Anyone fancy starting Couch to 5K on Monday 5th Aug?

Hi tinwe I think it was me, but I only ran once on hols and then somehow the days passed without me running - oops! I got back to it this morning though, repeated w3r3 just to see how it felt - about the same as before so moving onto w4r1 on Sunday. Massive congrats for completing the 20min run!

lurking really pleased for you that you're back running!

Hi to everyone else too!

Tinwe, that is wonderful! Congratulations, you Proper Runner, you! I would not fear about the dreaded holiday half-stone: once you get back into the normal routine and go out Properly Running regularly, it will just slide off again. That is a really great achievement, so please feel very chuffed with yourself.

I am deliriously happy to note that I have no bad after-effects of yesterday's run. Feel slightly achey, but in a good I-have-been-exercising way, rather than a scary I-may-never-walk-again way. On to W3 tomorrow. Hurrah!

I DID IT! The big one! 20 mins, W5R3. The voice over said "you've just run for 20 mins so can definitely call yourself a runner now!" and I welled up On the down side I don't feel as chuffed as I'd hoped I would as it was a treadmill run and I've put on about half a stone this holiday according to the gym scales

Been looking back to try to find my run buddy but no luck- who were you? I jumped ahead a little (skipped a couple of rest days) for convenience so maybe I lost you, if so anyone on week 6 now/soon?

Welcome back and well done Rosina and Lurking, great to know we haven't lost you both

Thank you! And yes, no danger of me overdoing it. Have learned that lesson ...

Welcome back! (not that you actually left). And good luck for W3 - just don't overdo it!

I'm back!

Achilles tendon still sore, knee fine. I warmed up loads, put a heavy-duty support on my knee, another round my Achilles, heel lifts in my shoes (honestly, all this equipment and I'm not even properly running). Did W2R3 and it was totally fine, in fact the best and most enjoyable run so far. As soon as I got home I did some propler stretches and now have an ice pack on my Achilles just in case.

And I've worked out what the problem really was: running first thing in the morning. I never felt like I'd warmed up properly and everything was always tight and a bit sore.

This time, I went out in the afternoon (having been out to the shops this morning and walked around a bit) and it was a whole different story. If only I'd thought of that three weeks ago ...

Unless I have a terrible relapse will be starting W3 on Saturday. Finally! Hurray!

RosinaCopper, looks like we're at the same stage. Shall we be running partners?

I managed to get out to do W2R3 last night after a break of 9 days and it was okay, so I'm going to try W3R1 next time I get out. If I find it is too hard, I'll repeat W2 until I can get a regular evening running slot again.

I really don't want to lose momentum on this, though and I felt so good after W1R1 that I'd love to get properly into running again.

Somehow, though, the whole thing just seems harder than when I first got into running years ago, but I followed a different program then and of course I was 13 years younger!

Tinwe I've actually already got an app - I'm using RunDouble (and would highly recommend it in case anyone's looking for one - maps your route for you as well which I quite like). It's just whenever I change level I can never quite gauge how far I'm going to run and I tend to go on a circular route so have to finish the whole thing if that makes sense. Never mind, all exercise is good exercise!

Ilove - I'm with you, I can't see that it's made any noticeable difference to my body shape, although in fairness I'm only on week 3. But I've always found in the past I only really lose weight through dieting - exercise is more about just feeling generally fitter. Although I wouldn't object if I lost a few pounds along the way, but as I got back from W3R2 yesterday and ate most of DS's jelly beans, it's looking unlikely.

I think I've come to the conclusion it doesn't really get easier unless you go backwards. So running 3 minutes feels like ages, but the 90 second bit is now not a problem. I'm nervous about stepping up next week but I think the programme just seems to push you a little bit more each time so I'll stick with it rather than repeating a week until it feels comfortable. Although 5 minutes does sound like an awfully long time to run for...!

Thanks for the advice, tinwe . I already wear proper running shoes, all professionally measured and all that, so it seems like it's all about the stretching and the warm-up and the cool-down afterwards.

