Ffs im so unfit. Halfway point and im limping back to my car with calf cramp.
I got to park nd did 5min brisk walk wrm up. 1st 60s run i mnage 45s before having to slow back to brisk walk. 2nd 60s i manage 3 nd have to stop to catch breath for 10s then resume run. 3rd 60s run. 10-20s in i feel a pop in calf. Ffs cramp, head back to car and try again in few days
It does get easier, I promise. I start w3 this week and sess 1/wk1 was an absolute nightmare. I came back dripping in sweat!! Keep at it, you’ll be surprised how quickly your body gets used to it .
I dont dis-beleive u, but today i didnt even manage half and i had to abandon it due to cramp in my calf. Im feeling old and unfit. But i will give it another go wednesday
Have you tried Japanese slow running? It makes such a difference to your joints. Have a look on YouTube.
Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and includes advice about the recommended easy conversational pace........ you need to slow down.
Enjoy your journey.
It is hard! I was bright red and thought I would die after my first run! My first problem was I’m quite a fast walker, so my brisk walk is good and fast - then going into a run I naturally went faster than my walk. BIG mistake!! Learning your brisk walk can be slower than your running was a turnaround for me. Then a few weeks in someone posted the Japanese slow jogging movement film (search for it on youtube - it’s quite short), and that changed everything for me. A low impact running technique - I was about to hit 53, very unfit, not run since school, and wanted to get fit but without injury. First I focused on foot placement, then watched the film some more and improved on other parts of the technique. I’m still not running 5k yet, but building (slowly!) to the duration of one of my runs - last week 40 mins, this week going to try 45. I now love the running. Originally thought I’d just run this way for a bit, but now I think I’ll just stick to being a snail. And back in November I was barely able to manage the 1 minute runs!! So don’t be disheartened. Have a rest day, drink plenty of water (rest days and running days), and get back out and try again. You will be amazed at what you can do - if you take it nice and slow. Good luck Part-time-punk - we’ll be here to cheer you on your way!
I went out today for W1R1 ... I'm 52 ... I can't believe how unfit I am. I did take it really slow and still couldn't make all of the runs. I figure that if I have to have a few goes at the first few runs/weeks to get me on the fitness ladder than it doesn't matter too much. If I end up doing c25k in 12 weeks rather than 9 then I'm still going to be in a lot better place than I was. DON'T GIVE UP OR BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF.
Oh no, persevere, it does get easier, and more enjoyable, and please visit this forum regularly as we are all here to help motivate, praise and have general chit chat we when you need us.
Lots of us struggled just like you are. It really isn’t easy.
I managed 5 of the 8 run sections week 1, run 1, first time. Two days later I managed all 8 (just, I really thought it might kill me though 😂). Four months later and I am running for 40 minutes at a time, three times a week.
Like the others have said, take a rest day, make sure you drink plenty of water, and then go out and try to do a bit more than you did last time. If you don’t manage to complete the run the go back and do it again. As long as your are making progress it doesn’t matter whether you do it in 9 weeks. It does get easier, that first one was the hardest.
Calf problems / foam rollers
Week 1, Run 1 - Lets do this!
Painful cramp during Wk3 run 2 - help!
Hurrah! Just done Week 1 Run 2
Can't get through week one!
