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?!

Thanks. Good luck Cheekybiscuit. I'm wondering what the encouraging voice says on the longer runs. For example there's a 25 minute run in week 7 or 8. I wonder how often Sanjeev will check in with me? Anyone know? I feel like I'd need him to update me every 3-5 minutes!!

Well done Badhoushk I just have a robotic sounding woman on mine who says start now and not a lot else.

W5R3 done.

Bloody hell! I'm not sure what's taken over me, but I'm on holiday in France & have just done w5 r2

In fairness, it's shite weather, exactly the same as I left in Scotland, so I packed my trainers when I saw the forecast. I would really have struggled in the heat, but 15 degrees suits me fine!

If it stays like this, I'll continue with the programme, will just walk if it gets hot.

Well done MoreProseccoNow. Amazing!!

MoreProsecco well done

MoreProsecco send some of that enthusiasm back here now!!!!
Just finished W4R3. About 2 days late but at least it's done. Went to my bed at 9pm last night to avoid snacking as well....
Happy Saturday folks!

As we're in the weight loss section, has anyone noticed any changes since they started running? I started on 9 June and have lost 12 pounds! I know that is quite a lot in just over 3 weeks but I am overweight and presumably the first 4-5 pounds was water anyway! I'm really pleased. Currently 12st 8. I need to be 11st 10 to be normal BMI.

I'm also really pleased because I have been tracking my steps for about 3 years now and June was the first month that I managed to reach my target of over 10,000 steps on average for the whole month!

Finally, I swam 30 lengths today so am feeling good about that too!

That is brilliant Badgoushk, well done!

I stalled with weight loss the first 3 weeks or so having my first gain since I started dieting back in November. But this week i lost 3.25lb so very pleased to start losing again.

Well done MirabelleTree! I have realised that my weight fluctuates massively with both ovulation and my period. So I have 2 whole separate weeks where I don't lose anything and may even gain weight but then it all comes off in a whoosh! I think before I would lose motivation and think sod it and eat some cake or something. But now I know that it will come off a week later.

Yippee! Completed Wk 3 this morning. Am so pleased as never got this far before on my previous attempts at C25k

Just finished Week 5!!! I found it a HUGE jump up from the last 2 runs (8 min run + 2 min walk x2) to a 20 min run, I really didn't think I could do it. I kept checking the app, thinking it was a mistake.

So I really slowed down & found as flat a route as I could. And really surprised myself! I think from now on I will concentrate on speeding up on the shorter runs (with walking between) & just surviving the longer ones!

I find mid cycle I stall and sometimes at the start, it is very annoying. I'm 3 days late , fit to explode or snap at people.

Well done Cheekybiscuit!

Prosecco I nearly wished you luck with run 3 then I figured say nothing as I think it is best just to crack on without thinking as much as possible. I was lucky in that we did it by accident on W5R1 so knew it would be ok. Hopefully going to do W6R1 tomorrow and will be a bit strange going back to intervals but takes pressure off. I only have one speed - incredibly slow

W6R1 done

Wow well done everyone!

Just for some encouragement I did my first ever running event on Friday - 5.5 miles that I did in just over an hour and didn't stop and walk once. I started the couch to 5k app 3 months ago.

Keep going everyone :)

Thanks Loubilou09 that is good to hear. Gearing up for W5R2 either today or tomorrow. I'm not sure how I will get to non stop running given I "look forward" to the walking parts.
I used to be able to run years ago. I just have no confidence left.

Well done everyone! We're all doing really well.

Have just done w6 r1; it's beginning to hot up here & I'm limited to the site we are staying in (don't fancy running on unlit French country roads with no pavements).

That is very encouraging Loubilou

Well done Prosecco. I'm totally get that, I'm not even up for pavement running and do laps of a little (flat) route in the woods.

The interesting thing about this thread and indeed others on MN regarding C25k is the low reported incidence of failure/dropout. If you look at a wider picture, failure to complete C25k is extremely common. Some US reports suggest only a small minority do so. Obviously there is sterner stuff in the UK. Nevertheless, progressing from couch to 5k requires a major increase in aerobic capacity and we know that around 15% of us are “exercise non-responders” (i.e. unable to increase exercise capacity with training). So why don’t we hear more from the 1 in 7 who try C25k and who fail simply because of physiology, not willpower? Are people here too ashamed to admit failure, or could it just be that non-responders know their limitations from past experiences and never start?

At a quick look around 19 said they were in at the beginning of the thread but since about 22nd only about 6 of us have posted so around a third still going . I've not counted those who have kindly popped in to post support and my figures are only very vaguely accurate.

I've found that with things like this and diet threads you do tend to get lots of people saying they are in at the start then a fair few gradually fall away at the beginning but you have a group that keep posting. Sometimes people come back again which is nice.

My Fitbit seems to be on its way out.

W6R2 done. Legs like treacle.

Hello, I need some encouragement today please! I have given up sugar as I find myself totally addicted and when I don't have it I feel amazing. Last night we had a celebratory meal and I had a dessert but went on to snaffle some chocolates when I got in. I feel terrible today. Awful headache and no alcohol. I really really don't want to have any sugar today. Please help me stay strong.

I'm planning on running home from work today. I have brought my kit in. I just need to buy a rucksack at lunchtime. It will be W4R1 tonight.

Thanks everyone.

Fantastic that you have given up sugar Badgoushk. I keep toying with the idea as am totally addicted and eat chocolate every single day (sometimes quite a bit too).
I did Wk4R1 last night and it was the first time that I felt like 'yes I can do this!' Hoping that continues through the rest of the week

That's really good use of time running home ! Stella away from the sugar, back away very very slowly, it will make you feel crap. I could do with taking this advice, AF is 6 days late and I feel for to exode wirh huge carb cravings . Maybe that is why my legs didn't want to work this morning.

Well done Cheekybiscuit

Badgoushk you can do it!! And well done on the multitasking- getting your run in on the way home from work. Excellent!
And good willpower from you and Mirabelle. Fantastic.
I've let myself down badly. In the throes of AF I have just eaten a twix. Both fingers. I feel so guilty now. I must whip my own back with twigs.
W5R2 tonight to partially compensate but I am well aware you can't outrun a bad diet. Woe.