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?

Well week 5 is a bit of a shocker! Runs 1 and 2 have been OK but seems like quite a jump to now run for 20 minutes😯

But I will trust the program and new trainers are definitely helping!

Can I join you all

I did Week 5 run 1 today - and agree with @balancingfigure - I was dreading it to be fair, but it went fine. Will try for run2 Sunday - 2 x 8 mins - eek

Hello, are you aiming to run every day? Every other day? Every third day? What’s the guidance?

@Gardenerboo if you use the nhs couch to 5k App it suggests 3 runs a week with a rest day between them. But you can do whatever suits your body. I’d add in some strength training on the in between days to reduce injuries- that can just be body weight squats/ planks / lunges / sit ups etc. or using weights.

Finally completed week 4 run 3 today after a 12 day hiatus. Weather, business travel and just general busy life stuff stopped me from running. So glad I went out. But slower because I'm away and it's less flat where I am, but it was so nice to be out.

@Winter645Mermaid thank you. I’m finding I really want to do more. My youngest told me I’m bouncy when I come back from a run, definitely feel great and want more of that good mood!

@Furball we're at exactly the same spot! I'm deliberating doing it tomorrow, my back has been aching and I don't want to overdo it. 8 minutes sounds insanely long doesn't it?

@Spirini - it really does doesn't it - but then the day after is 20 mins 😨

I have decided to pause at the 20 mins for maybe forever. The last time I did the 30 it nearly did me in and I never carried it on. So I'm thinking that 20 is fine and doable and if it creeps to more than that then great but if not I'm still getting my steps in and heart rate up.

@Furball I did it! I was so glad to stop running at the first 8 minutes because it was the start of a hill. Then the second 8 minutes were ok as I was on a slight downward incline. I even tried to up my pace a bit.

And now 20 minutes without stopping I'm going to have to select a route that's pretty flat otherwise I won't be able to do it.

I can see the logic in reaching a 20 minute goal and leaving it at that. Very sensible and still a great achievement.

Honestly if you get to 20mins your doing great but why not add 2 minutes walking and then run another 2mins and suddenly you have done an extra 0.5k 😊honestly I feel like giving up all the time at the 2-3k mark but either walk for a minute or push through and get 5k done. I’ve not reached the “it feels easy mark”…yet but I’m thinking of adding on 0.5k to my mid-week runs next week and slowly build back upto 10k again. The mind is a powerful muscle that often holds you back ..

Thursdays 5k took 42mins I then had a 48hr migraine so that explains why it was SO hard my delightful menopausal hormones out of whack, today it took me 35mins. Not as quick as last week & I walked at 2.5k and at 4k mark for 60secs. But got it done 😃

Really well done @Spirini - I'm hoping to go out tomorrow, so will let you know how it goes

W3R3 done this morning. Another week done makes me feel good! Really stressful and busy week at work next week, will have to be in the office each day so not sure how I'll fit runs in but really don't want to take a break either. Will have to leave the house at 7 and will get back around 8 and make dinner etc

I did Week 5 run 2 this morning. Felt great, again I was dreading it but it went surprisingly quick.

20 mins straight off next time

For those of you asking about socks, I love the Injinji toe socks. They helped me when I had a toe injury years ago which was worse in the cold, but also prevent toe rubbing during more sweaty summer runs.

Just completed week 5 run 1. The last two runs my shins suffered at the start (different feeling to splints), but I seemed to ease in to it within a few minutes. Very odd. I might repeat this one before I jump to the 2x 8 min runs just to make sure my shins are fully ok with it.

I’ve been a bit quiet but I’m still running. Finally found the courage to run with a friend yesterday and had a great time. It really helped with the pace trying to chat at the same time, and I was actually proud of myself that I could keep up with them as they have ran for much longer.

Did my usual weekend 5k in about 38 minutes and i’m happy with that.

My aim now is to push to 10k.

Well done @furball! I did the 20 minute run this morning, yay. I'm not going to pretend it was easy, my calves felt like lead the whole time. Going to take the next few days off and will start week 6 on Thursday. Can't believe I've made it this far!

I don't think I'm nearly at the stage where I could run and talk so well done @Passportpondery, I could probably manage a grunt though😂

@Spirini - I did my 20 mins today too! - I was absolutely elated when I finished though. and I'm going to stick with this now and 'just' do that every morning

Hi everyone. I’ve been lurking for a few weeks now, taking inspiration from you all. I’ll restart today as I haven’t been out running for a while.

week 1 run 1 here we go!

I’m pretty unfit, very fat, but I’m trying to change that!

Do you need to start in week 1? I hadn't run for almost two years but week 3 was a good starting point.

Ps: welcome! Read my post and realised I was a bit direct.

Well done to all of you running 20 mins or a full 5k (with talking - impressive!). I'm really looking forward to getting there too.

@MaryasBible - Good on you! - I find the literal worst part is thinking about actually getting on and doing it. Once done - its very refreshing.

I use Jo Whiley on the Couch to 5K app she seems to keep me on the way

I've been out again this morning for another 20 minuter so fingers crossed I can keep it up

@NyanBinaryJohn - You will get there - the weeks seem to whizz by with it. But be careful they suddenly spring it on you out the blue Week 5 run 3

We’ll done everyone!
I completed W4 this morning after a week off last week due to covid.
I got in the zone and actually thought I was on a 3 min run for the last 5 min one - a lovely surprise when it ended and I realised!
I go out early morning before the rest of the house wakes up and it’s sooo nice now the mornings are lighter ☀️🌸

I got to the end of week 4 this time and just gone off a cliff with life/illness/stress again so I’m going to try again next week redo from week 3.
well done all
I completed back in 2013/14 ish and ended up doing a good few years of running