Current couch to 5k friends?

[PurpleDaisies]

I’ve done this before but due to getting covid and an injury, I’m having another go to get back into running. Just done my first run (I thought week 4 might be roughly the right place to start) and remembered why I both love and hate running!

Anyone else interested in some motivational chat? I’m guessing lots might start in Jan but I’m trying to get ahead of the game!

Hey all! Hope you’re having lovely weekends.
It’s been a bad week on many levels so I haven’t been able to run again, but tomorrow is a new day and I am determined to do my W2R2 finally.

In case anyone else needs to hear it, this week is behind us and nothing can be done about it now. Let’s start the next week with positivity :)

@SantaHat great positive message and good luck tomorrow with your run.

I did W4r3 today.

Yesterday I joined my first park run, it was nice to run in a group for once. I recommend using a park run while doing c25k (obviously with a bit extra walking to make up the distance) to mix it up a bit.

You can do it @SantaHat

I finished week 3 yesterday, actually enjoyed it! It was sunny, cold and really refreshing.

W4R1 tomorrow, not sure I’ll enjoy that so much

Thanks you lot!
Braved the cold and went out for my run this evening. I am surprised how much I am enjoying it to be honest although the soles of my feet are really sore when I run this week.
Although in other exciting news, because it’s winter, I take my reflective wear seriously and today I wore my new reflective hair scrunchie for the first time

Ooooh, how lovely to have stumbled across a C25K support group! I should have guessed there would be one on here. I started the new year with all sorts of good resolutions about getting fit(ter) in 2022: I’m currently nearing the end of chemotherapy and I know that exercise is one of the things I can do that will increase the chances of my breast cancer not coming back. I started from the beginning of the programme & I go out and run first thing in the morning every other day: yesterday I did the first run of week 4 & I’m definitely still feeling the after effects of running for 5 minutes continuously.

Well done to everyone else on here! It’s a bit hardcore taking up running in January, isn’t it? I think that’s why I make myself go first thing: if I spent too long contemplating the outside temperature I’m not sure I’d ever be able to motivate myself to get going.

@januarysnowdrop

Ooooh, how lovely to have stumbled across a C25K support group! I should have guessed there would be one on here. I started the new year with all sorts of good resolutions about getting fit(ter) in 2022: I’m currently nearing the end of chemotherapy and I know that exercise is one of the things I can do that will increase the chances of my breast cancer not coming back. I started from the beginning of the programme & I go out and run first thing in the morning every other day: yesterday I did the first run of week 4 & I’m definitely still feeling the after effects of running for 5 minutes continuously.

Well done to everyone else on here! It’s a bit hardcore taking up running in January, isn’t it? I think that’s why I make myself go first thing: if I spent too long contemplating the outside temperature I’m not sure I’d ever be able to motivate myself to get going.

Morning and welcome!

I'm at a similar stage to you, I'm at the end of week 4 and slightly procrastinating in taking the step up to week 5 so i repeated w4r3 yesterday!

Ive really surprised myself by actively enjoying running in the freezing cold so ive been deliberately doing the runs really early or after work. I think I'm enjoying the really fresh crisp cold air! Or maybe I'm just odd!

Good luck with your next run

@januarysnowdrop welcome!

You’re made of strong stuff! You should be really proud of yourself for going out running & being on chemo. I had treatment as a teenager and I just remember being absolutely wiped out 24/7.

I was meant to start week 4 yesterday but ended up putting it off till today. I’ll be going out this evening to do it. How did you find the jump from week 3-4? Im quite nervous about it!
I think I prefer running when it’s colder, mental I know, but I couldn’t think of anything worse when it’s hot.

I do quite like the way I get back home feeling nice & warm while everyone else in the house is complaining about how freezing cold it is!

Goodness, poor you @WeAllLikeVindaloo - cancer treatment isn't a bundle of laughs at any age but I think it must be particularly grim when you're a teenager. The first drug they gave me in Sept-Oct was horrible & there's absolutely no way I could have gone out running while I was on that, but the most recent stuff I'm having doesn't do much to me in terms of side effects. My oncologist used to mutter darkly about levels of fatigue building up over time but he's stopped doing that just lately. And having no hair & wearing a woolly hat is great for keeping my earphones in!

I felt it was a real jump from week 3 to week 4 & ended up googling to find out if others felt the same which is how I ended up coming across this thread. I'm kind of wishing I'd never looked into it now, as I've seen what's coming up in week 5! I think I'm better off not knowing what's coming up in advance & just going out & obeying whatever Denise Lewis's orders are that morning.

@januarysnowdrop well you should definitely be proud of yourself! I hope the rest of your treatment goes smoothly for you.

I went out last night to do w4r1, and I must be getting better because it seemed fine, I always really dread it beforehand and feel great after so I need to bear that in mind in future.
Although mid warm up I thought ‘this is a long 5 mins’ only to find that the podcast was paused 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

[quote WeAllLikeVindaloo]@januarysnowdrop well you should definitely be proud of yourself! I hope the rest of your treatment goes smoothly for you.

