5x50 challenge starts early.: This year I set... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

134,190 members159,536 posts

5x50 challenge starts early.

TJFlute profile image
17 Replies

This year I set myself a challenge not to drink for 75 days. I've done six weeks already and it's going well :) I also challenged myself to eat more vegetables and I've been following a mainly italian diet (using Gino D'acampo's recipes). This has been a real success too; even the kids are benefiting, although they don't know it yet!

But I haven't challenged myself with the running so far, in fact I've been pretty lazy and only run once a week. I had some thoughts about training for a half marathon, but somehow wasn't inspired enough to get started.

Then I saw Swanscots blog about 5x 50 challenge and I knew this was the perfect challenge for me at the moment. However, I want to get fit for our holiday and lose a little more bodyfat, so I've decided to start early! I will then either have a week off and start again on the 31st March with everyone else, or just continue; I'll have to wait and see how my body fares.

I've weighed and measured myself. It's always interesting to see what impact any change in lifestyle has.

I did Day 1 yesterday: 5k on the treadmill which was a mixture of run/walk and today I am walking 5k. I did 2.5 just now with the dog and I'll do the rest later, because I know you are allowed to split the distance up during the day, as long as it amounts to 5k in total.

It feels great to have a focus and to be back at blogging too. I will blog regularly throughout to keep a record.

It's also been lovely reading all your blogs again and seeing how you're all doing :)

Written by
TJFlute profile image
TJFlute
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
17 Replies
greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate

I'll be very interested to follow how you do! I like the idea of it, but I don't think I'm quite up to that level yet - though seeing that you can split it up makes me wonder...

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate

Just went and looked at the website again - FAQ here: 5x50.co.uk/faq

Is there going to be a c25k(+) team?

So, 30 minutes of exercise can count as your '5k'... I'm getting more and more interested! But could I fit it in every day? (Yes!) Just need to work out what I'd do on non-running days - though walking would be the simplest one.

We could have a team at work... ... ...

(The only slightly awkward thing I can see about the 5x50 challenge is the equation of 5k and 30 minutes - if it's meant to encourage people to *start* getting fit, that's a bit off-putting! But now I've read a bit more, it is making me realise I could do it.)

TJFlute profile image
TJFlute in reply togreenlegs

I wasn't sure if there was going to be a c25+ team, so I've entered individually. But it is a good idea.

Walking sounds like the simplest one, but I did the 5k today and it took about an hour, so it's very time-consuming!

Let us know if you decide to do it; there's a few weeks to think about it!

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply toTJFlute

I've signed up! I can manage 30 minutes walking (or something else) on non-run days, especially if I split some of them into two shorter walks, and you don't have to actually do 5k if you're a slower runner, so that's fine by me. They seem to be encouraging non-runners to join in, and use it as a way to build up to 5k, so anyone on here could join in, even newbies. Maybe we should start another thread to promote it a bit more?

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply togreenlegs

There is now a team: NHS c25k

TJFlute profile image
TJFlute in reply togreenlegs

Oh that's great! Did you organise it? I will see if I can move across to the team!!

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply toTJFlute

Might have done... [Whistles]

But then I thought perhaps I was jumping in on someone else's good idea (Hector's House and swanscot I think), so removed myself!

But I really like the idea of having a c25k team - of people at all levels of running, from beginners to half-marathoners (or maybe even longer distances than that?!) If we put up a blog about it every few days, we could have a nice little team by the end of March!

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply togreenlegs

Aha - I see swanscot is on there.

Team: NHS Couch to 5K (C25K)

Roll up everybody!

swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate in reply togreenlegs

> if we put up a blog about it every few days

> , we could have a nice little team by the

> end of March!

Yes, we can do that. I've also gone back to my original blog on here from a few days ago and edited it so it appears in the 'Community blogs' rather than the '5K+ blogs' (I had forgotten to change the default setting).

TJFlute profile image
TJFlute in reply togreenlegs

:) :) So that's something to look forward to! :)

shelleymcb profile image
shelleymcbGraduate

good luck with your new challenge. by the sounds of things you are doing really well with your other challenges & I like the sound of the new diet. hummmmm gino....

have fun. shelley :)

TJFlute profile image
TJFlute in reply toshelleymcb

Thanks Shelley. I love the gino recipes, easy and tasty.

I can't believe how far you're running these days!! It's really impressive :)

AliB1 profile image
AliB1Graduate

More gino than veg though!!! Mmmmm!

Good to have you back blogging Theresa! I lasted 30 days not drinking and really should get back to that may be next week!

Let us know how you get on!

TJFlute profile image
TJFlute in reply toAliB1

Good luck with your half marathon plan this week.

I will let you know how it all works out, as I have a feeling it's going to be tougher than it sounds.

PastyMan profile image
PastyManGraduate

I've already entered

I plan to run the 5k for the 50 days of the challenge (31 March-19May) to raise money for Leukaemia Research

It's nearly 3 years since I completed my treatment for APL and I've been in full remission since then. Part of my own recovery was to get fit ... first through walking and then throwing in a bit of running too ;-)

My final bone marrow test (touch wood) should be coming up during the 50 day challenge and I just wanted to give something back and say thanks for the research that led to my treatment and for the excellent treatment I had at the Western General Hospital ... even for the arsenic :-)

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

justgiving.com/RobMildren

TJFlute profile image
TJFlute in reply toPastyMan

What a positive thing to do and a great way to raise some money :)

PastyMan profile image
PastyManGraduate in reply toTJFlute

Thanks TJ

I didn't want to hijack your 5x50 challenge but if you don't have a specific other fundraising target in mind I'd be delighted if you used mine

Rob

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

5x50 Challenge

A couple of weeks ago HectorsHouse shared information re the 5x50 Challenge. What is The...
swanscot profile image
Graduate

Team c25k finale photo for 5x50 challenge

Apologies to c25k undergraduates - the 5x50 challenge went on from 31st March to 19th May, and a...
greenlegs profile image
Graduate

5x50 challenge: reporting from Sydney

5x50 challenge Day 34 5k run 35 5k walk 36 60 min personal trainer 37 10k walk 38 30 min...
TJFlute profile image

5x50 Challenge

I got talked into signing up for the 5x50 Challenge which starts 9th September. 5x50.co.uk...
George42 profile image
Graduate

5x50 challenge: overcoming sickness.

Day 42 5k run Day 43 30 min swim Day 44 5k walk I was so ill yesterday (day 44). I...
TJFlute profile image

Moderation team

See all
Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministrator
MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministrator
Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.