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

Second run done
2 questions for the more experienced:
Do you have the same route, or do you vary it about?
I've been adding in stretches during the warm-up walk, and then again once I've got home. Do I need to? Seems strange not to stretch, but is the cool down long enough to not need to stretch?

Must own up to not quite running the full 60 sec when it landed all up hill - should have taken the advice above and turned round to jog the rest of the 60s. Will remember for next time.

Can I join too please? Have just signed up to do a 10k in September, includes mud and obstacles too Seemed like a good idea at the time!!
Just completed my first run which went surprisingly well. Am worried I won't get up to 10k in time for the race. Has anyone moved up the levels faster than it says?

Hi everyone, mind if I join?
I've just finished week 1 of C25K. First day I went round my local loch - it was a good route, not too many people and nice and flat! However, the midges were awful! I spent a large portion of my run flapping my hands in front of my face, squinting my eyes shut and trying not to open my mouth/breathe through my nose so as not to eat them - not the best running technique! I felt it spoilt what was otherwise a successful run. On runs 2 and 3 I went round the woods at the back of my house instead. It's still a nice run but pretty up and down and I'd rather start off on the flat and progress to hills.
Does anyone know if there is a best time of day to avoid the midges? Or are they going to be a permanent pest around the loch all through the summer? It was about 10:30/11:00 when I went for my first run.

I don't have a Laura, it must be a different app. I just have beeps. I spent my run singing in my head
"come on and run to the beep "

(tune of Jump to the Beat)

I quite like the uncertainty of when the next beep will come as I can't see my phone in its holder. Which is a y-fumble from Amazon, its not bad for about £5

Well done BIWI - at least you can see your progress!

Hi oopla come join us.

Hiya, just found the new thread and marking my place

I went out this morning, and started all over again - so W1/R1. So far, so good - the shins seem fine, and I'm doing lots of stretching.

It was a beautiful morning for it, and I enjoyed it - it is so much easier than when I first started but I also found it a bit frustrating, having to stop after only a minute. You never actually 'get in' to the run, IYSWIM? It made me smile though, because it really reminded me just how long that minute seemed initially - and when you get the announcement 'just 10 more seconds' those ten seconds seemed to go on forever!

O what a muppet... I have just investigated my podcast (that I thought was a bit fast) and noticed a teensy 2x button illuminated....

I like the look of those earphones fruitpastile but I'll also need a holder for my iPod, as not all my running gear has a handy little pocket.

How's the toe this morning travellingwilbury and your aches and pains chopstheduck? I like a but of cycling and swimming - it's actually good to vary your form of exercise - uses different muscles.

Just believe in the program watchingout - it works. Just go with what Laura tells you, she'll get you running. And enjoy!

Welcome to the addition of running pollydon! Long may it last.

amigababy - hills are great for improving your fitness level and pace. But when I started with the program, back in the Autumn, I just ran laps round a small park area not far from my house. I walked there as my warm-up and walked back as my cool-down.

jchocchip the Leeds Abbey Dash looks like a good one for me. July seems a little early after my injury. I am doing the Tees Pride (10k) in Sept so the Leeds one would be doable. They also do a children's mini dash - my two like to get involved. They are doing the 3k at the Tees Pride.

cinnamon you could aim to train up to half marathon and enter on the day of the event (if they allow). I'm still thinking about it - fancy the Great North Run next year (2014). I need to persuade my colleague to do it with me.

Waves at Watching , I think the lovely weather & the fact that every other runner I saw smiled at me has made it a great start, not sure I'll be as cheerful in the bad weather

Hey pollydon we are at the same stage not sure I share the addiction though I'm hoping that bit will develop.

Well done starting amiga. Just see how it goes.. if it is too hard to run you could always turn and go in the other direction for a minute then turn back. But hill training is good for you and you will soon manage them. Think jog not sprint!

I'm going to start today. I've got my app, the sun is shining, and somewhere in the house is the phone armband I bought 2 weeks ago - just where did I put it?

What's the thoughts on hilly areas? it's really hard for me to find a full flat length here, do you just stick to the run/walk plan regardless of what the gradient is doing?

Hi pollydon! Well done on starting :)

Well done sallysparrow! Penny I am thinking of doing the leeds abbey dash in november - another flat 10k :). November gives me time to up my pace and train for the distance

Is it ok for me to join ? Just done my 2nd session on week 1 & I think I'm addicted already

Morning! Just done w1r2 with the help of the NHS podcast. Haven't tested it scientifically yet but I'm sure I was only out for 17 mins door to door. And I def didn't cheat!

My maths in the shower made that it should have been 24.5 mins. I thought she was talking fast. But the music sounded right?!

Anyone else found this? Still made me really puff though resisting sitting down now cos ill be back on that couch...

travellingwilbury - that sounds sore! Hopefully the clicking is just fluid, it prob would be an idea to get it checked then at least you know how to treat it, even if they don't do much for it.

Cinnamon, glad it going well with Billy! I think you could def do the half too, the amount you do run.

I went out on Friday, and it hurt, and I carried on and ended up limped on saturday again! Rested yesterday and it felt fine, still a slight niggle today. I know if I run again it is going to play up though :( I'm going to rest it for at least today, maybe tomorrow and get it closer to 100% before attempting to run I think, as I am going round in circles with it atm. Will get out on my bike instead. It's the impact of running that seems to be irritating it, cycling yesterday was fine. Very frustrating though, I am getting very twitchy!

Good plan. Advice is usually to rest. A nurse friend told me that if it's a break it can take a couple of months to heal - if it's just a soft tissue injury - it can take a lot longer!

No , I was wearing flip flops and my 9 yr old crashed into it . I strapped it to the next toe for a couple of days but the swelling has come down now and I have been ignoring it , or at least trying , but I can feel it
clicking when I walk . Thank goodness the weather is good enough for flip flops and I don't have to try and squash into proper shoes .

I have to see the nurse today anyway for a b12 injection so I was going to ask her advice while there .

You're right. They don't do anything for broken toes. Broke mine in the Marathon and it's still not fully healed. Strapped it up for a month and took some time off running.
Did you injure it running? If so, it might be worth looking at your trainers.

Thank you , I am hoping to get it checked today but I don't think anything can be done if it is broken . Just really grumpy that I had come so far to bugger it up now .

namelessMcnally sorry for you poorliness today, I hope you feel better very soon and work out a different method of exercising your abs!

travellingwilbury ouch! I hope it isn't broken, you need to get it checked, good luck

Hello everyone else - cor it's busy in here!

Invicta just pick the next tree/lamp post/dandelion! I sometimes have very slow sections of running (in amongst the slow bits!) I had to argue with the little lazy beggar who seemed to be whispering in my ear tonight that I couldn't do it and it was too hard today! (I hope no-one saw me slap my own shoulder )

I have just done w9r2. Managed 4.11 km this evening and identified that the 10-20 minute bit was a bit slower than the rest, so will have to work on that bit, I think that was when the little voices were telling me to quit and that I couldn't possibly do it today.

I've been doing the program as well. I seem to be stuck on getting past 10-12 minutes. If I have a quick walk, I can usually get going again. Any tips on how to pass this barrier?

Congrats on your 10k sallysparrow, if you liked running with people, I'd recommend parkrun (just google it) - to the regulars, I know I sound like broken record when it comes to park run. And thanks for the 10k plug in Leeds, I'm going to check it out, Leeds isn't too far from me.

Have you had your toe check my someone medical travellingwilbury? I'd say elevate your foot (even in bed), lots of ice, plenty of painkillers and rest (sorry). Hope it's just badly bruised, rather than broken.