Newbie

[Lovedobby]

Have just completed week one of couch to 5k, more like a jog than a run but managed it. Determined to complete all weeks. Was anyone else really slow to start with.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

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

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Really slow is fine.

Enjoy your journey.

[Plodder0771 Graduate]

Slow and steady is the way to do this, for sure. Ive got about 4 types of slow gear. Im sure lots will say the same thing which is dont worry about the speed at all. Best thing is to be getting out there and progressing through the runs.

[Crystal_snowflake]

Well done! I’m on week 6. Weeks 1-3 I felt like I was trying to get a jumbo jet off the ground 😂. My running steps are shorter than my walking steps too so I didn’t always get very far. And my chest hurt week 1-2. But it gets better by end of week 4. Hang in there 👍

[MarybellM]

Well done for getting started! I’m repeating C25K this year and am also on Week 1 Run 3 (next run). Yes - slow is the way to go. You can work on increasing speed once the whole programme is completed. The C25K is very well designed and if you pace yourself you’ll enjoy it more. There’s enough challenge built into it to give you that great buzz. Happy running. 🏃‍♀️ 😊

[Bezza42]

I'm on week 3 last run and I'm very slow but surprised that I'm actually jogging and feel really pleased with myself once I completed it but still not in love with the jogging part 🥵

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Well done!.. I'm pretty sure I'm still jogging and I"m on week 8... but will take the positives as i found week 1 tough at the time!.... 20 seconds in i was all out!

The best advice i got when i first started was slow slow slow!.. We all have delusions of being Linford Christie (wow.. showing my age there!), Mo Farah, Paula Radcliffe, Usain Bolt etc etc.

Once I'm used to running for 30 minutes then i will crank up the pace but for now I'm doing as advised... snail pace

Good luck oh and welcome to forum - the support on here is ace!...

[Overweightandunfit Graduate]

I've just completed week 8 and I am still slow, so slow I make a snail look fast! Don't worry about speed just worry about doing the timings, once you have graduated you can slowly build up to 5K (I think I am going to have to build up to about 50 mins running) and then you can decide if you want to increase distance or go for 5k faster.

[Lardness]

My first runs were a plod rather than a run......I can see this continuing all the ay through to W9......but once there, I can envisage the 5k getting quicker

[Lovedobby Graduate]

Have just done day 1 week 2 and am still plodding rather than running but completed it without stopping so that's a bonus. Thank you to everyone for you're support on week 1.

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Welcome 😊

[Lovedobby Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

Thank you