Couch to 5k - any good?
Discussion
Dan_1981 said:
W4 r2 today had to take a couple of days out at the start of the week due to a crappy cold.
I do the same run every time I go out it's just over 4.5km
Wouldn't say I'm finding it enjoyable but I like the sense of acheivement, and seeing that you're getting 'faster' (running more mainly) each time out is a real motivator.
I’m a couple of steps ahead having just completed the big one - week 5. It’s the week it starts getting serious with 3x5min, 2x8min and then 20 min straight for the last run. I do the same run every time I go out it's just over 4.5km
Wouldn't say I'm finding it enjoyable but I like the sense of acheivement, and seeing that you're getting 'faster' (running more mainly) each time out is a real motivator.
As I’ve completed the programme before, I knew pushing myself in the earlier runs makes the 20 mins less daunting. I did 4x5min (just skip back on the app) then 2x8min plus 1x4min, so each run this week had been 20 mins total.
For run three I found my legs. I’d planned to go to 23/24mins if possible, but kept the pace steady and went all the way to 5k. Certainly not easy, and slower than after I’d previously completed the programme, but got there.
I’m going to keep with the programme and adding extra time on each run, as the shorter bursts helps increase speed, but very pleased to have a 5k under my belt again - it’s been 2 years since the last one!
pincher said:
I’m still going!
Got to a peak of 16st 4lb and was rather unhappy with myself for that, so gave up drinking for 3 months and started parkrunning - now at 14st 9lb and about 26:30 for a 5K. Knees are holding up at the moment and my target is sub 26 mins.
It’s not easy and I still can’t say I love running but it feels good when you know you are several minutes quicker than people 20 years younger than you
Firstly, bloody well done to all those that have started and/or completed C25K this year - I salute you!Got to a peak of 16st 4lb and was rather unhappy with myself for that, so gave up drinking for 3 months and started parkrunning - now at 14st 9lb and about 26:30 for a 5K. Knees are holding up at the moment and my target is sub 26 mins.
It’s not easy and I still can’t say I love running but it feels good when you know you are several minutes quicker than people 20 years younger than you
I’m now down to around 14st 4lb and still running. Parkrun PB is now 25:35 and I have run 25:00 dead on the tready, but had to sprint the last 500m or so
A work colleague has suggested doing the Manchester Half Marathon next year - I’m still not sure whether I’m up to it but I’ve upped my distance to 7.5K now and coping OK so far. Another couple of weeks of that and then I’ll try a 10K. Just need to ‘train’ myself to go a bit slower so I can run further, if that makes sense?
Dan_1981 said:
W7 R1 Cometed today. First 5km covered... Which did include the 5 min warm up walk but not the cool down.
I actually feel OK running now.. Breathing is much easier.
That’s really good going, under 30 minutes including walking part should stand you in very good stead! Well done!I actually feel OK running now.. Breathing is much easier.
Unfortunately I’ve come down with this winter cold and I’m still getting out of breath walking up the stairs. Gutting considering where I’d got to in the programme, but hoping it’ll still put me in a strong position for true New Year’s resolution type effort after Christmas.
Week 8 completed yesterday which means i'm into the final week.
I used the local Parkrun course yesterday for my run. 5.06 km in 28.46 which i'm pretty happy with.
And run 2 in the week I completed 5k in my new PB of 27:47.
I'm enjoying the running sort of I think - I like the feeling of achievement more than anything. It's quite nice to be able to to do the first 3 k or so feeling 'comfortable'
Not sure what i'll do at the end of week 9 - I'm a bit concerned that without the app and the tick in the box approach that i'll be motivated to continue. As above I like the achievement aspect of seeing progress, ticking a box and being held to that account.
But not sure I want to move to a 10k program.
I used the local Parkrun course yesterday for my run. 5.06 km in 28.46 which i'm pretty happy with.
And run 2 in the week I completed 5k in my new PB of 27:47.
I'm enjoying the running sort of I think - I like the feeling of achievement more than anything. It's quite nice to be able to to do the first 3 k or so feeling 'comfortable'
Not sure what i'll do at the end of week 9 - I'm a bit concerned that without the app and the tick in the box approach that i'll be motivated to continue. As above I like the achievement aspect of seeing progress, ticking a box and being held to that account.
But not sure I want to move to a 10k program.
I did a bit over 12K in 1:08 on Boxing Day morning, which I was pleased with - has given me the confidence to try a 'proper' 10K and maybe more.....
Good luck to everyone trying or continuing C25K in 2023 - you never know where it may lead
Good luck to everyone trying or continuing C25K in 2023 - you never know where it may lead
Edited by pincher on Tuesday 3rd January 11:39
pincher said:
I did a bit over 12K in 1:08 on Boxing Day morning, which I was pleased with - has given me the confidence to try a 'proper' 10K and maybe more.....
Good luck to everyone trying or continuing C25K in 2023 - you never know where it may lead
Not bad, well done!Good luck to everyone trying or continuing C25K in 2023 - you never know where it may lead
Edited by pincher on Tuesday 3rd January 11:39
I completed this last year, was trying to get out during lunchtimes whilst WFH. Was really impressed with the programme and the progress I made.
Had to stop a few weeks before Christmas as I'd got tendonitis in one leg, keen to pick it up again though and focus on trying to land more on the ball of my foot as I was tending to heel strike as I first started.
I'd look forward to the run and being outside, find I'd be willing myself to finish when I was actually doing it, though not enjoying myself as such, then feeling great afterwards. Not sure I'll ever love doing it, but I'd certainly want to keep it up providing I can avoid further injury.
Had to stop a few weeks before Christmas as I'd got tendonitis in one leg, keen to pick it up again though and focus on trying to land more on the ball of my foot as I was tending to heel strike as I first started.
