Couch to 5K - to infinity and beyond...

[cinnamongreyhound]

A new thread for those of us who started in January 2012 and anyone starting now. Everyone welcome for support, encouragement and occasional arse kicking :)

shithappens - it is going to be one of my 2013 resolutions, I think. I managed nearly 8k before once before when my running was going well so it seemed do-able then but I have to say I'm finding running a slog at the moment. Did 5k at the weekend in 30'31, which I know is OK, but have previously been under 30' and I literally couldn't have gone any faster, so felt a bit down about that. And I've just been out and my legs absolutely felt like lead and I cut my planned route a bit short. I hope it's just a phase and it will pass.

There are lots of different plans for moving up to 10k. Some go back to intervals like the C25k, but I was thinking of doing something a bit more like cinnamon describes.

Must find a date and pay some money for a race, then I won't chicken out.

Have got a stinky cold so not been out since Thurs. hope it won't hurt too much when I do!

I have considered building up to 10k but don't think I'd have the time really. 5k two or three times a week seems doable to fit in around everything else.

Oh goodness. Have just seen myself in a video of a children's party. Maybe the reason I'm finding it hard to keep my speed up when running at the moment is that I'm the size of a house. Must do something about all the grazing - I'm generally pretty sensible with proper meals but bad at comfort eating when tired, stressed or bored, which is quite a lot of the time.

Hope you feel better soon, MegBusset.

I'm sure it's not as bad as you think dotty2, I always hate seeing myself on film!

I'm considering giving the 6 mile run with my club a go tomorrow, am I mad?!?!

Maybe you're right, cinnamon. Anyway, I went for a lovely long swim first thing while DH did the school run, and I feel a bit more positive.

What have you got to lose? Go for it - the worst that can happen is that you might have to run/walk a bit towards the end. Good luck - that's v.nearly 10k, isn't it?

Can I join? Last night I completed w5r2 which means tomorrow night I am facing the dreaded 20 mins with no walking in the middle! Really don't feel as though I can do it but then I thought that when I reached 3 minutes at a time so am going to give it a go. So glad I started in the winter as I run in the dark too . Desperately want to get fit and shift some weight! Planning to sign up for a 5k in April/May.

Welcome Bubblesbabe and good luck with the 6m Cinnamon!

Well I am still full of cold so no running for me this week, I'm away all weekend so will have to be next week now. I also seem to have got rather familiar with the Christmas food stash, oops...

Hi bubblesbabe - and don't worry. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, feels like that about the 20mins. You'll be fine, and will feel sooo proud of yourself afterwards. If you're using the NHS podcast, Laura is very encouraging.

(Be warned, though - W6R1, which is intervals, again feels oddly hard, and lots of us got all discouraged by that.)

Welcome bubblesbabe, keep it slow and steady and you will do it. Plus it's the best feeling ever when you get to the end

Well I went and I did it! We stopped 4 or 5 times to let people catch up and I was only at the end for one segment. We did 6 miles in 1h 3mins so pretty good for me! I think 10K is 6.4 miles so nearly there, will definitely enter a race in the spring now

Wow, that's brilliant! Well done

I've finally managed to get out again today after a 3 week illness break. I've decided to redo week 2 and it was tough going.

Well done cinnamon - you are an inspiration. Am feeling pretty stressed out this weekend and have been up since 5am catching up on admin stuff and it's now 7am and I have some work I ought to do and Christmas cards I need to write. But I think I might just put my kit on and go for a short run instead...

Sounds like a plan dotty2!!!

I went and I felt much better - both less tired and less mentally fogged. There's a lesson there.

Well done Dotty and Cinnamon!

Went out this afternoon after more than a week off with a cold, didn't break any records but managed the 5k, think I'll ache later though!

Well done dotty2 and MegBusset!

I've got a horrible cold but dh persuaded me to go to running club. We did three separate miles with rest between. I did one in 9m 10s, one in 8m 07s and one 8m 26s. That's the first time I've done that kind of training but I think it was pretty good. Feeling very cold with horrible headache now though!

Felt better weds and had a nice run, was only 30min ish 5k but was good. Going to club Saturday morning run again on Saturday with mince pies and coffee afterwards

Gosh cinnamon I lose the thread for a couple of weeks and you are nearly up to 10k, wow!

I know, I've gone a bit mad the last couple of weeks! I went to the Mince Pie run this morning and we did 6.5 miles, plus I ran there and back so in three segments totalled 16K. We good but I have a blood blister on my big toe . Definitely need to enter a 10K soon. Also averaged 5min 51 sec per Km so not bad pace . Hope everyone else is good

Ow, hope the toe heals up quickly and doesn't interfere with your running! My foot keeps aching after runs, think it may be time for new trainers. I'm still slow, but need to work on my speed. May fit in a run tomorrow as I missed parkrun today but may parkrun at tge beach Christmas Day and dh has packed his trainers and barcode...

Two short runs today!!

parkrun Christmas Day done. Looked back to the first thread and I started on 27th December last year. Wouldn't have believed then that one year on I would be getting up early and running 5k on Christmas Day!

Glad you managed your park run jchocchip We've all done great! I've really got the bug now, off to run 6 miles with a few of my club in half an hour, everyone else still in bed! Then off to see rise of the guardians and not sure what for lunch

Ran 5k today and Christmas Eve. That cancels out a whole tin of Quality Street, right?

Happy Christmas all you C25kers and thanks for all the moral support since I started running, can't believe that was only three months ago!

I reckon at least one if not two MegBusset