My Couch25k Progress Encouragement Badly Needed!

[crispy]

Hi all Ive just started the couch25k after not doing any exercise in a while. Ive completed Day 1 and 2 of Week 1 and will be on Day 3 tomorrow. Im so unfit so I found it very hard so although Im feeling slightly embarrassed about this, Im thinking of doing Week 1 again before I go on to Week 2! Would love to hear from someone who felt like this when they started it and if anyone has any tips or encouragement to help me keep going Id be so grateful to hear from you

 

[crispy]

Re: Couch25k Encouragement Badly Needed!

Did Day 3 today and found it a bit easier but Im still gonna do week 1 again cause Im still so unfit!

 

[*joanne*]

I did week 1 many times just take your time and move on when ready. I am only on week 3 and I think I started around September but did have lots of colds and shin splints think it was just my body getting use to it. I am in no rush to finish C25K and have come along way when I started I could not run 30sec the first day was like hell. Only last week I manged to run up all the way up the hill from hell it falls on run 3 and is so hard. Also it take time to learn how to run right I still run too fast at the start and have to remember it's not a race.

 

[crispy]

I did week 1 many times just take your time and move on when ready. I am only on week 3 and I think I started around September but did have lots of colds and shin splints think it was just my body getting use to it. I am in no rush to finish C25K and have come along way when I started I could not run 30sec the first day was like hell. Only last week I manged to run up all the way up the hill from hell it falls on run 3 and is so hard. Also it take time to learn how to run right I still run too fast at the start and have to remember it's not a race.

Thanks so much for your message Its great to know it really does get easier. Im in no rush to finish it either but Im useless at sticking to things so I'll just be over the moon if I do manage to complete the whole program! I found the first day hell aswell You are doing brilliant running up hills and everything I find it hard to control my breathing when Im jogging so Im just panting like an idiot lol Hopefully my bright red face will die down as the weeks go by when my fitness improves!

 

[GrumpyWino]

Years ago I struggled with c to 5k. Now though I run great long distances and couldn't live without running, it's the best. My biggest tip would be, run slow. That's it, run slow. We all try to run that bit too fast, so remember, when you are struggling to keep to a set time or distance just slow down. You will improve if you keep at it, guaranteed! Enjoy!

 

[crispy]

Years ago I struggled with c to 5k. Now though I run great long distances and couldn't live without running, it's the best. My biggest tip would be, run slow. That's it, run slow. We all try to run that bit too fast, so remember, when you are struggling to keep to a set time or distance just slow down. You will improve if you keep at it, guaranteed! Enjoy!

Thanks GrumpyWino Congrats on your success with it Its inspiring to hear you went from a complete beginner and now you cant live without running Thats brilliant Id love that Thanks for the encouragement

 

[Hules]

Thanks so much for your message Its great to know it really does get easier. Im in no rush to finish it either but Im useless at sticking to things so I'll just be over the moon if I do manage to complete the whole program! I found the first day hell aswell You are doing brilliant running up hills and everything I find it hard to control my breathing when Im jogging so Im just panting like an idiot lol Hopefully my bright red face will die down as the weeks go by when my fitness improves!

You'll get there! You really will! When I first did the programme I would never have thought that I would be able to run for 5k without stopping - but then I did it! When I very first went out it was really hard, but I loved the satisfaction when I managed to complete a run and that made it worth it. I still do like the satisfaction (verging on the smugness! though who I'm feeling smug to I've no idea!) when I get home.

Tomorrow I'm due to go out to do Week 6 Run 3 which is 25mins non stop. It feels like a reeeeaaalllyy long time, but I can do it - I know I can as I've done it before - I just have to keep going. I'll set off really slowly and build up and settle into a comfortable pace for me (which is really slow but it doesn't bother me as I'm not racing anyone so who cares?). I've found that too fast to begin with and I have to stop, and too slow when I get into my pace is hard too for some reason??!! The breathing settles after about 3 or 4 minutes into a rhythm and my legs remember what they are supposed to be doing (it's like my body takes a while to wake up, whinges at me a bit, then goes 'oh, I get you, you want me to run!!'). Oh, and I still go bright red and did even when I was at my fittest!

Definitely repeat days if you feel you need to. You will get there to the end, you'll see! x

 

[crispy]

You'll get there! You really will! When I first did the programme I would never have thought that I would be able to run for 5k without stopping - but then I did it! When I very first went out it was really hard, but I loved the satisfaction when I managed to complete a run and that made it worth it. I still do like the satisfaction (verging on the smugness! though who I'm feeling smug to I've no idea!) when I get home.

Tomorrow I'm due to go out to do Week 6 Run 3 which is 25mins non stop. It feels like a reeeeaaalllyy long time, but I can do it - I know I can as I've done it before - I just have to keep going. I'll set off really slowly and build up and settle into a comfortable pace for me (which is really slow but it doesn't bother me as I'm not racing anyone so who cares?). I've found that too fast to begin with and I have to stop, and too slow when I get into my pace is hard too for some reason??!! The breathing settles after about 3 or 4 minutes into a rhythm and my legs remember what they are supposed to be doing (it's like my body takes a while to wake up, whinges at me a bit, then goes 'oh, I get you, you want me to run!!'). Oh, and I still go bright red and did even when I was at my fittest!

