1st Run

[CG12]

I am totally new to running and unbelievebly unfit. I have just completed my 1st run and i'll be honest i really struggled and did not find it enjoyable. By the 5th 60 sec run i couldnt manage to run the whole time. I need to do this for my own health but its really hard 😫

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

Honestly it does get easier. I had never run before and always said I don't do exercise. I'm 56 and just completed week 5. If I can do it so can you! Slow and steady and stick to the programme 🏃

[Hidden]

Stick at it...it will get easier 😊 i have only just started but am down with a nasty virus at the mo so got to wk 2 run 2 & had to stop!!!just keep going & listen to the advice on here...you can do it 😊

[swisstony4 Graduate]

Hey CG12, don't get disheartened, I have just finished week 1 today run 1 was hard, I slowed my paced for runs 2 & 3, and spent some time on YouTube and got some really good tips on running posture and breathing, could not believe the difference spending time on concentrating on breathing and pace meant to the overall run.

When you read through the posts and replies on here you will see over and over again... slow down... it is good advice and can make the difference between motivation and despondency when you are running.

Remember completing the first run is a massive win and you should be proud of yourself, it is a challenge and not easy but you have smashed through the first barrier... keep us up to date with how things go, look forward to reading about your progress 👍🏃👍

[JB173]

You can absolutely do this! Slow, slow, slow and focus on breathing out, not gulping air in...that really helped me. Focus on getting to the next lamppost or the next parked car...anything but waiting for 'the voice' to talk again. I promise the first run is the hardest, and you've done it!

[Windoze Graduate]

Hi 😀 stick at it! Just do what you can manage. Just the fact your doing it is positve. Week 1 broke me too !!

[LouIselsqy Graduate]

It will get easier, stick with it and don’t beat yourself up at all, rather keep encouraging yourself for each and every minute you achieve 😊 - you’ll get there!

[Chilled28 Graduate]

CG, I was exactly the same when I started this. I huffed, puffed & felt uncomfortable with it all. Trust the programme. By some magical reason it works, I think it's the same magic that keeps whacking great planes in the air!! Good luck 😊😊👍

[Mumof2lauralou]

Yay! You did it, keep going at it, it gets much better!

[Bobdbob Graduate]

Keep going. It gets easier. I really struggled with Week 1, couldn't manage the 60 second runs, never thought I'd be able to do the programme, thought I'd be the exception to the rule.

Forget all your fears - I've just finished week five, and ran nonstop for 20 minutes. Trust the programme as astonishingly it really seems to work.

Good luck and keep going

[rolysmate Graduate]

Well where to start?

I packed in smoking in March at the age of 59 and had smoked all my life, I started banging the weight on (big time) and needed to do something about it.

On top of this I have high blood pressure and my cholestral is a little high

I started cto5k and bloody hell it was hard but I stuck it out and with the support and advice of people on here I did it AND on Sept 9th I ran a 5k charity run and raised over £500 and sept 11th I was 60

I now run 5k 3 times a week and am increasing that

With regard to the blood pressure/cholestral I am taking no medication and we are going to monitor results because with the life changes I have made it is felt I may reverse this and to top it I've lost quite a bit of weight

Yes it's hard work BUT the results are worth it keep at it

[Neverrunbefore64 Graduate]

Keep trying. I did my first run today and loved it hope it will get better for you 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[CG12]

Thank you for all your support and encouragement. Now ive got my breath back im proud of myself for making the first step. I will keep going. Im 40 in 9 months and determined to be fitter, healthier and slim by then

[CG12]

Thank you for all your support and encouragement. Now ive got my breath back im proud of myself for making the first step. I will keep going. Im 40 in 9 months and determined to be fitter, healthier and slim by then

[Elfe5 Graduate]

I am also new to this (I started 2 weeks ago). Go really slow (like jogging very gently at walking pace if you need to) & relax - that has really helped me. I find that even on the days that I have struggled, I feel better afterwards. Good luck , you can do this.

[brownfox Graduate]

Hi, good luck with it. I finished C25K about 3 years ago and I'm doing it again because I let myself get really unfit. Just go gently, you do not need to go fast at all! If you find yourself struggling, slow down. Sometimes it feels ridiculous because you're sure you could walk faster but there's something about the jogging gait that means it's a very different exercise than walking fast.

Another thing that can sap your energy sometimes is whether you've eaten or not recently. So, you might find it more difficult to complete a run in the morning before breakfast than at the end of the day. It's not a good idea to run straight after a meal but you could have a banana or flapjack or something.

It does get easier, it's a great programme and it's very well judged: it makes you push yourself but not hard enough to do damage.