I'm new here and new to the Couch to 5k plan - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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I'm new here and new to the Couch to 5k plan

Srr47 profile image
17 Replies

When my alarm went off this morning at 5.50 I did think about staying in bed but the running bug catches you really quickly.

I did my fourth run today. I was naughty and jumped to Week 2 after my first run as it didn't seem challenging enough but I am now sticking to the plan.

Week 3 Run 1 on Friday and it looks tough but weirdly I can't wait.

It is great to read everyone's stories and it is really motivational.

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Srr47 profile image
Srr47
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17 Replies
bulgarianlily profile image
bulgarianlilyGraduate

Keep to the plan and don't get hooked on speed, slow and steady does it, without injuries. Good luck

Srr47 profile image
Srr47 in reply to bulgarianlily

Thank you for your support. The thought of running 3 minutes is worrying but that is why I chose the plan because I needed something to guide me to achieve the targets each week rather than failing because I couldn't run 5k straight off. I love the podcasts it makes it so simple. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns

Welcome to the friendliest forum around and the most pleasant bug. If your starting fitness level had been 'couch potato' you would not have skipped a week, but it's great that you could.

Srr47 profile image
Srr47 in reply to PippiRuns

Thank you - it is a great forum and so good to see people at so many different stages of the plan. I haven't run for a good few years or exercised for the last year so I definitely will start to struggle a bit now. I really have to concentrate on my breathing as I quite often end up gasping for breath. It took over an hour for the red in my face to go down too! This time tomorrow hopefully I will be close to finishing. Have a good day.

Kds101 profile image
Kds101

Hi, I'm one week ahead of you... Have you seen week 5 run 3?  Terrifying 

zerosandones profile image
zerosandonesGraduate in reply to Kds101

I found that not looking ahead in the C25k plan was good for me. The mind gremlins have enough already to work against me without giving them more. 

Srr47 profile image
Srr47 in reply to zerosandones

I wasn't going to but got tempted!

Srr47 profile image
Srr47 in reply to Kds101

I'm not looking!

in reply to Kds101

Ohhhh no I'm terrified now 🙈

Kds101 profile image
Kds101 in reply to

Sorry

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate

Do the plan.

There are loads of different ways into running, but that graduate badge is rather nice to have and if you've not completed the 27 runs minimum, you've not really earned it. Frankly, I think Week 1 is one of the hardest... if you didn't, you have probably not started to learn about adjusting your speed to be able to sustain a run for 30 minutes and to get there without injuring yourself.

But it certainly is lovely to see such enthusiasm!

LessToLose profile image
LessToLoseGraduate

Well done!  I had to do the opposite with the early runs, ended up repeating week1 several times, LOL.  Still, the programme works and it is great to progress through the weeks :)

Kallyfudge profile image
KallyfudgeGraduate

Well done on starting! My advice is to just do what your body feels like, if week 1 was easy then its fine to skip a week. I was only off running a few months and found week one really hard but I did put on about 15kg in that time :) Guess I wanted to start running again in hard mode. Keep going, turns out millions of years of evolution has made our bodies pretty adaptable to change, you can do it and you will feel grand! :)

boptillyoudrop49 profile image
boptillyoudrop49Graduate

Crikey 5:50. You're good. Mine went off at 6:20 and nearly got slung out the window. Somehow or other I found my body was ready for the next longer run when it came. The problem was that my mind was not and I had to distract my mind with all kinds of little tricks to make myself persevere through those runs. It worked though. It is a great programme, try to have faith in it and persevere. I know it isn't easy to trust that you can run for 3 min, or 8 or 20 but it worked for a lot of us.

heavyhorse profile image
heavyhorseGraduate

I also skipped week 1 altogether, I had been out a few times( before I knew of c25k) just running for a count of 100 and walking for the same for a few miles, so I decided week 2 was a more appropriate place to start. I agree though if someone is completely inactive then starting at the beginning is a must, in fact probably a few weeks of brisk walking before wk 1 would be sensible.

I was the same skipped week 2 , glad your enjoying it . Keep it up !!

Megettingfit123 profile image
Megettingfit123

It’s taken me 6 weeks to complete week 4. Starting week 5 tomorrow. The first 3 weeks for me were the hardest but am finally getting into my stride. Week 5 looks really hard but sticking to the program has got me this far and I completely trust it to get me through the coming week, after all 6 weeks ago running for a minute was an achievement. I am determined to graduate and then continue to run 5k 3 times a week. Can’t say I have lost weight yet but I feel so much healthier. Running at 50- am so proud of my achievements so far.

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