Couch to 5k accountability

[FunIsland]

I searched for another thread and couldn’t find one, so apologies if it’s a repeat.

I used to run 5k daily, then covid left me with the lungs of a 90 year old chain smoker. I’ve tried so many times to get back to it and doing too much means that I end up out of action with pretty much everything for weeks. I’m stuck in a cycle of either doing nothing or doing too much because I miss running so much that when I get started I just want to do a Forest Gump and keep going.

Does anyone want to join me for couch to 5k? I’m thinking that if I make myself accountable I’ll stick with it (both in terms of actually getting up and doing it but also not trying to leap ahead).

I did W6R3 earlier in the week. Just 20 minutes. I was counting down the time and got to the 20 minute mark Jo Wiley said "just 5 minutes to go"! I thought it was a 20 minute run but it was actually 25. Those surprise 5 minutes were absolute murder!
I ran 25 again this morning and it was pretty comfortable. It's amazing how quickly you can grow accustom to it.
Bit hot today but I thought I had better get one in because it's only getting hotter.

Can I join, or am I too much behind everyone else?

I've done Cto5k a couple of times before, so I know it works. I'm clearly not very good at sticking to it in the longer term though!

I'm doing it with a not very enthusiastic teen 😄 - we're only up to W1R2.

Planning to go out early tomorrow morning, as it's just too bloody hot.

Ditto re early morning. I can't run in the heat at all.

We’re all at different stages @VictoryOrDeath - you’re very welcome (and also engaging with a teen makes it an even bigger challenge!)

Thanks!

DS can be pretty amenable - I'm just presenting it as a thing that's happening, and so far he just tells me about computer games the whole time.

Everybody at a late stage was once at an early stage.

"Discretion is the better part of valour" - (Mysterian) (and to a lesser extent - shakespere). Maybe skip a few days due to heat.

The computer games bit sounds familiar!

I did it! Back home by 8.30. A bit too hot for comfort already. I think Jo Whiley is definitely the best coach although I'm going with Steve Cram this time.
Away to the dentist now..

Wow!!! Well done, that’s amazing, particularly in this heat. I hope the dentist is kind

Hi all,
I had my baby six months ago and am so happy to be running again. I’ve got midway through the c25k and have done two parkruns too. I’m determined to get back into my old dresses. Keep going everyone!

Flippin eck @Musicalitymum my kids are 19 and 20 and I think that’s amazing

W1R3 done with DS, fine, but too hot. Didn't manage to get out this morning so went out this evening instead - REGRET 😅.

Did wk3 r3 at lunchtime today but too hot. I'll go for either morning or evening for wk4.

Well done everyone! It’s so hot this week! Can’t motivate myself to run. I usually go out with the pram around 11am but it’s not happening. My husband is off work this week too so we are doing different things.

You are all me five years ago. I got to nearly fifty having done no exercise ever. I was convinced to join a couple of people on c25k and have been running on and off since then. I also now do yoga, have spent some time doing weights (need to get back to that) and am starting rowing. Am fitter than I was in my forties. My knees no longer hurt when we walk up hills in the lakes and the health issues I thought were taking over my life are currently just a mild grumble in the background.
My fitness journey has been very off and on but I am so glad I started it.
Am cheering you all very loudly from the sidelines 😄

Love that! Well done you.

W6R1 this morning. Got out before the heat kicked in. I'm going to try to do R2 as part of Parkrun on Saturday.

W2R1 this evening - a bit cooler, and I got to try out my new running belt for my house key and phone.

W2R2 done with the kid.

I've done week 9 run 1. Taken longer than 9 weeks though as life with two young DC gets in the way. Haven't been out since last Sunday as it's been so hot and summer hols has left me exhausted!! Hoping to do wk9r2 tomorrow. I'm managing 4.8k including the warm up and cool downs so my goal for my last run is to keep going until I hit the 5k. Keep running everyone x

W2R3 done.

My knees were hurting at first, but then they were OK 🤞🏻.

I seem to have reached my limit due to the Long Covid. I've done the 25 minute run 3 times and have felt my symptoms come back. They're minor but annoying and last about 3 days. I'm planning on sticking to 25 minutes but if it caries on I'll drop down to 22 or 23 for a month or so.
My first 25 minute run was horrible. The second felt comfortable. The third equally as comfortable but I realised due to Strava that I had gone at a much quicker pace. I didn't mean to but it just naturally felt right.

I'm about to start week 7.

Being very overweight, 17 1/2 stone, I have to build up more gradually or it kills my knees so having completed W3 R3 I've done a couple of runs of 10 repetitions of 1 min walk, 1 min run and this evening I did W3 R4. Next run will be onto W4 R1. I do c25k most years, get to about Wk 7 and then stop so I'm hoping this thread will give me motivation to keep going all year.

We did our run this morning. I always get such achy heels the day after though, wonder if it’s my age. I am consciously not trying to land on my heel now.