Who's with me for couch to 5k?!

[Badgoushk]

I'm going to start Couch to 5k when my new trainers arrive (today/tomorrow/weekend) and wondered if anyone wants to start too and we can have a little support group going?

I'm 39, 2 stone overweight, haven't done any running for over 10 years and even then I couldn't run 5k without walking. I have 2 young children and want to shape up. I currently swim twice a week and walk a lot (9,000 steps a day). But I'm still pretty unfit. I need to get my heart rate up!

So who is going to join me?! You need to be able to commit to 3 runs a week (30 minutes) for 9 weeks. Have a google of couch to 5k to see what it involves if you're not sure. I'll be using an app on my phone.

Who's in?!

It’s definitely quieter here! I’m still going 5K x 3/week.

How is your new sports bra, post? I wear a Freya Active - it’s more like an underwired crop top, but had a racer back & gives good support.

Still getting my head round running in the dark - have a bright pink breathable waterproof jacket.

I don’t want to stop running over the winter, in case I don’t start again!

That's how I feel, I'd be gutted if I stop! I think we can do it, we'll just need to layer up and maybe accept we might not fit in 3 runs a week if weather dire?

The dark is taking some adjusting to here as well, especially the bits with no street lights. Ordered a long sleeve top today and using my very fetching (not) hi vis vest type thing over the top. Seriously considering a head torch.

My sports bra arrived today so I've got as far as trying it on. Think I'm going to have to get up 15 mins earlier to get into it wishing I'd gone for the Freya one now but I think it will be very effective once I'm in.

How's the running going? I'm not officially finished the 5k app. I go running and use mapmyrun now and forget to complete my couch25k, but I'm now comfortably running for 30 mins and could go for longer. I want to encourage anyone to keep running. So even if the weather is bad, or you don't have enough free time, just be encouraged to keep on going with this. I honestly couldn't run to save my life in August and feeling like I'm doing pretty good now. I just want to keep it up. So, on that note, has anyone else completed the couch25k and what did you do next? Did you just keep running for 30 mins or did you just keep building it up, and maybe did a 10k? I'd be really interested to hear about it.
TIA

Hi fireflies - that’s fantastic - well done!

I finished the c25k app over the summer, have just kept running using the pacer app & tracking my runs that way.

I’ve found my “running” to be very variable since then - some days I sail through it in 33-34 mins. Then I have a night like yesterday (day 1 AF, already done 12K steps & totally knackered, sore calf) & it’s 38 mins.

I guess there’s so much progress very quickly in c25k and my expectations were that it would get easier - but it hasn’t. I haven’t gone for 10k as i struggle to find the time to do 5K x 3/week. And I think it would kill me

Well done Fireflies, that's great!

I also finished the C25K app over the summer and have been aiming to do 3 x 30 mins a week (this is not 5k as I'm slower than that) I use Strava to keep an eye on what I'm doing . I'm not planning on doing 10k, I think It would kill me too

My running is usually more jogging really and also very variable. Did first Parkrun today. Strava says I did 5k in 33.4 mins which is a personal best for me. Parkrun think differently and said it was 36.23 - I prefer Strava's personally but it doesn't really matter as I enjoyed doing it and will repeat it. They give you an age graded score which was interesting and I would like to see if I can improve that a bit over time. Didn't take music, big mistake - found it really hard without as am used to it.

Thanks for the responses More and Post. Yeah I think based on what you say More - I will keep going with where I'm at and just try and do 3 x per week. That's a good enough goal. I'm guessing over winter I'll keep running as I don't won't to lose my efforts but I probably won't push past where I'm at much. Maybe try and improve my times here and there. I am with you too on how we see such fast results with 5k, and it makes sense that 10k would be harder and will probably take longer. Thanks for that. It would have to be next spring/summer for me now, but that gives me an excuse to keep it simple over winter and it's probably better for me physically.
Post - my 30 mins is still less than 5k too, so even just a 30 minute run, 3x a week might suit me as I try and keep and keep it up over winter. Yes I think tracking how well I'm doing is important to me too. I like to know my pace etc. I wonder maybe using that app if I could try some short bursts of hill running too. Does it show gradient, the app? I guess it would. I have done really flat running so far. I probably need to try a few small hills at some point.
Thanks for both of your help.
Hey how great does it feel to finally get to this point?! I want to say well done and keep it up, to you both. P

I'm not very good with gradient, it says elevation gain if that is any help? Actually there is more further down, will post a picture. I think the winter is going to be tough. I used to run early morning in the woods but now have to do pavements which I don't like as much so instead of Friday tend to do Saturday as can go in daylight.

I think it will be quite a challenge to keep it going through the winter but would be pretty sad if I can't as feel really pretty proud. I have never ever done anything like this before and never felt the urge at all. I'm nearly 6 stone lighter than last year and it would have been unthinkable then.

Strava screenshot

Today’s run almost killed me! There’s definitely something going on with my right calf, not sure what. I finished in 34.40 but it was a struggle. I run so much better after a stressful day at work!

Sympathies Prosseco. I'm having trouble with my right knee. Very stiff from Parkrun so a very slow one this morning. I think 34.4 good going personally !

At the end of the day I guess all that matters is we are actually doing it. And to be honest in my case that looked massively unlikely back in April !

Great running Post and More. I still havent downloaded Strava but need to do so. This week has been a little quieter for me but I'm running maybe 2-3 times on average now. The weather has really changed things I feel. Ugh I am going to keep running!

Yes the weather and darkness are definitely challenging. Strava has been a bit weird I've noticed with it logging about 0.4 km more on one run than another for about the same distance. Maybe it is Strava that is variable and never my running (I wish)

Oh wow. Gosh I suppose there is always room for some error but wow that's almost 1/2 km.

I use the Pacer app & find it pretty accurate.

I’m finding it ok running in the dark, but draw the line at rain. There’s only been one or two weeks since I started this on June, that I haven’t managed 3 runs. Not sure how realistic that is over winter, given the Scottish weather.

My right calf seems to be holding out ok. Fingers crossed!

Hi More and Post, I just thought I'd tell you I've found and popped over to the Running Thread part 10. It's where people who are doing similar to this here, running 5km plus more, but are adding their miles to a running total each day or week (whatever suits you). You just add it to everyone elses, and have some general running chit chat too. You are welcome to join us, here is the link or just look up Running Thread Part 10.
..www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/2839565-Running-thread-part-10?watched=1&msgid=72601068#72601068

Thanks Fireflies will have a look. My birthday today and we did a Parkrun as a family, wants to do something that would have been unthinkable a year ago.

Unfortunately I came in this morning a week early which was annoying. Quite an eventful run as my friend had a call halfway round to say her sister was going to hospital then after she went a lady next to me fell flat on the floor so obviously stopped to help her. She did brilliantly, got back up and we walked for a little bit then carried on running, it was her first time. So I was a minute or so slower than my first time last week but given the circumstances I was pleased with that.

Happy birthday Post. Well done on doing a family park run. I think that's awesome. It sounds like you've had quite the adventure too!