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?

Ive just looked ahead for next week and I don’t understand how the jump from W5R2 to W5R3 works! Surely running for 20 minutes with no break is much much harder than 2 8 minute runs with a big walk in the middle? It just seems a huge jump that’s putting me off even attempting to be honest.

Four years ago I felt the same when I first did C25K and yet I still remember doing that epic 20min run and Micheal Johnson telling me I was a runner when I finished it. It doesn’t have to be fast. If you’re not ready just repeat the previous weeks run but it does work. 🤷🏻‍♀️ you just build up the stamina and a-lot of it is mental self belief. If it’s not for you try something else you may enjoy, not everyone likes running. I enjoy cycling and swimming too but like the easy buzz a run gives me. I don’t enjoy lifting weights but I know I should do it more often but it’s not my thing..

The numb toes can be a warning I’d be careful check your trainers aren’t laced too tight but I’ve had bouts of lower back disc issues and that can give me numb toes. Try doing a pigeon or piraformus stretch it may help relieve muscle tightness in the butt with can compress the sciatic nerve that can lead to numb toes.

Thanks @WinterMermaid234 I've been fiddling with my laces but will stretch more.

I’ve got elastic laces in my trainers I love them they definitely help as my feet expand when warmed up

Week 4 complete! On to week 5 - the next run looks ok, but after that is a bit scary! Will feel like proper progress if I complete it though.

I’m just behind you @sylv165. Week 4 in the bag. At moments I felt I could run on for longer without stopping which was positive but the last 5 minutes was still tough. On to week 5.

Well done @sylv165 its great when you can feel yourself getting stronger @Anewagain sounds like good going.

I did run2 W5 this morning and was feeling bit daunted by the first 8min run when it was freezing mist but my compression socks & elastic laces are helping reduce the shin cramp I was getting and I did 8min then 3min walk and a 10min run. It was too cold to keep walking in the middle so I just started the 2nd run earlier and kept going. Still really slow and only covering 3.5k but I’m super happy just to be building it back up even if it’s slower than I’d have liked at the beginning.

I felt like I was making progress but on Monday my horse stood on my foot and it's still too painful to run.

I'm guessing maybe I'll have a week of no running. Does anyone know if I should go back a week, or try to keep going from where I got to?

Oh no @HayleyBay, so frustrating when you feel like you've been making progress! I'm in a similar position as have caught a bit of a cold. Was supposed to be starting week 5 today but going to have to leave it for a couple of days. I would just try your next scheduled run and see how you get on, then repeat a week if you find it too difficult.

It’s really good reading everyone’s updates, amazing and everyone is doing so well!

I stalled a bit, well a lot, after my knee pain got really bad. In hindsight I shouldn’t have done the last run when it was so painful which was silly, but never mind. Then we all had tonsillitis, so I was feeling crap and a bit of a failure for stopping two weeks in.

But I got back to it this morning and tried week 3 run 1. Albeit on the treadmill but a run is a run. It felt very good to get back to it although the last 3 min run felt heavy legged. Glad to be back on it, surprising how much it affects mental health.

I finished W4 yesterday and actually felt quite good during it. The first 3 minute run was hard but the last 5 minutes felt good and I probably could have carried on a little more.

I’m now full of cold and have a sciatic flare up so week 5 might be a bit delayed in its start.

W5 R1 today. Tough going but I enjoyed it and it was manageable.

Well done! I will be interested to see how you find the R3. I can’t imagine running for 20 minutes without stopping at the end of this week!

Im currently on the sofa with painful sinuses and zero energy. I really wanted to get R1 done tomorrow and R2 on Monday to fit in with plans this week.

I’m interested too @Passportpondery because I can’t still imagine it either 😅

Ha ha! Good luck!

Week 4 day 1 done tonight. 6 years later my knees really feel it. I’m going to have to get new trainers eventually. I did the two 5 min runs though felt really good.

Sorry I've been quiet over the last couple of weeks. I did W3R2 following which had terrible pain in bone below right knee. I had x-ray and have stress fracture caused by the running probably. I clearly tried to do too much too soon. I can't now run and have to let it heal now for a few weeks. I'm beyond gutted as was enjoying it. I will continue to follow the thread and well done to everyone for doing so well. Clearly I was on the couch too long and didn't take enough rest days so make sure you all look after yourselves and take your rest days.

Sorry to hear about the illness and injuries hope you all feel better soon.

Week5 run3 done but I split it into 2x10min runs with one 60sec break doing squats mid run to release my hip. Glad I did it and didn’t push through and it felt fine which was fab.

Ah well done @WinterMermaid987! You have just proven that it is possible, I will keep telling myself that when I reach that stage!

@deuxgarcons i am sorry to hear about your stress fracture. I had a suspected one and never got it checked out and that stopped my running journey for a long time so I appreciate the warning as I was thinking of skipping a rest day and trying to fit another one in. I am sure with some rest you’ll be back out in no time.

W5 R1 done this morning. The first 2 5 minute runs were fine but I was feeling it by the third one.

What sort of pace are people running at? I feel like I was quicker today and know I need to slow it down for the 20 minute run later in the week, but then I feel like any slower and I would be walking!

I averaged 7km/h in the run sections today which is slow already!

I am super slow! I usually run on a treadmill and started off doing my 60sec runs at 9kph but as the weeks have gone on I have slowed it right down to 7.5kph so someone with longer legs could probably walk faster! But just focusing on getting through it for now and I’ll worry about the speed later!

My vague plan for increasing speed is to go back to the start once I have completed all weeks and repeating it, but replacing the walls with slow jogs and upping the speed for the run sections

That sounds like a good plan @sylv165 . I’ve been wondering what to do next and was wondering about the 10k plans but I really don’t see that I have time to fit in a longer session. Your idea could work much better.