Anyone wanting to start C25K and needing motivation?

[CuriousMama]

I've just done W1 R1 so am at the beginning. Anyone else want running friend/s? A couple of rl friends fancy doing it but I bet there's people here that have been thinking about it like I did for a while?
I know there's plenty on MN already doing it but want to chat with newbies like myself. Spur each other on 🏃‍♀️👟👟

@Tartantop I don't really "track" my runs, as such. Would something like a Fitbit actually tell you how far you had run?

I use a route plotter online, and draw in the route I take, and it tells me the distance (yes, I did crack 3km yesterday!).

I only do the bit that I run, so just pay attention to where I start and stop. 3 of my 4 routes are 'there-and-back' so I try to get halfway + a bit before turning back.

25-28 mins was the step up from just under to just over 3km. To be fair, I do feel like I could carry on, I tend to have tired legs, but breathing is all fine.

@Vebrithien ah ok, that’s a good way of tracking it without having to use a Fitbit. Yes a Fitbit would track it but the app ‘Strava’ can track it too from your phone. So as soon as I’ve started walking I press record on that and it records your route and time in the background. I use the free version and it still tells you your distance, average pace etc.

I am the same re the tired legs. I feel like I could run for longer breathing and stamina wise but my legs feel heavy and sore!

So I graduated on Friday - I am very slow, so am no way looking at that being anywhere near 5k, but having done this previously during lockdown my intention now is to keep up the running three times a week, and use Strava to gradually increase my distance each week.

Well done on reaching the end! Can I ask when you did it last time did you get faster each time. I have ‘graduated’ and have been running 3x a week and have kept going until I reach 5k (mostly sometimes it’s just too hot so stop earlier) I am wondering if I should just be running 30 minutes and then trying to do that faster each time?

I'm not that organised! For me it was about getting to 5k without keeling over, so I did the incremental steps each week. But i did notice from my Strava stats that I was getting faster with those increases - again, all of this is relative for me as a slow runner.

I’m on a Facebook page for C25K and someone posted this plan which was provided by their running group, following their graduation. I plan on following this once I graduated

Well done @SupremeCommanderServalan!

I completed W9R1 this morning, so hot! I find it’s ok in the middle bit but can’t wait for it to end. No idea how far I’m running but going to do the parkrun route with DH next Sunday and see how I go. Parkrun here was over 800 people yesterday and that’s number of people actually puts me off.

This looks really good… although when you’re running how do you know when to change - walk/slow run/fast run… I’m so used the app telling me what to do!
can Strava do anything like that?

Hmm I don’t think Strava can. I was planning on using my Apple Watch to time it but I’d probably be constantly looking at the time. I’ve not thought this through 😂 I’ll go check the Facebook post and see if there’s any suggestions

Someone in the comments said it’s similar to the runs on the 5k to 10k app which I believe are guided runs too

Am I right in thinking that the NHS 5-10k podcasts have been withdrawn? I remember a friend using them years ago, but can only find secondhand references to them online.

W8R12 done.

Honestly not sure what I plan to do post W9, want to hit 5k eventually!

I've just had a quick look at one app that I downloaded this morning, but it seems to jump quick quickly in a week, so R1 is 30 mins, then R2 is 33 and R3 is 40mins. I think they assume a base level of ability that isn't mine.

I've only got 2 more runs to go then I've completed the programme!

After it's done I'm going to get back to the Nike Run Club app that I used a few years ago and get out there twice a week. It's a good app, I'd recommend it.

I missed a run Thursday but wk 3 run 3 done today. Not too bad. Quite looking forward to the step up in week 4!! (Week 5, not so much.....)

W7R1 done. Do the rest of the runs have no breaks? I enjoyed it but found it tough

Well done @Tartantop. Yes all of the remaining runs are just constant running now! I’m doing w7 run 3 later on if I can be bothered 😆

W8R3 done!

So glad that I started this, I actually just carried on this morning, so I could get back to where I started, so will definitely be able to run the 30 mins for next week.

Just off to plot my route...

Just over 3.5km, so pretty pleased with that.

I'm still here too! Finally started W8 yesterday after a bad run knocked my confidence a couple of weeks ago (I had done a 10k bike ride the day before for the first time in years, it was hot and uphill and I had to stop to walk for the first time ever) and plantar fasciitis has returned after wearing flat sandals in the heat. I put it off for over a week, but decided to do an "out and back" route rather than a loop and that seems to help as I knew I was past half way when I turned around! Sound stupid I know!

I’m in week 4 now. I don’t find it physically too hard but I have a mental barrier that didn’t seem so bad last year. Note to self, would have been better to keep it going. I’m trying to keep my pace to around the level that would bring me in at or under 30mins for the 5k and I’m trying to increase pace a bit for each ‘interval’. It’s probably because I’ve spent far too long doing this and should have moved on, but the first run is acting as my warm up as I don’t get any warm up benefits from the walk.

W9R1 done!

30 mins running + I also carried on for 6 mins afterwards.

4.2km.

Pace is awful, but I could have just kept plodding on, so suspect I could probably manage 5k now, in about 45 mins.

Well done @Vebrithien that’s amazing! You must have great stamina which is what it’s all about. My problem is that when I hit 25mins (week 7) I’m ready to collapse. Going to have to slow my pace down for week 8 or I’ll never make it.
Two more runs until you graduate 🧑🏻‍🎓 🎉

well done everyone! I have come back here as i am needing motivation to run this evening - having not run since last Friday. Have a feeling it will be a tough one!

I did it! W9R3 done this eve! 🎉

Did you do it, Smarties? Fitness doesn’t decline too much before two weeks, so no to head demons telling you that.