Anyone else nearer the beginning than the end of Couch25K?

[Annner]

[Shyly enters room full of skinny and fit Mumsnetters]

'cos I did W1run1 today and could use some company!

It seemed fun, and I'm glad to have lost half a stone first and to have practised for a couple of months on my rebounder first.

Next run on Sunday!

Anyone else at the start of it all and wondering how on earth they are going to be running all that way in such a short time?

[malfoy]

oooh! I'll join you. I haven't started but have been thinking about it.

[malfoy]

I am not fit and have always hated running.

[JackBauer]

Can I sneak in? I have just done my 5k and was where you were 10 weeks ago (aka bricking it)

The first run was the hardest thing, by a longshot, running, in public, where people could see me and maybe point and laugh, and where my full size 20 (ish) v overweight figure woudl plod round the streets near my mums frightening babies/freaking out dogs.
I actually asked her to call the doc when I got back as I thought I was having a heart attack. After 6 minutes of running

In 10 weeks I had one snarky comment of some lad at a bus-stop saying
'You'll have to run faster than than to get anywhere'
'At least I'm running, and not sitting on my arse waiting for the bus' I gasped replied
And his mates laughed, and said 'she got you!'

Don't worry about speed, or distance, just plod, I am soooo slow, but I don't care anymore, and everyone I go past returns greetings and smiles.

Once I got the fear out of my system (ffs, I did my first 2 runs at my mums, where no-one knows me!) I found it a lot easier!
(I amm not skinny, but a bit fitter!)

Sorry, but I am so chuffed at having actually done it, every time you go up a 'level' you will feel yourself coping better, it's really motivating to be able to actually see how you are getting better.

Will fuck off now, sorry for waffling, but well done!

[Annner]

Oh, fantastic. I wouldn't class myself as fit, either. It's taken me a while (a month!) to get from "thinking about it" to getting out the door and doing it.

It wasn't as hard as I thought that it would be, although I can see how Robeeert starts to grate after a while. Nobody shouted "get the hippo off the streets" at me, either.

All the details of the podcasts are on the main Couch25k thread - where they have all progressed to electronic gadgetery for their trainers.

It didn't feel at all like the horrors of running at school - which I hated, because I was small, had huge norks and always felt that I was there to make the other girls feel better about themselves

[Annner]

Ooh, thanks JB. I'm glad that you mentione that nobody cares. The number of people who smiled encouragingly at me, even when I was on the walking bits, was amazing. I suppose that they weren't to know that I hadn't just finished a half marathon.

[JackBauer]

Exactly Annner, if I am walking after a 5 min run I am the same colour as if I am walking after a 25 min run, how are they to know!

I will warn you that as the runs get longer and you are left alone with rawbs fucking awful 'interesting' taste in music you may want to invest in a stopwatch so you can tiem yourself...and some decent music
(I don;t have an ipod, or nikes, so can't join in the geekery on teh nike+...)

[malfoy]

Hi again,

1. what do I need to wear? I am thinking sports bra, Tshirt, jogging bottoms, regular trainers.

1. I don't have an MP3 player/ Ipod or personal stereo thing. Do I need one?

TIA.

[Annner]

Definitely a good sports bra - unless you want to get smacked in the face by a high-swinging nork Or is that just me?

The whole running shoes thing befuddles me, what with the talk of over pronating, rolling and gawd knows what else.
I bought some reduced and cheap ones online and figured that if they are problematic at least I'll know what type not to get next time. Didn't want to fork out a fortune and then not get beyond week 2. Which is quite a long-winded way of saying that your trainers will probably fine to start out with!

You don't need to listen to Rawbert, but as he tells you when to start running and when to walk, I found it easy to follow. Otherwise, as Jack says, you can just use a stopwatch and time yourself. The instructions of when to run and when to walk each week are here

Week 1 Run 2 is tomorrow morning...

[JackBauer]

Deffo sports bra, regular trainers depend on if they are old or not, I have new special feck off expensive ones as I don't own any others but am aware old trainers can make your calves etc hurt if they have no cushioning left. But ok for first run.

Only need stereo if you want to do couch potato with podcast blokey telling you when to runa dn stop, otherwise read plannhere and use a watch. I used my phone for first few runs and then bought a ten quid MP3 from tesco, but I find it easier to run to music.

WRT 'on top' clothes, whatever you feel comfy in.

[Annner]

OOh! Jack and I are echoing each other here...

[LolaLadybird]

Hi there - think I'll join you. I started running regularly in the spring but fizzled out after a few weeks. Part of the problem was that the programme I was following suddenly really ramped up the running time and I just struggled and it stopped being fun.

