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 :)

Wow! That's great ifink! The most I've done is 6k but I find it hard fitting it in, I have fortnight off after this week so I might go out a couple of times on a longer route and see how far I get without stopping. Dh will be home so if I'm far away I can always ring him to pick me

Hi cece, noticed your absence from mfp too. Glad it's because of a holiday and not something horrible.

My friend is getting better, we went out yesterday and she managed 8 1/2 minutes before stopping! She's lost 2Kg since we started going together as well. We are going again tonight and then going to attempt the running group on Wednesday.

Oh thank God! I thought I had killed the thread!
Did w1r2 today with no kids in tow and feel a real sense of achievement. I was all glowy and excited :)

I hope I can keep it up.

Hi everyone - is ok if I join in too? I need a bit of encouragement as I am officially the slowest person ever to undertake C25K - I started in March and am still only on W4R2 (lots of repeat runs, with a few illnesses thrown in for excuses)!
I was/am so unfit! I felt like I was going to die when I ran for 60 seconds, so reaching the 5 minute mark is a massive achievement. I have looked at W6 and it seems completely out of reach right now.
How do you all get past the burn in your chest and breathlessness? How much should you push yourself? I just so want to be able to run that 5k!

Welcome Lucky13! I think you perhaps need to take it a bit slower? The idea is to complete the runs and not to push yourself as hard as you can. I found that breathing as Laura suggested (NHS Podcast) came after I'd been running for a while. I finished mid March and have been running 3 times a week since and it took me until the end of June before I ran a sub 30 min 5K, I don't know if this is normal but I know quite a few people whove been disheartened but not doing 5k in 30 mins when they finish. Especially watching the olympic athletes doing it in 13+ mins!

Slower! I hope you mean my pace rather than the five months it has taken me to get to W4!!
I use the RunDouble app for android and it does tell me my average pace for each segment of the run/walk - so what should a slower pace be for running at this stage?
I have tried a few different breathing techniques, but my lungs end up burning so much no matter what. I'm not sure what I can do to help it - or is just an incredibly slow process for a really unfit person?

Yes I mean pace, if it's really that hard then you may be trying to go too quickly. Better to run slower and be running than to stop or walk, I don't know in actual speed but you should feel a bit better when running. With breathing I would say that not thinking about it is the best way to deal with it!

Ok so I'm up to week 5 and just done session 2 today. So far so good. Immactually able to run quicker than before dd's arrival. However did my first 8 min interval and I now fear for session 3. I'm never going to be able to run 20 mins continuous!!!!!

Last week (week 4 session 3) I got to the end and thought sod it I'll carry on to 5k just out of curiosity. 37mins it took n the first 5 if that was a walking warm up. Ok not THAT impressive. But to put it into perspective I did race for life 4 year ago n that took 37 mins!

Melliebobs - if it makes you feel any better - I carried on to 5k the other day and it took me 42 mins - more walk than run!
I'm v impressed with your running for 8 mins continuous - 5 mins is still just too much for me at the moment.

Melliebobs, I remember writing exactly the same thing about the 20min solid run on w5r3, honestly I never thought I could do it, but I did, and it really wasn't as hard as I expected.

My record for 5k is still 36 minutes (I'm on week 7) and that levels my race for life best too!

Oooo well maybe if I slow the speed just a bit 20 mins continuous may be possible. Well just been to a buggy fit class today. So day off 2mrw n see how we go on Friday. Eeeeek

Definitely melliebobs, most of us who've done it were worried about the 20 min run and I think pretty much everyone did it! Take it steady and you'll be fine :)

I went to the more advanced group of my running club and it was tough but good, think I'm going to ache! THinking of going with them on their 6 mile run on Saturday morning, I don't think I'll do the whole run but they apparently stop at points and I kept up reasonably well tonight.

I'm (re) joining here, albeit under a different nickname!

