First of all I am so glad I found a forum where I can talk to other people about this!!
So I completed my first week which I was happy about however on my last run I really struggled! I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t run when it notified me to as I didn’t catch my breath in time and was still completely worn out and my legs felt super super heavy. I am stretching before running and every day I drink nearly 2 litres of water so I know I’m doing well with those, I just can’t understand why it’s getting so much harder when I feel like it should be getting easier? I even did the optimised run too and that was difficult!!
(I also have to add that I don’t exercise at all, I think about doing it all the time so now I am, I did know that this would be difficult but not as hard as it was!)
I really struggle with motivation and fight a lot with myself internally so the fact that it’s getting harder is making it really hard for me to just get up and do it... and I really really want to lose weight, it’s been holding me back for years and I just need it to go now.
I was exactly the same but stick with it and you will come out the other side. I would suggest you concentrate on the exercise first and let the weight worry about itself for now. If I did I believe anyone can. Good luck.
Hidden - stick with it. If it was easy - everyone would be doing it! As for weight loss - running alone won't achieve that for you. Even after graduation you are unlikely to be running enough to be using as many calories as you'd need in order to lose weight UNLESS you have modified your diet as well. Speaking from a personal perspective - I have lost 8/9 pounds since starting C25K - I started in early July! It is NOT a quick fix for weight loss but you WILL get toned up by running. The benefits of C25K are many but for weight loss you'll need to revisit other parts of your everyday life as well.
Please don't be discouraged by this. Everyone finds it hard. If anyone finds this program easy they are probably already doing some time of aerobic/cardiovascular exercise. New runners will always feel the 'challenge' of it because their bodies are not already conditioned for the stress that they are being put through (note the use of the word 'stress' is not meant to imply that it's a bad thing).
Keep going - you wiall feel SO much better if you do. We are all here to support you and to provide advice and encouragement. You've got this and we've got you!
That is very true!! I’m definitely changing things in my diet too, I always feel like it’s easier to change my diet when I’m exercising, if that makes sense? I feel more motivated to eat better when I feel like I’m physically doing something to change too!
My family is full of runners and all of them are fit and healthy so seeing how easy it is for them can sometimes be discouraging but then again they’ve been doing it for years!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond, it’s so nice to know that people are there to talk to.☺️
After reading other peoples comments I am definitely pushing it!! Thank you so much for sharing that! Will definitely have a read through ☺️
RubyAlice21 well done you for joining us👍
So have a read of the below plan all about completing C25k, it contains advice on hydration, you're doing a great job with the water,👍 it's so beneficial in so many ways.
Slow down! I bet you tried to go faster, and that made it too hard. “Just a light jog”, Laura says, an that’s really true. Going fast too soon is the #1 mistake people make - I know cause I did it and because there’s a guide on here somewhere that told me so 😆. I was wearing out early too. I read the guide and learned that going really slow is the best way to start at first. For my next run I slowed and it was a pleasure again, and I could make progress.
Your body is adjusting to a whole new way of working. After you do things slow, you will eventually find that you can naturally start to increase speed.
A last thing. Don’t feel that you HAVE TO jump from one week to another at the end of a week. Feel free to repeat the week you’re on to make it go better, and then move on. This helped me a lot, and really I had no choice because I got sick early on and missed a week and had to repeat anyhow!
We’re here with you. Slow and steady wins the race!
I definitely did! I think I get too self conscious that other people are looking at me and laughing at how slow I’m going, which is really stupid to think because at the end of the day I’m doing something to help myself!!
My first run was fine as I did it slow and I enjoyed it and then after where I picked up the pace that’s when I hated it so I’m definitely slowing down next time 😂.
Oh yeah I definitely won’t jump to a new week if it’s too hard, my app has actually optimised my runs to repeat my first week as I noted that I was struggling so I’m glad that it’s done that for me 👍🏼. Oh I’m glad you’re better now too!
Glad we found the answer! Keep going! Later on hen your body has changed itself into a runner, you’ll speed up without even trying. Oh , and the good measure for whether you’re going the right speed is whether you can hold a conversation. So maybe mutter to yourself a few times - I do! 😂 - to see if you’re at the right speed.
Definitely try running more slowly. Much more slowly! Pretend to yourself that you’re training for a marathon 😊. That’s what I said to a neighbour when he ‘encouraged’ me to run faster! He just said ‘oh, I see, sorry’. Soon you will realise that it doesn’t matter at all what anybody thinks. It’s much more important to complete the run comfortably than to wear yourself out every time you run, which isn’t fun at all.
Eventually (and like with me, that could happen after you’ve graduated) you will naturally speed up.
I definitely will slow it down! I’m now looking forward to getting back to it tonight to see the difference with what I was doing wrong!! Thank you so much ☺️
Hello! Well done for starting running! I started Couch to 5k (or “fridge to 5k” as I call it) in March last year. I’m 43, 18 stone, hadn’t really exercised in years. The First week was killer! I felt self conscious about being out and people seeing me, but I kept on and it was amazed that it did get easier. Then I had a bad run (wk6) - lost confidence and it was summer so made excuses it was too hot and stopped. I’ve just started back up and it was tough getting back into it, I am a very slow runner and was getting over taken by everyone out running this morning - but I know Everyone has to start somewhere and just getting up and out and “sod what folks think!” Of me shuffling along at my Own pace! Even if it takes longer than 9 weeks 1-
Keep on keeping on! You’re doing a great job! You’ve got this!