I'm taking part in a team triathlon tomorrow (before you start to be impressed, I am doing the swim which only involves swimming 16 lengths) so hoping that being surrounded by all those athletic types will inspire me to get fitter (the down side of being the swimmer is that I will have to hang around with the super-athletes with my overweight non-athletic form clad in nothing but a bit of lycra and some swim goggles!).

[malfoy]

Thanks! ok, I will consider getting a stereo as I was wondering how I was going to work out the 60 seconds running/ 90 seconds walking, etc.

Re norks, I got myself fitted at Rigby and Peller today. I am a 34F so a good bra is an absolute necessity.

Annner, have a good run tomorrow.

[JackBauer]

Doo doo doo doo

Good luck tomorrow Lola and Annner!

[Annner]

Taa a lot! Im a 34G (this is like playing top trumps, isn't it......)

Excellent to have two beginning friends! Good luck with your swim, Lola.

Jack, you are our inspiration. Maybe one day I'll be running 5K. No pressure, then!

[malfoy]

Ha, ha! that is "trumping" me.

I am going to start on Monday morning.

[Annner]

Marvellous. We're off

[malfoy]

so did you go running today? I had a dream where I was running. Does that count?

[LolaLadybird]

After my swim today, I ran from the pool to the transition area (about 150m) in order to 'tag' my relay team-mate - if dreaming about running counts then so must that! Oh, and I had to do it in my swimming cossie .... the shame!!

[LolaLadybird]

Planning to do my first run tomorrow as long as DH gets home from work at a civilised hour.

[malfoy]

I am still thinking dreaming about running.

[Annner]

Did it! Meant to get on earlier, but I've been trying to scale our ironing mountain this evening.

I survived. It was a bit harder this time, and my legs were not terribly impressed once I got going, but I did do it faster than last time without having set out with that intention. I hadn't ached after the first run, but my joints squeaked a bit today.

I followed the same route, so I could see where I was in relation to Friday when Rawb started yapping.

I'm not going to it on an empty stomach again. My batteries were distinctly flat by the time I got in.

Off to bed now! Good luck tomorrow, Malfoy and Lola. I wonder whether I will dream of flying along the road. Or just crash out. It was a good start to the day, and I could feel the smugometer ricocheting off the scale, but you should have seen the short work that I made of the bowl of Shreddies that I demolished on my return.

Running in my swimming costume would be one of my worst nightmares. One more at this level, and then week 2. Gulp.

[Cataline]

Hi, Can I join you?

I started the couch to 5k last week and then found you on here this morning!

I'm only on wk 1 and did my second run yesterday. I desperately need a sports bra though - have been using a slightly too small well fitting bra with the straps tightened! Any recommendations? I'm just outside of Newcastle so have most major retailers at my disposal!

[LolaLadybird]

I think I bought my current sports bra from M&S and it's pretty good. Figleaves also v good - I think they do free returns so you can try various different brands (Shock Absorber very good).

So, who's been running this week?? Despite my brave talk from last weekend I didn't make it out (altho' in my defence I played squash instead of a run on Tues). However, a friend and I have decided to sign up for another team triathlon at the end of September, only this time I'm planning to swim and run 4 miles which will need me to start training NOW!

[Annner]

Hi all! I haven't been around, as it's been rather a heavy week.

Welcome aboard Cataline! I'd really recommend the Shock Absorber bra. If you're within striking distance of Portsmouth, there is a Playtex shop in Gunwharf that does them for £18 (went there on Saturday). Otherwise (she said, rudely assuming that you are over a D cup!) try Shock Absorber Just seen that you are in Newcastle - so nowhere near Portsmouth! Shock Absorber do loads of styles, but only the Level 4 is any good for anyone with larger boobs who wants to run without them smacking her in the face.

I did Week 2, run 2 this evening, and I suspect that my honeymoon may soon be over. The last 90 seconds seemed to last for a very long time. Ho hum. It definitely gives me a good buzz and a bit of a high when I get home, though.

Malfoy, how did you get one?
Lola, I am totally in awe of anyone fit enough to play squash.

Week 2 ends on Tuesday, here.

[LolaLadybird]

Well, when I say 'playing squash' - it's actually beginners coaching with 4 or 5 of us on one court with the instructor so whilst there are some knackering rallys, the running around is fairly well spaced out!

It has occurred to me that between triathlon and squash talk, I may be sounding like a v fit person. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth - I am fairly lardy and rather unfit, I just talk a good talk!!