Just finished 9.3 - here’s a lot of waffle!

[Reggit]

It was on the 11th May whilst driving home from work (key worker) in full lockdown that I had the crazy idea to have a bash at couch to 5k, I’d considered it a couple of years ago and didn’t get off the couch!

Anyway dressed in walking boots, combat trousers and a shirt (yes that is my work attire) I stopped at a local walking/cycle path (anyone from Preston area will know the guild wheel). Anyway I set off to Laura’s relaxing tones on W1 R1, I still remember ‘it’s JUST 60 seconds’. That was the longest 60 seconds of my life! Anyway Laura got fed up and left after a few minutes (the app crashed in my pocket) and I tried to time the walk/runs on my phones stopwatch. Anyway trying not to be physically sick I arrived back at my van. I’m still sure I only did 6 of the 7 runs (so technically not completed the program 😂

Reading this forum (afterwards) and finding the sticky ‘read this before you start’ thread I found out it’s common to run too fast initially- I’d used Strava and it showed the running bits at 6min/km - so yes way too fast. It got a lot better from there onwards.

A breakthrough was when I was forced to wear shorts as the unusually warm spring drove me out of the combats around week 3.

Anyway the weeks went by somewhat in a blur and somehow I’ve just returned from W9 R3

Just deciding if I should plonk myself on the sofa for 10 months and have another go at it next spring, or just keep plodding away at 30 minutes 3ish times a week until it becomes a bit more comfortable (does it ever get easy?)

Anyway if any newbies read this to the end, I just want to say ‘you CAN do this’ if this somewhat overweight (was officially obese when I started) 51 year old who never run since school, actually did try in my 20’s and couldn’t do it, anyone can!

Anyway I’m off to find my badge 😂

One final thing.... I really wish I’d done this years ago! I’ve believed for years (ok decades) that I can’t run and look what’s happened in 2 months!

[Islandmacmum Graduate]

This is amazing to read and the description of your first run made me smile. 😀 Congratulations on your tremendous achievement. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[SweatyHettie Graduate]

Fantastic - what a fab post, congratulations 🥳🎉🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️👍🏼💪🏻🏁🎓 and don’t you dare go back on the sofa!! See you in consolidation 😜happy running...🏃‍♂️

[EThomas Graduate]

Well done on your graduation. Keep running.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

This guide to post C25k running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling.

[JeanneMary Graduate]

Woo-hoo! Good for you. My first run was very like yours but I was with my 19 year old son, who bounded ahead, across rough, ankle-stressing farm fields in long grass shouting encouragement as I staggered along, also wondering how one minute could be so long! 🤣

I can recommend continuing to run - I'm now on consolidation run number 6 and sometimes it does feel a bit easier...but I'm definitely feeling a lot fitter and happier for doing it.

Keep on keeping on! 🙂🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[Staceyxxxx90 Graduate]

Congratulations, I'm really happy for you. Well done you should be proud. X

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Love the discription of your first run, walking boots 👢 for running are not the most comfortable, I did that before I started C25K also for a couple of minutes.

Congratulations on completing run 3 of week 9 and graduating from C25K, well done 😀 🏃🏾 🎓

To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message in the pinned posts on the right side of the July healthunlocked C25K home page and tell the administrators that you have ran W9R3 of C25K and graduated 🎓 🏃🏾.

[Runningscared42 Graduate]

Big congratulations!! ☺️👍👏

[Neverhare Graduate]

Wow, so you did the programme in 8 weeks, well done! I was aiming to complete in 54 days when I started off mid April but ground to a halt on that at week 5! I needed two days rest in between and finished in 11 weeks.

You have to keep on running, don't you dare go back to your couch!

[Reggit Graduate in reply to Neverhare]

Apart from the first weekend I ran it every other day. So was one day off the minimum possible time I could complete it in with rest days between each run.

Going to drop down to Monday, Wednesday, Friday I think going forward as these are easier for me to get out on.

[Neverhare Graduate in reply to Reggit]

I tend to vary my days, I don't have a strict routine. At first I thought weekdays would be best, fewer people around, but I quite like doing a run on a Saturday or Sunday morning because there are more runners around and I feel part of the club (now that I can actually run for 30 minutes)

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Congrats 🥳

[FestinaLente Graduate]

Brilliant! Congratulations.

[Hareshaw-Granny Graduate]

Huge congratulations on your amazing achievement. Well done.

🏅🏅⭐️⭐️👏👏👍😁

[Mands50 Graduate]

Congratulations and well done. Here’s to many more running adventures for you 🎉

[Fifitrixiebell73 Graduate]

Fab post!

Congratulations 🥳🥳🥳🥳

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Wow- Congratulations!

I can SO relate to a lot of this! Especially the week 1 comments 🤣

Before I go any further - thank you for being a key worker! 🙏🏻

Right back to the post! Such a D’s. Achievement for you!

Would be such a waste to get back on the couch for 10 months... especially after all your hard work to get here!

You are well on your way to improving your fitness ... 👏👏👏 keep plodding away ... I am sure you will reap the benefits

Anyway fab fab effort! 👍

[Greenk Graduate]

Brilliant, well done!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Congratulations 😀 it’s addictive isn’t it?