C25k - just did my first run!!!

Hello. In a moment of madness I just bought myself some running trainers so now I guess I'm going to have to start running or something.

Anyway,was hoping I can hang out with you guys and try and look a bit like I know what I'm doing. I have never run before and feel a little bit sick just thinking about it. Oh dear

Hi NBLSB

I was also debating where to start in the program after my break. I opted for picking up where I left off but dropping the pace right down. I decided that I could always stop and go back to an easier run if I struggled but it was fine. I had kept up some exercise in those weeks though as I had been swimming twice a week.

My aim this year is to compete in a Triathlon, so I need to be able to run at least 5K by June.

I cycle a lot so have a reasonable amount of fitness, but I have never been able to run. I started cycling two years ago and had very little cardio vascular fitness, then 18 months ago I had a change in my asthma medicine that for the first time in my life means my exercise induced asthma is more or less under control (I am not quite 100% symptomless, but would say I am about 90-95%).

Before that I could not run more than 200 m without feeling like I was suffocating, so I really am a running novice.

Also, I have slightly hyper mobile joints, so I need to build up strength and resistance quite carefully to avoid injury.

hello all, i have just started this today, i did it about four years ago and ran race for life with a injury then packed in, started again in January and my trainers were wrecked so saved for some decent ones which i got yesterday so just took dd out with me and we did run one week 2, i am now laying on my bed feeling smug but my god am i unfit!!! it does work though! my aim is to do the park run without keeling over or stopping

Hello Thistledew. You sound like you've been in the wars a bit. Well done for carrying on. I'm hoping to restart after a week off with illness - maybe tomorrow, although I might leave it until Monday just for one extra day to make sure I'm totally well again. I had done wk 2 so I'm now debating whether to try wk 3 despite the break or redo a wk 2 run and see how it goes.

Are you looking for fitness mainly or do you have any specific goals in mind? I'm doing Race for Life in May as well as wanting to get fit.

Hello, can I join?

I started C25K in January, but due to the snow and ice it took me two weeks to complete week one. I then managed to complete the three runs in week three within a week and felt I was starting to make progress.

I then fell off my bike, straining the tendons in my knee, twisting my pelvis into a spasm and removing various bits of skin from myself. I wasn't able to walk properly through February, let alone thinking about running.

I started running again last weekend, and thought I would give it a go to pick up at week 3. I did the first run really slowly but I was really pleased that it felt ok. I have just done day one of week 4 today.

I did find that to start with I was probably going a bit too fast, and have now settled on a pace that I feel I can keep going in.

I had fun today on my run- a woman entered the park about 40 yards in front of me; I didn't pick up my pace but still managed to catch and pass her within about 200 yards.

I felt like that for ages, until about week 5- then I felt like a proper runner! It does move on all of a sudden but it's psychological rather than physical.

Ah ha! I wondered if it was you. We're like the Masons with their funny handshakes....

Flossy, that doesn't sound good. You poor thing. I really hope it sorts itself out soon.

I don't quite know what's wrong with me. Started off as cold/cough symptoms but then moved onto exhaustion, weaknes, shaky type legs, loose bowels.... My chest is a bit odd from time to time and I've had the occasional head spin too. Nice. Really annoying jus as I'm starting out trying to get fit! I keep reading all those NHS C25k blogs and feeling frustrated and envious, then daunted cos I feel so far off being a le to do it again. Grrr.

I snuck a sly 'DH' into my blog today thinking you might see it

I did W9R2 today and it was awful. Ever have those days when you just don't enjoy it? That was me today. But only one more to go now and then I've done it! So Saturday morning I will go for my last C25K run. I'm looking forward to it, in fact I'm more worried about the NCT sale that I'm going to afterwards!

I might buy myself some new running gear to celebrate.

Eau I am. I've only posted a couple of times as I haven't bn running as I'm still not well but I'm reading it religiously to get a vicarious fix . I've noticed a few people using mn abbreviations like dh, dd, so unless they are in use elsewhere I'm guessing there are a few other mnetters on it too. Are you at graduation yet?

Flossy how are your shins now?

Are there any other people out there still keeping up with the program?

NHS forum, not form.

Ooh, are you on the NHS form too?

flossy, sorry your shins are still knackered. If you want to leave running for a bit you could try doing the pod cast on a cross-trainer or exercise bike, that would be lower impact but you'd still get the cardio benefits.

Hi flossy. Re the 5x50, I'm just running as per the C25K program, then will do alternate things on other days; either a walk, cycle, possibly swim or something like my Wii Zumba class for half an hour or so.

I have no useful advice about your shins but, ouch, that sounds painful. I would be tempted to wait a few days until they calm down and possibly do as your DH suggested and try walking in your new trainers and see how they go before trying a run again. You could try posting on the NHS forum Eau mentioned. I'm on there too and there are lots of experienced runners as well as newbies who could maybe give more authoritative advice. Hope they get better soon anyway. I'm still out of action with illness so I'm also pondering whether to launch into wk 3 when I restart or redo a run from wk2 to see how I go.

Hello, hello! So glad someone else has started a new C25K. Eau was very kindly answering me on the old one but I think being with other beginners is the way forward. I started it two and a bit weeks ago and just completed W2R3 tonight. I had to miss a few days here and there as dp was working away and then I was ill, so tonight's run (on top of DS's first sleepover last night with two very excited and non-sleeping friends + wine when they finally went to sleep) was not the best. But I did it - finding it hard to imagine doing 3 minutes next week though!

I second getting good trainers. I have a dodgy knee which came on the last time I tried doing any running 13 years ago and have never run since. I bought a good pair after two runs and it's made a huge difference to me. Also the fact that this programme is nice and gentle (so far.....see above comment). I'm doing the Race for Life in May, and I've also just signed up for the 5x50 challenge too. Is anyone else doing that?

Eau, well done on the Wk9 run. That seems a loooonnnggg way off for me after tonight's run.

Yes, I am by no means sporty or outdoorsy. I've spent the last 5 years on the sofa eating biscuits and only breastfeeding has kept the pounds off. If someone had told me last October than I'd be a) running 3 miles and b) willingly going out in public wearing lycra then I would have died laughing.

C25K is meant to last 9 weeks so you'll have some time left over. You might be able to do 10k, you could always walk bits of it.

Yes, defo go to a specialist running shop and get your gait analysed. I got slightly sore shins at the start but not so bad that I could hardly walk.

I did the first run of week 9 the other day, I managed 4.6km. I'm determined to get to 5km in 30 mins! It might take another couple of weeks though, and also timing my run so it doesn't coincide with school run/rush hour because i had to stop for traffic several times.

flossy you need to get to a shop which checks your gait. You might need trainers with a lot of cushioning. I had shin splints and a sore knee and getting my gait checked and better shoes those pains disappeared.

Don't let this put you off though. Gait checked, a few days off running and try again.

But well done on getting out and running! I'm struggling to get my motivation back. DS is 8 months and I can't seem to push myself to get back out.

flossy when I started out 90 seconds if running seemed an eternity but I got to an hour, then 2 and did the half in 2:32 with 2*1 min walks while I had a carb gel thing (if I had it while running I ended up with face pack instead of getting it on my gob)
You never know how far you'll go - just keep enjoying it

Good trainers, sobothane (shock absorbing insoles good for shins & knees) insoles and stretching calves afterwards.