Couch to 5K..anyone done it?

Hi Bella -

Joe has done this in the past (within the past year) - he says it was a good natural progression. He was a non-runner as well.

He says it may seem like a slow progression, but don't try and do more than the program calls for at any interval.

He gives it a positive rating. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

A few months ago I did a 5k run for Cancer Research UK. For the first few weeks I tried to go running 3 or 4 times a week and gradually build up how much I was doing, but after a few weeks of doing that I got bored and started running once a week, if that, and also got too bored part way through to run the full 5k so would stop and go do something else, so come race day I was terrified I wouldn't be able to do it. But the adrenaline of doing an organised run with lots of other people there really made a difference, and I not only completed the 5k in...I think just under 30 mins... but I somehow found the energy to race some other woman on the final stretch! My point being - it is easier on the day than during training, and you will probably enjoy it more at the time than you think you will! Not that I'm saying DON'T train, that would be silly, just that...you'll probably surprise yourself on the day

Bella: I know several people who have done it and said it's very doable.

Pegosaurus: I've found the opposite. I get to where I can do a 5k on my own, but then when the day comes I run WAY faster than I've practiced, because of all the people around me. Then I run out of energy. I need to learn how to pace myself!

I am stuck in a vicious cycle. My knees would like me to lose a little weight before I start running again, but if I started running again it would be much easier to lose some weight.

I've done a program like couch to 5K and it was really helpful. I find that having a goal race at the end of the program helps to motivate me, but also gives a great reward when you finish it at the end. Good luck, Bella!

Bella - We are in the same boat...my little one is 10 months. I've actually lost the weight I gained with him, but I need to lose more. My goal was to do the Wine and Dine 1/2...and I watched as it whooshed right past me. Then I wanted to do the Princess 1/2. I set out my little training schedule and everything...and then, one by one, we kept all getting sick, which knocked me off my schedule. I could probably still make that one, provided it didn't fill up before I could get myself trained!

SO - I think I need to scale back and make a 5k my first goal. Maybe we should start and thread and support each other?

I was all excited to start today (can't start Mondays because I have meetings on Monday evening) and I even bought a cute running outfit (priorities...yes?) but then it's been rainy ALL day!