I'd look forward to the run and being outside, find I'd be willing myself to finish when I was actually doing it, though not enjoying myself as such, then feeling great afterwards. Not sure I'll ever love doing it, but I'd certainly want to keep it up providing I can avoid further injury.
bristolbaron said:
I’m a couple of steps ahead having just completed the big one - week 5. It’s the week it starts getting serious with 3x5min, 2x8min and then 20 min straight for the last run.
As I’ve completed the programme before, I knew pushing myself in the earlier runs makes the 20 mins less daunting. I did 4x5min (just skip back on the app) then 2x8min plus 1x4min, so each run this week had been 20 mins total.
For run three I found my legs. I’d planned to go to 23/24mins if possible, but kept the pace steady and went all the way to 5k. Certainly not easy, and slower than after I’d previously completed the programme, but got there.
I’m going to keep with the programme and adding extra time on each run, as the shorter bursts helps increase speed, but very pleased to have a 5k under my belt again - it’s been 2 years since the last one!
Well this thread, as well as my running, seemed to die a death in 2023! I had a shocker of a year and I’m back to square one. Week 1 completed last week, the first run of week 2 in a minute. As I’ve completed the programme before, I knew pushing myself in the earlier runs makes the 20 mins less daunting. I did 4x5min (just skip back on the app) then 2x8min plus 1x4min, so each run this week had been 20 mins total.
For run three I found my legs. I’d planned to go to 23/24mins if possible, but kept the pace steady and went all the way to 5k. Certainly not easy, and slower than after I’d previously completed the programme, but got there.
I’m going to keep with the programme and adding extra time on each run, as the shorter bursts helps increase speed, but very pleased to have a 5k under my belt again - it’s been 2 years since the last one!
Has anyone else started for the new year?
bristolbaron said:
bristolbaron said:
I’m a couple of steps ahead having just completed the big one - week 5. It’s the week it starts getting serious with 3x5min, 2x8min and then 20 min straight for the last run.
As I’ve completed the programme before, I knew pushing myself in the earlier runs makes the 20 mins less daunting. I did 4x5min (just skip back on the app) then 2x8min plus 1x4min, so each run this week had been 20 mins total.
For run three I found my legs. I’d planned to go to 23/24mins if possible, but kept the pace steady and went all the way to 5k. Certainly not easy, and slower than after I’d previously completed the programme, but got there.
I’m going to keep with the programme and adding extra time on each run, as the shorter bursts helps increase speed, but very pleased to have a 5k under my belt again - it’s been 2 years since the last one!
Well this thread, as well as my running, seemed to die a death in 2023! I had a shocker of a year and I’m back to square one. Week 1 completed last week, the first run of week 2 in a minute. As I’ve completed the programme before, I knew pushing myself in the earlier runs makes the 20 mins less daunting. I did 4x5min (just skip back on the app) then 2x8min plus 1x4min, so each run this week had been 20 mins total.
For run three I found my legs. I’d planned to go to 23/24mins if possible, but kept the pace steady and went all the way to 5k. Certainly not easy, and slower than after I’d previously completed the programme, but got there.
I’m going to keep with the programme and adding extra time on each run, as the shorter bursts helps increase speed, but very pleased to have a 5k under my belt again - it’s been 2 years since the last one!
Has anyone else started for the new year?
A few posts up I did complete the program. Then I caught a cold for a couple of weeks... And never ran again.
I'll likely start again in the next few weeks, just got to recover from a minor op first.
Joined the gym in July last year. Became clear I was chronically unfit and there was no chance of jogging, forget running. Anyway I've beat myself into some kind of shape, concentrated on the 5km treadmill run and my best time was 30min 02 seconds (9.9kph ave) last Friday. Hopefully get a good day this month and finally beat it. The next goal will be a sub 25 minute, but that could take some time. 5km is an ideal distance, considering the time it takes vs recovery, calories expended and other benefits. Joing the gym was the best thing I did for myself.
tim jb said:
Joined the gym in July last year. Became clear I was chronically unfit and there was no chance of jogging, forget running. Anyway I've beat myself into some kind of shape, concentrated on the 5km treadmill run and my best time was 30min 02 seconds (9.9kph ave) last Friday. Hopefully get a good day this month and finally beat it. The next goal will be a sub 25 minute, but that could take some time. 5km is an ideal distance, considering the time it takes vs recovery, calories expended and other benefits. Joing the gym was the best thing I did for myself.
well done keep at it and your times will almost certainly come down.I wanted to say though that jogging is running so don't start with the attitude that you aren't running as you are. Even people who jog really fast don't do all of their jogging at full speed
Doing it again at the moment. I actually did it last winter but in March I got COVID for the third time and hat put me out of the game for months. Work didn’t help either.
Completed week 4 this afternoon. Pace is returning even if my asthma hates the cold wind. Also haven't been put this week after a boys trip to Milan last weekend.
I also use the Adidas running app. A lot of good features in the free version, and miles = points = money off kit.
Completed week 4 this afternoon. Pace is returning even if my asthma hates the cold wind. Also haven't been put this week after a boys trip to Milan last weekend.
I also use the Adidas running app. A lot of good features in the free version, and miles = points = money off kit.
Just managed my first sub 30 minute 5k at 29:34 minutes. Nothing compared to some but I'm celebrating..
Taken 7 months and one day to that. When I first started I couldn't run, the first effort was over 50 minutes of walking. Next goal? Do this consistantly, then.. sub 25 minutes. That could take another 7 months, but I think I can do it.
Taken 7 months and one day to that. When I first started I couldn't run, the first effort was over 50 minutes of walking. Next goal? Do this consistantly, then.. sub 25 minutes. That could take another 7 months, but I think I can do it.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff