Well, second week done on my second go at this. Dodgy knee improving. Doing knee exercise suggested by helpful folk here. But I am sorry to say, I am doing this purely for health and grim determination to finish. Counting the weeks until graduation hat in the air and running shoes firmly in the bin. I loathe this but with the sea too cold, it's the easiest form of exercise for me to achieve in winter. Forcing myself to follow a program with the motivation of having a friend to do with who gets me out of the door is the only way I would do this form of exercise. Bonus is I do feel great after, but once I have done this I will defo be looking for a non running based fitness challenge. Doing this, however, will hopefully give me better fitness for the summer fun stuff like coasteering, which I would like to do. So Def motivation there, but running is the pits. Dunno how you lot who have graduated do this for fun....
Week 2 done: Well, second week done on my second... - Couch to 5K
Week 2 done
I found every step of C25K gruelling and no fun at all. I am the “wrong” age, size and weight to be a natural runner. But I kept at it and now I love it.
See how you feel when you complete the programme.
Good luck 🍀
Thank you. I can't honestly see the love happening since I was once a natural build for running long distance...and loathed it, but you never know. It's a means to an end, though.
Ah, interesting! If you hate it that much, could you be running too fast? You sound determined to finish the plan, so you still have time to fall in love! Perhaps keep an open mind?
I did get as far as week 7 last year.
As I'm a nosy cow I've read, or at least skimmed, your other posts Hidden .
In all honesty, to date you sound just as determined to hate C25K as you say you are determined to finish it. You've been given lots of advice, and you've previously got to week 7, so I have no doubt that you could complete the programme if you wanted to.
But you constantly refer to other people pushing you into this, and say that you're only doing this to get fit for fun stuff in the summer, and as a means to an end.
So - being devil's advocate - why bother? Speaking as someone who's spent too much time doing what others think I should rather than what I want, I can tell you that it's not always worth it, particularly if the only person really affected by the decision is you. Plus, while completing the programme will definitely improve your fitness, that won't miraculously stay forever - you'll either need to keep running or find some other form of exercise.
I constantly bang on about mental attitude being key to achieving what you want in running. If you really don't want to do it, and you constantly tell yourself it's the pits, then I can pretty much guarantee that you'll be miserable and find it much harder to reach your goal, whatever that turns out to be.
Jack in C25K now if that's what you want. Or complete the programme and then stop running. Or complete the programme and then keep running. Your choice.
By the way, while I imagine that your reference to running shoes going in the bin was not necessarily to be taken literally, if it was, then please don't. Use them for walking. Or if you won't use them, Ebay them if you want or need money. Give them to charity if you don't. The thought of barely-used shoes being binned riles me way more than the idea of your stopping C25K. I am my mother's daughter (except that she would never in a million years have taken up running!)
Gosh, that was a nice, patronising essay. OK, let me first say I am extremely grateful for the advice, particularly the direction to the section about knee exercises.Some of that which I post is hyperbole, but one of the reasons I continue to post is because others with similar feelings don't. Post, that is. Oh, people post about their struggles with certain weeks, etc, but the people who don't wind up loving it simply go back to their couches and keep their mouths shut. So I think it is important to highlight that we don't all become addicts, so others can see that they aren't failures because they don't fall in love with running.
People have a million reasons for exercise. I am amused to be told I won't magically stay fit forever. Well, duh. But the point I was making was that in order to do the activities I might enjoy which will also keep me fit, I need to reach a base level. To do that, I have recognised I may need to do something I don't really have an affinity for.
You keep banging on about mental attitude, do you? You might benefit from a little more mental health awareness. Severe depression can often cause negative thoughts around exercise and a positive mental attitude is not something we can all switch on like a tap, you know. And sometimes, we just need to get it out that we aren't loving it, can't imagine we will, but grit our teeth and push on. Because for some people, life looks like that. A very dark place to go, been there, fortunately not there now in total, but it comes out in other things. Like this running. I can tell you, no end of well-meaning people come out with the mental attitude line. I know they are right. If I could just 'magically' have the right mental attitude about it, don't you think I would? Don't you think I don't know that I don't?
