Couch to 5K- join us if you dare, running is highly addictive!!

Hi Queenjellybelly good to hear about your gait analysis experience. I have been putting this off as I was concerened about being reccommended expensive trainers that I can't afford.

Has anyone had a gait analysis and the shopped around for trainers?

Watching, Don't know whereabouts you are but I'm told that decathlon in Ilkeston do it so assume other branches will too. I've also had sweatshop recommended for this. Can't comment first hand tho.

Yay Drama! The programme def works - you WILL be able to do 5 mins

Anyone know if Decathlon do the gait analysis? Seems like they are the best shop nearest to me (not going back to Sports Direct which DH has rechristened ...)

ALovelyBunchOf.. hi there. Welcome! I'm onto wk 4 of couch to 5k and spent a good while fiddling about with podcasts, apps etc. in the end I got exactly what I was after in the form of two apps
Get Running (which is v similar to NHS podcast but without the "annoying" music) and
Nike app (to track distance/speed/calories etc).
I use both at the same time. You can play your own music with Get Running (although I couldn't tell you how as not done so myself.)

Nike was free. Get running was about £2 but worth that and more. It's brilliant! Good luck - let us know how you get on.

**

Just quickly checking in to report that I managed Week 3 Run 3 this evening. Very pleased as it was fine, easier than Run 2. Not sure if I'm ready for running for five minutes, but we'll see at the weekend. Got to trust in the programme...

Dingle, I went to dw sports & they analysed me for free. The range of trainers suitable started at £20 but I ended up paying £39 for some New Balance ones. I also had some cushioned support insoles that were £14, so very reasonable I think. Huge choice in stock as well & woman there really helpful, not at all pushy. She also got me to try a size up, which should have felt strange as so much room at the front but they feel really comfy.

I need to have a definite routine for my runs so I can't make excuses so I go Mon, weds, and Friday mornings before anyone else stirs. And claim a lie in at the weekends

At the mo, I don't do anything else in between , although now want to be walking for the alternate mornings so I can congratulate myself on how much further extra distance I'm covering when running jogging. Also the dog gives the evil eye on being left behind, but I can't face running with a swinging poo bag...

Sounds like you've got a nice mix of regular exercise going, nextphase; I think your body would tell you if you were doing too much.

Just seen a local (single) dad out on his run with his two smallish DCs in front of him on their bikes

Dingle our localish running shop would analyse for free, and then get you to try on shoes they reckon for your stance. Then they re-analyse when you have picked the pair that feel the most comfortable. The didn't have anything under £65 tho, so in some ways its expensive, but cheaper than damaging yourself! It was also £15 cheaper on line, so in some ways I paid £15 on the shoe price to get the experience.

Baking I suspect you are doing km/h, or a random treadmill setting.
Average brisk walking speed is 4mph / 6.5km/h tells me Wiki

watching were back on par now. When are you attempting w5r3? Been to aerobics tonight, and am thinking running tomorrow, swimming Fri. Do yuo think thats too much? Can't swim tomorrow, as I've promised to look after a friends 4 yr old, and think leaving DH with two 4 yr olds, and a 2 yr old to go swimming might be pushing my luck! I can run after her Mum has picked her up, but not swim!
Aren't we doing well - over half way

I was only just on w2 when i fell ill and didn't do anything for 5 weeks, I picked it back up on week 2. I'd see how you go queenjellbelly.

How much does it cost to get your gait analysed please?

I've busy for a few nights (watching TV and chilling with the family) and I've returned to a what seems like hundreds of new posts.

Been for a little run tonight - didn't time it, just enjoyed it. I know the distance because it's one of my usual ones. Think I need to slowly start increasing my distance back up to 10k as I have a race at the beginning of September.

Well done on your extra long run sarahwithafringe and I'm glad that your gait analysis helped queenjellybelly. I'd be tempted to repeat week 2 and see how you go.

Been & had my gait analysed today & bought lovely new trainers. Now fully understand why I injured myself with my old trainers & highly recommend getting this done! Still struggling with my hip & knee so have bought a knee support & will rest til Monday which will mean I've had a week & a bit off the programme. I was just at the end of week 2 when I became injured. Should I start again from week 1, repeat week 2 or straight to week 3?

