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!

Well done on getting out there @PrincessConsuela12. I always have a rest day between runs, when I've tried to run two days in a row my legs felt heavy and I just didn't find it enjoyable. I still get my 10,000 steps even on rest days tho as I have two dogs and a horse so always on the go!

Thank you all

I think I'll do Monday, Wednesday & Friday from next week & we always go for a long walk over the weekend.

The hardest part for me was starting, I should've gone earlier this morning but kept doing other things. Hopefully the field will be quieter too, as soon as I got there a puppy started chasing me around 😂

I completed my penultimate run this morning - week 9, run 2!
It actually felt like a really hard slog and I felt like I was slow but I covered 4.6km so it wasn't as bad as I thought.
I'm really worried I won't be able to keep it up once I complete the programme. I love how I feel after the run but I still don't really enjoy it while I'm running. It still feels like bloody hard work. Other runners overtaking me look so effortless. I'm still huffing and puffing and I feel like I'm dragging my body along.
Will I ever reach that effortless, enjoyable stage or will it always be a struggle?

That's really good @WhereAreWeNow well done 👍 It will get easier over time, and not feel like such a hard slog as you get more used to it. I don't know that I'd say I enjoy it that much while I'm running tho, like you I enjoy the feeling after and I like knowing that I'm improving my fitness. I'd definitely recommend having some kind of plan to follow once you finish c25k

I'm the same as emily I don't particularly love running whilst I'm running, but the feeling after is great.
and it gets me out of the house.
and yes, it's hard work, but that's the point isn't it?

I don't love running local routes on my own, especially not short steady "easy" runs.

I get through these because they make the bits I do like easier - running to and different and more exciting places (especially trails in our local hills) and running 'fast' has a definite buzz.

I enjoy organised races because someone else does the heavy lifting of planning a route (and even better it's obvious to follow) and in most cases providing water in the middle (so I don't have to carry it).

I want to get a bit faster so I can go further in a reasonable time and see more stuff!

I'm doing a half marathon plan after I do my 5k "race" on Saturday. Just because I need a "plan" to keep me getting out and running consistently!

Finished week 4 today - and it was the first run (since W1R1) that I really haven’t enjoyed. It was foggy and bitterly cold and my calves were screaming at me all the way. Did it though and my next run isn’t until Saturday so I will put it behind me and look forward to week 5.

Hope everybody else is doing OK

Just had an email from parkrun, they are starting again from 5th June! Still a way off I know but good news 😊🏃‍♀️

where I am organised runs are allowed to start with limited participant numbers and no refreshments. but park run have decided to wait before starting again.

How’s everyone doing? I’ve done W4R1 today so a big jump. I found it tough at the beginning, like I was running through treacle, and by the end I felt like I was jumping on clouds and it was easy breezy. Funny that - I would have thought it would be easier at the beginning.

I’m week 6 run 2 and I found it tough today
My knees are sore

for me often the first 2km are hard. then I usually get into a rythym and it's not so bad after all.
a nice podcast helps

sore knees are not good one is it muscle pain or different?
maybe take a (short) break to recover and do more strengthening exercise in the meantime.

I actually have no idea if it’s muscular or not

I have some liquid ibuprofen but not too sure if I should use it

I think I’ve just over done it as done a lot of hill walking on my no run days and could probably do with a proper rest day.

Since getting my fitnesss tracking watch I’ve also been so aware of how slow I am compared to others that I have pushed myself a bit on the last few runs so that’s probably not helped

ibuprofen and rest sounds like a good plan.

first rule of c25k (or any sports beginner): don't compare yourself to others.

Evening all. Haven't run since Tuesday 😕 but I have been doing some strength exercises designed for runners and I walked about 3 miles today. Planning to do 5k again at weekend tho

Hi everyone - mind if I join? I started C25k mid December and “ran” my first 5k at the start of Feb. I have never run properly before because I hated it, would get out of breath at the start and immediately give up. I now try to run 5k every two days but I dunno - I feel so down about it all! I should be happy that I am consistently doing that but it’s so hard. I am mega slow, and it’s a massive battle of willpower to keep going. Does it ever get easier? 😂

The other thing is I always get out of breath at the start - maybe the first half K and I’m really gasping, then I settle into it and for the rest of the run I’m not that puffed out. Does anyone get this? It’s more my legs feel so heavy and slow. I think someone above described it as running through treacle, which describes it perfectly!

