Couch to 5k - just started! Help with podcasts, iphone apps and timing please.

Twas - my osteopath still recommends landing more towards the front of the foot

I finished wk2 yesterday so my next run (sat morn at ridiculously early o'clock when dd wakes me) is when ill be tackling wk3 - eek! God it was hot yesterday - I'd taken my water bottle with me & was bloody glad I did so!

Running at night - that is brave, I'm not sure I'd want to do that! Well done though & glad all was ok

Interesting link - I've got standard supportive running shoes so maybe I should be heel first? I think barefoot running is a different style with different, more flexible shoes isn't it?

OmWell done Tina!!! I'm a week behind you nowh I don't think I can count my half run so I'm still on wk 2 run 1 but I did it and feel great about it! It was dark and I freaked out a bit anytime it looked like a car was slowing down but I felt great. 90seconds was fine, although the moment I went back to walking was the time I went red and hot! The 2 mins in between felt too long and I was quite impressed how different I felt to wk 1 run 1 already. But I'd calculated 5 runs so found run 6 a surprise and really felt that one!

Love the nhs app. Not so much the music although I think the fast tempo does encourage me.

Funny thing -didn't want to risk being out without inhaler so one side of bra was phone, other was inhaler!!!

illustration of heel strike and toe strike

Well done Tina! I'm sure the hard work will enable you to cover more distance and burn more calories in the future. It's stamina we are building. Once we have got the stamina to run for half an hour we can cover what distance and burn how many calories we like!

I have discovered that lap timing is better than split timing on my ancient phone. It meant that this time I was not trying to add 90 seconds onto the previous total.

From everything I've read and been told by my osteopath, we shouldn't be striking with the heel - the aim is to sort of land more 'flat' on the foot, with a slight predisposition to the front part of the foot.

Just a quick question - she said on the nhs track to put heal down first and run through the foot - I've read somewhere we shouldn't do that?

I'm just wobbling along.. anyone tell me what I should be trying to do? Depends if its dark when I get home if its today or not!

I find that if I'm listening to my music, I sort of count it down by the number of tracks - each track is (usually) about 3 minutes long.

Going to have another go at wk 2 after bookgroup. Hoping it will be a bit cooler and not too dark!! Bit scared of being out in the dark on my own.

I weighed myself and I'd lost more than I thought so far. Half a stone an 3 and a bit weeks! However its been up and down figures which have been odd. I've got a LOT to lose so its probably mainly water etc but at least its a start.

I'm doing mfp and trying to eat more sensibly. It all adds up so quickly.

Hi everyone. Did w1r2 today.... I'm quite behind you lot. Still, it was better without the children today. I tried to actually run a bit instead of jogging... A bit.

But there was definatley a dawdle to the walk sections!

I'm glad I went straight after dropping the kids off, i was tempted to leave it til later but it would have never happened, as I dropped by at a friends house and ended up spending several hours there, sitting with her terminally ill husband while she ran errands...

Poor Brillig! - so sorry I encouraged you to run! Def take your inhaler next time.

Worley it does definitely get easier, and Tina I know 3 mins sounds a lot but it does somehow happen. I find if i'm waiting for it to finish it seems to take ages but if i give myself little targets - get to that tree over there, then head for the bench or wherever, then I don't notice the time so much - my body's easily fooled clearly.

Have to wait until tomorrow before I've got time to go out again - will be interested to see how it goes as haven't run since Saturday and I worry if the gap's too long any benefit of having done it before will get lost. But hopefully 4 days is okay.

Good luck all

Thanks Biwi

Yes it definitely does!

Did w2r2 today.. As I got to the end I felt like I was stumbling more than running
Am annoyed I've stuck to diet and running and not lost any weight at all. But I know I've shrunk as my trousers are looser.. :)
Does it get easier as we go?!

Week 3:

Begin with a brisk 5-minute walk, then two repetitions of 90 seconds of running, 90 seconds of walking, 3 minutes of running, 3 minutes of walking.

Sorry brillig, missed your post when I posted mine . God how scary - be careful next time!

What does wk 3 look like in terms of length running/walking? My app won't let me jump ahead just to see

Oh brillig poor you, sounds really scary! Glad to hear you're ok now.

I did w2 r1 tonight, and I managed it (just). I was desperate to hear 'just 15 seconds left now', but hopefully run 2 will be easier. Mind you, I've got a hysteroscopy tomorrow to remove a polyp, so I'm hoping I'm recovered enough to go out on Weds or Thurs.

You will manage it. Honestly!

Oh brillig, what a horrible experience for you. I am soo impressed you pushed yourself to go for it, and so unfortunate that that happened. I think maybe you were not well enough to start up again....

Hope you are feeling better, and resting for a few more days until you are fully recovered. It's a complete bummer when illl health puts you off once you have started. I joined the gym last year, and was enjoying going twice a week, just starting to get somewhere when I got flu. I was not well enough to go back for 2 months. And this is me just starting up again.

Do you feel confident that you'll know when to start again? At least you will recognize an attack earlier should it happen again.

Mitten, I think you are right, but I have never downloaded an app on the galaxy, so not sure how it's done! ( love my iPad)

I hope you find a more comfortable breathing technique. I find it's impossible to get enough air in if I have not blasted it out through my mouth! So I am a very sorry looking runner, but I get so much further when I remember to breathe this way.

I am looking forward to going alone on Wednesday! Must remember not to eat breakfast with the kids so I can go straight after I have dropped them off at school. I can have breakfast after, but hate running on a full stomach.

Fine now, just needed a lot of inhaler. Wouldn't have been fine if he hadn't been able to get it to me!

Guess I'll do wk 2 run 1 again. I don't like being behind!

Oh no, Twas - are you alright now?

Forgetful - I did w2/r2 today as well!