Couch to 5k - anyone on week 3?

[AlexaShutUp]

Hello all, just wondering if there are any fellow C25kers at about the same stage as me in the process, who would appreciate some mutual encouragement?

I've completed the second run of week 3. Found it very hard but manageable - I'm very out of shape. Last run of week 3 tomorrow and I'm already feeling anxious about the significant step up next week.

Anyone else on week 3 as well? I could use a buddy. Any positive stories from others who have gone past this stage would be good - especially from those who started the programme when they were very unfit/overweight. The last time I tried to do c25k I gave up at the start of week 3 because it felt too overwhelming, but this time, I'm determined to push on through.

Any tips/encouragement/company welcome!

Yay! Well done 💪🏻💪🏻

Oh, well done @Blobby10 and @Dancingalong! It's great that you didn't let the snow defeat you! I'm feeling left behind now, though!

@chilver, I have the same thing about never wanting to go out but always feeling better for having done it. I'm also very overweight but working on that!

We are all doing so well! I might have to wait for the snow to clear, but I am going to finish this programme no matter what obstacles get in my way!

I did W3R1 today in the snow. Very slow as I was very conscious of where I was putting my feet. But I kept going and I am pleased with myself!

Well done @EsmeShelby! You're braver than I am....waiting for the snow to disappear before I do any more runs!

Completed wk 5 run 2 today - can't believe I 'ran' for two lots of 8 minutes! According to Strava I'm slower than I was in week 3 (I run the same route each time) when running less so not quite sure what's going on! My first mile is up a 5% incline so hard work anyway. Maybe I just subconsciously go more slowly if I know its a longer run?

Well done @Blobby10, that's amazing! I am not surprised about the pace, I'm sure I go slower on the longer runs, probably because my body knows it's going to have to keep going for longer.

Still a lot of snow here, so I can't run yet. Hoping it might clear by tonight, I'm gutted to be falling behind.

I did my second week 4 this morning and actually enjoyed it! I think that’s the most I’ve enjoyed exercise ever. It was such lovely weather, bright sunshine and crunchy frosty grass. Though when I was half through I wasn’t going to make it so was really happy when I did.

Hi. I started C25k last year and am now able to run for 40 mins. My tip, run to your heart rate if you have a tracker. I run very slowly but keep going. I’m old but pleased with my achievements. It took a few weeks for me to enjoy running but I look forward to it now. Koko.

Snow here again today and it's too icy to run. I almost fell just walking ddog. V disappointed as was due to do w4r3 yesterday, don't think it's going to thaw so it may be Thursday or Friday before I can get out. I'm worried the gaps will undo all my hard work and I'll get sucked back to couch!!

That’s so encouraging thank you for posting! I’ve promised myself a fitness tracker if i can keep this up for another 6 weeks so I’ll make sure that’s a heart rate monitor.

Just popping in to say trust the programme! I did C25K five years ago and couldn't run at all before then. Now in two days I am about to run my first ultra trail marathon of 53km (me of five years ago would laugh and laugh at the idea).

W5R3 is daunting - my advice is to make sure you've got some good tunes to get you through, slow right down from the start, and split it into two ten minutes runs in your head. Once you go past ten mins, you're just running down the clock.

When I completed W5R3 I was grinning from ear to ear and wanted to stop everybody I walked past to tell them that I'd just run for 20 mins! It still remains one of my biggest achievements and proudest moments.

If you've got this far in the programme, your legs and muscles can carry you for 20 mins - the hard part is convincing your brain you can do it!

Toomanynotes good luck with your ultra marathon! I am in awe of anyone who does anything tbh! My brother does ultras in Canada - he did ahi first100 miler last year! He sends great pics of his training runs when its minus 35 with wind chill and he has ice eyebrows .

I think 6 miles will be my limit - I would be happy to be able to complete that in under an hour. Or maybe just complete it without stopping first!

@AlexaShutUp I went out at 5.15am and ran on the roads facing any traffic as they were clear and the pavements snowy! Is that something that could work for you? I did have to jump onto the pavement a couple of times but generally there wasn't anything coming towards me. I only slipped once and that was when I was walking home - slipped on some snow covered ice in the gutter whilst crossing the road on my estate.

I think I’m going to go out shortly and do wk5r3 😳 the pavements have cleared up so I really don’t have an excuse!
@AlexaShutUp hopefully it’ll clear soon and you’ll be able to get out.

Good luck Dancing!

I did it 🎉 a lot of procrastinating beforehand but i managed to persuade myself to go. Downloaded some new songs to listen to and kept trying to guess each minute marker. Can’t believe I actually ran for 20 minutes!

Well done @Dancingalong . You are my hero! I ve got week 5 next week and am v apprehensive

Amazing! Well done. I’ve also got week 5 next week although I’m thinking I might need a few extra week 4 runs.

Ah thank you @wizzler and @CarlottaValdez! I’m still riding the high of doing it! You’ve both got this, week 5 is challenging but you can do it. My pace is really really slow but my plan is to work on that once I’ve finished the plan.

Well done @Dancingalong, that's amazing! Such an achievement!

Some of the snow was melting by lunchtime today, so I thought I might venture out this evening and try the roads as @Blobby10 suggested, but then it started snowing quite heavily again so I abandoned the idea. Really hope that it clears tomorrow as I'm so afraid of losing my progress. I'm trying to keep exercising at home, but it isn't quite the same...wish I had a treadmill for weeks like this!

I'm posting on this thread as well cos I'm so pleased with myself - I did wk 5 run 3 this morning!! 20 minutes of running non stop and I didn't die! My strava feed is showing a 9.5 minute mile pace which is much faster than I thought. Had to keep swapping pavements as one side of the road was icy and not the other but apart from that --- I Feel Good!!!!

Oh wow! Well done @Blobby10, that's amazing!

Amazing! Well done!

I did third run of week 4 this morning and feeling pretty good. I think I’ll do week 4 again next week in full just because I’m quite cautious (and fat)!

Finally managed to get out and do Week 5 Run 1. Was a bit scared because I had missed a few days, but I managed to keep going - slowly! Next run will be on Saturday, and I'm trying to decide whether to repeat Run 1 or move straight on to Run 2.

For the time being, I'm just glad that I hadn't lost so much progress that I couldn't manage today's run!

Oh that’s great well done!