I’m starting couch to 5k tonight, anyone else?

[spitofyou]

It’s light as I’m leaving work so that’s it, the evenings are drawing out and by the time the clocks go back I want to make it to 5k.

ultimate goal is to be running a minimum of 5k by the time I go on holiday in the summer, so that I can run when I’m there.

Fantastic! Have you ever run before? Couch to 5k is a great way to start and had me running 5k in no time.

I’ve had some illness this last year and haven’t been able to run, but starting to feel like I could manage a little jog, so have downloaded the app, as this way it should stop me from going all gung ho and overdoing it (which I’m great at!).

I did last year and ended up with an injury. I got cleared by my physio to start again this week! I’ve lost a lot of fitness since then though I think

Sounds like we’re in the same boat! Good luck with your run and hope you enjoy easing back into it.

This is just the thread I need! I just finished week 1. I can't believe I seem to be actually enjoying it! I have not exercised for years except walking.

I did it!! I missed this so much. I also tackled a huge fear of mine, running in the gym!

I started on 1st Jan (cliché I know 😁) missed a few days when the streets were really icy but just finished week 2 and I've really enjoyed it. I'm stunned really, never thought I would say I'm enjoying running 😄

Glad your first run went well!

Well done to everyone who starting out. Just so everyone knows and doesn’t get disheartened. The program will teach you to run continuously for 30 mins but it would be quite usual to be running a 30 min 5k by the end of it. Most people will be just over 4k. I know I was.

so don’t stress if you still aren’t hitting 5k at the end. It’s normal and will come in time. By the time you finish doing the extra few minutes to make it up to 5k won’t seem like a big deal and in time you’ll likely get to 5k in 30 mins and faster with practice.

enjoy!

I was going to start this week (after a failed attempt last year) but have come down with a chest infection and nearly lost my lungs this afternoon during a gentle yoga session ffs. I am raging as it's ruining all my plans for this week not just running! I'll start when I'm over the worst of this and join in the thread a bit late if that's ok, a bit of company would be nice.

I'm not a new runner at all, juat a very lapsed one but I will be starting again from the very beginning.

I started last week too. My app is really annoying me though, it keeps shutting down mid way through. Which ones are you all using? An accountability thread would be really helpful for me. I used to be able to run 10km (slowly) and I'd love to get back to 5-7km on a regular basis (my stomach doesn't like me going past 7km)

I’m using the NHS one (the green-y) one. Kept it open through my entire run tonight so I could time my change of speed

Well done on getting back to it! I started last January after an 11 stone weight loss, having never exercised in my life, and haven't looked back! It's been brilliant for my mental and physical health.

Can I join? I started last week and did my first week 2 run yesterday. I’m actually really enjoying it and can feel the benefits already.

I'm also trying to lose weight having put on half a stone over Christmas and annoyingly the scales aren’t budging. I’m reliably informed this is due to the new exercise and inflammation of muscles so that’s ok, I can live with that!

I'm not going to lie, I have a tendency to get a bit obsessed with stuff like this, bought myself some new kit and all the rest of it, but usually don’t get past the first week before I give up and move on to the next thing. So the fact I’m still enjoying at week 2 says a lot!

Unfortunately I can't access the NHS one @spitofyou as I'm not in the UK. I was careful with my pocket placement this evening and it worked properly so hopefully if I'm more careful it'll work.

I'm the same @EdinaTheConfessor . The first time I did c25k I had myself kitted out for ultra marathons by week 3 😂

Run 2 tonight! Really looking forward to it

I'm determined to do this. Not started yet but maybe this thread will spur me on!

Can I echo the earlier comment - at the end of c25k i was nowhere near 5k.
But The following week I went along to Parkrun and (slowly) did 5k!

Beware, it is addictive. I now run 4 x per week.

I started just after Christmas but had to take a few days off due to illness and ice, so I'm just in week 3. I've done it twice before, once in my twenties and once after my first baby. I've had another baby since and a tougher pregnancy, have only just been signed off by the physio to try impact exercise so even though I have run before I'm now starting from a pretty low bar!

oh I’m glad someone started a c25k thread! I’ve just re downloaded the app with the intention to start it again. I did it years ago and ran regularly ( I’ve completed two half marathons over the years). Haven’t ran properly for about 4 years and last November I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I need to do all I can to be healthy so dusted off the running shoes again and looking to restart couch to 5 k.

Well done for getting started!

If you have the app, you can play it over your own music, or, if you go to the NHS website on C25K, you can play the podcasts that have appropriately timed music already included.

I echo PPs, the average 5k time for a beginner female runner in the UK is 38 minutes, across all ages. So, don't worry if by the end you've not hit 5k. You'll have enough fitness to extend your run time wise, to reach the distance.

It is such a good programme.

I've shared this before, but in 2023, when my little boy was 2 and a half, he ran away from me in the supermarket, and I couldn't catch him. I realised I had to do something, to be a healthy Mum. Did the first run a few days later, had no trainers, joggers or headphones. Did it in the dark, so no-one could see me.

It nearly killed me. I could barely run for the 1 min, having not run willingly since school. Had a massive nosebleed that evening.

Took it as proof that something seriously needed to change, so purchased cheapie supermarket trainers, and carried on.

I've lost 4 stone, amd last year completed a public half marathon, running for 2 hours and 30 mins without stopping. I've lost 4 clothing sizes.

I've got another half marathon in 6 weeks, in my home city, and am currently racking up the km again. 10k is probably my favourite distance, but the pride that I feel, being able to say I can run a half, is amazing.

Running has truly saved my life.

Sorry that was so long 🤣

Congratulations! This is amazing! I really just want to see how far I can go, but I’m 4lbs down on the scale this morning and I’m going to credit that to couch to 5k 🤣

How long does it take before you are addicted? I’m enjoying it but wouldn’t say I’m addicted yet, I would LOVE to be! Rather that than wine which is my usual vice, although I have been dry for January so far.

This is so inspirational! Well done 👏

Not to dishearten you, but in 10 years of running on and off, I've never been addicted. I am addicted to cake though and I can have more when I run, so there's that 😁

For me it was a few years. I did c25k in 2021 with a friend and ran from spring to autumn that year getting up to about 10k. I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t have said I was addicted and it still felt quite hard. Then I had the winter off and started again in spring plodding around 5k again. Basically I did that on repeat until most of the way through 2024. Like a previous comment said, I like cake and could eat more of it when I ran and so I kept it up and didn’t hate it, but it was still quite hard on each run and 10k felt like a really long way.

towards the end of 2024 I decided I wanted to get better at it and to keep going over the winter. I built up distances and pace and it all started to feel easier. I entered my first 10k race last spring and tbh that’s when the addiction began. I entered more races, joined the local running club and realised that I’m actually pretty quick for an inexperienced 40 year old!

Now I socialise by running. I ran my first marathon in October and have signed up for another in April, as well and two half’s, a trail marathon and an ultra. So now I’m well and truly addicted and I actually love it! It took a while but for me it happened. It’s not even about the increased cake intake these days 😂.

Glad I found this thread. I used to run regularly but haven’t for years after stopping due to injury and not getting back into it. Just completed week 2 run 2. I’ve had a few attempts at couch to 5K over the past few years and lost motivation. I used to love running so I’m determined to get back at it. I find it brilliant for mental health. Good luck all. The couch to 5K pages on the healthunlocked website is great for tips and motivation.