Couch to 5k thread

Here's a post I made on the Couch to 5K thread on the Food Diary forum a few weeks ago. I guess it might be useful here too...


So I thought I'd just write up my own experience of the programme and hopefully, if you are finding it hard at times, this might just get you out of that slump.

When I started Couch to 5K, I'd been doing a lot of walking in the previous 4-5 weeks. So when it came to Week 1 of Couch to 5K, I found the 60 second jog's ok-ish. They were not super easy but I wasn't completely exhausted like I had expected I would be.

This soon changed though when I began Week 2. It consisted of 90 second jogs and 2 minutes walking if I remember correctly. Suddenly the 60 second jogs seemed easy compared to the 90 second jogs and this was a trend I noticed for several weeks after starting the programme - the previous week's workout which seemed so hard at the time, was now quite easy.

I got to week 4 which I think had 5 minute jogs and I have to admit, this was when I hit rock bottom with the programme. I was barely, barely, barely able to jog for 5 minutes and I'd get so upset and frustrated at the end of each 5 minute jog that I felt like giving up. As I'd be doing the recovery walks between the jogging I'd be thinking to myself "This is a waste of time, I'm never going to be able to jog for 20 minutes, or 30 minutes or whatever. It's impossible, I can't do it, I don't know how anyone else can either".

These were the types of thoughts that were running through my head at the time.

So with a heavy heart and even heavier legs, I completed Week 4 and I could fool myself no longer, I wasn't ready to move onto week 5. Until that point I hadn't repeated a week even though if I'm completely honest, I didn't always feel ready to move onto the next week's schedule. However this time I'd gone as far as I could go.

I was barely able to jog for 5 minutes, even after Day 3 of Week 4 and seeing week 5 consisted of 8 minute jogs, I knew I was simply not ready to do it. That wasn't me being negative, it was me being realistic. It was a bridge too far for me.

So I went back and began week 4 all over again. I felt a little disappointed in myself that I had to go back and repeat a week. I guess part of it was shame that I'd let myself get so unfit and overweight that I had to repeat a week rather than moving forward.

But something amazing happened then during week 4! I completed Day 1, it went ok. I then completed Day 2 and I don't know what happened but I just felt like I'd broken through some barrier that was holding me back. I think I might have jogged slightly slower or something, I'm not quite sure. But it's accurate to say that repeating week 4 saved me from packing the whole thing in.

After that repeat of Week 4 Day 2, I KNEW I could do the 8 minute jogs. I just knew it. So I waited and went out and began Week 5 a couple of days later. And I didn't look back after that.

Now, don't for a second think I'm some gifted athlete or I have some special ability to run, because I'm not and I don't. I run very, very slowly and not very gracefully. I'd be one of the slowest people around, but I can now do 7K non-stop. I could do a longer distance than 7K, although I would need to add in some energy drink or something as I can occasionally feel myself getting hungry when I run.

There will be bad times when you are running. Times when you're just not enjoying it. It will feel like a hard slog with little or no reward for it. During those times, I say just put your head down, try to think about something else and crank out the workout anyway.

The positive side is that you get to experience something I like to call the "Euphoria Workouts". This is when you start to run and something amazing happens. You start to feel good. And I mean really good. You feel like you have limitless energy and speed.

There are times when it happens to me and I almost feel a little emotional or something and I feel the wind washing over my face and I have this gentle voice in my head saying "Faster, faster, faster..." And I keep going faster. It truly is amazing and once you experience it, you will always want to recreate it. It's hard to forget about those workouts but it's easy not to think of them when you are going through the hard slog.

So if you are feeling depressed and demotivated and feel like giving up, just stick with it.

Usually when you hit rock bottom, that's when you bounce back up.

I didn't use Podcasts on Couch to 5K initially but instead I use an App from the iTunes app store called Couch to 5K by Alex Stankovic, although I think it might be listed as Bluefin software now possibly.

Anyway it would let me listen to my own music and would give me audio prompts about when to walk, run, warm-up and cooldown etc. Useful for those who like their own music to listen along to. It does cost money though, I think its about €2.39.

Best of luck. And enjoy the big smile and pat on back you can give yourself at end!:)

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Eager_Beaver wrote: »

Maria, went on to that link you gave! is there any link to music for the first week?

The podcast has music in it (and the prompts to run/walk)

We're all finding it hard, but it'll be worth it!:D

Raycun,could you suggest a 5k for in and around paddys day??

elsy wrote: »

Ive just started this too like you CeNedra having 2 babies within 2 and half years has taking its toll on the owl figure. Mumontherun can I ask where you got the cuffed tracksuit bottoms ive been looking for these and can only find mens. Goodluck everyone hopefully by the summer we'll all be well able for nice summer evening runs!

I spotted some ladies ones in Dunnes yesterday