C25K to Christmas

[UniverseRewardsTheBrave]

Just wondering if anyone else is starting the C25K and would like a motivation thread?

I've done it successfully once before (during covid then stopped) and have a couple of failed attempts, but I'm the sort of person who does well with deadlines so would like to try to complete it before Christmas.

I'm NOT a natural runner - or a natural at anything sporty - so fully prepared to hate every minute of it and would love a motivation buddy or two!

@lechatnoir did you get your second run done?

I am just in from mine.

The first 2 or 3 mins of the first walk was brutal. I had been doing lunges in the gym this morning and my poor legs don't know what's hit them.

The second 8 min run was OKish.

I have an 80s music running playlist I found on Spotify and it helps the time pass.

I am not looking forward to Fridays run..

Hi @scoopoftheday yes managed it this morning and actually surprised myself by finding it ok. My runs were very slow but I didn’t have to stop. I do have to carefully plan so I avoid hills as there’s no way I’d run up a hill for that long but feeling pretty good. And yes, also dreading Friday’s run!

I’ve had to rejig so I have a rest day after strength training as I can barely walk let alone run after a leg day 🤪 I do my workout Saturday morning, rest Sunday and run Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning with yoga Tuesday or Thursday.

I’d really like to add another strength session so thinking just upper body & core (both of which are rubbish and need work!) then could do it before a run.

Great!
Isn't it surprising how long you can run for when you think about it?
I'd never have thought I could run for 8 minutes.
Well done to us 💪

How is everyone else getting on?

Am glad I found this thread, dh is sick listening to me talking about it all 😁😁 (not really, he's very tolerant lol)

Can I join!
I started today just finished day 1 run 1.
My legs are feeling it though 😂

Absolutely @BulldogMumma come on board. Stick with it, take it slow and remember to stretch afterwards and you’ll soon be where we are over the mid-way point and actually running for 8 minutes without dying 😁. I’d strongly recommend having set days & times to run and make them non-negotiable and if they’re first thing, get your running kit out ready so there’s no excuses!

Heyyyy

Can i join? I started couch to 5k yesturday.
Got my 2nd run tomorrow. I should complete it by jan 5th.

Hi to the new runners (I'm new too 😁😁)

Do some of you do extra stretches before the runs? I have literally only been doing the warm up walk.

Should I do stretches too?

My sisters are great runners (as in marathon runners) and one of them sent me stretches today.

I might have to try and build them in.

When I used to run regularly I always just did a 5+minutes walk to warm up and then start slowly. The exception was the very rare occasion I did a training run with hills or sprints and I would then make my warm up walk a bit longer and add a few dynamic stretches towards the end such as walking lunges, alternate high knees, tip toes, side steps etc
Part of the appeal of running for me is that it's quick and convenient and I know if I start adding too much on I just end up not doing any of it so I just focus on doing a brisk walk first (I live at the bottom of a steep hill so the walk gets me to the top which is handy & means I'm never tempted to miss it) then proper post-run stretch and a deep stretch in a weekly yoga class plus some other sort of cross/strength training once a week.

Week 5 run 3 done!

Bloody hell. I can run for 20 whole minutes 🤣🤣

Snap ! well done @scoopoftheday.I actually thought it was 15 mins and was apprehensive so glad I didn't know it was 20 minutes beforehand! First 5 minutes we tough but then found my groove and felt pretty good until the last 30 seconds.

Week 1 run 2 done 😄

Yes, when Sarah Millican said "you've ran for 8 minutes just two minutes left" I wanted to cry 😬

My lace had opened and was covered in muck.

My two previous runs this week were solos runs but I ran with my friend today (she's doing the programme too) and I felt very slow.

Well done @BulldogMumma that's another one ticked off! 🏃‍♀️

Well done fellow runners! 20 minutes sounds like a looong time. Wk3 run 3 for me tomorrow morning!

Believe me it did for us too! But the earlier weeks definitely give you the base for that.

How'd your 3rd run go?

Hello!
just found this thread. I’m also on week 5 and will be doing my second run tomorrow (2 x 8 mins) also with Sarah Millican! I’m not looking forward to it, sounds long! I’m doing it on the treadmill at the gym. I plan to try and do a parkrun at the end but all on the treadmill before that.

i normally do Mon, Wed and Fri before work but this week is a bit messed up as it’s my sons birthday Wednesday so I won’t be able to go before work and I may not be able to do the 20 min one til Saturday. That one seems very daunting!! I’ve only run 5 mins so far so to do 20 on the next but one run seems crazy!!

send help!

I did 2 x week 3 yesterday, I will finish it off today. I should just about be able to get to the end by Christmas.

Good on you!

Don't think about the 20 min one until you do the two 8 min ones.

That's 16 mins and sure the 20 min one is just 4 more 😊

It sounds worse when you think too much about it.

You've got this!

Hi all,

@kirinm a Christmas target is great just keep at it you’ll get there. And @scoopoftheday definitely agree it sounds waaay worse than it is - take it slow and just keep going!

week 6 is back to shorter runs presumably building the base so quite happy about this week and got a yoga class & strength training session booked in so feeling like I’ve got it this week 🧘‍♀️ (if only I could also stop snacking I’d probably be starting to look more toned by now!)

I did it! 2 x 8 mins.

now for the 20 mins… probably have to wait until Friday or Saturday.

good luck everyone, we’ll all be running 5k by Christmas 🎄

Well done @Skinnydecafflatte that was brilliant 👏

Today it was week six run one for me
Which was 5, 8, 5 running with 3 min walks in between.

After the 20 mins on Friday I thought it would be easy enough- oh boy it wasn't!

I feel like there's sticks in my legs! Like I am running flat footed for comfort if that makes sense.

I'm wearing new runner too, they're Asics gel pulse 14 but I wonder if I could benefit from a spongier sole?

Because stamina wise I'm OK, but the pains in my legs today hurt like hell.

Moan over 😁😁

Well done @scoopoftheday it seems a bit backward that after the 20 mins you go back to smaller runs but I guess they know what works.

Can’t help at all with the trainers, did you buy them off the shelf or get ‘fitted’ for them at a running shop?

Just in a sports shop.

Maybe need to go and get fitted.

Week 4 run 1 done! Found the 5 minutes went by fairly quickly but I hadn’t realised that there were 2 x 5 minute runs so the second one nearly got me!

Well done everyone & keep going and by Christmas we will all be runners 😁.

@scoopoftheday I'd see how you go for another run or 2 first as I found Monday's run really tough too - legs of lead and the whole thing felt dreadful which I was surprised about having completed a 20 minute run last week.

eta @scoopoftheday wk6 run 2 was better although the first 10 minute run felt sluggish I'd found my groove by the mid way point. I think maybe this is a reset/rest week before we ramp up to 25+minutes!