friend started just before me and is 1 run ahead so we have been going by hers.

@VioletCharlotte - hi. Welljuhnelle and I are new starters too so welcome.

Might redo week 1 because I’m not sure I will be able to run 90 seconds by Saturday!

@WellJuhnelle this was me!!! I nearly redid W1 too because I just couldn't imagine running for 30s longer! But I made myself and I did it. You will be able to I promise! And you'll feel amazing having done it!

When the app says to run are people running fast or is it jogging?

I feel like I have no idea how to set a speed or pace myself

When the app says to run are people running fast or is it jogging?

it should be a jogg that you can keep up 'forever', as slow as you need it to be. it might not be faster than a fast walk at the beginning.

Thank you @redcandlelight
If you have stamina that you can jog comfortably for 30 minutes do you still need to do the walking sections at the early weeks?

Thank you @Cavagirl! Will give it a go then and keep you in mind when I am ready to give up!

@Onedropbeat are you finding you don't need the walking sections?

I do know some people who have used C25k to get faster at 5k - they do a fast run for the running interval and then an easy jog rather than a walk for the walking interval. If you're already quite fit that might make sense? Otherwise I'd just suggest pushing yourself and running a bit faster then so you "need" the walking interval and/or starting the next interval sooner (by about W4 I found the walking interval a bit too long).

Definitely not an expert though!

I’ve never run before so didn’t expect to have decent enough fitness but I’m a big hill Walker and so long hikes regularly which might have given me the leg strength needed to do a jog.

I still aren’t cracking out 5k in under 30 minutes so that’s my goal really.

@onedropbeat

I'd be tempted to do C25k "faster". If you can track your speed aim to do the intervals at 6min/km and recover with a mix of walking and jogging. Otherwise go as fast as you can sustain for the interval.

However I would go slower through the programme - no more than 2 "fast" runs in a week and go steady on other ones. Unless you're finding it super easy then no problem.

I started off able to run 5k (to my great shock) after 5 months of walking to do all my errands while carrying my baby plus all the gubbins plus shopping. Gaining speed means more running at faster speeds with necessary rests.

Other option if you end up wanting (or already have) toys is that Garmin Coach has a 5k improvement programme. I did an extra run plus some snowy hill walks (Scotland so within our rules - we have knee deep snow on the hills just outside Glasgow) and it's now telling me off for overtraining!

Thanks @randomsabreuse

That makes sense as during the week the baby is in the carrier for our daily walks and along with having an energetic toddler at home I don’t sit down

Il see how I go this week and hope it’s not a fluke

Thank you all for the welcome

I’ve just done run1 week1 with the dog, my legs felt like lead, I’m coughing like a 40 a day smoker and very red. Had to stop during one walk to pick up a dog poo!

I’m 3 stone overweight nearly all stomach and could see it jumping up and down!

Any idea for a long running top or jkt, I felt quite embarrassed as I could literally feel my stomach and arse jumping independently up and down.

@FAQs I get you. I have this problem, was annoyed when my worst chafing problem from a summer run was my bingo wings rubbing on the seam of my clothes! To be fair I'd already learned not to wear shorts unless knee length by that point for similar reasons - I have very chafy skin and chunky thighs.

I actually recommend thick good quality leggings which act as a sports bra for wobbly bits!

I have a slightly oversized cycling jacket I picked up in Aldi. It has a nice long back. Isn't the most breathable but fine for winter (lucky if it's above 4 degrees at the moment). Summer I wear a big tech t-shirt - men's sizes often come up longer which is handy.

I have to an extent stopped caring what I look like so focus on minimising bounce over disguising it.. I certainly prioritise comfort over fashion!

I’m wearing post maternity leggings which hold any tummy jiggle and my DH’s T-shirt’s and jumpers mainly
I normally stick to just a T-shirt even in this weather as I warm up and get sweaty so quickly

The only time I’ve worn an extra layer was Saturday morning when I went out in the snwo