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?

The local running club runs a c25k course twice a year. We do run 1 together each week. I guess 10 people started and we are down to 6 people. Each run has the same 3 club members who go out with us each time in the same position - one run with the front beginners, one in the middle and one with the tail end.

We become club members on taking the course. On the evening we meet there are club announcements and everyone is very friendly. They encourage everyone to do parkruns etc as teams, participate in half and full marathons. It’s a nice spread of ages and they are about participating and not winning medals. They run regular social events. After the weekly announcements the c25k runners go one way, another group do 3 to 5k and another group do about 7k. They seem to have lots of routes worked out.

I am doing run 2 shortly at the local sports track which the club uses twice a week.

I think I will stick with them @IReallyNeedThisToWork It will keep me going on the 5k front otherwise I will reach the end of the course (hopefully) and will stop. Plus I get new friends.

That's it! Completed my last run today in the rain!

You could still probably walk quicker than I run but I did it! 30 minutes of non stop running.

The kids and dh met me at the end where they know I finish with a "well done" banner, water and cake 🤣

Not sure I've got the bug for running but I'm unbelievably proud of myself for completing it 😁😁

Well done @Marypoppinsisnosaint

I completed Week 5 Run 3 before the rain set in but did 25 minutes instead of 20 because I felt I could. Felt okay. I just plodded along. Looking forward to my club Run 1 this week as they deviate from C25K to build up distance.

@Marypoppinsisnosaint - Congratulations on your achievement 🎉🎉🙌🎉🎉 You are now officially a ‘runner’ so no stopping you now!! It’s wonderful how your family celebrated your success- clearly they are very proud of their mum/ wife (as they should be)!!

Well, after a couple of weeks of sticking on week 6, with 22 minute runs, my DS dragged me to the local park run on Saturday. I’m delighted to say I managed to complete the run without walking at any stage. I was slow, just under 41 mins, but I’m not bothered, I’m just really pleased I did it! (Yes, it is possible to do 5K in over 40 minutes and it to still be running!).
So now I need to become a regular!

Not sure I've done it right. I just started with Park run straight off. My aim is to around 30 mins by February. At the moment I'm around 37 mins but I'm happy with that.

Makes me feel that I should give it a go. I am officially starting Week 6 next week but reckon I could do a very slow 5k without stopping

Well done 🎉 Hopefully your DS will take you next week as well in order to encourage the habit

Week 9 run 1 💪💪

30 mins and managed 4.2 km. No way am I going 5 in 30. May do run 2 of 30 mins and then just push for the 5 km in run 3 regardless of the time. It would be annoying to complete the c25k and not actually run 5k!!

Thanks for the encouragement (from everyone).
It was doing the 22 min runs that gave me a bit of confidence to give it a go. If you’re doing similar longer intervals non-stop then I would say give it a go. I was worried I’d feel really self-conscious running with lots of people, but it was fine, everyone was friendly and encouraging. And no pressure to go any faster than you feel comfortable with.

I got back out there this morning, after a week off with the dreaded lurgy. Felt so good. Just a very slow 3.3km, but the first day of the Nike 5-10km programme.

Have done week 6 run 1 💪🏻

going to keep plodding on

Having so far been injury free, I seem to have knackered my knee yesterday. Not whilst running but during Pilates of all things!

It’s knocked the chance of wk 9 run 2 out for today and I am not best pleased to get so close to the end and be forced to pause. Hopefully, it’s a quick ish recovery with a bit of rest 🤞

So just finished Week 6 Run 3 which for my club was 3.8km run with no stopping plus the warm up and cool down. I just can’t believe the progress!

Bring on Week 7💪🏻 (in a day or two)

Still plodding on after my break for illness. Brief recovery run and PT session on Friday. 4km run on Saturday. 30 mins on the rowing machine today. Keeping moving!

Week 7 Run 2 I have run 4.2km without stopping 💪🏻

Having moved house, I have found a local park with a 2.5km perimeter. The challenge will be to make myself run round it twice for 5km and maybe 3 or 4 times as I try to make it up to 10km. In the meantime, I will be doing speed bursts up and down the considerable hills to increase my leg strength. Will report back. I am so determined to continue being "a runner", daft though that sounds. I even find myself enjoying it sometimes.

Week 8 Run 1 done. 4.5km no stopping 36 minutes.

rolling into Week 9. I have registered with park run and my first one is set for 15 November. I am feeling quite excited.

Did my second Parkrun on Saturday. No quicker than last time but again managed it non-stop, no walking (and almost 450th out of 450!). I’m sure you’ll love it, I’m finding it somewhat addictive!

Another 5km this morning. Plus some weights and abs work. I need to start doing the faster interval training, to try to get myself towards 10km being a possibility, rather than just plodding slowly round. The trouble is, I don’t want the “coached” option on Nike runner, with all the unnecessary chat and encouragement. I’d rather listen to my podcast!

Third Parkrun on Saturday. I normally do it on an empty stomach but this time I had a banana about 45 mins before the start. What a difference! My energy levels felt so much better - and my time came down from over 30 mins to just over 36 mins. I can't think it would have been anything other than the energy from the banana. My diet is pretty low carb, so maybe I need to introduce a bit more carb to help with the exercise.

I did my first park run on Saturday. Not too shabby for a first attempt. Even though I had done a couple of 5kms in training beforehand it felt a bloody long way at the half way point 😂

Congratulations! Hope you make it a regular thing. I’m finding it a bit addictive!

(my last post had a typo, My time came down from over 40 mins, not 30, won’t let me edit now)

Aaargh. Just did my first speed interval run on the 5-10k Nike Runner app, Coach Bennett in my ear telling me I’m awesome and helping me to reframe running fast as “confident” and very (ha!) fast as “celebration pace”. All very well until I look at my stats at the end and realise that my beetroot red faced all out “celebration” pace is the speed at which most people do a parkrun. Even 36kg down and wearing my fancy new size 8-10 DFYNE (thanks, Vinted!) running leggings, I’m still, it turns out, not built for speed. But, hey, I got out of bed to do it, so I’m winning. Or “awesome” as Coach B would say.

Anyone else trying to keep going over Christmas? I’m hoping I will have a bit more time during the holidays to make myself get out and run. Did Day 1 of week 3 of the 8 week 5-10k programme just now. Plus a weights session. Will keep posting here for motivation!