C25K runners - anyone want to join?

[85reasons]

Finally hauled myself out of bed this morning to restart C25K, having been wanting to get back into running now that I’ve lost weight on MJ.

Two years ago I was able to run 10K… this morning the three minute runs in week 3 (I’m impatient…) were a real stretch - but it felt so good to be back out there.

I’ve struggled to get consistently into exercise since starting WLI in September but am now about a stone from target and really need to sort it out. I’m hoping getting into regular running will kick start some strength training motivation too.

Amyone else want to join in for mutual support?

✅ W1R3

.. took a while but W1 is finally complete.

I really am not a natural runner. And I think I hate it. A lot! But will keep going 😂 … have promised my daughter we’ll go running together every Sunday and I can’t let her down. Have snookered myself!

Maybe something good to listen to, rather than crap pop running mixes, might help. Will look into the ones mentioned above.

Week 1 Run 3 done here also.

My DD is delighted. She and her chums love park runs and do collection competitions associated with park runs. Their idea of a fun hen weekend includes a park run - bloody Zillennials!

Roll on Tuesday for W2R1 💪🏻

Talking about running does help with answering/deflecting the comments about weight loss, I find. So there’s one good reason to keep doing it. I dread to think what they’d all think if they actually saw me though, going red faced at a snail’s pace around the park!

✅W2R1

Out for a run at 7am. Outrageous behaviour!

W2R1 done here as well. Hopefully R2 on Thursday and the R3 on Saturday. It felt easier than last week but I did all my homework stretches, squats and balancing on the non-run days.

Week 5 r2 looming and I am not going to lie, the idea of 8 minute runs is absolutely terrifying!! 😫

@TheSlimmingPumpkin! What’s all this about homework! Squats and lunges? Sounds like the devils homework! 😂

@IReallyNeedThisToWork good luck, you will do it!

My homework from my PT is calf raises and squats. Calf raises every time I stop at a pelican crossing and on the tube escalators, and squats while I clean my teeth and while the kettle boils! They do work, over time.

@WoolerOwl - I do the same plus balancing on alternate legs to engage my core . I am prone to Achilles tendinitis and find these exercises really help, even if it means that I end up dribbling toothpaste over my PJs!

Woohoo!! Completed wk5 run 3!! Never thought I’d be able to run for 20 minutes! Feel very chuffed tonight 😁😁💪

Well done @IReallyNeedThisToWork

I completed Week 2 Run 2 tonight with Ella Toone as my coach.

My homework @Mounjaroday from the running club who I do a weekly run 1 session is to do normal squats, balancing on one leg, lunges and single leg squats on my rest days.

Week 6 completed. I've just bought one of those running vest backpacks that you can put your water, phone, and keys in. I was finding running without water a bit dry, so now seems like a good idea to add one of these in. I really want this to become a new way of life. New trainers when I get to 5k!

Week 3 Run 1 done. Felt surprisingly easy.

I have a running belt for keys and phone but nothing for water

Twenty minute run today! Over Vauxhall Bridge at dawn. Beautiful.

@WoolerOwl oh that sounds fab!! After a few days of rain a couple of weeks ago, I have fallen into a pattern of tacking my run onto a gym class so am running on the treadmill. Outside is better but it’s really hilly around here which I find rather intimidating 🤦🏼‍♀️

Week 6 R3 today. Now that really IS intimidating! 😂

So did Week 3 Run 2. All well and good. I went a bit further than I expected and then for the last run I decided to turn back home and slowly jogged all the way back home which took 8 minutes! Then I did my 5 min cool down walk and stretches. Feeling chuffed this morning 💪🏻

No way could I have jogged for 8 minutes last year when I was 5 stone heavier.

I can’t control my breathing - any advice? I have tried C25K but there isn’t enough recovery time in between the runs (the first one!) for me to get my breathing back enough to be able to do the next run. It’s so frustrating as my body feels ok but my breathing just says ‘no’! I have been trying my own version of walk/run/walk in the hope it would help me build up but just cannot do it.

@montston are you running too fast on the run parts? If you are able to, I would try running slower so that you don't get so out of breath.

@montston - I agree with @SilenceInside that you should slow down your pace. Also try concentrating on long, slow breaths - focus on getting air deep into your lungs. I found this really helps me with my breathing and my form as my body naturally relaxes with deep breathing.

@montston I am no expert by any means but I am trying to breathe in for three/four steps and then out for the next 3/4. That’s something like Ella Toone told me on the NHS app. And I go slow, once I can I go a fair distance such as 5k I will then think about speeding up.

@montston I really found running on a treadmill helped me get the hang of my breathing if that’s an option? When I’m outside, I seem to run faster and at a less consistent pace whereas being on a treadmill at a continuous speed made me understand the pace I could run at and still breathe (the newly prescribed bronchodilator probably helps too!😂😂)

About to start week 8. I have four episodes of Stalked podcast left, so that should get me to the end of the program plus an actual 5k run. Then what?!

I am about to start week 4. I am to busy trying to breathe and get one foot in front of the other to listen to podcasts or music 😂

Ha! I do understand that feeling. If I lift my arms to rearrange my headphones, I feel depleted by the extra energy it takes. On the other hand, if I get engrossed in the podcast, the running definitely passes faster. Well done on getting to wk 4.

Sitting here contemplating the inevitability of Wk7 😫