Starting C25K 19/11

[golemmings]

Anyone want to join me? It means we should start 2012 being able to run 5k - now there's an incentive to stick with it.

[GypsyMoth]

Good luck!

I love c25k but am currently injured!

[ZZMum]

OK I will join you - am still doing W4 for the 3rd week so am sure you will catch me up soon - but could do with some one to share the pain and joy with! off again tonight to see if I can crack it! Why are you starting next week and not today?!!

[MadamTwoSwords]

I started on Friday (11th) so will join in.

Did W1R2 yesterday and it was easier than R1 so am hoping it stays that way and gets easier!

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

Erm.... Have been giving the whole idea a lot of thought but I'm a bit scared..... Never run before.... Like the idea of getting away from everyone 3 times a week learning to run but I'm not at all fit. Whatdya think? What do I need?

[golemmings]

Fantastic! Company! Glad there are other nutters prepared to run through the winter.

Sorry you can't join us Sara.

Glad its getting easier Madam. I look forward to getting that far!

Tidy - everybody has to start somewhere so don't worry that you're new to it. You'll need a pair of trainers that won't kill your feet or your knees, leggings / jogger bottoms or similar and a top. I tend to wear a thermal base layer which keeps you warm enough through the walking bits but means you don't get too hot when you run. Appropriate layers is a matter of trial and error and personal choice. This time of year its worth running in something reflective if you're out on the roads too.

. You will also need a copy of the c25k programme. As a minimum you'll need a watch to time the intervals and a note of how long you need to run/walkj

You can download podcasts which tell you what to do when but you have to put up with someone else's cheesy pmusic choice or if you have a smart phone you can download an app and use your own music. Last time I did it I used Robert Ellery's podcast on my ipod. This time I'm trying out a couple of apps on my phone.

Zz. Wow you're doing well to be halfway through already. My only reason for starting next weekend is because I have a small DS and I promised DH that I wouldn't run before my 6 week check. DS is 6 weeks on Thursday and whilst I can't get an appointment until a week tomorrow, I can't see anything coming up in the check which would stop me running.

[AlfalfaMum]

I've been doing this since um.. before Easter, but have been stuck on week 6 since July. You will all atch up to me in no time :o
I'm quite happy about being able to run for 20 minutes without stopping, but would like to run a 6k mini marathon in the Spring.

I use Robert Ullrey's podcasts, too.
I got a very, very cheap handy armband iphone holder on ebay.

Musttidyup, you also need a sports bra. I started from total unfitness, and I just did it at my own pace, for example it took me several attempts to complete w1d1, and I didn't move on until I felt ready. This approach worked for me for the first few months (I was definitely getting fit, but not injuring myself), but I've got a bit lazy now I think :)

[cloudydays]

I'd like to join you please, though I'm a little intimidated by golemmings - starting off 6 weeks postnatal?! You're a superstar! At that point I was still using my 'I just had a baby' excuse to get DH to go across the street to the shop for me :)

Which is why, 2 years on, I need to sort myself out. I plan to start on Wednesday.

[golemmings]

Welcome alfa and cloudy. Good point on the sports bra alfa. I seem to remember after dd was born I used 2 sports bras to get enough support. I was still feeding though.

Cloudy, don't be intimidated. Pre children I used to be quite fit but between dd and DS (2 years) I got lazy and I've put on a stone and a half which I want rid of. I'd also like to get back to the point if eating what I like without putting any weight on. PLUS, like Tidy, the idea of 3x half an hour to myself every week is even more appealing with 2 kids!

I can't wait to start. I did an informal run last week - I was late for bell ringing practice so I ran half way there. We live in a small village so it was probably only about 30 seconds. It felt great until I ran out of oxygen! Mind you I still got up the tower less breathless than walking up at 8 months pregnant.

[LittleBarnOwl]

Hi, I completed W2R1 last night, one of the runs was up a huge steep hill too, felt great when I finished. I even punched the air in triumph

I'm determined to get past week 9.....

[ZZMum]

Golemmings - wow admire you for starting to exercise so soon - at least you will not be like me trying to lose baby weight when baby is actually .... 12 !!

Went out this morning and almost did a mile .. if you include the 5 stops to pick up lungs from street where I had vomited them out, then I did a mile.. am just so not meant to be a runner but I think it is best exercise for me as so convenient - drop kids off and run for 30 mins and home before had any rational thoughts about not exercising...

I am using C25K with a wide variety of crap tunes from the 80s to motivate me - running to lust for life and various Wham tunes does have its uplifting moments!

