Starting couch to 5K tomorrow morning - anyone want to join?

[BlueberryPancakes17]

After faffing about and putting it off for ages I’ve decided I’m starting couch to 5K tomorrow morning.

I find myself 2 years since my daughter was born, about 4 stone overweight and out of breath when I run up the stairs so desperately need to do something to increase my fitness.

Has anyone started the couch to 5K? How did you find it? Anyone fancy joining?

Hi, I am planning to attempt this but need to sort myself out with proper running shoes and sports bra first 🙂Good luck with it.

I did C25K a couple of years ago @BlueberryPancakes17 and felt loads better for it! I was only working very part time and could fit runs around school drop offs. Now I'm working more hours the weight has piled back on

I'd love to start again but will have to take it very easy as I have a knee problem now too!

Do you have a route sorted out, times etc or will you just be going when you can?

I plan to start this week. Done it before and I still hate running, but feel it's probably good for me 😁

I've done it about 3 or 4 times now and about to start it again, but 3aiting a couple of weeks as I am still healing from giving birth. You'll really love it OP!

Top tip: repeat sessions in a week if you feel you need to, before moving on.

Ooh yes, me please! 🙋🏽‍♀️ I'm keen to get fit again. I love couch to 5k although never got up to running the 5k

I'm starting Thursday again! I did get up to 10k in 2019 but I've hardly ran at all since. Would love to use this thread to check in

My son is about 5 weeks in and has been encouraging me to give it a go so hopefully will be starting soon.

Well, I’ve just come back from the first run. Ummed and ahhed about it and felt quite nervous before it but thought sod it! Feel great now but I am surprised at how unfit I am and how breathless I was during the runs 😮‍💨

@isitme111 yes I hear you on that. I was worried about my boobs flinging all over the place but the H and M high impact sports bra kept them in! Think it was reasonable as well from memory.

@RebeccaSharp I went round a quietish housing estate as we’re with family for Christmas. I think the real test will be fitting it in around working full time and childcare. How about you?

@WormEater 💪🏻 Amazing! Yes, when I was half way round I thought ‘bleurgh’ but didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would. Think getting out for the next session might be tough though.

@SwordToFlamethrower oh lawd, give yourself time that’s no mean feat. Are there any postnatal fitness sessions near you that do it? Great tip about repeating weeks. Even the thought of running for 90 seconds leaves me a bit 🥴

@iknowwheretheothersockgoes Amazing come join! Let us know how it goes. 5K feels like a looooong way off

@absol 10K is incredible! What an achievement. Sending good vibes for Thursday

@Tumbleweed101 Ahh that’s great, could you go together? Is 5 weeks where it suddenly jumps to 20 minute runs 😮‍💨

Oo I'd like to join please but not starting until Saturday probably as awayvat moment... might leave until Monday.
So how's it going to fit in around work?

@Bronzeisthecolour sending good vibes for Sat.

Think I will do one evening after work and after bedtime, one at the weekend and one on whatever is my wfh day. I’d love to think I’d do it in the morning but, really can’t see that happening at the moment!

So impressed you got out today. The weather was awful, non stop rain and greyness. Will try and motivate myself for tomorrow.

I did couch to 5k in lockdown 1 and now still run 3 - 4 times a week, have run around 20 half marathons and a marathon since.

First run, those 60 second intervals I thought were going to kill me 😂

My point is, good luck to all of you starting it. Genuinely changed my life from being a non exercising office worker to someone that finally doesn't just run to lose weight but for general well-being and happiness and it's one of the best things I think anyone can start!

@WormEater yes it was pretty grey an miserable. Luckily wasn’t hammering it down. Sending good weather vibes for when you head out.

@Emmalou0607 thats amazing! What an achievement. I think the last time I attempted it a good few years ago, I was just doing it for weight. But I feel like positive mental health and fitness are my goals this time around. Great to hear you’ve reaped the benefits and a good spur to carry on

If it's ok I'd love to join. I plan to start on 3rd Jan. I didn't even own a pair of trainers but just got my running shoes yesterday (50%off). Hopefully not "all the gear, no idea"! I haven't run since school and am now 56 and have sat on the couch for far too long. I am so nervous to do the first one but am determined to do this. DH did it and progressed to 5k parkruns (but then stopped) and he is going to buddy me so we can both do it together.
Well done to those who have just started, I am in awe of you all.
We can do this!!

@deuxgarcons come join! Great that you’re buddying up with your DH. Let us know how you get on.

I did the second session this evening. Was going to do it this morning but my toddler had other ideas and was up for 3 hours in the night (whyyyy).

Went out after she had gone to bed and actually really enjoyed it?! I’m pretty much a shuffler and am not going fast by any means, but didn’t feel like I was about to expire this time. The feeling I got when I finished was amazing. Good luck to everyone 💪🏻

@BlueberryPancakes17 well done on your second run and great to hear how good it felt.
I actually decided to start today so did the hardest thing which was to cross the threshold of the front door and I did it!! DH came with me which I found really helpful. I am kind of looking forward to the next one now....😳 My dodgy knees weren't too bad at the end either. Woo hoo

Can I join you? I was a runner in 2019-2021 but injury niggles and stress stopped me& now I’m 20lbs heavier, menopausal hell and 50th birthday looming so I’m determined to get it back again! I did week 1 started on Boxing Day, and this morning did Week2, run 1. Scary how un-run fit I am 😞 I struggled to do all the 90sec runs as shins hurting in new trainers but after a sprint up mini hill path it released my shins and did another 90sec run. Glad I made myself go out but my niggly hip is playing up again. This time I’m doing the nhs knee strengthening exercises and proper warm up. If you don’t already I’d strongly advise some body weight exercises (squats, lunges, planks) on days in between. They really do help later on. My goal is ParkRun in 7wks as I really miss it.
Hope everyone can get out again in the next few days.

Hey, I'd love to join too. I did it before a couple of years ago and it made a massive difference not just to my fitness but also to my mental health. I'm in a pretty low place at the moment so hoping it can help me out of there!

I'm also rather overweight this time and starting from a standing start in terms of fitness.

I've done week 1 run 2 so far

Oooh fab can I join in? Starting today! Tried it last year, lasted a week 🤦🏻‍♀️ determined to do better this time!

Ace timing. Can I join? I started running in 2017 and got to running 10k's but I stopped, put on a stone and got lazy! I start tomorrow.

I’m going to join as well, starting at the end of this coming week, but will probably go in at week 4 or 5, as I’ve been running on and off for the past couple of years, so my fitness hasn’t completely gone

@Winter645Mermaid thanks for the suggestion on knee strengthening as I have a bit of osteoarthritis in my knees so this will hopefully really help if I do them in-between the run (jog for me) days. Plan to do W1 run 2 on Tuesday as back at work on Wednesday. Best of luck to everyone else doing this too!

Great to see so many joiners! We can do it 💪🏻

My body feels like lead today, and joints achy, so really hoping I’m not getting a virus that’s piggybacked onto the back of the cold I’ve got now! 🙄

Planning to go out for run 3 of week 1 tomorrow.

Well done to everyone starting today 🙌🏻

I'd like to join too - restarting again and hoping hoping to finally complete this year. Did 1st run today and didnt feel too bad considering how long it is since I've done cardio.
Will see how my legs feel tomorrow.

I’d love to join you all too. I did W1 R2 today. Found it harder than the first one and feel apprehensive about what’s ahead. I’ve done it before though and it does work.