And so, I post here. Irritating for you to read the pathetic whinings, I am sure. Perhaps I, like many others, shouldn't post. I have read posts from people on other areas of this forum who can't see the wood for the trees with their particular battle. They go through the stage I am going through with this, and they come here and yes, sound like whiny kids, but it's part of a process and here is a safe place to do it because folks don't have to read or comment. But when they do, and it's with great advice, it is appreciated. It may not be evident at the time, but it is, and it helps to build a picture and overcome the barriers people put up. If it pisses you off, don't read.
Oh, and by the way, my running shoes aren't 'barely worn'. They are old ones someone was to throw out, I have to wear thick socks because they are slightly too large, but they work really well for me, and I am grateful for them. I run in jogging bottoms I got for 50p at the jumble, a freebie tee shirt I got for volunteering at an event a few years ago and a hoodie my mother bought me several Christmases ago, because it 'boils my blood' to waste money I don't have on specialist clothing for one activity which I might not pursue long term. So get off your high horse.
So you're not a fan of running then?Of course it's not compulsory to love it.
I'm sure many of us had to push through the I hate it phase. Some get through others don't.
This is a forum about running though so expect to see the majority of posts from people doing the programme, or people that have done it.
What is generally evident on this forum is kindness.
How disappointing that you chose to post such an unpleasant reply. So unnecessary given the overall tone of the comment by Cmoi .
I am sorry, but I found the overall tone of the comment to me 'unpleasant'. That may be an error in judgement on my part, but I found it very high- handed. Still, the internet is an easy place for misunderstandings. My own post was simply a statement of having made it through another week despite my lack of love, with a flippant bit about hats in the air and shoes in the bin. I then get what I read as a schoolmistressy lecture on my shortcomings ending with a finger wag about wastefulness. I am sure that wasn't the intention. But as you found my response unpleasant, so I found this reply to me to be so. You don't agree with my assessment and may be doing so with better knowledge of the poster than I have.
I shan't be posting in this section of health unlocked again, since it is clear I irritate. And I do understand why I would.
Comments on a forum are tricky as they lack nuance. I wouldn't stop posting, this can be a very useful place and I'm sure we'd like to read that you completed the programme despite your lack of enjoyment.
Not everyone loves running, and it's not for everyone, but as others have said, we are members of a forum which tries to provide support and some people do report not enjoying the programme and that's all ok.However, it's a shame about this dialogue
Hi Sherlock20 I don’t think the lovely Cmoi intended to come across as patronising or on a high horse at all. There is nothing but good intentions from the people on the forum here.
I am sorry to hear that you aren’t enjoying running. Have you tried cycling instead? Electric bikes can make uphill ascents more pleasant but you can still exert yourself. If not, is there a gym nearby where you could treadmill run and keep it flat? Skipping in the garden, a dance workout on YouTube etc are all great alternatives. I’m a big believer in not doing things you really really hate - life is too short!
I’m not sure any of us can give you the exact answer you’re looking for, but know there’s a wealth of folk here who will be cheering on your progress if you do stick with it. All the best. 😊
It's a shame the dialogue and your reaction to cmoi's post got to this. As this is a forum for new and developing runners, it's difficult for forum members to respond to your post, as you've clearly made up your mind that you hate it and won't continue with it, so I don't think anyone is clear about the motivation for your post.Maybe you weren't seeking a response and just making a statement and that's fine too, but your initial post did end with a potential question 'dunno how you folk do this for fun'. On re-reading, it's more of a statement rather than a question. I did suggest slowing down could help, and it often does help.
Forum members are always here to encourage and support others of course!
By the way, if your running shoes are too big, that might be partly at the root of it being a struggle.
Good luck with the rest of the programme though.
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