I have not run for YEARS. In the last 18 months I have lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise (walking), and, it would appear, breastfeeding. But I'm back at work, LO isn't drinking me dry any more, my diet is not all that it could be, and the weight is sneaking back on. I don't have the opportunity for long buggy walks with a gurgling baby to toddler groups and playparks, but I do try to cycle to work to get a bit of exercise, although probably not enough. A couple of friends do Park Run eack weekend and I'd love to join them, but at the moment I suspect it would be Park Huff and Puff before Collapsing rather than actually a RUN 
.
I'm planning to start a C25K plan on Monday next week, and would love some (virtual) run buddies until I feel brave / fit enough to run with real people as well. I've seen some positive comments about the plan on here, although I think I'm still a little 
about whether it is possible to progress like that through the weeks and actually get as far as a 5K. Still nothing ventured nothing gained.
I have running shoes somewhere at the back of the wardrobe, but might need to invest in some suitable clothing, and have a weekend of overindulgence lined up. So Monday is the day I think. First Monday of the month, and counting. I'll put a big ring around a late Sept Park Run on the calendar and start counting.....
Anyone care to join me?
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Anyone fancy starting Couch to 5K on Monday 5th Aug?
workatemylife · 30/07/2013 10:39
Hello! I don't suppose that despite your weekend of indulgence and the psychological thing of first Monday of the month, you fancy starting a little early and going out for W1R1 tomorrow, by any chance? I would love a virtual partner. Otherwise, I will only be a couple of runs ahead of you so I could be your pacemaker 
. If a sweaty unfit 40something limping round the block can actually be called a pacemaker, that is...
I posted on the other thread yesterday just after I had my first run in years (used to run 10K quite happily and have ahem, let myself go somewhat in recent years so am starting again). However, I don't like the app I used yesterday and have found a much better one so am going to repeat my first run tomorrow and start again.
It is sooooo possible to get to 5K in nine weeks. I am a lazy unfit good-for-nothing now, but when I used to go running, I was amazed at how quickly I went from barely being able to limp to the end of the street to actually running properly for 30 minutes. I have a short attention span and don't think I could have done it if I didn't see fairly quick results.
Am feeling quite enthusiastic about the whole thing now, and would like to get up to running 5K before the weather starts to get a bit rubbish.
Hello Lurking. I love the idea of running / limping with another self confessed sweaty unfit 40-something 
I'm away Friday, Saturday, Sunday, but I wonder if I can more or less catch you up. I could tweak a little to have a 6-day week rather than a 7-day week in week one if that doesn't wreck the plan? I might stick to it more if I'm running 'with' someone, give or take a day or so. And if you've done this kind of thing before and can vouch for it working, it all sounds a bit more positive too. I'll check in on the other main thread as well, but let's be virtual running partners. Hurray!
Which days do you plan to run? Same each week, or just three days as you can manage?
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Excellent, our team is growing! Looks like we'll all be starting at roughly the same time
Apps: I had downloaded the Get Running app, but realised when I went out yesterday that there is no audio, so I had to keep looking at my phone to know when to walk or run. That's why I decided to forget about yesterday and start again with something a bit more motivational.
I had a look online for "best running apps" and found one called Couch to 5K that was recommended in the Daily Telegraph, of all places. It cost £2 something, but it seems great: not only is there a voice barking RUN! and WALK! at you, but you can have your own playlist playing alongside and it calculates all kinds of information like speed, distance and who knows what else, and gives you lots of lovely graphs to map your progress.
I am aware that this is total overkill given that I'll be limping along sweatily for weeks, barely breaking out of a slow jog, but I do like gadgets and am figuring that this might inspire me to keep going
I think they do, yes, at least my posh £2 one does! All this appeals to my obsessive nature, although I fear it's a bit like my desperate need to buy new running vests and leggings (ie if I applied the same enthusism to actually keeping fit instead of buying all the right gear and the fancy apps, I probably wouldn't be in this desperately unfit situation to begin with...).
And hats off to all of you with DCs. I don't even have any children to use as an excuse for my sedentary lifestyle .
Tee hee. Right in the first post I suggested that I couldn't start till Monday because I needed to go and buy some gear. Like a couple of you I'm also working at home today, and I've ventured into the deep dark recesses of my drawers and located 2 pairs of leggings / running trousers and a couple of T-shirts. Even worse, one of the pairs of trousers still had the tags on from last time. No retail therapy or delaying tactics for me then, at least until I get fit and loose the excess pound-age.
I should probably have read more about this than I did. Is it a fitness thing or a weight loss thing, or a bit of both? Mainly I want to feel fitter and get to the point where I can run without looking like a decomposing blancmange, but if I lose a bit of weight that would be all the more worthwhile
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workatemylife -- it's mainly a fitness thing but a bit of weight loss would not go amiss.
Because I work from home and am (a) in my 40s and (b) inherently lazy, I'm scared of ending up a decrepit old hag several stone overweight and with aching joints. I am just feeling too guilty about not exercising to keep not exercising as I know it will all catch up with me one day...
I can already see it in my parents: my DF is super fit because he walks for 5 miles a day, every day. He looks really young, can run up several flights of stairs and doesn't have any problems with his hips, knees or anything else that loads of people get in their 70s. My DM, on the other hand, refuses to do any exercise and doesn't walk anywhere. She is beginning to struggle to climb stairs, gets out of breath really easily and has a lot of back pain. Eek! I do not want that to be me.
Also, since I started lurking working from home I have put on at least a stone, probably two, and eat far too much cake all day. I am still a size 14 so just about getting away with it, but not exactly deliriously happy when I look in the mirror, that's for sure ...
Am laughing at how we are all obsessed with buying the correct gear to run in . If only the actual running bit were that easy ...
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