Join me for Couch to 5 k?

[Alwayslearning25]

Hi, I am on week 2 run 1. I enjoyed week1 run 3. Anyone want to join. My motivations are weight loss, mental health and improve my fitness. I'm a mum of 2 little ones and have had depression before, am feeling on the verge of it again. I'm also the heaviest I've been in my life.

@daisyelle sorry for your loss, and welcome.

Sorry to read that Daisy, I’ve just finished week 4, now I have my breathing sorted I’m finding running really helps clear my head.

Thanks both ♥️ I finished week 2 today, is it quite a jump going to week 3 with the 3 mins?! I’m probably going to start week 3 on Friday x

I think all the weeks feel like a big jump, but they must know what they are doing as I seem to be managing it doesn’t far.

although Sunday will be run three of week five, which is 20 minutes running and feels impossible on this side of it. I’ll report back. 🤣

I haven't had a chance to run much recently so let's see who can do the 20 minute run first.

@lunar1wow that’s incredible! You CAN do this. @Alwayslearning25hope all is ok with you.

Just got back from doing week 3 run 1! Can’t believe I managed it. Didn’t stop once (even when I got stuck on a completely waterlogged path, and a bit of a hill for the first half of the final 3 mins).

I know we’re supposed to have a gap between runs but had a bad day MH wise so just done the second of week 3 - hope everyone is doing ok!

did it help? I find it’s really helping clear my mind and I’m actually looking forward to my runs.

@lunar1loads, thank you - I honestly thought I’d have to prise myself out each week and forever be doomed to week 1 but it’s the total opposite

Just did 20 minutes run! I did have to stop twice because I met a stray staffie who barked at me so I walked passed him. He's always on Facebook for being stray in the area, he's not lost... Another timei needed to retire my laces. It's cold today, my bum got cold running, but warmed up with the cool down walk. first time wearing my new legging, might have to buy some new joggers. @daisyelle my DH runs a few days in a row. He is a serious runner done a couple of half marathons at a speed of 1:36. He suggests I run subsequent days, as I'd be able to get 3 a week in, but I'm sticking to the every other day. Mornings with a small about to eat 2 hours ago has worked well. Hoping I burned fat not food that way.

I did my 20 minutes yesterday as well, it’s definitely a trust the process thing isn’t it. Once I got to 10 minutes I was pretty confident I’d be able to finish

@Alwayslearning25@lunar1 WELL DONE!!!! You’re both amazing!! Was thinking of this thread when I went out tonight, did week 4 run 1 so the 2x 3 mins and 2x 5 mins for the first time. Legs struggled a bit with the final 5 min run but I didn’t let myself stop at any point and I’m SO pleased I pushed through it

@daisyellethat one was a big jump for me, the 5mins felt like an eternity. Maybe it was a mental thing, but it felt harder than the 20 minutes.

I can’t believe I’m actually enjoying this!

hopefully more people will see this and be inspired to join us.

So at the start I couldn't even run the 60 seconds but ive ran 5k 3 times now, todays time was 31:17, 9 seconds faster than my last one 🤣
For all those just starting it is possible,
I found it so hard today though breathing in freezing cold air i really struggled for the last km x

@lunar1yeah the first couple felt really hard this week which I’ve not really had yet (and I found myself rewinding the final walk to buy myself another ~60 secs before the last 5 mins, but managed to do it properly last night without any walk repeats. Can weirdly see that this week is harder than the 20 mins! I found week 1 harder than changing it up to the 90 secs/3 mins week for example.

Totally with you on the enjoying it too!! Definitely hope more people see this - I’m pushing 18 stone and if I can do it (and I have the fitness of a slug) anyone can.

@ew1990that’s absolutely incredible!! 9 seconds is huge too, you’re a star. The cold air is v harsh, feels almost stingy!

Can anyone recommend a good running watch? Do I need one or will a bog standard Fitbit do? I’m sure I’ve got my old one somewhere…

I’m on week 2 and I’m doing run 2 tomorrow. I just walked to the supermarket and didn’t get out of breath which was nice!

I use my Apple Watch @daisyelle with the Strava app.

sounds like everyone is doing really well. I just finished week 6, which was a 25 minute run, definitely more mental than physical for me I think.

14 months ago I had a bmi of 40, now im just under 24 (thank you munjaro) and am outside running, where people can see me 🤣🫣

@daisyelle I agree running in one block is often easier than stopping and starting. I've had a break of a week due to illness and today felt well enough and had the time, but my knees hurt in the walking so after the 6 week introduction say how it's hard and I should have completed week 5 recently....I decided to repeat week 5. But after the walk before the final run I didn't have the motivation to keep going.

I have heard stop starting is really good training to being able to do long runs faster eg for races. Also,I heard on a podcast it's how we've naturally evolved, eg if hunting or even gathering, we'd run a bit, track/ gather a bit, run a bit more. I personally find my muscles don't ache and I don't need to stretch if I've interspersed running with walking.

@Blueuggbootsthat’s fantastic!keep going, you can do this!

@lunar1fab thank you - will have a look at getting one seeing as I’m now actually enjoying this?! Who would’ve thought. Incredible re the 25 mins, you should be so proud ♥️

@Alwayslearning25how’re you feeling now? Really hope you’re on the mend. I would’ve repeated week 5 too.

So yesterday was super icy and I didn’t trust my trainers to not go sliding everywhere so I dug my walking pad out which was surprisingly effective (ie held my weight when I was running!). I was absolutely buzzing to do the 2x 8 minute runs but even more so now that today I have just done the 20 minute run!!! I can’t believe it!!!!

Congratulations @daisyellethats a great achievement! Just think how good we’re all going to feel when a big group of people all start this in January 1st and we’ve got so many runs under our belt. I’ve just done week 7 run 2, and managed a bit further in my 25 minutes.

How’s everyone doing? I’ve just done week 7 run 2, ie 3x 25 minutes! I’m sure I’m in a parallel universe 😂

Im on week 4, did run 1 on Sunday and doing run 2 tomorrow…..this is the furthest I have got…

You can do this! I never got further than week 1 previously and I did my first 28 minute run yesterday 🤯 absolutely baffling. You’re doing brilliantly, keep going 🏃‍♀️ x

I've not done much. Tried going out at the weekend but went back to run one as my knees hurt again and I took a 2 week break....will get back into it at some point.

@Alwayslearning25- I do all mine in a treadmill. I can’t cope with the uneven surfaces outside? My hips do not thank me for it???