Couch to 5k
- Thread starter PWCorgi
- Start date
I finished C25k on April 7 this year! I was completely unfit, as in I'd walk a far bit but hardly do anything to get my heart rate up except for running around in short bursts with the dogs. And that was a tad uncomfortable!
My rationale for taking up running was I needed to get active and lose weight and I wanted to look after my cardiovascular health. I'm not a sporty person, I'm uncoordinated, a little self-conscious and I'm just not the best team player.
So I needed something I could do that was challenging and allowed me a bit of solitude whilst I was discovering what I could/could not do.
Absolutely the best thing I've ever done. The first week was 1 minute runs, followed by 90 seconds of brisk walking. It was soooo difficult for me, but it was still attainable, so despite the huffing and puffing I felt so motivated to keep going and so excited when I had finish. For me, every week followed on perfectly even when I thought I'd struggle big time, I pulled through in the end. A lot of it is mental.
My one 'stumbling block' if you could call it that was the week that you did 5 minutes run for the first time and I was starting to feel sick and run down. The first day I attempted it, I completed it but it felt absolutely crappy, so I toyed with the idea of waiting a few days and returning to the previous week. In the end I just made that week last a bit longer after I had recovered from my head cold (sorry I'm a sook - I won't do anything more than walk when I feel crappy) and I was good to go.
The twenty minute run at week 5 was my personal highlight - it made me so proud to think that only a few week prior I was struggling to run for 1 minute! The program does work, for sure.
Take it as slow as you need to build up your endurance, listen to your body and don't be afraid to extend/repeat a week or take an extra day off. I think this is important when you are building this into a routine if you've never run before.
I find that once you get up to the longer sustained runs (I talk in five ks right now, not half-marathons), the hardest bit is the first 10 minutes because I start questioning myself as to why I'm running. I could be home doing a million others things and do I really want to put myself through this again?? Once I get over that little mind game, I feel strong and capable.
I personally run in the morning, but I am the type of person that will get up at 4 am, eat breakfast, hit the gym and the streets for a run and then walk the dogs (I usually reverse this order is summer, because at least the gym is air conditioned lol) I will run in the evenings if my schedule requires it, but I just feel better personally if I do a morning workout.
My rationale for taking up running was I needed to get active and lose weight and I wanted to look after my cardiovascular health. I'm not a sporty person, I'm uncoordinated, a little self-conscious and I'm just not the best team player.
So I needed something I could do that was challenging and allowed me a bit of solitude whilst I was discovering what I could/could not do.
Absolutely the best thing I've ever done. The first week was 1 minute runs, followed by 90 seconds of brisk walking. It was soooo difficult for me, but it was still attainable, so despite the huffing and puffing I felt so motivated to keep going and so excited when I had finish. For me, every week followed on perfectly even when I thought I'd struggle big time, I pulled through in the end. A lot of it is mental.
My one 'stumbling block' if you could call it that was the week that you did 5 minutes run for the first time and I was starting to feel sick and run down. The first day I attempted it, I completed it but it felt absolutely crappy, so I toyed with the idea of waiting a few days and returning to the previous week. In the end I just made that week last a bit longer after I had recovered from my head cold (sorry I'm a sook - I won't do anything more than walk when I feel crappy) and I was good to go.
The twenty minute run at week 5 was my personal highlight - it made me so proud to think that only a few week prior I was struggling to run for 1 minute! The program does work, for sure.
Take it as slow as you need to build up your endurance, listen to your body and don't be afraid to extend/repeat a week or take an extra day off. I think this is important when you are building this into a routine if you've never run before.
I find that once you get up to the longer sustained runs (I talk in five ks right now, not half-marathons), the hardest bit is the first 10 minutes because I start questioning myself as to why I'm running. I could be home doing a million others things and do I really want to put myself through this again?? Once I get over that little mind game, I feel strong and capable.
I personally run in the morning, but I am the type of person that will get up at 4 am, eat breakfast, hit the gym and the streets for a run and then walk the dogs (I usually reverse this order is summer, because at least the gym is air conditioned lol) I will run in the evenings if my schedule requires it, but I just feel better personally if I do a morning workout.
I'm the person who wants to be a Runner, but I want to be one of those sexy women who never sweat and wear super comfortable designer running clothes and are confident enough to get out there and run in the middle of downtown during rush hour. Yeah. That's not really where I am right now.
I keep toying with the C25K program, and I started it a couple years ago (I think I got all the way to Week 2). My best friend - who has NEVER been a runner - really inspired me to try again when she said a couple of weeks ago she can actually run the 20 minute interval. But I still haven't started.
Anyway, I think I'll print out the post above (that I quoted) and hang it up for inspiration. I think I'll start running tomorrow.
Add me to the list of "started but never finished" - I think I made it to week 6? Keep thinking about starting again and haven't yet. My personal best 5K was right around 28 minutes and that's with some walk intervals!
I really liked it when I did it, but the weather and a nasty cold got in the way and I haven't gotten back into the rhythm yet.
My personal best 5K was right around 28 minutes and that's with some walk intervals! I really liked it when I did it, but the weather and a nasty cold got in the way and I haven't gotten back into the rhythm yet.
I've been doing this for a few weeks now. I'm on Week 7 now, so getting near the end! I started it to condition myself for a trip I'm taking this summer, but it's a good idea regardless because my family has a long history of being hypertensive.
Also from what I read, taking an extended period of time to complete the program isn't uncommon. You don't have to finish it in 9 weeks. If you need an extra day of rest because your legs are killing you, take it. I had to after W6D2 and W4D1 because it was just too much pain ya know?
Also from what I read, taking an extended period of time to complete the program isn't uncommon. You don't have to finish it in 9 weeks. If you need an extra day of rest because your legs are killing you, take it. I had to after W6D2 and W4D1 because it was just too much pain ya know?