The Couch to 5k 2011 thread :0)

Well, I've spent a fortune on new trainers after a consultation and runnng on a treadmill to analyse pronation problems. This spurred me on to get out again today, and what a difference . I could not believe how much easier it was to jog with proper support.

IloveTiffany - have you got good shoes? Only ask because I injured my ankle last year because of poor fitting, unsupportive shoes. It might be worth investigating.

Dobby I felt the same way on day 2 too. Like you, this is my first attempt at running. I did day 3 yesterday and it don't feel quite so bad. I'm going to act on advice from above and repeat this sequence a couple of more times before attempting week 2 and the longer runs. Keep going!!

remember it's jogging that you are doing, not running, dobby. i would say aim to complete the minute, at whatever pace is necessary to do that, so if you are finding it tough for the last 20 secs, slow right down from the start. and look at it this way, at least now you know that exercise is needed, iykwim? fwiw i remember the first time i did c25k my lungs were absolutely burning on those minutes, and i was BEGGING my (obnoxiously fit) pal to tell me that the stopwatch said 60.

Dobby, if you have a cold it is an uphill struggle. I also find it is harder when it is very cold and you can feel the cold air as you breathe. Take it easy and wait for the cold to pass before you go out again.

Dobby, slow down. Push it too hard and you'll injure yourself or fail at your run and give up.

Slow it right down. Complete your runs. If you have a means of measuring distance, over the weeks, you'll find you're going faster when it feels like you're putting in the same effort.

"Comfortably uncomfortable" is what I go for pace-wise.

Dobby - yes a cold can affect your breathing so too can cold air. Don't give up on it yet. I am a novice like you, but someone with more experience will be along to give you better support!

for some reason my hip and knee on my right side are sore?? ankle too....what am i doing wrong?

Dobby,just did third run of week 1 tonight. was worst one yet. so wish i'd shifted some weight,feel so heavy!

Beligerantghoul, join me tomorrow on a wii fit session its frustrating seeing everyone else get started and not being able to join in isn't it?

Marniesmummy, yes, wii fit is good, I found. As long as you can motivate yourself to do it. I used it about 3 times a week lasst summer and it was effective on building strength especially. On the wii fit programme there are a set of muscle excercises that I found to be really effective. The aerobic excercises were a bit hit and miss, and can easily become very monotonous. Yoga probably quite good, though I dont like yoga .

I have got a personal training game which i got for christmas, that I haven't tried yet, so I am going to give that a go. I think the problem with Wii is that it can get boring to do the same stuff over and over again, and the key is probably to vary the games you do on it so it doesn't become monotonous.

There's loads of different games you can get for it though and it is a good option for excercising at home, I think.

I haven't managed to buy any trainers yet.
:( I tried at the weekend but the two places I tried were woefully understaffed and in the end I gave up.

I really want to get started but all I have is Converse and I don't think that would be a good idea.

Maybe I could do it on Wii-Fit a couple of times to get something started?

pavements were fine, oddly enough, it was just teeny weeny patches of black ice on the roads that i was crossing. i have (fake) yaktrax, but they'd be no use because i'd be so unsteady on them on normal ground. paid a blimmin' fortune for them as well, and they just don't seem to be half as good as real yaktrax. bah. will see what friday's weather brings, in any case...

I agree Dobby, I don't think about it, I just try to do it otherwise I just start dreading it.

Aitch - Go steady! Can you run in the road (obviously get loads of high visibilty gear on first, I know Decathalon do a vest for £4 that no-one'll miss you in .) Or maybe just postpone for a day or two longer till the ice is gone? Nothing'd put me off doing C25K faster than an icy fall.

Geraldineyounotsoluckygoat - Frustrating for you. I admire you for doing some WiiFit instead though! I'm thinking of getting a Wiifit, does it actually do what it says on the tin? Can you get fit by using it for a reasonable length of time (say 30 mins), three times a week?

Harumph. My bra hasn't arrived yet. So think tomorrow I am going to do wii fit, as I promised myself I would start tomorrow :( Well done everyone, reading all your posts is making me feel inspired to get going myself!

Thanks for the advice - think I'll do as you suggested on Friday and try the next step on Sunday.

I would do one more time if I were you (but not be tempted to repeat the whole week, otherwise you will just keep avoiding stretching yourself.

Could you not just repeat week one? I think that's what Dobby has said she is doing. If you consolidate it then move on?

So ... did day 3 today and seemed to be ok - better than day 2. Have to say I'm dreading week 2 and upping the time for running. Just beginning to feel comfortable/able to manage 1 min of running without feeling sick . Do you think it would be ok to do one more time at 1 min of running etc before embarking on week 2 or is that just defeating the object of following the plan?
Lie Yorkshire, the endorphins have kicked in too so feeling quite pleased with myself!!

Good luck to those who have a run to do today.

did the first run today, all fine except that it was really icy and i slipped a few times. hmm. this may curtail my plans, i cannot afford to hurt myself.

Not too bad after yesterday! I felt so good for starting, I was dreading the actual start of this process!!

I do feel for those of you with hills. Round here it is essentially flat. But I do feel compelled to run in the dark at the moment!

Dobby, how did your run go today? Went out on my second this morning in the rain! Had to take dd2 in the buggy but at least it meant she's now having a lovely long nap.

Endorphins kicking in now and feeling good and desperatly trying not to attack the tub of leftover celebrations in the kitchen :o

Well, it didn't kill me!

It's very hilly where I live so I was trying to sort it so that I'd be doing my runs on the level, I ended up doing the last three runs downhill.

I think on my next run I'll do the first 3 uphill (unfortunately that's definitely gonna kill me, it being pretty much the North face of the Eiger). I guess it is uphill running that I need help with. So run 2 is going to be harder.

One thing I did notice is that having music to walk to means that it's hard to get lazy (which I think I'm very guilty of doing).

Hey ho!
Run one done. My right calf aches for some reason.
Run 2 on friday!

How did your run go SevenAgainstThebes?

Go for it tomorrow MacLover!