I definitely have that exact same problem with being self conscious but at the same time I’m doing this for me!! No one else’s opinion should matter!! Yes definitely, all the runners who overtook you started somewhere too! I’m so happy that you got back into it, everyone deserves to feel good about themselves ☺️ thank you so much, you too!!
Well done Tilduh! Don’t worry about being overtaken by runners - when I was doing my C25K I was regularly overtaken by walkers! Things are better now but I’m still overtaken by runners because I’m so slow. I don’t mind, as long as I’m running that’s fine. And if it takes you more than 9 weeks to get there, that’s fine too - it’s not a race or competition and nobody’s keeping tabs on you! Good luck!
It sounds to me as though you’re trying to run too fast. Slow right down, then slow down a bit more. You should be able to hold a conversation as you run, for me that meant gasping out a few words here and there but it has got better as things went on! But slow is the key, particularly if you’re not doing anything else. Make sure you read Iannoda Truffe’s post for newbies which you’ll find on the pinned post section. It really is essential reading and Willa give you everything you need to know. Good luck!
This helped so much!! I just did my first run after not doing it for three days (had a massive motivation crash 😬) and slowed my pace right down and even though I still had some pain in my legs I actually enjoyed it!! Much better doing it that way than meaty coughing my lungs up!!! Thank you so much 🥰
I was a newbie like you last week and found it a struggle too when I first started, but after taking on board advice from others especially “Iannoda Truffe” posts which are extremely informative and inspiring, I realised I was running way too fast so I slowed right down and found it much easier and more enjoyable.
I am working my way through WK2 now and am really enjoying it. Stick with it!
Hi! I’m definitely going to check those posts out now! I’m so glad you are enjoying it, I just came back from my super slow run but actually it was great and I really enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to reply and I hope you have lovely runs ☺️
One week in and you’ve used muscles that you’ve not used before, if you are struggling to breathe slow down if your legs ache take an extra rest day but most of all keep going runners are awesome Good luck
It’s not about speed it’s not about distance it’s about time, one day in the spring when the air you breathe is warm you may find that your easy pace is faster
Well done on making that start - you have done the hardest bit! I started in June, and had never run in my life. I was reasonably fit for walking, but still found this hard - and for me, it kept getting harder until the end of week 2 - but then' like magic, is started getting easier, and I started to enjoy it (a bit!) - so it will get better, I promise. As the runs got longer, and I got fitter, I started to be able to forget I was running and let my mind wander like it does when I'm walking, and that's when it got much better. I will never be anything other than the slowest of slow coaches, but I can feel running doing me good - so who cares?
Oh it’s so good hearing your experience!! Thank you for sharing, I’m looking forward to getting to that point ☺️. Congratulations to you too!! Sounds like you are doing amazing, so happy for you 😌.
I can’t really add much more to the excellent advice from others, other than to say keep going....
On the diet front, the practical change I made which delivered results for me was to go smaller portion sizes. I use a small ‘bread roll’ side plate for my lunch and dinner adopting the principle of only eating what will fit on there, beyond that change I don’t limit myself on what I eat and noticed I consistently lost weight. Just a suggestion... hope it helps.
Thank you so much!! I will definitely try that! I am someone who never really ate any fruit or veg so I’m really changing my diet, only having small pieces of dark chocolate every now and then when I crave something sweet etc! I find it’s easier to not eat as much during lockdown as tbh I’m not using as much energy as normal so if I can really change my portion sizes and snacking now, then hopefully that will change for when it all goes back to normal!
Hi RubyAlice21, I’ve a few tips for you (sorry for such a late response to your post, I’ve only just found it).
Motivation - You Tube - lots of really good motivational running videos on there, I normally listen to a few before I go out, to get me into the right mindset. There’s one called You Versus You featuring The Rock, which is great.
You struggled to catch your breath - next run, try to relax and concentrate on your breathing, nothing complicated, just take a nice deep breath in through your mouth then purse your lips slightly as you exhale. Get this into a good steady rhythm as you run. Imagine you’re body is like a machine and the oxygen your taking on board is your fuel. That way you won’t feel so out of breath.
It’s okay! Thank you for responding with such great advice! I’ve slowed my running down a lot and that’s really helped with my breathing which is fab! I am struggling with motivation today to do my run so I will watch that video before I go this evening to hopefully pump me up for it! Thank you again ☺️☺️☺️
No one has mentioned this on your post. Late to the party as usual so have a look at this it will give you a different opinion on running. This was mentioned to me when I first started youtu.be/9L2b2khySLE . You will do this . If you are watching your food portions then along with doing the C25K you will lose weight. Whether it’s in the quantities you want it will come off. I last a stone and half from February to September as a result people were questioning whether I was ill 😷. So was checked out by doctors with CTScan and X-rays as result as it was classed as extreme weightloss going back to the weight I was at 18 in the 70’s and not cancer that I lost both parents to one recently. It was my metabolic rate had stepped up due to the running three times a week. So stick at it and enjoy.
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W-6/R-3 success but am I doing something wrong :-(
W4R3 What do you listen to when you’re out running?
Not sure I can do this now
I’m Back !!! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️👨🎓
W6, R2 Oh my goodness! What is wrong with me??
