C25K programme - any help?

1940sGal

I've lost some weight recently and have really upped my fitness from what it was. But where running's concerned I've never really been too keen because when I try it I'm a bit crap and it puts me off.

I need to build up my endurance though as I'm planning on applying for the RAF. I need to run 2.4km on a treadmill in under 13m 47seconds. Though obviously I want to do it in a far better time than that, as good as possible really.

I've heard the C25k programme is quite good for helping to build up your endurance. Has anyone here tried it and gone from pants to, well, the complete opposite?

Or should I just be going out there and running for as long as possible until I get better instead of working in intervals?

I'm 30 now, and I can run the 2.4km in about 17-18 minutes. So a lot of work but I'm willing to put the effort in (not only for the RAF but it will help with the rest of my weight loss journey too).

Anyone here done it and seen a vast improvement?

flissh

yes, i did!

I did the c25k, and at the end was running 5k a couple of times a week, going to the gym for body pump playing a lot of badminton. I got a foot injury after walking coast to coast and it all went down hill :-(

Have now taken up cycling, foot is finally getting better after 22 months and feel like i am getting some fitness back. (Did the London to brighton cycle ride this month)

I say go for it. As you get fitter incorporate other fitness routines. We've only got one body and one life and it has to be better to be even a bit fitter.

Good luck with it.

1940sGal

Well I did my Week 1 Day 2 run today. I'm really getting in to it. I enjoyed today despite feeling wheezy from hayfever. That's the only problem with summer, I want to run outside but then my hayfever just floors me afterwards

I got a great C25K app too, which beeps everytime you need to run/walk. And with my music playing too time just flies by.

flissh

There is a long C25K thread on the health and beauty section. :-)

natbags

would love to know the app you have - i had the one with dreadful music and a man with a very drooowwwnnnny voice! so I'd love one that I could use my own music with

Fluff15

I do C25K (NHS podcasts) and love it. I used to long distance run last year, but things changed and I stopped. I've now started running again with it, and it's so helpful in helping me gain my endurance.

If I were you, I'd do the c25k to get your stamina and endurance levels higher, then once that's completed purchase the runkeeper app. It uses GPS to track your distance and pace, which will be a good visual aid to help improve your speed.

Good luck

Edit: the C25K podcasts from the NHS have a lovely lady voice, no droney old man and the music to run to is good also!

Scale_Rule

When you get through those check out the NHS 5K+ version. These will get you running for 40-50 minutes at a decent pace.

Idiophreak

Fluff15 wrote: »

If I were you, I'd do the c25k to get your stamina and endurance levels higher, then once that's completed purchase the runkeeper app. It uses GPS to track your distance and pace, which will be a good visual aid to help improve your speed.

In the spirit of MSE, although I've never used Runkeeper, I'm instinctively concerned by the word "purchase" here - I use Strava...it's free and has a massive community backing

Plenty of people on here have had success using the C25K program - but I've always been a little nervous of anything that involves run-walk-run.

I started by just running as slowly as I could for as far as possible - then walking back and gradually walked less and less to get back - then I found a longer course and repeated.