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

Hello again, just completed a rather warm W5R2. It wasn't until the podcast had finished that I realised that my iPod had slipped inside my bra and I'd been running with one extremely pointy boob
Drama I know exactly what you mean with the inner chimp thing, mine started as soon as I started running today telling me that my legs felt too heavy and that it was too warm to run. In my head he looks like one of the evil monkeys from the Wizard of Oz!

Week 6/Run 1 just done! Thank goodness I went out early as by the time I finished (8.30) it was already baking.

Had trouble with my iPhone today - something is wrong with the sound card I think, and as well as not being able to listen to my music, it kept interfering with the Get Running app, so I had to run with my phone in my hand to be able to see the time ticking down. And no music meant listening to my (heavy) breathing!

Rulesgirl - if you're doing lots of pelvic floor exercises, can you not run whilst holding in your core? A la pilates? I would have thought that a gradual, phased programme like C25K would help. I can see that if you just jumped in to a 5 mile run it wouldn't be good for you, but if you're building up your stamina/strength, would that not be OK?

Muddy - don't worry about distance at this stage. Just concentrate on managing the 30 minutes. You will find that you get quicker/run further with each run anyway.

Baking I had the same length of ring for w6r3 in my head. you may find its a little longer than your expecting - I was thinking 2 more mins, doable, but then got told it was 25... Sorry if I've put you off. It IS managable tho - you've done all the prep.

Love Chopin's we do run run run we do run run title!

Muddy Not sure what the 25 mins running covers, but I'm on about 5km for 25 mins running, 5 min warm up, and aprox 8 min cool down (its a nice route!), so significantly under 5km of running. I'm thinking about going back to the begining after graduating (which I WILL DO), and instead of jog/walk after the warm up, try run/ jog iyswim?

rules, I have slight pelvic floor/prone to prolapse issues and find that as long as I don't go too fast then it actually helps. I concentrate on pulling all my core muscles in as I run. I can now manage the 5k without leakage. I think its probably bad for your pelvic floor if you're bouncing around without any thought to your muscles.

I can't believe everyone is running in this weather, I haven't been out for over a week and feel a bit guilty.

Still soon week w6. I'm so slow I could actually lap myself!

Also, my inner chimp is more of a giant gorilla. I spend more time fighting him than focussing on my breathing. Anyway w6r3 tomorrow. The big one 22 mins. Off to take a hammer to my inner gorilla.

Amiga

Yes, I've found getting over my reservations about wearing Lycra and running in public have given me confidence in other areas of my life. I tend to 'do it now' rather than procrastinate with guilt making lists. I'm even considering taking up plein air (outdoor) painting as I usually hide in my spare room, worried about what people think about my creations!

Chopin I like it, we do run run.......

I'm another one who's enjoying the idea of additional benefits from the running, strengthening bones, being outdoors etc. For some reason, before this, I was struggling to get outside, almost felt agoraphobic, I'd find any excuse not to be out there. Now I just go.

On the inner chimp, I read somewhere, can't remember where, that our bodies are much less tired than our brain tells us and if we ignore the brain message of being tired, our bodies are capable of keeping going beyond what we believed (caveat with current news stories, not extreme sports or activities), but for running 30-40 minutes, tiredness isn't a reliable indicator provided you're otherwise healthy.

C25K Running towards fitness- the more the merrier!

Or

C25K -we do run run run, we do run run!

(as in 'I met him on a Monday and my heart stood still
We do ron ron ron you do ron ron...)

I know, too obscure, I've been on the lyrics thread too much

On the pelvic question front I saw an excellent physio recently for back issues and she said running was very good for core stability, related to pelvic floor. Like cinammon says, I'd rather do the running, get the health benefits, and also do work on p.f. and core stability. I do work with a gym ball and continue those clenches as i've also had issues on that front!

Title....mmm, 'run, mumsnetters, run' (forrest gump style)???

I did W5R1 this evening & I'm so pleased I got it done without too much trouble despite the heat. Slow & slower is definitely the key for me.

muddyprints I am desperately slow too, but I don't really mind. My aim is to get through the programme hopefully building stamina, then try to speed up afterwards. I might even try doing the whole thing again but at faster speeds. I don't know yet how I'll do it, but my main aim at the moment is to finish this. You are doing great - up to W8!

I really think the main obstacle with me is the mental side. Physically I feel fine, but my mind keeps telling me to stop! I watched a TV documentary a while ago (I think it was about cycling's Team Sky) and their sports psychologist described that nagging feeling as your "inner chimp" and said that he helps athletes to work on mentally putting their inner chimp into a box and shutting the lid so it can't nag at them and stop them performing.

So this evening on W5R1 I spent the first five minutes putting my inner chimp firmly back into its box, and after that it really did get easier. Definitely a case of mind over matter.

Rulesgirl I hadn't heard that about running & the pelvic floor (and I am at that crucial age too). Glad things have repaired for you. It's a pity you can't go back to running, but it wouldn't be worth the risk really. Biking's great fun as an alternative, and probably better on your joints as well.

cinnamon we'll be needing a new thread soon!

Not to worry....just read an old running thread and it says that running is definitely the worse thing for your pelvic floor and can lead to pelvic prolapse in most cases so guess I wont be going back to it after all. Thanks anyway.

just finished week 7, 25 minutes, and only running 3.1km. how on earth am I going to get to 5km when im so slow?

I'll be doing it in Newcastle. Have a team of girls put together by a friend who had breast cancer two years ago. Looking forward to it as it's such an amazing atmosphere.

hairtwiddler, where are you doing the RfL? I'm doing the Cambridge one. Sounds like you and I will be the red-faced ones in the wet T shirts then... oops

Hi Ladies.
I used to run and looked forward to the day when I could "fly"....you know what I mean but then I had a small pelvic floor prolapse which I have managed to fix with a lot of squeezes but now I cant run cause it just causes things to go south again. Anyone had this experience? I do not want to insert anything to hold it up cause that defeats the purose of all my pelvic floor exercises which now hold it all in place perfectly. I have been told that running is the worse thing for your pelvic floor and causes a lot of prolapses when in the late 40s. I now bike and do weights. Any thoughts from anyone?

hairtwiddler, they should have water stations around the race - just grab a bottle and pour it over yourself - I found it a lifesaver and kept me going.

I found it hot today-I still went out but went less far than usual. I didn't think it's worth trying to break any records in this heat.

However, I was thinking that when it cools down we should all feel mega fit after training in the heat!

Well done for going back - that's dedication!

I did RFL a few years ago without training in 34 degrees on a hilly course! The atmosphere will carry you through and remember you don't have to run it all. Probably be really hard to keep running cos people like me get in the way

You'll be fine, hairtwiddler! I think the temperature is due to drop a little by Sunday.

I went back. Did just under 5k on the treadmill. Was tough going and walked two minutes. Think the heat is zapping my energy. Enjoying my Neil Gaiman audio book though!

Got to the gym, forgot my trainers!! Feel a bit daft now. Too much to remember this morning.
I'll go later. Need to get some work done now.

hairtwiddler - I really dreaded the summer heat approaching, but honestly, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it was going to be. I loved running in the snow and prefer it colder as far as running goes, but I've surprised myself that I can still run in the heat. Drink LOTS before you go and I'm sure you will be fine x