I went out last night to do w4r1, and I must be getting better because it seemed fine, I always really dread it beforehand and feel great after so I need to bear that in mind in future.
Although mid warm up I thought ‘this is a long 5 mins’ only to find that the podcast was paused 🤦🏼‍♀️😂[/quote]
Lol glad it's not just me, I've paused it in my pocket a few times and had a very long warm up!

I started week 5 last night, I know a big step up is coming at the end of the week and trying not to think about it!

It's amazing how much easier the running is getting.

Ankle feels up to a run Sunday ... cannot wait. Will report back.

Did W5R2 today, got up and dressed in running kit so that I would go out at lunch. Lunch time came and i debated for about 10 minutes, nearly put myself off listening to the wind. Gave my head a wobble and went out. It was good. I enjoyed it.

Then once I got back home the rain started, very pleased I hadn't spent longer debating with myself!

Good work people, keep on C25King!

@PurpleDaisies

I’ve done this before but due to getting covid and an injury, I’m having another go to get back into running. Just done my first run (I thought week 4 might be roughly the right place to start) and remembered why I both love and hate running!

Anyone else interested in some motivational chat? I’m guessing lots might start in Jan but I’m trying to get ahead of the game!

I'll be doing w5r2 tomorrow.

I was thinking today I haven't yet had to run in the rain or bad weather or more to the point convince myself to go out even though it's bad so I'm impressed you did with the wind!

Tonight I did my W2R3 and despite my legs feeling quite sore after, I could feel the progress I’ve made across the last 3 sessions :)

Did have a slightly weird moment though (the second odd one in as many weeks) where a guy kept on riding his bike at my back and circling around me. I think he was drunk but I was very glad to be on a busy main road. Just so odd.

That really made me laugh about your very long warmups! Here's hoping the podcast doesn't pause itself while I'm doing one of the longer runs. I managed R2W4 this morning & I don't feel half as wiped out as I did last time

Well done, everyone
Good to meet you, Snowdrop!
Does anyone have good stretches they could recommend for afterwards? I have bad neck and shoulder pain and I seem to remember running always makes it worse

W4R2 complete. Brutal this time as my last 5 mins of running was up a long hill, I also had the buggy 🥵

@SantaHat That sounds weird! Why do people target female runners or just lone females in general. Sad that we’ve come to a point in life where we can’t feel 100% safe when we’re out and about where we live. Stick to them main busy places ladies.

Week 4 finished! Denise Lewis says I should take a selfie after my final run every week and share it but I think this is a really terrible idea.

I don't know anything about stretches, but I bet there will be a sports physio somewhere on YouTube with top tips about stretching for runners if you do some googling.

W5R3 done this morning. Feel really good - it was the 20 minute run.

When I had covid in November I got quite dramatic and woe-is-me and thought I would never be able to run again as I struggled with my breathing. I am grateful for every run. Cannot believe I managed the 20 minute run and as I was not near home I ran/walked back.

Hooray for the C25K system!

Everyone's doing so well, I'm really pleased for you all.
Still cheering from the sidelines as my feet just aren't up to joining in.

I'm seriously considering doing c25k on the treadmill, but instead of running, doing the running parts fast walking with steep incline. That should give me the cardio benefits without the high impact on knees, ankles and feet. I'm still hopeful I will one day run again but I'm early 50s, BMI 31 and in pain daily from plantar fasciitis and other muscle/joint aches and pains, and think this might be at least a way of improving fitness and health even if I'm not running. It makes me sad I can't just go into running like I used to, but it is what it is.

@BrinksmansEntry so happy for you that your breathing has recovered so well.
@januarysnowdrop lol at sharing selfies after running. I know someone who posts sweaty selfies after a weights workout regularly on fb, and I'm never sure why!
@SantaHat hope weird drunk bike man hasn't put you off.

First run back out since my injury. Did 6.7km. I'm training for a 10 miler in October, so a way to go but I'm happy. Took me 50 minutes 😵 but I did it.

@Lostinafield that sounds like a good plan to me. Have you got a treadmill at home or would it mean going to a gym? Do keep us posted with how you get on.

I went to my first ever park run yesterday & I would highly recommend it. I joined up with a support group for people with cancer who want to get fit called 5K Your Way & they were super-friendly & encouraging. I ran a bit & walked a bit all the way round and came in 360-something-th out of 380-something runners so NOT LAST although to be honest, I think I'd still have enjoyed the whole experience even if I had been last. It was a lovely sunny day as well, which helped. Definitely going again!

@alwayswrighty

First run back out since my injury. Did 6.7km. I'm training for a 10 miler in October, so a way to go but I'm happy. Took me 50 minutes 😵 but I did it.

Wow: very well done!