What's the most repeats anyone has ever done of week one?

[Lilystar3]

I think I will need to repeat more than once and deal best with things when I know what the worst case scenario is. Also I don't want to be the worst

[Slowrun Graduate]

I did wk1 for 3 weeks. Varied for the others. I started in Feb and hope to finish W9 next week. I wanted to feel comfortable, not pushed and make sure I didn't give up. Finding time to fit the runs into my normal week without it feeling a chore was key to me.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Forget the others... this is your C25K... just take the runs steadily and slowly....

Trust the plan and believe in yourself...just relax... run and enjoy

[pianoteacher Graduate]

Hi Lilystar3 firstly you can't be the worst at this programme nor can you be the best - all any of us can do is complete it. Everyone is starting in a completely different place - different ages, different fitness levels etc.

Lots of people take longer than 9 weeks to graduate. It is up to you of course but the advice given in the guide to the plan is to only repeat runs you can't complete. The plan is very carefully designed to prepare you to progress through it. So if you can't complete a run try it again. Slow the pace of your running right down until you find the speed at which you can complete it.

Good Luck x

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Everyone needs to repeat the full Week 1 session three times: that's the principle of the programme, consolidation. When you get to the graduation run, the goal, of running continuously for 30 minutes, you do it three times. So maybe think along those lines.

As for me... I lost count of how many times I did that Week 1 session - it was something between 12 and 18 times (so between 9 and 15 'extra' outings) This does not matter because the object of the exercise is to learn to run continuously for 30 minutes *on a regular basis* and that effort was a significant contribution towards establishing a habit of activity.

And I was thrilled to bits throughout. I need to spend most of my life in bed due to illness and it's not a condition that is going to be improved by exercise (but my cardiovascular system, bones, weight etc don't care about that) That first session I managed 4 of the runs [so no you are not the 'worst' whatever that is, and I think there are others who've managed even fewer but it's really not a competition and the point is who carries on trying] and walked the rest. Triumph! That was more of the runs than I'd expected and to be able to keep running. Next time... four again, yippee! And it crept up. I just thought that if things went well this would be a nine month rather than a nine week endeavour... and it is all activity and the basic idea is to keep going when you've finished the programme (the regular basis thing...) so it all contributed to the overall endeavour.

However, that wasn't how it worked out... all the sessions after that I completed in full at the first attempt (which is not to say that some were not a real struggle, I had my almost statutory really rubbish-feeling run somewhere in Week 7-9)

Do the programme. You maintain a running motion during the run section (however slowly), you maintain a walking motion during the walk section (however slowly) and if you do that you do the next prescribed session. It's not about it being easy or comfortable - part of the process is learning to accept all the feelings but not accord them undue importance. They don't 'mean' anything.

I am *not* saying don't express those feelings and fears here because

a) many of us have them and that's good to know

b) sometimes dumping them here and exposing them to the light is exactly the way to realise how they don't serve you well, leave them and get on with the running.

[Frenetic in reply to GoogleMe]

Totally agree with you. We’re not in the Olympics just our very own mini olympics- surprised & really pleased when we can do any of these runs & keep at it best we can. Perhaps we each have to find someone or something that we can focus on that encourages us to keep making the effort & not to give up.

[Sofabunny]

I repeated week1 out of sheer stupidity 🐱.because I hadn't discovered the podcasts or apps so misinterpreted the written instructions and hadn't done enough intervals of running..then I repeated week 3 ..think..I then got to first run week w 8 ..did a whole 28 minutes and then started to really struggle after that..I continued running 3 times a week but went back a few weeks.. currently I think I'm back to doing week 6 runs and building up again..I've just attempted to do 25 mins..and my back has given out at about 22 mins( I have along term back problem) which is a massive disappointment because my back has been feeling great up to now..and I knew I could have got to 25minutes..however I would have been a fool to carry on because at the end of the day this is about improving fitness and health not damaging yourself..so my advice to you is don't worry about repeating runs..A lot of this is about confidence so repeating and consolidating helps you to move through to next stage..and it's also about forming the habit..I feel a pull now towards doing a run..which I guess means it's now part of my routine..so I'm more likely now to stick at it..and I'm feeling pissed off now that I might have to take a few rest days to make sure my back is ok..I'm a lifelong sports avoider so if I can get to this stage anyone can..I'm going to need at least another 3 weeks to graduate..and I started this about 4 months ago..it doesn't matter ..I can see improvements in how my body looks..I tried on a slinky dress yesterday that made me look pregnant at Christmas ..and I looked fab if I do say so myself...I weigh the same but somehow my body has fimed up..I feel better..I coped with the heat well..whilst my sis who does no exercise was dying last week..and mentally I feel better..but I still haven't got to the end of the programme..so the benefits are in the regular exercise ..keep at it..it's worth it..oh and I am really slow..I'm chuffed now that I have got to jogging pace instead of running slower than I can walk..snails rule 🐌

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Likystar3 there genuinely is no worst! We all have our own experiences but you’ll usually find that someone has had similar! I’d say not to apply any pressure on yourself during this programme. Non of us know how each run will be and it’s a constant surprise to realise you’ve done enough for the next one! Take it slowly, think slow and go slower! Trust the programme to build you up as much as you need as you go along! Honestly, you can do it! ❤️