I am on week 3 of couch to 5k and oh my goodness I am finding it hard work.
I am using a 5k route whilst listening to the programme so I get used to the length of a 5k, but of course the programme runs out half the way around, so I have to walk the rest listening to my music. Of course this isn't a problem except its taking me in full 58 minutes to complete the route which is ridiculous! Feeling very fed up, old and lumpy! Will I get faster?
Yes, and no 😂
Running gets easier... but this programme will keep it challenging as the intervals go up. That’s a good thing, it’s what makes this plan work so quickly.
Faster? During the programme? Maybe, but it’s almost better if the answer to that is no. Getting through the plan is the most important thing. After graduation? Yes, there are ways of injecting speed into your 5k, going long and also short and faster will do it. So the 10k plan will make you faster over 5 almost by default... or you can stick at 5 and follow a “race” plan. Of course just doing it over and over at 30 minutes will also slowly bring your speed up.
I’d say stop completing the route to be honest. And certainly stop looking at times and pace and dwelling on them, they really don’t matter right now.
Complete what you signed up to... 30 minutes of running. Then find your next start line. You’re doing great.
Thank you for your encouraging post and you are right, find an alternative 30 min route or if its a nice day just enjoy the 5k route and don't stress!
Or use your familiar route and surroundings, but turn at the bell. I walk 3 miles daily, but have no desire to complete the same distance on a run yet.
Thank you, I feel more motivated now and less worried about competing with myself.
It’s in the title so I too thought it would be couch to 5k rather than couch to 30mins jog. I am week 1 day 1 and just recovering from my first session. I am very overweight and I found it hard.
I had Strava running in the background to see how much distance I covered and my average speed . This would show you how far off 5k you are when you are up to the 30mins jog and how much pace you would need to pick up to truly do 5k in 30 mins. It didn’t work for me as I did it in my back garden and GPS didn’t work. I am too embarrassed to run on pavements! But when I do venture out it will give a guide as to distance covered . Good luck
Well I too am overweight but encouraged by confident daughters I bought myself from stretchy lycra leggings from Sainsbury and am trying to find my inner Madonna body!
I have no idea what Strava is, will have a look, I just use route planner which allows you to map and measure out a route, either on roads or footpaths.
The reason I posted, 'does it get easier' was like you I thought the couch to 5k was aiming to get me running a 5k in 30 minutes, and today I had a bit of a melt down!
Get out on those pavements, try not to worry, a tactic I use is when I come across another pedestrian I take my ear piece out and greet them a good morning. Dog walkers are particularly forgiving.
Thank you for responding I have been very encouraged by all the posts I have had.
I am week 1 day one today too. I honestly thought I was going to throw up at the halfway point!
Well good for you doing it....which is what I tell myself every time I go out the door.
The thing that got me going with this madness (:)) is attending a park run and coming in last! But the best thing about it was that everyone was so encouraging, rather like this forum.
Week 1 was gaspey…
Week 2 was as gaspey….
and week 3, which is what I'm on now became a meltdown today as I thought how the hell and I going to run 5k in 30 mins. And of course you don't have to happy days!
So keep going, I am, having hit my wall rather early in the programme.
Are you going too fast? I had that issue when I first started the programme, then realised I was running too fast for my level so I slowed right down. Found it much easier. Still don't do 5k in 30 minutes but since graduating my speed has gone up as I try to run 3 times a week. Take it easy.
Hi just a suggestion, when the programme runs out, just try jogging for 1 minute then walking for a minute until you have reached your 5k target
Good idea! I don't know why I felt stressed about the time, as it was a lovely route. So have decided I will either just find an alternative 30 min route, or on a nice day take up your suggestion and forget about the time it takes me to complete. Just feeling lumpy! Encouraging suggestion, thank you.
Speed doesn’t matter, jogging pace can even be slower than brisk walking pace ... as long as the jogging action is there. Think snail 🐌 or you’ll burn out. Very, very few people on here do 5km at the end of the programme, it’s more a case of Couch to 30mins jogging. 5km comes later.
As for getting easier, I’ve just done W5R1 and NO, it’s stays challenging but I guess that’s what it’s designed to do, each session prepares you for the next one ... and so on.
