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!

My week 4 podcast wouldn't play so I did wk 1 again but ran 6min 1.5 walk, 3.5 run 1.5 walk 5 min run.

Will have to try to get it to work next time.

Well done @EsmeShelby - sounds like a good workaround.

Hi all , i have just this week completed it :) , at the beginning i really struggled with week 1 run 1 & now can do 30 mins ( no 5k yet mind) , what worked for me was a good music playlist & also me personally was improving my diet as i have lost a bit of extra weight i have found it easier , great thread - keep it up all

Congratulations @AlexaShutUp .. that's such a huge achievement. You should be so proud of yourself.
Also @torfoxwell01 ... what are you going to do to mark your success?

I am really far behind you guys, have my alarm set for the morning to do week 3 r1. Not found the running to o hard so far, I know it is very early days, but finding the time and motivation to get out is scuppering me a bit. Keep your fingers crossed I don’t switch off my alarm and go back to sleep! ( am so tired I typed all of this in the username box instead of the comment box) this is a great thread very inspiring

Wk6 run 2 completed here 😁it was much harder than it needed to embed as I was totally overdressed for the (much warmer) weather! Really need to sort out how to carry my phone (why are they so flaming big these days?) but don’t want to buy stuff as I don’t think my joints will let me keep running once the gyms open and cycling weather is here 😁

Well done @torfoxwell01.
Hope you managed to get out this morning @Uachtar. I had to take a 15 minute nap before I went out yesterday as I had a headache and was really tired. Came back from the running feeling loads better.
Well done @Blobby10 it has definitely warmed up a lot now. I wear Lucy locket leggings that have a pocket on the back which is where I put my phone. I wear them in the gym too. It is tricky getting the layer balance right.

Thank you managed to force myself out the door! It helps that I have few opportunities time wise so when I can go - I gotta go. Next run Friday morning 🏃‍♀️

Well done @Uachtar!

I did Week 6 Run 1 earlier. It was hard but manageable. I am feeling pretty good about how far I've come. Obviously, I still need to work up to longer runs, and my speed needs a lot of work but my stamina and fitness has improved so much.

How is everyone else doing this week?

I’m going to try week 5, run 1 this morning. I’m nervous! Just bought a heart rate monitor so I’ll be interested to see what that shows.

You'll be fine @CarlottaValdez. You can do this!

Well, I completed week 6 run 3 this morning but will definitely have to stop running for a while whilst this achilles thing clears up. The second half of the 'run' was more hobbling than anything and very slow. I'm really gutted as I really felt as though I was getting somewhere for once and going to actually achieve a goal .

So sorry to hear that @Blobby10. That must be so frustrating when you have been doing so well.

Well done @AlexaShutUp

Oh no sorry to hear that @Blobby10, hopefully with some rest you’ll be back to it.

I did week 7 run 1 last night. Really slow but felt more comfortable then the last run. I’ll probably fit one or two more runs in before I need to take a few days to a week off. Having a surgical tooth extraction on Monday 🤢 Everything I’ve read says you shouldn’t run for a bit after so I’m saying a week and hoping for less.

Thanks Alexa and Dancing I'm really gutted - far more than I ever thought I would be. With the gyms shut and weather too cold/wet/icy for cycling, doing C25K three times a week was just about keeping my depression at bay. Hopefully the weather is on the turn (planning two cycles this weekend!) and I can keep control but so very disappointed to have failed at yet another 'thing'.

Dancing I hope your tooth extraction isn't too awful - I recommend taking Arnica tablets a few hours before and a few days after the procedure. It helps speed up healing and in some people reduces pain. I used it after my C-Sections and didn't need any painkillers (apart from paracetomol for a headache).

Week 5 first run done this morning. Was quite hard but managed it! I run m,w,f usually so I’m going to repeat this run Monday so I’m back to doing them in the same week. 20 minutes still feeling ridiculous.

@Blobby10, you certainly haven't "failed" at c25k, you've been doing brilliantly. Taking a break due to injury definitely isn't failure, it's just bad luck. Hopefully, you will be ok after some rest and you'll be able to get back out again. I have only made the link between exercise and my mental health fairly recently, but I can totally understand the concern about keeping depression at bay. Please do take care of yourself!

Well done for starting Week 7 @Dancingalong. Sounds like you're making brilliant progress! I hope that the tooth extraction goes well.

Well done @CarlottaValdez, and don't worry - the idea of running for 20 mins still seemed ridiculous to me after Week 5 Run 1 (even after run 2 tbh) but somehow, I did it. Just trust in yourself and trust in the programme. It's as much a psychological challenge as it is a physical one, but you can do it.

@AlexaShutUp thank you for your kind words🥰and I know deep down that you are right - I am pleased to have run/hobbled for 25 minutes non stop this morning which I certainly couldn't have done 6 weeks ago. I just so wanted to finish the 9 weeks!

Good luck with the rest of week 6 and onwards!!! Looking forward to the graduation announcement 👍

I've just done w5r3...I'm 55 and can say with confidence that this is the longest I have ever run in my life
So relieved as I started c25k about 10 years ago and gave up at w5r2 as I didn't have the confidence to try r3
If I ever meet Michael I shall give him the biggest hug ( if he runs away I'm unlikely to catch him though!)

Well done wizzler, that's a massive achievement! Congratulations!

The first time I tried c25k, I gave up at the start of Week 3!

We have all made so much progress!

Well done everyone here, doing so well. I just did Wk5R3 - the first 20min one!! And I found it easy . Admittedly it was in my treadmill, not outside so I tacked on an additional 2 mins to counter that. I'm so pleased. Lungs were fine, I kept a steady (but slow- 7kph) pace, could talk throughout, legs just felt a bit heavy and tired 3/4 the way in. I am so pleased I did it with no issues as I was actually dreading it!!!

Well done @Chilver .
I was dreading it too.. now I'm dreading w6 r1 which is apparently v difficult despite the runs being a lot shorter then w5r3

Brilliant @Chilver, well done!

@wizzler, I found W6 R1 ok. It's tough, but as long as you don't go into it thinking it will be easy to go back to intervals again, you'll be fine! I'm just off out to do W6 R2.

Completed W6 R2 earlier. It was ok. Bit nervous about running for 25 minutes on Monday, but I managed 20 on W5 R3, so I figure I'm probably capable.

How is everyone else getting on?