Alternatives to c25k?

[Wafflehouse]

I’ve tried c25k a few times and I always hit a wall at about week 6/7 and give up. I just can’t stay engaged with it. Literally the first time I did it I got to week 6 run 2 and a voice just said “you can’t do this” and I just stopped and walked the rest of the way home. I’m currently trying again but work hours have changed and I can’t always get out 3 times a week. I have, in the past, always noticed my fitness improving with each run but this time around I’m just bored and it’s taken me four weeks to finish week 2, I’m running with ds and it’s good to have company this time but I think he’s bored of the run/walk aspect.

I do want to be able to run but I’m not sure this is the right program for me, has anyone tried anything else and had any luck? We’re going out in the morning and thinking we might just set off and see how far we can go before needing to walk.

I think just go out and appreciate the run and the views as you go and aim to try to go a bit further each time. Try to make it not about fitness but getting out the house for fresh air and peace.

I think that’s probably where I’m going wrong, if I had to extend the walks or cut the runs by a few seconds I would feel a bit defeated.

We’re going to try a new route tomorrow so will take on board what you’ve said about it being about just getting out and maybe treat it more as a head clearing excercise.

I hated c25k. I made a few 5k routes to do and started with walking 1k, running .25 k walking the rest of the k and so on and building up to walking then running 1k in succession and gradually onwards to 5k. Found it so much better.

I bloody hate c25k. It just makes me cross.

I find setting my own improvements much more motivating. For example, I’ll say to myself ‘I’m going to run to the end of this song’, or make myself run for 4 songs etc.

Try the training version of Zombies!Run!

Much the same as C25K but with added cannibal corpses to help keep your motivation up

ZombiesRun sounds so fun!

It took me 5 goes to get to the end of c25k. Something just clicked for the last one and I cannot tell you why. Maybe do something else for a bit then go back to it?

I tried and failed with C25K but succeeded with a more gradual programme called none to run. It has a Facebook group and the 5k programme is free on their website. I’m still not fast or pretty when I run but I can manage 5k now.

Decent headphones and podcasts got me through C25K.

I started by just going for it and doing a Parkrun. I didnt worry about how long it took; I didn't walk but that was just personal preference.

I found that by doing Parkrun and it being a set route I couldn't back out; I had to do the whole 5k because there was no option to stop before I got to the end.

I'm doing my second half marathon in 10 weeks and absolutely love running now. It's become my time for me.

Good luck

Try Jeffing? I started it after getting injured on a 10k, and like it so much I’ve stuck with it.

I run 30 seconds and walk 30 seconds, usually for 30 minutes. My Fitbit stats are pretty much the same as when I was running the whole way - probably because I run faster in short bursts.

My physio said that Jeffing has all the benefits of running, but with a much-reduced risk of injury. I find it psychologically easier too, knowing I just have to run for 30 seconds at a time is much less daunting.

Thanks everyone, we went out as planned yesterday morning and just set off with the intention of seeing how far we could go and just to enjoy being out when it was quiet. We both had an ear bud in and listened to our own things.

We did just over 5 mins before ds wanted to have a walk but to be fair he wasn’t in a great mood before we left the house so probably wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I feel like I could’ve kept going which is surprising because by the end of the 90second runs on c25k I really felt done in, I think maybe it’s psychological because I’m just waiting for them to say it’s time to walk again.

Definitely going to stick with just getting out and not setting any goals for now, the tips on none to run that Katrinawaves mentioned about strength training once a week on your legs sounds like it would be massively helpful and Zombies!Run! that AuntieStella recommended would definitely be up ds’s street, I’ve downloaded that to do once a week as well.

Thanks everyone, I know it was only one run but it has given me a massive boost after feeling like I just wasn’t meant to run, everyone I know has done so well with c25k, I thought it was me that was the problem.