Anyone fancy joining me start C25K?

[FisherThem]

I'm 44. Fat from DD4, Covid, wfh etc etc. used to be fit, ran a (v slow) marathon at 30, currently get out of breath climbing the stairs. I need to do it.

Tried to do it 3 years ago but gave up when my knees complained.

Run 1 today!

Finished W3R3 this evening. I'm definitely repeating runs! Building up to W4.

Just completed W2 R2

Was hoping for an improvement on R1, but my knees still weren’t playing ball. Even the walking was an issue. Nearly gave up and came home but figured it was better to finish the run, however slow it was. Think I will be repeating this week as I won’t be ready to step up to 3 min runs in this state.

fingers crossed for a better run on Saturday.

how is everyone else getting on?

I went out this morning and did w3, r1. Thought the last 3 min run was going to finish me off but I managed to complete it.

Sounds like everyone is doing really well.

I’ve just done week 7 run 2. I tried it last night and just couldn’t do it, I forgot my compression sock so my shin injury was hurting. Then I accidentally paused my app so I’d ran about 10 minutes and it said 3. After that I didn’t have it in me mentally to continue. Came home had a bit of a breakdown that I’d failed, husband came up with a glass of wine and told me to drink it to cheer myself up 😂
I went again this morning and completed it.

Including the warm up walks I did 5km in 40 minutes, so not going as slow as I thought, although so many runners just overtook me.

@NewMumNeedHelp do you have some knee strapping or anything? I struggle with my shin and a compression sock has really helped, I think part of that for me is a mental reassurance, but it also definitely hurts less.

Did w2 r2 yesterday. Doable. But. Can feel it in my knees and shin. Going to be diligent about my rest days and hope it all settles down. Realistically I probably need new trainers....

God, gone are the days of my youth when I could just crack on and push myself!

Just been out for w3, r2. Found it harder today than r1. I'm still extremely slow but hey ho.

My family live on the coast so it was gorgeous running on the prom at 830am (I live inland and miss the sea).

I've just started! I did W2R1 yesterday and was surprised by how much it was ok. I'm just running up and down the side roads near my house though - I can't wait till I get actually good at running as there are fields nearby which will be nicer to run to bit I think that's a bit too adventurous so far.

Knee feeling a bit tender today. Not sure whether to crack on and see what happens or give it a few more days rest?

What I do when my knees protest at being expected to carry my weight is go out and just spend a session doing run 1 min, walk 1 min. Depending on where I am in the programme I can sometimes happily do this for 40 mins. I read on the NHS unlocked forum that you aerobic fitness improves faster than you muscle/joint fitness which makes sense.

I've just realised my post gives away how often I've done this and ended up back at wk1 when I stopped doing it!

Thank you helpfulperson that's a good plan. I don't want to stop, but I don't want to bugger my knees ether!

Go careful @FisherThem . My knees were a bit tender after Mondays run (nothing major) and I went with the crack on approach on Wednesday as I was only on W2 R2. Big mistake!!!!

Woke up Thursday in agony. Knees are seriously painful and inflamed, ibuprofen and paracetamol only taking the edge off. Having to completely stop as any walking is painful and stairs are a real challenge.

So my advice is listen to your body and take a few more days if you aren’t sure and maybe repeat the week next week once ok.

I did c25k a couple of years ago. It's brilliant. I was late 50's and couldn't even run for the minute at first!
I remember having a few separate weeks off to recover from various aches and pains. Then had to repeat the previous week's run.

My knee, shin and hip pains all massively improved after buying some decent trainers, so I'd recommend doing that if you can.
After completing, I could run about 4k in 30 mins, and wished someone had told me to not expect to run 5k. Then I would have been proud of what I'd achieved, rather than being disappointed for not being fast enough.
Good luck everyone. You are doing so well and you will reap the benefits if you carry on running.

Can I please join in too? I've decided to start C25K again, 9 years since the last time. I had bariatric surgery 8 months ago and am 10 stone down now, with another 4.5 to go so I'm thinking I might get on with it better now!

Did W1R1 yesterday and my quads are so tender today! Hoping that they feel better for in the morning 🤞

I found a gap in the rain so W2R2 is done! I did pretty much the same route as last time but in reverse, and somehow I still ended up going uphill.

@DuckWithOneWing I found a gap in the rain when I started- however I definitely mistimed it and I looked like I’d been in a shower when I got home 😂

W8R1 done, I actually cannot believe it I struggled so much at the start I thought I’d never be a runner. I’ve just ran 28 minutes!!! My aim has been to do a parkrun, I think I might try it next Saturday.

@DoINeedToDoThis 10 stone is incredible you must be so proud of yourself

Hooray I just did 20 mins without stopping!! I never thought I could do it!! So proud of myself and feeling so positive!

Well done. That 20 min one is definitely where I realised how much is mental stamina as well as physical.

Hi - can I join? I did w6 R1 today so did my first 20 mins over the weekend at the end of w5. Such a mental shift over the last few weeks. I remembered earlier today that I used to run home from work once a week and that was almost 5k. Very impressed with myself! I started a new job last week and didn't manage to run at all, which was annoying. I'd just invested in new running shoes, which I'm glad about as I think that's the reason I put them back on after a week off.

So relieved to hear that some of you are fairly slow too! I'm creeping along. Not sure I'll be at 5k by the end!

Thank you, I never would have imagined how much easier life would be 10 stone lighter!

W1R2 done yesterday and it even helped with my aching quad muscles 💪 Going to finish the week on Thursday, then will have to make a plan for when the routine of school, work and clubs kicks back in next week!

Just done week 8 run 2.

Actually starting to get the bug now, which for someone that hates running more than anything I can’t believe.
I don’t think I’ll do 5k in 30 minutes but I do feel like I could probably run 5k if I pushed myself now, but going to stick to the programme as I’ve only got 4 runs left.

How does everyone find running in the rain? Been horrible this week!

@Weevel I'm behind you at week 4, run 2 but I love running in the rain. I appreciate I may be the only one who thinks this. I really hate the heat so dreading trying to keep up these runs in the summer.

After a week of no runs and eating my body weight in chocolate, tried W3R4 this afternoon. Wasn't too bad, even though running in the rain. Going to repeat the rest of the week I think before tackling week 4.

I think I forgot to post about a run as I did W3R1 today. I didn't look at what it was beforehand, and at one point I really thought my app must've forgotten about me, but it turns out I ran for 3 minutes! It doesn't seem like much and yet it seems like loads at the same time.

I absolutely love running in the rain for some reason. I always run faster or for longer and find it so much more enjoyable!