Newbie alert!!

[LeaLouu1993]

Okay, hey everyone. Just started c25k. Bloody hell - that was hard. Doing it alongside a weight watchers diet. Fingers crossed. Does it get easier/harder?? If you miss a week do you go back to the beginning? X

[MotherGoose Graduate]

Hi! Yes it does get easier, just take things at your own pace. It's amazing how quickly you build up your stamina. Oh and if you do miss a week, just go back to the last week you did and take it easy. Before you know it you will get the running bug and will really be feeling the benefit of this. Happy running!

[LeaLouu1993 in reply to MotherGoose]

Thanks for advice - find it very hard to think I'll be running 5 k in 9 weeks as I'm currently 17 stone!! Waaaaah it's my 21st birthday in May and I'm not worried about my looks or weight particularly just my general wellbeing! Thanks again!!

[misswobble Graduate]

You don't miss a week! You run every other day without fail or we send the boys round. LOL

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Great start... I would say it does get easier as your body gets used to running, and you feel a real sense of achievement... Some people do each week twice ( my mum and my friend did) or just see how you go and if you struggle with a particular week just do it again! Good luck!!!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You only go back to the beginning if you slide down a snake, otherwise you keep climbing the ladders. Try to run regularly, but if you have a gap then just try your last run again. If you can't complete a run, no problem, just repeat it until you can, then move on. C25k really does work for most people, although many do not run 5k at the end. The aim is to run non stop for 30 mins, which will likely be getting on for 5k.......and then the world is your running track. Good luck.

[gingernut49 Graduate]

Maybe you're running too quickly? I started doing C25K at the age of 63 after I'd lost my first two stone on the 5:2 Diet and had so much energy (then I lost another stone). I hated running at school but now go out three times a week for a run. I didn't repeat any of the runs and at the end of nine weeks was running 30 minutes - it wasn't 5k but hey, this grandma is running!

[paulg01]

Hi

it does get easier you've just got to be determined. I found that I struggled for at least 5 weeks but then for no apparent it got easier to push myself harder.

I found by doing some leg strengthening exercise and some cardio workouts in between running helped build my stamina and the legs lasted longer.

I downloaded free exercises from ptprograms.com.au which I found really helpful. And I've since joined for about $10 and getting personal programs developed on line.

Another big tip is not to be too hard on yourself. If you miss a run just pick up from where you left off

[redrunning Graduate]

Well done for starting, that's the hardest bit of all!

I found the plan up and down, once it feels like it's getting easier, then you step it up a bit. It does challenge you, but is manageable.

I used Laura's podcasts. My signal dropped out with the apps and I didn't trust it to tell me to stop running!

The most surprising thing is the running times you can do, when you think that you can't, for example, the 3 minute run, the 12 minute run and then the 20 minute run - all sound so impossible, but you can and will do them. Just keep going at your own pace and don't over do it.

Keep coming back to the forum too, lots of help and encouragement can be found here

[helcl Graduate]

It's brilliant you've started and are out there. It took me several weeks to even be able to do week 1, let alone get past it. Main thing is not to get discouraged if it's taking longer than a week to do each week, not to worry if you have a bad run, and remember that each time you go out is making you a little fitter. Good luck