Page 3 | Couch to 5k

FunMum2019 · 2025-09-29T22:55:13+00:00

Started this again today (have completed it a few times over the years!). Anyone else beginning it so we can cheer each other on?

BetterOffNow · 17/10/2025 14:23

MamaBanana12 · 17/10/2025 14:02

I just ran my first 5k!! I kinda jumped passed week 6 run 1, and thought screw it. Took me like 45 mins but I did it without stopping. I’m so so proud of myself!!

Yay!! Well done @MamaBanana12 😁

Original poster

FunMum2019 · 17/10/2025 21:27

MamaBanana12 · 17/10/2025 14:02

I just ran my first 5k!! I kinda jumped passed week 6 run 1, and thought screw it. Took me like 45 mins but I did it without stopping. I’m so so proud of myself!!

Amazing work! Well done!

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MamaBanana12 · 17/10/2025 23:49

Thanks all!! I know it’s silly but honestly I am just buzzing

mummabubs · 18/10/2025 10:52

MamaBanana12 · 17/10/2025 14:02

I just ran my first 5k!! I kinda jumped passed week 6 run 1, and thought screw it. Took me like 45 mins but I did it without stopping. I’m so so proud of myself!!

Huge well done! That's a real achievement 😊

mummabubs · 18/10/2025 10:56

Riverz · 16/10/2025 10:12

I have been unwell and can’t carry on this week. I am itching to get back to it and worried about losing progress

Having a week off to physically recover is really important and won't affect your progress. 😊 I think the most important predictor of progress is that you're feeling motivated to get back into it when you're feeling well. (I've got an event in two weeks and have also had to take a break this week as I have COVID so I'm going to try and listen to my own reply here 🤣). Hope you feel better soon!

ew1990 · 19/10/2025 15:26

Oh gosh just done week 5 run 3 and it was not fun! I went a different route which didn't help, it was raining and so windy! I found it so hard but I did it,

Riverz · 19/10/2025 17:22

mummabubs · 18/10/2025 10:56

Having a week off to physically recover is really important and won't affect your progress. 😊 I think the most important predictor of progress is that you're feeling motivated to get back into it when you're feeling well. (I've got an event in two weeks and have also had to take a break this week as I have COVID so I'm going to try and listen to my own reply here 🤣). Hope you feel better soon!

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Thanks. I attempted week 4 again but I stopped after the first run as I know I am not full health again yet and didn’t want to make myself unwell. I will try again on Tuesday.

happygertie · 19/10/2025 18:42

Is anyone else doing Couch to 5k on a treadmill, I know it’s not ideal as it’s not as hard as learning to run outside, but I typically only have time to run post 8pm and don’t like being out in dark on my own, it’s not very well lit near to where I live. Just wondered if anyone has struggled to go from treadmill to outside ? I’m planning on getting through the programme then trying to get to 5k with the view of going park runs once I’m more confident, but feel like I’ll do 1k outside and realise I cannot do it without a treadmill.

MamaBanana12 · 19/10/2025 19:18

happygertie · 19/10/2025 18:42

Is anyone else doing Couch to 5k on a treadmill, I know it’s not ideal as it’s not as hard as learning to run outside, but I typically only have time to run post 8pm and don’t like being out in dark on my own, it’s not very well lit near to where I live. Just wondered if anyone has struggled to go from treadmill to outside ? I’m planning on getting through the programme then trying to get to 5k with the view of going park runs once I’m more confident, but feel like I’ll do 1k outside and realise I cannot do it without a treadmill.

Hey, I do a mixture . I currently run 4 times a week, I’d say I do 2/3 treadmill and 1 outside. Defo harder outside but doable. I’ve done a 5k recently on a treadmill. Ran today outside and did 4k - could have done more but I was with my 9yo daughter so she was flagging. But yeah totally doable; just watch your pace & plan a route. I live in a super hilly area so I need to plan that a bit so it doesn’t murder me🤣

MamaBanana12 · 19/10/2025 19:19

ew1990 · 19/10/2025 15:26

Oh gosh just done week 5 run 3 and it was not fun! I went a different route which didn't help, it was raining and so windy! I found it so hard but I did it,

Well done!!! You’ve done it now there’s no stopping you! I won’t lie since I did that I’ve just kept on going and found that I can do more distance wise !

Haggisfish3 · 19/10/2025 19:21

Well done everyone!! I find running outside far easier than a treadmill as I have to concentrate more on the terrain. It took me nine months to complete the six week programme and I am still astonished I can run for forty minutes without stopping!

ew1990 · 19/10/2025 19:29

MamaBanana12 · 19/10/2025 19:19

Well done!!! You’ve done it now there’s no stopping you! I won’t lie since I did that I’ve just kept on going and found that I can do more distance wise !

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Thank you!
In the school holidays I won't get out for 3 runs so it might take me a week longer to complete but im hoping to have finished this programme by the end of November, 5 weeks down 4 to go

Original poster

FunMum2019 · 23/10/2025 18:56

happygertie · 19/10/2025 18:42

Is anyone else doing Couch to 5k on a treadmill, I know it’s not ideal as it’s not as hard as learning to run outside, but I typically only have time to run post 8pm and don’t like being out in dark on my own, it’s not very well lit near to where I live. Just wondered if anyone has struggled to go from treadmill to outside ? I’m planning on getting through the programme then trying to get to 5k with the view of going park runs once I’m more confident, but feel like I’ll do 1k outside and realise I cannot do it without a treadmill.

