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!

I got week 8 run 1 done today!

Mentally it was a challenge about 18 mins and I don't know what went on on my head.

Then Tina Turner's Proud Mary came on Spotify and I was gone again! It starts off really slow so I slowed my pace and got back into it.

I think I've lost my running buddy. She's a week (and a day) behind me so the last week or so will likely ne done on my own.

well done @scoopoftheday

I made sure a good up beat track came on for my last 5 min run to get me going for the home straight today lol week4 , run 1.
Looks like it kicked in for you too at the right time.

Has life got in the way for your running buddy? Least youve carried on and are on week 8. Only 1 more week until you graduate the app.

Has the ice/ snow cleared up for your runs now??

Hi @Giraff3

Yes, a family member of hers is in hospital and she's their only relative so the visiting falls heavily on her around her working hours/kids.

I feel bad going on without her but I want to get it finished. I tell her to run when she can but she just doesn't have the time at the minute.

Snow all gone thankfully! We never usually get much of it so I hope that's our quota for the year 😁

Well done on the first run of week 4! Doesn't it feel great?

Just added Proud Mary to my running playlist @scoopoftheday 😃Lose yourself Eminem or Dog Days by Florence & the Machine are my 'struggling need ta boost' songs so very happy to find another one! Sorry to hear you've lost your run buddy hopefully she might be able to rejoin once things are quieter for her and really well done for carrying on regardless - I used to love running with a friend but you do get used to relying on them to go out and that's one of the reasons I stopped when my buddy's job moved and she couldn't run in the morning.

Week 4 is great @Giraff3 and over halfway to those longer runs so keep it up.

How are the rest of yougoing @Borris @kirinm @InsiderBetty ? Anyone else still going?

Week 8 run 2 for me today so another 28 minute one- pissing it down and think I went off a bit fast as I found the last 5 minutes really tough but managed to finish thankfully. Off to yoga tonight which I think I need as I've literally been sat at my desk for the last 2 days barely moving a muscle and liable to seizing up!

I basically got sick straight after my second run and then had a horribly hectic work week which needed me in the office. Today is my first day of wfh this week and I'm dressed in my running gear and will aim to get out at lunchtime. I'll be trying the first run of week 4.

@lechatnoir what do you listen to your music on?
I just repeat an 80s running album on Spotify - i don't pay for Spotify, suppose if I did i could have playlists and be able to search for songs!

So glad you've run 2 over - ill get mine done on Thursday then on Saturday I'll go first thing then I've a day out with the girls. Will feel better going knowing I've a bit of exercise done 😁

I go to strength and conditioning classes at the gym, try for three times but mostly get 4 or 5 as I WFH and can managed to fit it in before I start work.

If I ever have to go back to the office my exercise life would be scuppered 🤣

@kirinm hope your run goes OK, you're doing well! Never easy getting back into it after sickness or being busy - look forward to hearing how you got on 😊😊

@scoopoftheday I've created a running playlist on Apple music that I just add to when I find a banger! I'm flitting between music and podcasts at the moment but going to try an audiobook and see if that distracts me enough as the runs get longer as I do find running on my own is quite boring 😊

Bloody hell that was a horrible run, but it's done.

I don't mean time wise, that was OK, but the cold wind was in my face the first half of the run.

I starred off without my watch, realised it wasn't on my wrist (had left it charging) and had to ring dd to bring it to me (I live up a very steep lane and I am not ready to run that yet 🤣🤣) and then further in when I was removing a layer of clothing I lost an earpod.

Had to stop to find that, but then added extra time at the end to make up for it. It felt shit 😁

@kirinm hope the run went well. It's so frustrating when sickness sets you back!

@scoopoftheday oh no!! Hopefully things will only get better 🤞

@lechatnoir I am still going and I did week 7 run 1 today and it wasn't too bad! The first ten mins were awful but after that it was a-ok. It helped that I was listening to the last three chapters of my audiobooks so that kept me going but now I've got nothing to listen to so need to find something sharpish.

I find that I really enjoy the runs once they are done 😂 I am very slow though and don't know how I'd run a 5k in 30 mins. I reckon it would take me 40 mins, or 35 if I'm lucky. After I have finished c25k the next step will be to increase my speed a tad!

I've not managed at all this week but am doing wk5 run 3 tomorrow. I'm debating doing wk6 run 1 on Sunday but I don't know whether it's silly on consecutive days. Running out of time until Christmas now

Hey all

I thought id check in for the week. Ive completed week 4, run 3 today. Found it all fine. Surprised how my fitness has picked up.
Need to pick a new track list for next week as i move onto 8 min runs (i think) then as the weeks go on il move to pod casts. Hate it when the app kicks in with chat and i miss stuff on a audio book or pod cast lol

Next run is Tuesday xx

I completed week 8, run 3 today!

On to week 8, 30 mins per run next week!