Keep going slow & steady. 👍🏻
Do you know that is the most encouraging thing anyone has said to me, I just signed up to this couch to 5k imagining {I suppose} that it would give me magic shoes! So I will plod on and focus on completing the programme and take it from there. Thank you
I always turned around on the bell. It was a relief to be going homewards ! You can go further as you get fitter.
That is a really good idea. I shall either devise a run specifically for 30 mins or do just that, turn around when the bell rings! Brilliant!
Alot of my runs are linear along the canal, when the half time bell goes I turn around and reverse the route. This means I arrive home roughly at the right time.
Times are interesting and I'm a bit of a geek so use Strava and my Huawei app to compare, I like the maps 😊. But speed is the last of my worries...finishing each run is my priority. Stick with it!!! You'll get there you do have the ability! 👍👍
Thank you for your encouragement, think I had it in my head that the 30 minutes of the couch to 5k programme was designed to have you running 5k in 30 mins by the end! I never took it as just 30 minutes jogging.
Good!! So new approach and attitude for your next run 😊👍 just focus on your next run segment nothing else..one foot in front of the other.
Please believe me I never ever thought I could do W1R1 and Wednesday I complete week 7, this is a truly magic program X 👍🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I don't focus on the distance, just completing today's run. I have faith that they know what they are doing and if I stick to the plan I will make it. When I look back at the history on my phone each week I cover more distance in the 30 minutes so I see the progress.
That's a good idea mapping the phone re distance and noting what I've run. I shall now start varying my routes and aiming for distance rather than time which was obsessing me! Thank you for your encouragement.
Week three was easily the hardest for me, but it does get easier, in a way. You start to find that as you slowly sail past last week's markers, you feel good about it and spurs you on to the longer runs. Keep it up, you've got this.
Well that's encouraging that you can remember week 3 was the hardest, I definitely asked myself "whats all this about this morning!" But it is encouraging being able to run for and I look forward to not stressing about it all, whenever that'll be :))))
You'll find your stride and the right distance for you. I remember thinking that the only thing that upset me was the idea of failing, and that made me drag myself through every run until I started to really enjoy it.
I must admit the idea of falling has plagued me as I am a dreadful tripper. Years of not having enough time (or so I thought) to exercise, 3 babies and too much cake equals a wobbly tripper. So imagine my husbands horror when I told him I had to cross a railway line today on my couch to 5k.....happy days!!
I mostly turn at the bell unless it’s a particularly nice place/run or a more natural place to turn. Why make more work for yourself? In fact I don’t think I’ve found a circular run that lasts for exactly the duration of my run. Your times are changing week by week anyway which means you’d be having to think a lot about how long your route will take you. I have enough to think about with organising my music and Strava apps as well as C25K 😜 Tailor it to suit you and relaaaax 😉
I'm not sure I took all this in when I commenced the programme. First I thought it was going to get me running 5k in 30 mins (never in a month of Sundays!) and you are right distance covered will change, so relax and enjoy the music is maybe is the best suggestion! Thank you
If you just do the 30 mins you will find you get further each time you do it
Give up the 5k and concentrate on the 30 mins and turn at half time, I can see that would be satisfying going a little further every time. Thank you.
Seems overdoing it to walk the full route. Turn round and head home at the bell as said, distance isn’t important it’s the length of time running is the goal
I now realise that doing the 5k is mad and just going to half time would be encouraging as your distance would increase. Thank you
Trust the plan.. 👍
Will Do, never occurred to me before, trying to run before I can jog!
5 km is "only" 3.1 miles; on week 4 now and that is taking me ~2.2 miles with what can only be described as a jog.
As already recommended, don't worry too much about the distance or speed yet. The course is focusing on your stamina, the amount of time you can run. The rest will come naturally.
Turn around at the half-way bell and don't overdo it; over-tiring or, potentially, injuring yourself won't help it get any easier.
as others have said, it does get easier. don't get hung up on distance.... just follow the problem. (and try to enjoy it! 
)
Stay with program. The aim is to compete each run as it comes.. each run.is a challenge in itself without adding to that ... distance, speed can be worked on after graduation..
You will get stronger and more confident as each week passes ...
Drop the 5k route for now ..go with an out and back you won't go far wrong .. you are doing great so far keep at it 😀😀
Does it get any easier 
Does it ever get easier! 
Does it get any easier
Week 2-Does it get easier
Graduation... does it get any easier?!
