The Couch to 5k 2011 thread :0)

You've all been busy!

I'm going out this morning, first time this year. Going to see if I can do a week 9 after a month off. I'm taking Laura from the NHS instead of Rawbert. Hope he won't mind :)

Can I join? Just signed up for Race For Life in June. I have never done anything like this before, so will be reading eagerly for tips!

Thanks Cubscout, yes. It was fine, did it all, although my running trousers kept sliding down. They are made of like swimming costume material and they kept trying to skid off!!!!

So, I'm onto week 5 on Sunday and I think that is 3x 5mins. I think that will be ok. Then it's the 8 mins, then it's the big 2 0.
< trembles >

Wow, everyone is doing really well and good luck dickcheese for your first run.

I did W5 run 1 tonight and managed 3x 5 min runs so feeling very very good. However, too scared to go up to the 8 min run next so I'm going to repeat run 1 again then do run 2 twice before attemtping the 20 min run on run 3....eeek I'm not ready!

With all the running I've got less time to post though. Rather - have you gone? Tell us how it went.

Well done to everyone who has been out. It is perishing cold here but lots of runners were out and about.

I have this for my MP3. It's waterproof and I really use it for swimming, but it's small and light, and if it gets trashed it's not the end of the world. Much cheaper on Amazon too.

Alas I forgot to charge said aquabeat so I had just had "hi, I am a 42 year old guy in Northern California" when the bloody thing died!!! I had to run with just mu thoughts (also making a hell of a wheezy racket!) and did 2 miles in 25 mins! Was thrilled. Did not stop though felt like it. I was very tired but just kept pushing til the end. Huge sense of achievement but FREEZING cold and needing multiple wees afterwards. Week 6 next week then I am back to running with music.

Stay warm everyone and keep on running.

on week 2 using nhs podcast we get a tip about breathing......i dont understand it.....breath out when left foot hits ground and count 4???

how does everyone 'breath'?

i attempted it and it was better,but dont feel its right iykwim?

Rather - that's good going on the distance (and completing w4!) by the time were running the last few weeks I bet you'll easily be ticking off 5k.

Tiffany - Not good for your iPhone. Being the fashion guru that I am I just stick my phone in my pocket and clunk all the way round.

So, I'm back having completed w3r2! Fantastic! My calf didn't like it (despite my dynamic warm up, followed by the 5 minute walk) but it didn't conk out on me!
I did the runs with no problem but I felt like I had my speed limited by my calf (mybe just worrying about it stopped me feeling out of breath!).

Much happier now!

Tiffany - what a shame. DH got me an arm band thing for my iPhone but I don't really like it.

Just in a happy haze having done W4R3 so a day off tomorrow before the dreaded Week5.

I went 2.3 miles today according to gps but it will be about 3 miles for 5K and that's all running.
Thud (faints)

w2r2 was last night...and i dropped my iphone and smashed screen!! that was because i had gloves on. it still works,but any mp3 recomendations??? anything i can put the nhs podcast on??

Go Marnie!!

LIZS - don't give up!! What I'm thinking you need is some Fame / Flashdance style legwarmers?!!!!!!!!??!!!!! Today wasn't the day. But don't give up!

I have just got changed and am just Contemplating Going.

Thanks everyone for your support, I think I could fairly easily not bother going out again.

However, ... tonights the night. I'll definitely post once I've got back in!

Dickcheese, can I also suggest taking your runs slowly. It's about keeping going to the end of the length of time not speed or distance covered. (Well, not for at least the first 3 weeks anyway!).

Geraldine, I love Lidl too. On getting my calf better I followed Maclover's tip (as well as not running for a full 7 days) and used 'Wood Lock'. You get if from Chinese Medicine shops. It's very menthol-y, but mine was a liquid (rather than a balm which I think Maclover's was) and in a tall clear glass bottle. I put it on twice a day, once before walking to school and I really felt that doing some gentle exercise (like walking) once it was on was doing something good. I also put it on before bed (but that's cos I thought it smelt lovely - evidently I'm a menthol freak).

I'll definitely use it again should I be unfortunate enough to get a similar injury.

Tonight I'm gonna warm up like crazy and hope I do enough of everything to keep myself free of injury!

Midtowner, tell us more, I too am having great fun running vicariously courtesy of your good self! Are you in the right kit? Is everyone else looking beautful in the latest correct gear? How do you feel compared to them (deopending on your answer to the first question)? I look like an idiot when I run, tracksuit bottoms that are a bit on the bobbly side because they are so aged, a T-shirt who's next stop wil be the bin and a jacket that I don't mind being covered in sweat (so clearly is also desperately unattractive!). Thus the dark is my friend .

