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).

It's really lovely seeing updates where it's "clicked" for people 😊

I've had a decent rest and ready for 5.3...
Week 6 is easier, so I'm not so concerned about my ankle although it was actually my hips giving me aggro last week which is kind of good. If the 25 min runs from 6.3/ wk 7 are a bit much, I might alternate in some of the easier ones to ease the load...

Longer term it's good to have a monthly, lighter "recovery week" which is why 6.1 and 6.2 dial it back a bit after 5.3.

Good to know about the recovery week. I'm away from Sat for a week. I'll be 2 runs into week 6 so I think I'll just not run for a week then come back and repeat week 6 again. Or would it be better to do week 5 again when I come back?

You should be fine to pick up where you left off. It may even feel better after a good rest. Maybe one of the week 6 runs if you need the confidence boost, but the progress from week1 to week 6 won't be undone that rapidly 😊

5.3 done. It went well despite not doing the easiest route. I fell over again though, similar area to a few weeks ago. Not as gymnastic this time, but it's funny that I've never really fallen over when running for the past 8 years. I think my balance must be slightly off from injury. I've gone through that area squillions of times and it's not unusal terrain to me.

Thank you :). Sorry to hear you fell over. Injuries do have quite an impact in balance. Did you hurt yourself?

Just scuffed my hands lightly, no dramatics this time! The ground was slightly dampened by the recent rain which probably helped.

Having a rest day today, well busy with other stuff. Will probably next run on Friday.

Glad to hear it :). I did week 6 run 2 today - 2 x 10 mins. I think I preferred the 20mins non stop.

I DID IT!! GRADUATED C25K!

And, I ran an extra 10 minutes again and completed 5k.

Race for life in 2 weeks and I'm feeling good.

When I started C25K I honestly couldnt see how it would ever work. 1 min runs were tough and each week just seemed a mountain..

Then, I did that first long run....the 20 mins one and felt good. That's when it really twigged, maybe I can do this.

I graduated originally in 2017 but ended up having to stop running till this year. I endured heart break and tragedy which interrupted my progress but I never gave up and here we are C25K graduation again in 2022 and if anything this time i found it more of a pleasure.

There were tough weeks, runs i totally failed at and had to repeat. But i did it and you can too. Xx

Yay! Well done you!

Amazing, well done! I have that 20 minute run coming up on Monday (slightly terrified).

Week 4 complete! Week 5 looks like a big step up. Not sure I can run for 20 minutes. Will just keep telling myself to trust the program!

Congratulations for your graduation @Nidan2Sandan ! And good too see other people keep going too. I've completed week 6 today, and according to Laura, I'm officially a runner 🙂. I would have never thought I would have been able to run for 25 minutes when I started. We're away for half term and I took the running shoes with me. I would have never thought I would have done that either! Still jogging very slowly, I think I'll try to increase speed when I finish the whole program

@BonjourCrisette @milkfromthesleepycow you need to read this: healthunlocked.com/couchto5k/posts/139255210/week-5-myths-busted

@UnaOfStormhold Thanks so much for sharing that! It was a really helpful read and I do feel a bit better about tomorrow! Hopefully will be able come back here and tell you all I did it!!

@UnaOfStormhold article was very helpful! Thank you. Like BonjourCrisette I will report back!

Congratulations @Nidan2Sandan!! What a brilliant achievement

I finished week 3 today, after a delay caused by twisting my ankle a few days ago! I'm still amazed that I'm actually enjoying running, such a lovely feeling

I did it! Am completely amazed. My ankle hurts a tiny bit so I will take a few days off before I run again but I ran for twenty minutes without stopping and felt OK!

Yay! It’s so satisfying!

I just did Week 5 Run 1🥳

It wasn't too bad - certainly I wasn't panting at the end - but I think I'll repeat it before doing Week 5 Run 2.
I guess I'm worried about my feet, tendons & muscles as I'm 50 & don't want to end up pulling anything.

I find the running so tedious though. It doesn't matter if I'm listening to a podcast or just music, I find it boring!
Definitely no runners high yet!

Snap @MenopauseSucks! W5R1 done here too. Rock workout playlist is what gets me through- never could get on with podcasts

Despite trying to go slower I still had my heart rate up to 170 consistently. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground! But finished feeling like I could go for longer which I'm counting as an achievement!

I sing along to my music whilst running, which helps 🙂

How's everyone? Back from holiday, during which I did no exercise at all and ate/drank far too much. Did week 7 run 1 yesterday and was surprised I found it easier than some of the other runs I have done previously. So the break obviously did me good. I won't feel bad in future for taking a week off here and there!

Hiya everyone, today I did the first run of C25K and it wasn't too bad! I am not totally unfit - I occasionally swim and do a spin class but not regularly, and I drink too much wine. I always said I had no interest in running other than for the occasional bus. But I've had a bit of a crappy time the past few years, through the pandemic and small child-rearing, and now some job stress, anyway recently a doctor signed me off two weeks and told me rather than going straight to medication I should dramatically increase the amount of excercise I am doing. So I bought some £12 trainers from Decathlon and here I am!

Fantastic! I find running makes me feel really good. Enjoy :)

@Supper16 well done on getting started! I find I feel really fab after a run, it's lovely, I hope it works for you too!

@JalapenoLover well done! I finished week 4 today - I didn't fancy going out at all but made myself and ended up having a really good run. We're off on holiday tomorrow and I've packed my running bits - it's a whole new me!