C25K support thread

[HOL2024]

I’ve just finished my first week! Although I’ve only done 2 runs a week not 3 as swam the other days. Just wondering if there is anyone else doing this at the moment and wanted a support thread.

After a cycle at the weekend, I managed 7 repeats of 60 run/90 walk today, homing in on being able to see the start of C25K in the distance....
This was the first day I was confident enough to run away from my house for the first half, rather than just circling it in case of sudden collapse/needing to limp home.

I was incredibly surprised how doable 4 repeats (all I could manage on my first go last week) was already, which I assume must be more down to having got the idea about running slowly enough not to run out of air rather than fitness at this stage.

I took a week off recently but I’ve just finished week 4 run 2 today! One more week 4 run to do on Monday and then on to week 5. I ended up only doing two runs one week early on, which means I do split weeks (2 runs of one week, 1 run of the next week) and that’s actually working really well for me. I am hoping to finish in time for Christmas but it might be in time for the New Year. Broke 4km for the first time today in my run/walk section so feeling very pleased with myself.

W6R3 tomorrow.25 minutes..eek. I'm going to try to do it at Parkrun which has a few challenging hills.

Zumba on Friday instead of wearing trainers as I cut my foot, but I went out again today and managed 10x60secs jogging with 11x60secs walking around it - and although I was satisfied to be home at the end, I wasn't dying! I am so excited, even two years ago I couldn't have walked that far without a stick, let alone jogged some of it.

I think I may be ready to start on the actual Couch to 5k soon (although I'm going to miss Tuesday to give blood, as I'm not sure cardio exercise and blood donation go together at my level of unfitness).

I am doing C25K and am starting Week 3 this evening, can I join please? 😀 This is the furthest I've got with C25K, I've started it a couple of times before and usually give up after Week 1. I'm enjoying it this time (I use the word 'enjoying' loosely, I think I still dread each run but I enjoy how I feel afterwards!) but I'm not looking forward to running for 3 minutes tonight!

How’s everyone getting on? I’ve got the big one next - WEEK 5 RUN 3: the 20-minute run. Hoping to do it on Wednesday if I can find time at lunchtime or else Friday. Wish me luck…!

I've just started week 7
Longer runs all the way now. I'm away quite a bit over the next couple of weeks so it's going to be tricky to fit runs in.

I ran, very slowly, for twenty minutes today! W5R3 done! This is magical.

Well done gm203!! (also beguilingeyes and Borris who did it already)

I have unfortunately been ill in bed but having worked out how to connect the app and Spotify to an earpiece during that time I started the actual C25K runs today!

I only managed to run for half of the first session today (tbf partly because I had underestimated how much time I had before I needed to be somewhere in different clothes) but I felt very encouraged that l have now got app/sports bra/trainers/suitable clothing for the temperature all finally worked out and already shown that I can go out of the door and move around regularly, and I will start again from the very beginning of the course next time.

Thank you! Finished week 6 now and on to week 7 on my next run. Feeling like I’m on the home stretch now!

I did the last run of week 8 today. I can feel that my stamina is increasing. The programme is amazing.

Yay! Well done All of you!!

Did my first run in the pouring rain today. I didn’t like it. 😂 I was about 4 minutes slower than my previous run and I just felt like a drowned rat. But I got out there, did the warm up walk, ran for 25 minutes and walked a bit further to hit 5k. And then walked up the hill home as I didn’t fancy trying to run it! So another 5.8km done. I am hoping it will be dry on Wednesday for my final run of week 7. I really would like to complete this in time for Christmas! 🙏

Slow progress on the C25K runs, but...my son wanted to run along the pavement today and I was able to run along with him for several housing estate blocks, which is the very first time in his entire life that I have been able to do that! He was very impressed. :-)

Finished week 7! I think I need to take a little rest though as I’ve found running 4 x 25 minutes very tiring. I’m due to run again on Friday but contemplating postponing it, as I’m just finding it very hard at the moment. Does anyone have any words of wisdom?!

I'm at the start of week 7 but feel like it's been a slog since week 5 - I pulled a calf muscle and was just getting back on track and now have a horrible cold and cough. I feel like the end is both in sight and miles away!

Please may I join? I want to start tomorrow!
Outfit and trainers are ready to go first thing.

Any words of wisdom? I’ve done week 1 before but gave up!

Get your gait analysed asap and get some good running shoes. It makes a world of difference.
Take it slooowwww. If you need to repeat a run/week then do.
Jo Whiley is absolutely the best coach.
Once you've graduated I really recommend Parkrun to keep you motivated.

Thanks @beguilingeyes . I went ahead this morning and did day one. I enjoyed it and did take it slow. My fitness level has definitely improved since last time I attempted to run because I didn’t have problems breathing this time. I plan to go again on Thursday.

Where do you go to get a gait analysis? I definitely need new trainers as the ones that I wore today are old and I don’t want to wear my gym ones.

Do you have a Runners Need near you? That's where we got ours done.

I don’t! I’ll have a google because we are very rural so would need to travel regardless. Thank you.

I didn't realise I last ran 2 months ago - my pulled muscle injury lasted for a few weeks and I lazily, stayed away from the gym for a further month! Returned this evening. Started W1 R1 again - jogging at just faster than walking pace and found it far more comfortable and manageable. Listened to Jo Whiley and her playlist which made life much easier. Feeling positive.

Yay for getting back into it!

I feel like I'm on the home stretch now. Did my first social run this week (a tourist one so a fair few stops) and I surprised myself by being able to hold a conversation, and was fine when it ended up being 6k. Still don't think I could do it all in one go but it's a start...

Had my first DNF with W8R1 but carried on to do R2 and R3 at a slower pace. I’m a minute/km slower than I was at the start of W7 which I don’t really understand but I’m trusting the process. Nearly there now!

I went to Parkrun yesterday to include W9R2 but managed to keep running to the end. Very slow but happy with that.