Couch to 5km newbies

[MistySkiesAfterRain]

I'm redoing the NHS Couch to 5km. Last did 5km in 2016 and most recently have got to Week 4 before losing interest! Not this time. I am going on holiday in 5 weeks and would love to get to week five by then.

Week 1 Run 1 (W1R1) done today. I ran really slowly but it did get easier.

Here is the link for anyone new:
www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/running-and-aerobic-exercises/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/

Recommend the app (my favourite is Jo Whiley).

Hello! I'll join you!

I'm also a second-timer, having done C25k in 2013. I did parkrujn reliably for a long time after that but haven't managed to get back into it since having another baby in 2017.

I did W1R1 today and was disappointed with how difficult I found it. I thought it would be a doddle and it wasn't :(

I'm planning on running Mon/Wed/Fri mornings and it will be nice to have someone to keep me accountable!

Hello! Welcome, I will need all the motivation I can get.

Oh my goodness I have lost so much fitness, I'm not even I can call my W1R1 even 'running'! I console myself with the fact it is always hard to start after a long time. It can only get better!

W1R2 at some point today.

I'm starting today

Hi @clpsmum!

Omg didn't realise how unfit I was!!!

@clpsmum, the first one is always the worst.

Mine was better today, W1R2 done.

Apart from not wanting to go and feeling out of breath it was okay!

Mixed up the timings so I think one was even a 90 second run. The heart quickly becomes more efficient in my experience.

I only have the equivalent of one functioning lung, due to a degenerative condition I am under NHS care for, so starting running is always a bit daunting for me. Glad I have started now.

Positives

• lifted feet more
• ankles feel stronger
• breathing was a little easier

See you Thursday!

I would thoroughly recommend the healthunlocked FAQs and tips, ao much practical advice and support;

healthunlocked.com/couchto5k/posts/147652030/faq-how-to-run-c25k.....a-guide.

Well done @MistySkiesAfterRain I'm glad you survived it!! I can't say I'm looking forward to the next one tbh!!!

Great thanks for the link I'll have a look x

Health Unlocked is great! I have a profile on there somewhere. It is a really supportive community.

I'm in!

I've started before but let it slide / got ill / chickened out.

Also a Jo Wiley fan. Kids back at school tomorrow i'll run when they go.

I've recently done couch to 5k - the slowish build up works for me as I get that sense of achievement at completing each run rather than feeling like a failure for not managing to run for more than 5 mins initially. I actually stopped following the plan about week 7 as I'd got past the hurdle of not being able to run for any length of time so now I just go twice a week for a slow 25ish mins and then once a week try to go a bit further - this week was 40mins! It was slow and I've no idea on distance but I was actually amazed to have the stamina which I can definitely thank couch to 5k for! Good luck and hopefully you'll enjoy at least some of the runs!!

Nice to have a little gang of us!

I'm doing run 2 tomorrow. The trick for me is going to be getting out early enough that other 'things to do' don't start taking over. Yesterday I intended to go out first thing but dd2 quickly reminded me that I had promised her pancakes for breakfast, the washing needed hanging out early, bread needed to go into the breadmaker in time for lunch...etc. Before I knew it, it was 10am and I had to eat something otherwise I'd have expired on my run. Then I had to let my food go down, otherwise I'd get a stitch...

Hello! Please can I join.
Well done to everyone starting out.

I did couch to 5k in 2019 and then did a bit of running in 2020 during lockdown. No running last year but I do walk the dog daily so have some fitness (hopefully!)
I did my first couch to 5k week 1 run two days ago and am planning the next run at the weekend.

Hello! My second run yesterday was PAINFUL! I think the fitness aspect of it has been okay so far but my legs ache so much! I thought that they might loosen up as I ran but if anything they became even stiffer so I was practically hobbling by the end 😂
Run 3 tomorrow!

I'm dabbling with C25k due to injury at the moment. I was due to do a spring marathon but my achilles tendon began playing up before training really picked up after a congested race season in the autumn so I deferred.

I had to have a break from running for a month, then began very short runs of less than 1km in March. I've managed the wk 2 C25k run this week as my "long run"

I'm using C25k as a guide for distance but keeping some shorter run-all runs in as I gently test out/ strengthen my ankle. Unfortunately tendons heal/ build up more slowly than muscles and cardio strength.

Can I join? I've not done any running in about 7 years and no exercise in at least 4 years since having children. So I have the FEAR but I've ordered new trainers.. so almost ready to get going.

New trainers is like being a runner already, you obviously can't not use them when they arrive 😉

I'm starting this weekend, love to join you all. I did most of it last year, got to about week 6. I then knackered my knees in August by doing a 2k charity run every day. So I'm starting again, but slowly and listening to my knees.

Hello! just joined Mumsnet today to join all of you in this challenge 🙂.
I used to be very fit in my teens. However apart from a brief period I cycled half an hour a day as part of my commute, I haven't really exercised in the last....20 years 🙈. I like to walk though. I walk about 2k almost every day and sometimes I go for longer walks.
I've started c25k on Monday and today I completed W1. A bit of muscles pain but not too bad. However I felt my heart has been working more than usual!
I'm not sure I'll be able to run 5k in just 9 weeks, but I hope to get there before winter. I would then try to keep running a couple of times a week, even if it might be harder to find the motivation when it's dark, cold and wet.
Happy to have found a group of like-minded people!

Can I ask a stupid question? How are you doing it - is it just the nhs couch to 5k app or am I missing something?

Trainers have arrived, now I just need to dig out a sports bra and then I have to start as im out of excuses!

Hi @caffellatte and @Iamtheweedonkey!

About 10% of people doing C25k manage to do 5k in 30 minutes by the end, the real goal is running continuously for 30 minutes, after which you can generally gradually increase your run time until you have done 5k.

I think most use the app these days. I've still got the free podcasts on my phone from my original go 8 years ago so listen to them.

Other than this injury, I've run consistently since I first started C25k. I had a young baby and it took 5m with some hiccups including bronchiolitis and mastitis that knocked out a month and put me back a bit. Then there was the surprise RTW plus just fitting it in around cluster feeds. Some runs were Hard, and I'd repeat before moving on. But I did it. And 7m later ran my first HM 😳

After all these years my 5k parkrun pb is 28:26. For casual running with roads to cross etc I can still take 35-45 mins.
30 min 5ks are unusual for novice women runners.

Once you've built up that running to 30mins, the hardest bit is done and you can just keep adding a few mins at a time. Normally being used to longer distances, my first 5k is often hardest as my body warms up and my sweet spot is about 4-7 mi!

Hi @DollyPartBaked , yes I'm just using the NHS C25k app. I've been going to a local park early in the morning, before the rest of the family wakes up. That's the only time of the day I can reserve for something I would like to keep doing regularly.

@UnaOfStormhold and @BogRollBOGOF running 30 mins continuosly, whatever the distance, would be definitely a great achievement! But I think even that would take me more than 9 weeks.

Hello!! I’m so glad I’ve found this thread - I’m restarting c25k on the NHS app this weekend 😊

I started it before in 2019 and a bit in 2020, I’ve never made it past about week 6 but even running for 20mins feels like an achievement to me lol!

Planning to go later today- good luck everyone else going out for a run this weekend!

My first 8mins were a momentous achievement, I'd never run so far before despite the bellowing of my chronically disappointed, twat of a PE teacher at school 😂