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling I'm about to go for my final run of the programme (procrastinating by faffing around on MN) and I feel the same. I know I've made huge progress but I still find it incredibly hard. Someone wise on here did point out to me that it's meant to be hard which is a good point
I go through an out of breath stage around the 2nd km which then sorts itself out. I think that's probably something that you can improve with time. I also relate to the heavy legs feeling but wonder if that will improve as my muscles get stronger. Or maybe it's a form/technique thing. Do you have good running shoes?
I think the main thing is you're still running which is a huge achievement. Can you do different things to make it more fun so you keep it up? Different music, different route, join a park run or running club, do interval training, start a 10k programme...?
Right, I need to stop putting this off and get out there for my run....

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling I'm hoping to be the first person to congratulate you on completing the programme. That's amazing

Wrong poster... sorry should be @WhereAreWeNow !

W8R2 done.
These last weeks are flying by. I kind of want to press pause because I don't want it to end too soon.
Seems like only yesterday I was worrying about lasting 5 minutes!

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling

Hi everyone - mind if I join? I started C25k mid December and “ran” my first 5k at the start of Feb. I have never run properly before because I hated it, would get out of breath at the start and immediately give up. I now try to run 5k every two days but I dunno - I feel so down about it all! I should be happy that I am consistently doing that but it’s so hard. I am mega slow, and it’s a massive battle of willpower to keep going. Does it ever get easier? 😂

The other thing is I always get out of breath at the start - maybe the first half K and I’m really gasping, then I settle into it and for the rest of the run I’m not that puffed out. Does anyone get this? It’s more my legs feel so heavy and slow. I think someone above described it as running through treacle, which describes it perfectly!

Hi. Have you tried any of the NHS Stepping Stones.podcasts? (For after c25k) They have speed interval ones and various training podcasts that get you moving to different beats of music (all designed to increase speed gradually)

I'm on w8r2. and have started listening to them alongside my c25k run.
My running was all over the place when I didn't listen to music but I find this focuses me a d hopefully gets me running quicker.

It is amazing isn’t it, how far the program gets you. Massive well done everyone - because it’s really not easy! I remember when I started and was dreading the 8 minute run abs it felt insurmountable. It now takes me about 40 mins, on average with fluctuations either side, to run 5k. I don’t think I had fully realised how far 5k is 🤣 But I need to focus on the fact I can run continuously for 40 minutes. Which even in January felt impossible.

For when you get back @WhereAreWeNow, congratulations on completing it!

I don’t know if I have good fitting running shoes or not. I can’t really afford a new pair of trainers right now. Somewhat ironically, DH is a running coach who specialises in barefoot running. So whilst I wear minimal trainers abs shoes day to day, even he would say don’t try running barefoot style when you’ve never even run before. But DH cannot coach me - we just end up bickering

I did 4.5k today and just sort of gave up because I couldn’t face the last bit uphill. Then I saw a squirrel get hit by a car and stopped to see if I could help it.

I did it
It was hard going. I thought of you @GorgeousLadyofWrestling as I got really out of puff around the 2k mark and didn't think I'd be able to carry on. But I did!
Beat my pace/distance too. I covered 4.73km and my pace averaged 6 mins 24 secs per km.
Feeling very pleased with myself but also really worried about my self discipline to keep it up.
How will I cope without Michael Johnson's words of encouragement?!

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling how lucky to have a running coach in the house! I understand about bickering though.
I do think the right shoes are important but they do cost a fortune. Maybe you could go for a gait analysis (or ask your DH for advice) at a running shop when they reopen. Get an idea of what you need but don't buy immediately? Save up, wait for a sale or ask for money towards new shoes for your next birthday?