Lucky13, you are by no means the slowest...I started back in May and I am still on wk2 I had 'time off' for illness and injury, then a very hectic summer meant I could only run once a week, which didn't make me feel able to progress to wk3.

Now schools are back I am re-starting (at wk2).

I will be walking on rest days and also Zumba twice a week.

Signing in after wk1r2! Have been challenged by the (much fitter) ladies in the office to join them on a 5k run. I did run 1 on the treadmill and run 2 outside going round and round a field. The second run seemed to go more quickly but I felt like a right plonker huffing and puffing past the kids on the swings and football pitch.

Did you invest in proper kit?. I feel like I am practically in my school PE kit and a pair of 10 year old Nike Airs that were in a box under the bed. Some of the people I know who have done c25k swear by a 'gait analysis' and a shiny new pair of trainers from advance performance.

The only thing I've invested in is decent trainers. Only cos I run on the outside of my foot n get bad pain up the inside of my calf as a result. So had gait analysis n got the appropriate trainers. They only cost £50 so well worth it IMO

Hi auntieBulgaria! A good bra and good trainers are probably the most important things. although I did just buy myself one of those armbands you can put your phone in and it is great

I finished week 1 today! Really I did 4 runs not 3, but had to abort one 20 minutes in as i had the 2 dss and ds1 couldn't keep up on his bike- he is only 4. Ds2 loved running in the pushchair!

I am so glad I decided to do this :)

Hello, been an age since I posted. But I am still running, although only once a week at the mo. Am trying to get my time down on the 5k. I want to be able to do it in 35 mins but at the mo am at about 38. Did 4k yesterday in 31 mins, so need to speed up some more!

Good luck and welcome to all the new runners. I sarted in Feb and really have the running bug now.

I started on Monday and have been out on Weds and today (too hot).
Really proud of myself and hoping I will keep it up.

Welcome ICouldBeYou, AuntieBulgaria and feelingfull! I only had a cheap pair of trainers until I was sure that I was going to carry on, then I looked on runners world and shopped for a suitable pair of trainers. My bras I already had were fine. Now I have lost weight I'm happier in a pair of 3/4 length leggings but I was just wearing joggers before that (was in January when I started though).

Well done sagelynodding! Especially for running with a pushchair :)

Good to hear from you FunnysInlLaJardin!

No aching after Wednesday so I'm going out tonight but on my own, haven't been on my own much recently so will be nice!

I decided to buy myself some new kit for each week I completed as an incentive. So now i have new trainers, an armband for my phone (run double C25k app), t-shirt and joggers. Hmm what shall I get for finishing week 5?!

Ran my fastest 5k last night, 27 min 30!! Very pleased with myself but it was hard! Went with my friend today but it was very hot and we managed 30 mins but not quite as far as usual as she found it hard. Rest day tomorrow and then running club Monday :)

I won't be able to run again until Monday evening, which will be the start of week 2.

What can I expect, is it still 30mins?

I've not run since last sunday afternoon... just felt so under the weather all week, nothing specifically wrong, just didn't feel well.

Anyway, I managed w7r2 today, badly again, ah well....

Yes feelingfull it's still 30 mins I think it's 90sec runs if I remember right!

It's always harder after a break Em3978, well done and I hope you feel better.

feelingfull it is 90 second runs with 3min walks I think. I was due to start W2 tomorrow, but I have the worst cold ever and I don't think I will be able to cope :(

Hopefully I will get back out there by Wednesday, and do wed, fri, sun to get through wk2. But if my nose is still streaming like this it is unlikely. I'm annoyed as I have been so motivated, and have really enjoyed W1, and going swimming in the sea afterwards. I hadn't done anything really for myself in ages.

sagelynodding hope you feel better for tomorrow!

I did w2r1 yesterday evening. A lot cooler than last week. And I am not waking in the morning in pain!

I use Run Keeper as well, so I can remember where I go!

I am still not very fast, but am impressed and surprised at myself that I can complete the thing. But I run really slowly. Really really slowly!