W6R1 before posting!

[MinnieMoo55]

It’s taken me until W6R1 before posting because it may seem bonkers, but I didn’t want to jinx anything! When I started I wasn’t sure I’d even get this far!

I hated running at school...eewww to cross country... and that stayed with me (I am now 55!)

Losing a good friend of a similar age to cardiac arrest and doing less than a 1000 steps a day in lockdown I knew I had to make change happen.

Starting C25K alone because no one would run with me at home I thought I’d never have the motivation to keep going. Then I found this forum. I have found other people’s willingness to share comforting, inspiring, helpful and sometimes funny!

Have I found the programme hard at times? Yes.

Have I found it enjoyable? Not always but you should have seen me beaming to myself when I managed the first 8 minute run I ever did 🤣

And the sense of achievement when I did my first 20 mins... 🏃‍♀️🥳

I know I’ve still got some way to go but I really want to get to the end.

The programme is amazing but it’s you guys that are keeping me going so thank you 😊🧡

[mattymoo33]

Brilliant MinnieMoo. We're all in it together ☺️ xx

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

Welcome MinnieMoo!

Sounds like you’re doing brilliantly 😊 Once W5R3 is out the way, I think the programme suddenly feels much more achievable. You’re on the home straight now! 🙌🏼

Good luck with your next run, be sure to let us know how you get on 🏃🏼‍♀️☀️🏃🏼‍♀️

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Will do 😊x

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done

on your progress.

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.

Enjoy your journey.

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I’m avidly reading the guides and hints and tips and tips along the way.

May sound stupid but why is hydration so important at this stage? I’m naturally rubbish at drinking enough anyway...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to MinnieMoo55]

Read this healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

It is essential, not optional to avoid aches, tired muscles and injury.

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Will read. Thank you 🙏

[Ping-pong Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55]

My singing teacher always says you should drink like a goldfish and pee like a racehorse to keep the voice supple so I'm used to doing this and I feel it's made the running easier too. I do spend a lot of time in the loo but it's worth it. I can definitely tell from my skin and eyes whether I'm properly hydrated or not. Happy running.

[acountrycabbage Graduate in reply to Ping-pong]

Brilliant! 🤣🐟🐎💦

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to Ping-pong]

Your singing teacher had style! 😂

[CazzaW Graduate]

Hello 👋 I did the same run yesterday... certainly not the easiest for me, I was so glad I’d read all the advice on here first. For me too, running 20 minutes was an amazing sense of achievement, not in a million years did I ever think I could do it. I’m very slow and am not bothered by the distance I go, I just want to complete each run 🤞

The support on here is amazing and I truly couldn’t do this without it. R2 for me tomorrow! Keep going and keep us posted, we’re all in this together 😊

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

Run 2 is also my plan for tomorrow but sometimes life gets in the way... however, have never been more than 2 days without a run... I almost sound hooked! 😆

Good luck for tomorrow x

[CazzaW Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55]

Thank you and you too 😊 x

I was always dreadful about drinking enough water when I was working too, always too busy with patients, but since I’ve started doing this I’ve never drunk so much water in my life 😅 Everyone on here says how important it is though and it is easier when the weather is hot, not sure I’ll be as good when it’s cold!!

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

Cazza how did your run go?

Today I paid the price of a 17 hour work day (yes really!) on Wednesday and felt pretty rough all day.

I didn’t want to chance of trying and stopping with exhaustion in case I don’t want to start running again.

Already in bed though and hope to be back out tomorrow 😁

[CazzaW Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55]

Ugh, 17 hr day 😱 I worked for the NHS so did some long stints too, not surprised you were exhausted 😩 I think you were very sensible not to go out and to leave it a day 😊

My run was ok, don’t really know how I felt about it 🤷‍♀️ certainly not my easiest or most enjoyable but I did it 👊 Everyone says W6 is a challenge and it’s better when intervals are over. Am feeling a bit anxious about managing 25 mins. next, but also quite excited. Feeling determined tho’ and will swat those gremlins away 😆 Have decided to swap my tunes back to my fav. old dance tracks for R3 as they jolly me along and make me happy 😃

Good luck with your run, I’m sure you’ll do fine, it will be interesting to see how you felt about it. Just think we’ll be on W7 next week, who’d have thought it 😂

[MinnieMoo55 Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

Amazing! Well done 😊

If we made it through 20 minutes surely another 5 is possible! 😆🏃‍♀️

Music definitely makes a positive difference and I don’t think I could manage without it. Have downloaded myself a 2.5 hour playlist with all my fav anthems including Little Mix, Avicii in fact anything that’ll keep my legs moving and my mind off of being knackered! 😂

Feeling a better today so hope to get out later for the 2 x 10 mins 😁

[JetsNanna Graduate]

Your story is exactly what the program is all about, it seems to me. Deciding to make a change, deciding how you’re going to do it, sticking with it and learning to enjoy the discipline. Bravo MinnieMoo55 - keep up the good work. You are now more than halfway through and it’s all to play for. You can do it 😊😊