Started in February, as fat, unfit and fifty ffs. Had some good intentions, but it was hard to go out the first couple of times and I saw my commitment slip. Reset, start again with more good intentions. It's March and I did manage to complete week 1 eventually. I set myself the restrictions of not progressing to the next level until I have 3 runs in 7 days. In the last week of April I completed 3 wk4 runs in 7 days. Time, life, weather, the snooker, shoes, aches, sniffles all excuses for me not going for a run. Running is so easy. Shoes on, out the door - don't forget head phones, sweat rag, water bottle, eek trousers!
Last week I completed 3 x wk4 runs, today the first run of week 5. No run tomorrow, I have told myself I'll get one of those next two on Friday and the one with all the running early next week.
Physically it's not too hard, well it is but I am stubborn and will just keep running and puffing. Getting the run started is my fail. Perhaps I could have progressed with less stringent restrictions but when I'd not been out for a few weeks it seemed only right to start again from where I'd left off but to take a run up at it. 'Scuse my pun.
It's taken me 9 months of false starts and abandoned schedules to get half way through a 9 week course. So hopefully the commitment to myself and others by making an anonymous post into the ether will stop my laissez-faire attitude to starting each run.
So my commitment to the community (ssh it's to me really) W5R2 by Monday W5R3 by Wednesday lunchtime.
Hopefully that'll get me to continuous running soon. Whether I make it to 5k in 30 mins I'm not too fussed but I do fancy going out and just running my 3 mile circuit in one go.
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moopo
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Well done you... keep at it... ! Slow and steady is the way and do make sure you are popping on some extra strength and stamina work on some rest days, as the runs get longer!
Putting your stuff out the night before... having an idea of a route too... it can all help in the getting out...
No need to reach 5K..the 30 minutes is enough the 5K may or may not follow
You're at the same stage as me, I did week 5 run 1 yesterday. We can do this !! I'm planning to do run 2 tomorrow , run 3 probably won't be until next Tuesday cause I'm on nightshift Friday Saturday Sunday.
I might end repeating run 2 next week depending on how it goes tomorrow but I will at some point run 20 minutes next week ....hopefully
I'm 50 and doubted myself. I struggled on the very first run, but bizarrely have got to week 8.I just wanted to say congratulations! With that kind of determination, I wouldn't put anything past you now
well done so far so good. I did it five years ago at age 70 - so treated myself to doing each week (from wk4 onwards) twice just to make sure I was ready for the next one. I also did one of my runs at parkrun. I waked 5 mins before the start, did the run as instructed on the app , then jogged walked to the finish. Great fun - you will never come last!!!
That's great advice. When you are a little bit older, repeating weeks and taking extra rest days really does pay off. I've just finished week 8 after 17 weeks and hoping to graduate again soon 😀
Like you I am a great prevaricator- the only way to keep on keeping on is to set my run days (usually Monday, Thursday and Saturdays), get dressed in my running clothes and get out within 30 mins of getting up. Leaving it “until later” or having to get changed and I’m doomed🤣
Well that's worked out OK. Public commitment became personal running. I made W5R2 over the weekend.
Bit of a clumsy mistake, warm up walk, 8 min run, then I hear it's time to start 2nd 8 minute run. Eek I'm still running I have done 13 mins. OK start the tape again, 5 mins walk actually less than 5 minutes walking as there's a nice obvious break after I cross the road for the return leg so I jumped into the run about 30 seconds early and I ran for the next 8 minutes and wasn't horribly puffed at the end. So, that looks hopeful for next time 20 mins without a rest in the middle. I managed 13 minutes by mistake.
Went out this morning for W5R3, 20 minutes of running. Well I'm though that now. Not too onerous.
Sounds like accidentally noticing just where this is really getting you!
Commitment can be tough - about the first thing I did when I started Couch to 5k is tell everyone I was doing it. That made it really hard to give up! And by the time I was settled in I didn't want to. But even then getting out can still be the hard part. Routine helps me there - I'd settled in to a routine of run days, home from work, feed cat, straight out. Bad habits can be hard to break but so are good ones, so making it habit I think is the way to go!
It takes a while before a new habit will stick and false starts and disconnected timings won't have helped me with the new way. My progress has been erratic so far, but I'll be more consistent with my run frequency to chivvy the process along. I do not have much by way of routine or commitment in my life so setting a timetabled run regime doesn't suit me. There's no reason, over the next few weeks, not to get out most every other day so I'll do that. I'm here to get fitter, lose excess weight and improve my cardio.
Tomorrow or Friday I have the first of the W6 runs, let's see, I can have them all in the bag by this time next week. Another public declaration to motivate me
Rest day today so I'll do a bit of flexibility and some lower back strengthening and shortly this morning my post repast perambulation.
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Week 2 completed - Week 3 starts Wednesday - GULP!
Week 7 in the bag!
Week 5 fear!
Made it to week 6 - can't believe it!