As soon as I graduate on week 9 I'll get some better gear.
Right!
I'm off to start dinner so that I can crack on with my run as soon as DP walks through the door.

Just tried wk2r3 and came back after 3rd repetition - 5mins + early. Both claves felt tight and it was soo cold, the wind more than just the air temperature. Guess will have to repeat :( . My midweek route is more hilly than the Sunday one and just can't seem to get past the mid point of the run .

Doing Week4Run3 tonight, well when it gets dark. I need to work out a longer route so that I can do the 5 min cool down, because I'm skipping it.

I also know that I'm not near running 20 mins which for me is next Friday/Saturday. My friend runs half marathons and says you have to get in the zone and Just not stop. She says she gets tired but pushes through that. She doesn't listen to music or anything because she is zoning! I will give the 20 a go but am not over/ at all confident!

Will let you know how my run goes later

Oh yeah, definitely have a wee!

Dickcheese, dont push yourself hard the first time, there is plenty of time to speed it up.
Stretch before and after. Good luck

Dobby dont be scared about week two...it isnt too bad, hard but not impossible compared to week one. Also, yes your energy levels could be up more in the daytime, BUT I bet it's also down to you getting fitter - YAYYYYY!

I have definitely pulled a muscle in the back of my left leg. Went to aqua aerobics last night and made it worse - what an idiot...
Marniesmummy, what did you do to get yours better?

On a plus note, we had the hardcore instructor for aqua aerobics last night, and for the first time ever I did not feel traumatised during the session at any point.....definitely fitter than I was

Yes Dickcheese... Go to the loo before you leave

Hello all! Just back from W3R2 and it is positively balmy compared to earlier in the week . I actually worked up a bit of a sweat by the time I got home.

Welcome dickcheese. I second dobby's suggestion of a hat and gloves. And dobby, good to see you again!

Ratherbe and Geraldine, yup. Lots of impossibly skinny well groomed facelifted people in the Park. There is a path by the river but it's been too cold, icy and windy to try it.

Peeks in.
Hello all, I'm starting this tomorrow. I'm ok fit I think, never been a great runner though, but I owe it myself to give this a try.

Have the NHS one on my ipod. Trainers check, sports bra check, Any tips??

OMG Midtowner, do you get people shouting about "Cowfee" and having sort of loud shouty banter in the style of Buddy from Cake Boss?as you run along, do you have to run through those plumes of steam? And when you run in Central Park, are there lots of very glam ladies in coordinating tracksuits barely breaking a sweat as they jog along?? Please say yes, I, like Crockpot, also have a vision... I really am loving the whole idea!!

Right, my own injection of excitement for the day - Im off to Lidl.....

Is there a route near the UN building next to the river MT?

I expect Central Park is alive with the sound of runners at the weekend! We are going to NY later this year, last time we went we took DC to the Central Park zoo - they just adored the sea lions! My bro and his family live in central Tokyo at the moment and there people run round the Emperor's Palace, there's a pathway, but being Japanese, they all run in the same direction! All very orderly. Every time we have been to Tokyo it's been so incredibly humid, I cannot imagine running in those conditions!

On my off day yesterday I gave myself a little test to see if I could run round our block, nothing exciting but there is absolutely no way that I could have done that before we started, DH timed me and it took just under 5 mins. So I was really pleased.It was however odd not having my music blaring in my ears, I could actually hear my puffing and panting - lawks, I am NOISY!!

Ha ha ha ha, hardcore. DH is still laughing at the idea (he did 9 miles in the snow yesterday). Equally ha ha ha ha to glamorous! And yes, I do sometimes run in Central Park at weekends - I live about 20 mins walk away, so I don't have time in the mornings to get there and back. I run along First Avenue past the United Nations .

Welcome TMB!

Can I join in? I've just downloaded the nhs podcasts, my ipod is charged and ready to go, I just need some trainers. The ones I've got were £6 from Asda so prob not the most suitable footwear...may nip to Meadowhall at the weekend and summon up the courage to go into the running shop there

MM- try not to feel too bad, just think that at least you are doing the runs, just a few weeks ago we were on the couch. If it helps I'm a week behind too as I missed a few days last week. Remember it's not a race, do it at your own pace and if you don't make it out then don't feel guilty about it. Just keep plodding