Last week I mentioned that I’d started learning how to run again, the way i’m doing it is through the Couch to 5K programme. I knew I wanted to start running but was unsure of how to go about it, did I just go out and see what happened, or did I try and find a programme to follow? Luckily for me Gina of Fat Fit Fine recommended that I do the Couch to 5K programme, Gina started it earlier in the year and has completed it, and she had very good things to say about it.
Seeing as Couch to 5K came recommened, I decided to do the NHS programme, purely because I imagine it has been designed for those of us who haven’t run in a really long time and just can’t get up and run straight away. I downloaded the app on my phone which is the Change for Life Couch to 5K app, it’s free to download and all of the content is free too. You do have to sign up to the Change for Life website to be able to get the podcasts for weeks 2 – 9. One thing I love about the app is that you can listen to music and the app still continues, the voice on the app tells you what you need to do and when, but I find listening to music is very motivational.
I am running week 1 at the moment, and this is because I am repeating it. I completed it within my first week, but didn’t feel comfortable moving onto week 2 as I was still struggling a little with week 1. Week 1 consists of a 5 minute warm up walk, and then alternates between 60 seconds running and 90 seconds walking for 20 minutes before a 5 minute cool down walk. When I went for my first run I wasn’t able to complete all of the 60 seconds of running, I ran every one and a half. On my second run I managed to complete all of the running sections, but by the last coupe of runs I was so slow because I’d burned all of my energy early on. At the moment i’m still struggling to retain energy for the last couple of runs, but once I can complete all of the running sections without being ready to collapse on the ground then I’ll progress to week 2.
It will take me much longer than 9 weeks to get through the programme, but I’m not bothered about that I don’t have a time limit of when I need to be able to run by. I just want to develop my running and then possibly take part in one of my local park runs so that I can run in a different area. I’m currently running on the two country lanes near my house, one of which is quite hilly, and the other quite flat.
Have any of you tried the Couch to 5K programme, if not do you think you would ever try it?