Definitely repeat days if you feel you need to. You will get there to the end, you'll see! x

Thanks Hules I'm feeling a bit more positive about it now You're right to be smug I would be too if I got that far lol Thanks a million for all the tips Everyones really helpful on this I'll keep you posted Good Luck with finishing week 6 xx

 

[gina_b]

hya
keep up the hard work, running is great!
i srated out struggling to even run 1 mile now im doing a full marathon in 8 weeks, took a while to learn how to pace myself though. always set off too fast and burned out not even half way, now my run pace is slow (5 miles per hour) but i can maintain that comfortably.
having a good music playlist helped me cope with the "omg i cant do it anymore" feelings. trust me they were not easy to overcome!

 

[Hules]

Gina-b, you must be so excited to be running a marathon! I have so much admiration for anyone who has that stamina, especially someone who started the same way I did I really hope it goes well for you! what i found really interesting is that you run the same speed I do can't wait to hear what time you do it in!

How's it going crispy? I've done two 25 minuters now. Both hard work but not too bad. I'm sure you'll feel the same when you get there!

 

[gina_b]

Gina-b, you must be so excited to be running a marathon! I have so much admiration for anyone who has that stamina, especially someone who started the same way I did I really hope it goes well for you! what i found really interesting is that you run the same speed I do can't wait to hear what time you do it in!

How's it going crispy? I've done two 25 minuters now. Both hard work but not too bad. I'm sure you'll feel the same when you get there!

not fully exited, half scared and half exited! half of me is going why did you sign up for that, the other half is saying you can do it! was a spur of the moment sign up.
my aim is just to finish for now, but id be happy with 5hrs or less!

 

[crispy]

hya
keep up the hard work, running is great!
i srated out struggling to even run 1 mile now im doing a full marathon in 8 weeks, took a while to learn how to pace myself though. always set off too fast and burned out not even half way, now my run pace is slow (5 miles per hour) but i can maintain that comfortably.
having a good music playlist helped me cope with the "omg i cant do it anymore" feelings. trust me they were not easy to overcome!

Thanks Gina I'm already having the omg I can't do it anymore feelings lol That's great you're going to be running a marathon That'll be such a huge achievement You'll have to let us know how it goes

 

[crispy]

Gina-b, you must be so excited to be running a marathon! I have so much admiration for anyone who has that stamina, especially someone who started the same way I did I really hope it goes well for you! what i found really interesting is that you run the same speed I do can't wait to hear what time you do it in!

How's it going crispy? I've done two 25 minuters now. Both hard work but not too bad. I'm sure you'll feel the same when you get there!

That's brilliant Hules Id say the 25 mins is pretty tough Do you think you'll go on to train for a 10k then? I'm doing ok Remember I said I was going to do the first week twice? Well I've Day 3 tomorrow and then I'll go on to week 2 Some days I find it easy and then the next time it could be harder which is weird cause it should be getting easier each time so hopefully I'll do ok in week 2 I've some fluid retention at the side of my knees but my knees aren't sore or anything Anyone else get that?

 

[Hules]

That's brilliant Hules Id say the 25 mins is pretty tough Do you think you'll go on to train for a 10k then? I'm doing ok Remember I said I was going to do the first week twice? Well I've Day 3 tomorrow and then I'll go on to week 2 Some days I find it easy and then the next time it could be harder which is weird cause it should be getting easier each time so hopefully I'll do ok in week 2 I've some fluid retention at the side of my knees but my knees aren't sore or anything Anyone else get that?

I don't think I will go on to do 10ks, I've done a 10k before and it took me an hour and a half! I run for fitness and weight loss not as a hobby if you know what I mean, it'd eat up too much of my day. Never say never though!

Some days I find it harder than others.depends on all sorts of factors, how much sleep I've had, what I've eaten, if I'm poorly, work, allsorts! No two runs are the same.

I'm sure you'll be fine on week two, you'll be surprised. I remember thinking a minute would never end, (it still feels a really long time when you are clock watching ). You can do it!

I'm afraid I don't know about fluid on the knee. Better keep an eye on that. Though I think you can expect a few niggles when you first start out and your body gets used to running.

Good luck hun!

Ah, you'll be great Gina, as you say the main thing is to get round. Fingers crossed for 5 hours (which would be amazing as I couldn't ever imagine running for that long! ) x

 

[crispy]

Thanks Hules I can't wait til I shift some of this weight It'll be alot easier to run when I'm lighter I should be going on to week 2 on monday or tuesday so will let u know how I get on k

 

[crispy]

Had a good day today I did Day 1 of week 2 and it was easier than I thought it would be

 

[crispy]

Tomorrow I'm doing Day 3 of Week 3 and I'm really enjoying it How's everyone else doing?

 

[Hules]

Re: 12's into 11's

Yay! Well done hun, that's brill! I'm just about to go out for w8r3

 

[crispy]

Thanks Hules Week 8r3 Thats fantastic You're flying it

 

[gina_b]

sounds like its going well!

soon you'll be addicted i hated running at first now i cant imagine not looking forward to a race run