During covid I did another programme to work up to a 5k. Found running outside easier afterwards because there were more distractions!!

Did week 3, day 1 today! The 3 min runs felt amazing. Feeling like a runner again, as in I can actually breathe while running. A 130 bpm playlist helped massively! Anyone have specific ones to recommend?

Thanks for all the motivation and accountability :)

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Greyandproud · 24/10/2025 10:33

Week5, run2
Aware I have been rather negative so far, so here is another view -
Today I may not have enjoyed running, but I enjoyed the experience.
A beautiful, crisp, sunny morning with dry paths. The autumn trees looked amazing.
It’s nice to have the chance to listen to my favourite music. Playlist landed on some great songs today.
Being outdoors with nature is always a pleasure. Wildlife seems to be a bit puzzled at my slow pace. A robin landed on path in front of me and a little squirrel stopped at the side of the path to let me pass😁
I was able to continue running a bit more after the second official 8mins. Approximately another minute or 2. Still alive!
I felt a fantastic sense of relief and joy at the end. It was over! - next week is family holiday so I will be taking a break, yippee 🥳 and starting back with week4, I think.
Really enjoyed the cup of tea I made whilst doing post-stretching. I have that down to a fine art.
Not sure I will make it to 5k but 2k is a possibility!

ew1990 · 25/10/2025 15:24

I did week 6 run 1 and then got a sickness bug, its now half term so im not going to get out until next weekend, so im going to restart week 6 run 1 then,
Hopefully after a week off I wont struggle, but we will see

Original poster

FunMum2019 · 30/10/2025 01:26

Greyandproud · 24/10/2025 10:33

Week5, run2
Aware I have been rather negative so far, so here is another view -
Today I may not have enjoyed running, but I enjoyed the experience.
A beautiful, crisp, sunny morning with dry paths. The autumn trees looked amazing.
It’s nice to have the chance to listen to my favourite music. Playlist landed on some great songs today.
Being outdoors with nature is always a pleasure. Wildlife seems to be a bit puzzled at my slow pace. A robin landed on path in front of me and a little squirrel stopped at the side of the path to let me pass😁
I was able to continue running a bit more after the second official 8mins. Approximately another minute or 2. Still alive!
I felt a fantastic sense of relief and joy at the end. It was over! - next week is family holiday so I will be taking a break, yippee 🥳 and starting back with week4, I think.
Really enjoyed the cup of tea I made whilst doing post-stretching. I have that down to a fine art.
Not sure I will make it to 5k but 2k is a possibility!

Love this! I’ve been enjoying the Halloween decorations while out and about running. This week I’m trying to be good and adding in healthy foods and stretching/strength stuff. Sooooo boring but very annoyingly it works….

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Original poster

FunMum2019 · 30/10/2025 18:22

Week 3, day 3 done!

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Riverz · 31/10/2025 13:37

I have repeated week 4 again as it’s such a big jump from week 3 and I did not want to rush it.

I didn’t actually manage to keep running through the second run of week 4, twice I had to walk so I have done week 4 runs x 6.

on the 3rd attempt I didn’t need to stop anymore

I might be ready for week 5 now

I’m so slow 😂

BetterOffNow · 31/10/2025 13:49

Ugh, I did runs 1 + 2 of week 5 and they went well, then life got in the way and I haven't run for a week!!
Hoping to get run 3 done over the weekend but if it's too hard I'll repeat week 5 in full.

Well done everyone who's keeping going as the weather's changed!

ew1990 · 31/10/2025 22:15

Riverz · 31/10/2025 13:37

I have repeated week 4 again as it’s such a big jump from week 3 and I did not want to rush it.

I didn’t actually manage to keep running through the second run of week 4, twice I had to walk so I have done week 4 runs x 6.

on the 3rd attempt I didn’t need to stop anymore

I might be ready for week 5 now

I’m so slow 😂

Edited

Slow is still moving!
A week ive not been able to run for, i cannot wait for Monday to get out again! Never thought id say that

Haggisfish3 · 31/10/2025 22:30

Just keep going !! I was so slow to crack the twenty minute run. Literally took me three months. Trust the process and any running is better than no running.

Riverz · 02/11/2025 14:04

So I did week 5 run 1 and it was fine, I can do it. The slow technique is certainly helping

Greyandproud · 03/11/2025 10:21

First run in 10 days after my holiday. I’ve done nothing but laze around and eat for a week so was expecting this to be hard work. I went back to w4 run 1 - 3min and 5min runs. I made it and not too exhausted. I am continuing to move at my glacial pace in order to keep going. I am going to have to build up to week 5 again but it’s not the complete write off I expected.
Enjoyed my cuppa when I got home.

Riverz · 04/11/2025 20:33

Week 5 run 2 did not go as well and I was really disappointed.

I am not sure if I was just hungry, but from the off I was struggling and really hot even though I ran in just a sports bra. I didn’t make it through either of the 8 mins runs in full but partly once because I messed up the treadmill and had a forced stop at around 6 mins into the 8 min run.

I will not move on until I have got this one right so will repeat it.

Sometimes I am not sure I have the cardio fitness to do this! I’m so slow

Haggisfish3 · 04/11/2025 21:31

Speed doesn’t matter! Just keep going. I use jeffing now, which is a system where you walk and run in timed sections. So I run for four minutes, walk for one.