I will succeed this time - WK4 and 5 are my problems - as I just talk myself out of running for more than 3 minutes .. and stop - need to overcome the inner voice telling me I am not a runner!!

[brighthair]

I am doing my own kind of C25K.... having not downloaded the podcasts. Sometimes I think I should be about 4 stone lighter
Today - walked 0.5 mile to the arena, rode horse 35 mins, walked 0.5 mile back, mucked out. Went to the gym, did 3k on the treadmill (10 mins walk warm up, 30 secs running, 90 walking, repeated), 20 mins x trainer plus all my weights and resistance work
V tired now!

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

Ok. Have downloaded app, will get bra and trainers on fri -how much will shoes set me back? I've got a pair of Nike air trainers will they do?

[AlfalfaMum]

I'd just use the trainers you have to begin with, then after a few weeks you could reward yourself with a nice new pair of Asics gel trainers. That's what I did anyway :o
I think I got mine for about £40 in a sale.

[cloudydays]

W1R1 done. :) Not bad at all.

[golemmings]

Well done cloudy!

DS is 6weeks old today. I am off to my dad's today until Sunday. The first thing I packed was my running kit :0

[ZZMum]

have done 3 runs this week all with varying degrees of success but I am improving! Good luck with first one this week GoLemmings!

[ContinentalKat]

I did W1R1 this morning and I am so pleased with myself, especially as my partner had to go away for a week and I started on my own!
I can already feel my legs, though, and might not be able to navigate stairs tomorrow...

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

W1R1 done! Was fine for now but just wait until the morning I'm so pleased with myself

[golemmings]

I need to go out and do it. I had almost forgotten I was supposed to be starting today. It looks horribly dark outside but DH is cooking tea and dd is asleep on my lap (or at least I assume she's asleep, she doesn't seem to have noticed that mumsnet has replaced ITNG on the laptop) so going now isn't really practicable. I'll go when we've put the kids to bed. At least I'm at my dad's and he lives in town so there's lots of road with street lights. At home running round the village involves a very small circuit which passes ythe chippy, 2 chineses, the curry house and the shop which is distracting and hungry making...

[golemmings]

Yay!! Done it. Spent the last few days planning a funeral so it was fabulous to get out and clear my head. A whole half hour when I wasn't attached to the baby, managing a toddler or having to manage other family was pure bliss.

I'm using the rundouble app which looks really good, and tells you how far you get in each interval, so I know that runs 6 and 7 were slower than the others which were all remarkably consistent - (0.17km) and all to my choice of music. Pure magic!

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

Good work golemmings. Sorry for your loss .
ONe of the reasons I'm taking it up is to just get out and be alone for a few minutes...it's running or taking up smoking again so think running the best option..
That app sounds good. Im using Get Running but doesnt do the distance thing.
Do you use an arm strap for your iphone? Where do you put it? Mine was getting in the way and slipping.

[golemmings]

Good work ladies!

Tidy - My running trousers have fairly deep pockets so I stuffed my phone in there. I've never used an arm strap but I think Alfalfa does. I suspect it might be more comfortable than having it bouncing about in your pocket.

RunDouble is an android app; not sure whether there is an iphone variant. I downloaded several but this has other programmes built in, including 5k improvers, bridge to 10k and half marathon programmes which I figure means that it will last longer. You seem to need to pay for it by week 3 though so you get 2 weeks of playing with it before you have to commit $1.60 (whatever that is in sterling).

RunDouble maps everything too - with warmup/cooldown, run and walk intervals in different colours. Looking at today's run my runs and walks seem to cover the same distance. Either I walk really fast or I run really slowly... I suspect the latter!

[golemmings]

So how is everyone feeling today? My right knee is a bit sore but my muscles feel good. Looking forward to going out again tomorrow.

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

W1R2 done this morning. It was sooooo cold and damp and yuk. Found it harder than last one but once I got halfway it was fine. Kept doing some visualising myself in nice clothes :-)

[HamblesHandbag]

Hi, Can I join y'all?

Unfit (understatement) novice runner here and I was dead nervous before starting. I've just done W2R1 and it wasn't easy. I found I could do the 90 seconds runs, but needed longer to recover in between and had to pause the app a couple of times to carry on catching my breath. I also got a stitch a couple of times.

Golemmings, I like the sound of that app, I'm using Get Running on my iphone and I'm enjoying listening to music I wouldn't usually. Today's stand out track was Jumping Jumping by Destiny's Child perfect pace for me!

Whilst I found it hard, I'm surprisingly ok now, whereas last week I just collapsed on the couch and couldn't move!

Can I ask, at what point does it start to feel good running? Because, I'm still finding it torture unpleasant.