I can't run 5k in 30 mins so whilst that's slightly annoying, I can run for 30 mins which is more than I could do 9 weeks ago!

@Giraff3 I will attach my run playlist. It's free on Spotify, I don't pay for my account.

30mins running and 5km done 

Strava seemed to think it was a bit longer but I'm sticking with my app prompts for now and both amazed & chuffed I hit the 5km. I purposely took a slightly flatter route & sped up for the final minute to see how far I could go in the half hour but won't be doing that every day!

Hope everybody else is doing well - come and share your successes or calls for motivation.

Well done @lechatnoir

I've never measured my distance. Longest so far is 20 minutes

Oh well done @lechatnoir that's fantastic!!

I haven't got my first run of this week done yet - it's frosty here today but I also have the worst (what I think are) shin splints!

Even this morning in the gym I could hardly do lengths of running on my right leg so I don't know if I could do a longer run. Though it might settle down if I kept going?

I think it's amazing you can do 5k in 30 mins @lechatnoir absolutely brilliant!!

Did run 1 of week 9 there in my lunch break.

Ran with my friend, I think it puts me off that she's faster 😳 I'm maybe a solo runner?

Anyway I ran 2.82miles in the 30 mins which Google tells me is 4.5km. So maybe before the end of the week I'll hit 5k?

Am glad it's over 😊

I’ve not run with anyone else yet. I can imagine it might be a bit demoralising if they’re faster or finding it easier. I’m planning run 3 of week 6 tomorrow after work while waiting for dd to finish a sports club. It’ll be a dark and boring road one

I finished week 7 run 3 today and it was actually ok! I'm really getting into it but I bumped my head last night and might have a bit of concussion as I feel a bit dizzy and nauseous so not sure I should have gone for that run today 😬 might take it easy the rest of this week unless the headache is gone on Friday then I might start week 8.

@lechatnoir well done!! So far I'm averaging 7.2km per hour so I have no chance in hitting 5k in 30 mins but I'll keep trying!

@Borris @scoopoftheday I am definitely a solo runner. I like my audiobooks too much!

That's run 2 of week 9 ticked off ✔️

Another 30 mins. Today's run had 2 hills in it too.

Another solo runner and I did enjoy it.

Still never going to hit 5k in 30 mins but it's feeling more achievable to be able to run a 5k even if not in 30 mins.

Anyone who's struggling, believe me when I say I am not a runner, I never saw the point in it.

But I can't believe I've almost finished week 9!

Well done @InsiderBetty that's brilliant!! You didn't even let an injury hold you back- but I hope you don't have a concussion!

My shins are still hurting badly after runs and at night. Today i iced after the run and took 2 ibuprofen so I hope they're not as sore today.

Hey @scoopoftheday I've had shin splints before and they are horrible. Take it easy and maybe have a couple of days rest with lots of ice and gentle stretches. It might also be time to get yourself some more supportive running shoes - it certainly made a difference to me but be warned, they can get pricey 😫

Do you plan on following another plan after you finish? I'm conscious there's only 1 run left on this plan and I think I need something else to keep me on track so hoping the 'Beyond Couch to 5km' will have something suitable. I'm not looking for longer (yet!) maybe just improving my general stamina and getting a bit quicker. I've been reading up and it seems a rest/gentle week is advised so that might be good for you anyway but then swop in one run for a training run (hills or sprints) .

Hope you got your runs in @Borris & @Giraff3 and well done @InsiderBetty - we will be all runners for Christmas 😁

@lechatnoir yes, I think my plan is to go to a running shoe shop and let them guide me.

At the minute I have asics gel pulse 14. My running buddy has HOKAs and says they're brilliant.

I haven't really given it much thought about afterwards, but I think, like you, I'd like to work on the timing and not feeling panicked when I'm at a certain point in the run.

I just want to keep it up a couple or three times a week alongside the gym and dog walks.

Hi, can I join in? @scoopoftheday we’re at the same point, although I suspect you’re doing better than I am!
I don’t want to be negative as I know it’s a fabulous programme, and have definitely achieved so much, but …. does anyone else absolutely detest every second?!!! I was hoping this would go away but if anything it’s got worse.

@Reflecttheflowers welcome and yes, I hate the first 20 mins and then when the end is in sight it's not too bad and when I've done my run I'm elated 😂

when I did c25k 4 years ago I hated it. But this time round it's bearable with a gripping audio book and me doing a slow jog 😅

Hi @Reflecttheflowers 👋

You're doing brilliant to be on week 9 - nearly there! <said in sarah millican's voice>

I hate the first 5 mins. When she says you've ran for 5 mins, by now you should be comfortable i want to say "fuck off, Sarah" and sometimes I do 😁

I like it when the half way bell goes and I can turn, I know i have a downhill at the start of it then all flat.. but I wouldn't say I enjoy it in the moment, no.

I love it when it's done and I feel like doing an air punch, but because of where I live it's very likely a passing car or lorry would see 😁