Blimey... gasp, huff, puff! Thought I'd try a different route today and not only did it have hills (a relative term given that I come from a very flat part of the country, but still), but I got lost and ended up running for a good 15 minutes longer than I intended (but including a couple of pauses while I asked bemused passers-by for directions)
Now I am absolutely knackered and feeling a bit weird. Hope I haven't overdone it. Surely by now I should be able to run (i.e. jog gently) for 50 minutes or so?
Will give it a rest for a couple of days before trying my previous route where I don't think I can manage to get lost!

Oh yes wk 4 music is worse than the other stuff! I grew to like beautiful day and happy invigorating bits and pieces.

did w5 r1 tonight-blimey..... but did it! Does anyone know a blackberry app which tell distance as well as time? I have no idea how far I do just how long it takes!

I wouldn't say I am dieting too and I don't eat very healthily but I am trying to log what I eat on MFP, just to be more aware of my calorie intake. It's given me a daily calorie target of only 1200 which I cannot ever get near.

It is making me think about portion size and substituting a few ingredients to cut back on calories..and as I have IBS, it's also good for my to look at my fibre intake. I don't log religiously every day, but I would recommend it. It's great to log your exercising on as well.

Dingle you are doing really well! I haven't lost an ounce. Are you dieting too? Or just the running? I'm doing fasting and haven't list a pound in 5 weeks.

I'm on the TM too and would be heartbroken if it broke. I'm not ready to pound the pavements where I live.

Bakingnovice it's MPH. Curious too...today I walked at 4.4mph which, if my conversion is right, equals about 7.08 kph. I "ran" (using the term very loosely!) at 4.9mph which converts to 7.89kph.

We are on the same week, same run. Now I am wondering if I am pushing myself too much too soon...I don't feel I have got my breathing sorted out yet and I feel that am glowing like some sort of nuclear reactor afterwards! BUT I still don't really do any other exercise in between runs. I simply haven't got around to sorting anything out. I certainly don't think I could have "run" after something like Shred.

I am raving about this, not only have I lost 8.5lb, I have lost 2 inches off my waist. I did panic a bit though with my treadmill disaster, I wondered if it was broken at first but I must have hit one of the programmed run buttons. I pray it's all ok as I don't think I would be able to actually GO OUT RUNNING as easily or as confidently.

Both DH and me commented that the music on week 4 isn't as motivating, I might need to look further into other options.

Thank you everyone. xx

Well done scarecrow!

I am going to be attempting Wk8 Day 1 later when DH gets home from work. I am so so sore though...every muscle in my body aches after bodybalance on Monday and kettlebells yesterday and it is quite muggy here today too so am expecting it to not be much fun!! I am really determined to get to the end of the programme before we go away next weekend though but only actually have until next Wednesday that I can run because DH is away on Thursday and Friday and have no one else to look after the DCs, so will only actually get to Wk9 Day 2 but that's as good as really...and plan to run while we are away too, to try and get up to the 5k in 30 mins eventually!

w2r2 today 6.30am light drizzle after 6 h broken sleep and I loved it. The podcast and this thread ate so invaluable. Thank you all

Yes, that's the one! I'm about to start week 8 and would definitely recommend it.

Lovely I am using the zen labs app. It's v good.

Dingle - thank god you didn't injure yourself. I walk at 6-6.5 on the treadmill and run at 7. Is this mph or km? I'm curious.

'twas - good idea to go back to run 1. There's no rush and you've done 5 minutes now so know you can do it.
Hello to everyone else running.

I did w4r2 today just after shred. The first 3 min run was really hard and I don't know why. I stayed walking on the TM until I'd done 45 minutes. Really loving the programme.

yetanother You are absolutely right I do need fit stretches in. Think I need to take a rest for a few days.

aLovelyBunchofCoconutsI'm using Runmeter it wasn't free but, it's very good measures all sorts of stuff pace, distance, calories burnt and there's plans for 5k, 10 k, half marathon, marathon etc.

Ginger Is that the one that's free for the first two weeks?

Have you progressed beyond that and purchased the full version?