When did you find it started to get easier?

[VictoriaRuns]

On week 1. Just wondered, when did you all start to think "I can do this" or find it became easier, if it all?

Obviously it'll be different for all. Just wondering

[buddie17 Graduate]

I'm on wk 4 and I'm finding my legs are feeling stronger and I can run for longer without feeling totally exhausted! But everyone's different I guess!

[Hidden in reply to buddie17]

i second this - im on Run 3 Week 4, and i find im far less exhausted at this point, than i was at Week 1

[Tomas Graduate]

After a couple of years you tend to forget about it hurting

[AndyD Graduate in reply to Tomas]

Isn't that the truth!!!

[Hidden]

Week 5 Run 3. Without giving away secrets, it was a run that really made me smile afterwards.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Me too 😊😊😊😉

[Catherinel14secondtimearound]

I'm on consolidation runs and yes it does get easier- especially after week 5 - just listen to your body and go at your own pace and you will get there 😊🏃🏼‍♀️😊🏃🏼‍♀️

[vlmiller1225 Graduate in reply to Catherinel14secondtimearound]

What is a consolidation run? I see a lot about them!

[Catherinel14secondtimearound in reply to Catherinel14secondtimearound]

It's when you complete as you still need to consolidate what you've achieved 😊

[Hidden]

I've made it to week 4, doing W4R3 today. I would say this is the week I've started to feel like an actual runner, and that I've got enough faith in the programme to know that it works and I don't need to stress. I've started to realise that based on my previous experience, then yes, I can indeed do it!

Oh - an afterthought, if you manage week 1 run 1, I reckon that's the hardest part. The mental jump from nothing to running for a solid minute. I found that really hard. You've already done that though, right?

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I have yes =)

[Hidden in reply to VictoriaRuns]

Then I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm not just saying that, I have very recent experience!!

All the best Neil

[icklegui Graduate]

oooh interesting. I'm starting Week 9 next.

I thought "I can do this" when I found I'd done maybe 3-4 weeks and hadn't given up, nothing to do with the difficulty of the runs, I just trusted that I'd improve with each step, and the key was to stick at it.

Have I found it become easier? Personally no, as each week has pushed me and every run even if the timing is the same, is slightly different (weather, mood, route etc)!

I'm liking seeing everyone's responses!

[VictoriaRuns Graduate]

Thanks for all your responses. They are all really encouraging and interesting =)

[Kimchoc08 Graduate]

WK5R2 was the run for me when it all clicked into place 🤗🤗

[lardofale Graduate]

Week 5 run 3 did it for me. I never anticipated any kind of running life before week 1 but you'll develop a hitherto unknown bloody minded determination pretty quickly and you'll notice little changes in your legs and lungs! Go for it and enjoy! ;0)

[mrrun Graduate]

Easier? Does it get easier?

[DawnRun]

I always wondered if it got easier and I am thinking at the moment that it doesn't, it might get more enjoyable. One thing that I am interested seeing is when I have reached what will be my fastest time for a 5K and if it gets easier then (on subsequent runs when I am probably going to be running slower than a PB). I think that it may get 'easier' then. But I haven't reached that point yet.

Wk 7 and 8 I found it less like hell though than the preceding weeks, but after doing week 9 I didn't find that run or any other since has been easier. I have found a few runs a lot more enjoyable than others since week 9 though, usually when I look at the times I have a run a very consistent pace without particularly trying to do so. Never easier in the true sense of the word though.

[TJMazz Graduate]

I was think the same: I'm still on week 1. I would love to get to a point where I am enjoying running and looking forward to going out for a run. Will it ever happen?

[icklegui Graduate in reply to TJMazz]

ooh that will probably happen, not that running is for absolutely everyone but so many people find it enjoyable and addictive (it's a good addiction, honest). I certainly look forward to going out for a run and do enjoy it - difficult and enjoyable aren't mutually exclusive, I think

[GrannyO Graduate in reply to TJMazz]

Yes it will! I was nervous before the week 4 runs because you have a 5 minute run in the middle. I was so thrilled to do it that I couldn't wait for the next run. Your legs get stronger & I found I could power up gradients that in W1 I thought I'd never run up. This sense of achievement plus being able to run for 5, then 8, then 20 minutes is what makes it fun. Good luck & don't give up!

[Ajs07 Graduate]

Ive just completed week 3 run 1 and after finding week 2 hard, I thoroughly enjoyed my run today and found it quite easy, still a long way to go but find I'm improving each week, just believe in yourself, you will also find some runs are harder than others x keep going x

[Ssacha Graduate]

I can honestly say that C25K is the best thing I've done in a long time. The runs are tough but the sense of personal achievement and wonder in my own ability are fantastic. The program works as all of the fabulous runners on this forum are a testament too. I'm on W8 and am amazed-stick with it, you are a runner too. Good luck

[ancientrunner Graduate]

I can't remember which week but there was a definite moment when it was announced the next run was either 3 or 5 mins and I thought -Oh, at least I know I can do that and realised the progress I had made. Really, I think that thought has continued it's just they are longer runs these days.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Reading how the plan was structured and then this forum, before I actually started running, I believed it was possible, because it made no reference to speed or distance requirements.

It doesn't get easier if you push hard but does get easier if you go slowly. It is as easy or hard as you want to make it.

[sjs1969 Graduate]

I've found it's not so much that it gets easier, because each week challenges you, but what does change is the growing self-belief and that fuels every run. Plus, you'll notice an improvement in stamina and sttength every week and that is truly inspiring 😊

Keep posting and you'll also find that everyone's support here makes each run easier 😄

[unlikelyrunner Graduate]

W5R3 for me. I spent all of weeks 2, 3 and 4 thinking there was NO WAY I'd be able to do the next week, but somehow I managed it. After week 5 I stopped thinking that. It doesn't mean it isn't hard - sometimes really hard- but the feeling that you can't do it goes away. Good luck!

[Mimirossi Graduate]

I think the main thing that makes the runs easier is that your self belief will gradually improve. You switch from thinking "I can't believe that I will ever manage that" to "Yes, I will do it. It might be hard work, but I can make it". For me that happened sometime in week 3 or 4, when my breathing started getting into a better rhythm and then again after w5r3, when I felt certain I would get to the end and graduate.

I think at the beginning I worried about the breathing (I am asthmatic) and that made it harder. Once I realised that if I took my inhaler first and relaxed it would manage itself, I found it easier. Also stretching afterwards was very important to stop my knees hurting.

The first improvement I was aware of was that my recovery time was quicker after the runs. Then the time seemed to go a bit quicker. As I started doing the longer runs I found it better as I got into a rhythm and I began to realise that I could keep going for longer.

The most helpful things for me, apart from the fabulous encouragement from people on this forum, were positive thinking, determination and the great feeling at the end of the run and for the rest of the day!

Keep it up! It is so worth it!

[VictoriaRuns Graduate]

Hello everyone. Tomorrow I will be starting week 8 and it has bought a massive smile to my face reading back over this post and your comments. Thank you everyone for your support early on, and also a big well done to everyone who was in their early weeks when commenting and now I see have gone on to graduate!

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to VictoriaRuns]

AND, to answer my own question, it started to get easier, for me, about a week ago. And I have been floating ever since.

[Eleanora55]

For me it was about half way through week two. I have just finished the second week, but like with anything worthwhile, there are always ups and downs