New to this community

[CobbleRunner]

Hello, I’ve just started Couch to 5K but live in Yorkshire, UK so there are hills galore! I attempted Week 1 last week but had to stop a couple of times on running parts as I was on an slight incline and couldn’t push through. I was flying on the way back! This happened the whole week. I’ve decided to repeat Week 1 until I can complete the runs without stopping before moving on to Week 2. Any advice please?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

You need to complete each session fully before moving on, repeating any that you have difficulty with.

hills will make you stronger.

Enjoy your journey.

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you so much and yep I that was my thinking re. the hills 💪🏼

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on joining us here on C25K, you are most warmly welcomed, there are a number of people who are from Yorkshire and the North of England on the forum, just take all the runs slowly, you can repeat any runs or week's if you wish to, if you wish to repeat week 1 that is fine, don't worry about that, once you are satisfied with week 1, then go on to run week 2, good luck.

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you. I do feel I need to do each week comfortably before moving on hopefully gaining confidence along the way 😬

[Jonno34 Graduate]

Go slow and when you think you are going slow go slower. Use your arms to help you go up hills, am sure if you google uphill running you will get some tips. I also find i try to keep movement as little as possible so not burning energy on bouncing up and down or pumping my arms.

It will get easier. I recently took up spinning thinking as I run 10ks I would be well up for it. Left after 15mins and could barely walk my legs were shaking so much. 2 weeks later and I do the full session @ 56 years showing some of the youngsters up!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Jonno34]

Hi Jonno, I have just watched a spin class on a YouTube video, I understand why you left after 15 minutes, surely like running spin classes should have a class for beginners, like running, first time runners are not asked to go out and run a 5 or 10K run...... unless they are training for the SAS. 😊

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Jonno34]

Thank you for the tips. I will have a Google 😊 And well done for persevering with the spinning!

[Leosmit Graduate]

You should check out RunningMigster posts. He’s from Yorkshire and has great posts about his journey through C25K. And well done for starting! That’s one of the hardest things.

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Leosmit]

Thank you. I will check him out!

[Phdgranny Graduate]

Hi, I live in Dorset and run from my door so hills are always part of my run. Take it steady and if you reach a point where up is no longer an option turn round and run down a little before going up again, you will get there and the hills will make you stronger, well done for getting out there!

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Phdgranny]

Great tip! Thank you. I run from my door too - I could drive to the canal and run on the tow path where it’s flatter but I prefer starting from home.

[-slowjogger Graduate]

Hi there, well done for starting! I too live in a really hilly area, and I only have one long downhill stretch (which is still hard on my legs but in different places!) then its all uphill back home I never really thought about my posture before embarking on this programme - without thinking about it I would hunch up, head down and grit my teeth until the end of the run time. Now I try to think more about being upright, head up, relaxed jaw (trying to smile at the cars whizzing by!) and slowing it right down. I'll never win any land speed records but it works for me. Ive got one run left until I graduate, and the last 5 minutes is still a killer, but then 9 weeks ago it was the first 5 :D. Keep at it and have fun. Its only one foot in front of the other, right?!

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to -slowjogger]

Thanks for the tips. Will try these on my run tomorrow. Love that you smile at passing motorists 🙃

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Hills are our friends, or do the saying goes at my club! They definitely help build pace. Not sure if they're great to start off though 🤣 Whereabouts are you in Yorkshire?

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Haha hills aren’t my friends - they dislike me 🙂 I’m in the Calder Valley. Are you in Yorkshire?

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to CobbleRunner]

Middlesbrough. It's on and off north Yorkshire depending on how the country's divided 🤣

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Yes it’s debatable 😂

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to CobbleRunner]

🤣

[Moosey60]

Welcome to c25k. As you see you will get loads of helpful advice here. Do lots of stretching after your run, deep yoga breaths while doing the warm up 5m walk, drink water, take it slow, repeat if needs be, I have repeated some weeks to make sure I am strong enough for the next level ... Step by step, all at your own pace ... Happy running 😄

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Moosey60]

Thanks. Breathing properly is tricky isn’t it? Learning though 👍🏼

[Bluepup1 Graduate]

Welcome aboard! Sounds like you are enjoying overall and long may that continue 👍🏻

The only advice I can give (& has probably already been mentioned) is stay hydrated, follow the programme (repeat any runs if you need to - which you’ve already mentioned) and take your time when actually running - tortoise and the hare - take a look at Japanese slow running..

Good luck, keep us posted, any questions someone will always be about to help, and see you on the podium! 🤗 x

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Bluepup1]

I am enjoying it yes and loving this community already! So helpful 🙂

[Tittywinkles]

Hi I was thinking I’m going to do the same thing, I was thinking if I get week 1 nailed then I will find week2 easier, it’s not a race and we can go at our own pace! The main thing is we are doing it, and we will do it!!! Keep Running 🏃‍♀️ I look forward to see how we progress? No matter at what pace 😄

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Tittywinkles]

I think it’s probably the best plan. You’re right. I reckon it would demotivate me if I went straight to Week 2 without comfortably completing Week 1 so that’s what I’m doing this week. Looking forward to following your progress. We can totally do this 🙂

[Jell6 Graduate]

Well done for starting, and you are right to repeat until you complete, on the plus side you will be considerably fitter when you graduate than when I did. I have been known to run in pretty small circles rather than finish uphill 🤣🤣🤣

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to Jell6]

Haha top tip! Circle running is the future 👍🏼

[RunSkippyRun Graduate]

Congrats on starting CR . I repeated the week 1 runs for three weeks (so eight or nine sessions) before moving on - and completed the C25K without having to repeat any other weeks. Perhaps that says something about the low base I started from - but whatever the reason the slow, secure start felt good.

As others have said, hills do build stamina. For me, at the beginning I drove a few times to flatter locations - later on hills became easier and more useful / achievable.

Enjoy your running - I hope it gives you joy

From a fellow Yorkie (hilly Airedale)

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to RunSkippyRun]

Thank you. Well done for completing C25K. And thanks for the reassurance 😊

[NewRunnerFAT]

I have just completed week 1 (3 runs) and found it incredibly hard. I am massively overweight and live on top of a hill- running from home. Looking at all your replies I think I will repeat week 1 again until I can complete without stopping running before the 60 seconds is up. Getting lots of pain in the front of my shins though. Any advice? Thanks

[CobbleRunner Graduate in reply to NewRunnerFAT]

Well done for starting the challenge. I think repeating the week is the way forward otherwise the pair of us would feel disheartened I reckon. Sorry I cannot offer any advice for your shin trouble. Hopefully someone else can on here? I am just about to go out on my 2nd run of a repeated week 1 (just letting my banana 🍌 settle first!). Wish me luck! 💪🏼

[NewRunnerFAT in reply to CobbleRunner]

Hope it went well. Been speaking to a friend and I have shin splints. Need to be careful now!! I am going to repeat week 1 and possibly change my route. Next run saturday so will have time to possibly drive somewhere flatter. Not sure if that will hinder me though as the whole idea of starting this was to start at home. Hey ho- I need to stay determined. Good luck with completing the course. I am hoping I wont be far behind you!!

[Lyndsey93]

I’ve just started again too! Hills are a killer- how’s it going?