When I took the leap to do the Couch to 5k I gave myself every excuse under the sun as to why I couldn’t do it.
A more detailed explanation is to be found at the end.
The first week was extremely tough. I couldn’t even do 60 seconds once never mind seven times. Slowly I got there. Week one finished and the tears of joy flowed and a huge air punch ( you will cry when you finish your first BIG run, week 4 or 5)and give the biggest smile to anyone near you. Every week after that got harder yet easier if that makes sense. I started to look forward to my runs. Ending the week with a huge smile. Now at the end of C25K I just think back to the fat lump that couldn’t even jog 60 seconds and now can run easily 5k.
My goal now is to run a half marathon. I have already done 8k all thanks to this wonderful app.
Thank You and thank you jo whiley for being the voice.
At the start of my journey I was 24 stone, unfit, depressed and suicidal. I started this knowing I had to change something.
The usual excuses came. I can’t do that, I’ve problems with my knees that stems from cycling at a young age. I don’t have the time to fit this in to my busy schedule. What a heap of codswallop that was looking back. The time part was the hardest to crack but here’s the secret, stick on your dinner of an evening, it takes 30 mins to cook, go do it then. Get up 30 mins earlier in the morning it won’t kill you. Do it in your lunch break. Drive hgv’s for a living ? Very difficult, you legally need a 45 min break, do it then. Yes it’s boring walking round in circles at lay bys and service stations but it works. Everyone said, exercise is good for your mental health too, rubbish I would say. I started walking for 5-10minutes a day non stop and as fast as my fat legs would take me. Around 500 meters. Every day I would go a bit farther, still going as fast as I could. Breaking sweat, out of breath and still no sign of this helping my mental health. It was hard to push myself to do this everyday. The first day I walked 1 kilometre I thought I was king and treated myself to a big cake. It was then I thought woah this ain’t going to do much if I don’t diet too. I hate diets and didn’t bother. What I did do was eat the same but half my usual portions. Built up to walking further (10k) still eating the same but less than normal for a fat bloke that I was. Bought a fit bit and started watching the calories burnt off then started eating less calories than I burnt off. Still eating the same food as I always did. All this work and yes I’m going to say it, bloody Hard work paid off. I now weigh a reasonable 14 stone, with muscle too. My advice is do not join a gym, do not get a personal trainer and do not join a slimming club. All a waste of money. Going to the gym to run is pointless when it’s free to do outside. If it rains or is too cold just wear clothes to suit.
I can run 5k without it being a chore and most importantly, my mental health is so much better, exercise does and will help your mental state. So give yourself as much excuses that you want, it’s only you that will suffer. Put it this way, if a person that couldn’t even get comfy on a sofa cos he was that big and heavy can do it so can anyone.
Ps I’m 60.
59 years, very overweight, inspired by my daughter. If I can do it anyone can
...Can I do it...? 😓🏃♀️🚦🏁
I don’t know if I can do this again...
Don't think I can do this :-( 