My Achilles tendon is always worse in the morning and seems to ease up in the course of the day so I think I'm going to start with a gentle lunchtime walk/jog/limp tomorrow just to see how things are. I can't bear the thought of doing week 2 all over again for a third time so I'll do one week 2 run once I get going and then see if I can progress to week 3.

I was reading this morning that actually it's a bad thing to rest the Achilles tendon completely so that gives me an incentive to get back out. Eek.

Ilove - wrt your thighs etc, are you measuring? I wish I'd done that so I'd know whether it's just my keen imagination or I'm genuinely slowly changing shape.

Ilove- it can be horrible running in the heat so it's understandable you ran better today plus the programme says it "gets easier with each repetition"

Week 5 isn't too bad so far but I hasten to add that I've stepped down to treadmill. I'll let you know after the 20 minuter!

Slev - could you use an app for running? I've got Get Running which was £1.99 but worth it as it lets you play your own music and just pauses it to give you instructions plus it tells you when to turn back so you don't overrun

Tinwe and workate, you are putting us all to shame with your holiday running. I am impressed!

Today, I feel like a runner. W4R2 and I managed to do all the runs, whoop de whoop! I repeated week 3 last week and have been finding it tough so have felt a bit grumpy about it all. W4R1 was awful, I mainly walked it but in my defence it was quite warm and sunny and clearly I can't run in those conditions! Today was cooler and a bit drizzly, much more my cup of tea .

I haven't noticed so much as an inch of change on my wobbly stomach, thighs or sizeable bum , but one thing I have noticed is that I seem a bit more motivated to get things done of an evening rather than just collapse on the sofa so maybe this running lark has given me more energy.

So, thank you all for your words of encouragement and motivating posts about how you are doing. Lurking, glad to hear you're on the mend.

Please remind me of all of this next week when I hit week 5 and crumple!

Slev - I feel similar about being seen, had a great but wobbly and sweaty run on a treadmill here looking down at people walking past the gym then when I left I realised it's not one way glass!

Keeping it up though as there's too much nice food on holiday (cream teas and pasties) and I'd hate to come back half a stone heavier when it was so hard to get it off in the first place quite likely though

Got wasp stung for the first time a couple of days ago, on my bat wing of all places. It really hurt! Still itchy now so annoying me as I run, anyway off to do W5R2 now, after this the next one is the 20 minuter

Workate- well done for being so motivated as to run on the spot! I wouldn't have thought of that

Hope you're having a great holiday, ours is hard work with a 27 month old and a 15 month old in an unfamiliar place so I need to let off stress somehow! Also DH is a runner and so that helps keep me motivated. I saw a pic he took of me yesterday on the beach (fully dressed) though and its made me feel like all this hard work is achieving nothing

Hi Lurking- glad to hear you're feeling almost better. My ideas for getting back active again would be:

• Check you have the right gear, doesn't have to be expensive (my favourite outfit is from Aldi ATM) but you need decent trainers
• Make sure you warm up thoroughly
• Do thorough stretches after warm up before running and after cool down before stopping
• Start with a few brisk walks so that you build up to complete half an hour with bits at at almost jogging pace
• Use a treadmill to start off, I've recently learned they are much easier than outside running

Let us know how you get on and good luck!

My knee is better. Achilles tendon also nearly fixed. More or less.

Have one more deep tissue massage next week, have bought support bandage for knee, heel raise thingy for my Achilles tendon and I have my ice pack bandage (this is costing me a freaking fortune and I haven't actually run for two weeks).

Am scared to go back out in case I knacker everything again and end up back at square one. Any tips?

Tinwe, I can't believe you're keeping it up on holiday - that's dedication!

Completed W3R1 today and definitely felt the step up - the last run was a killer. Plus every time I change level I can never estimate my distance right so ended up with a route that was far too long so had a reasonable walk home. I'm almost okay with people seeing my running now, but it's still quite embarrassing when you're on a walk bit, bright red and gasping for breath - anyone seeing me then must think I'm really unfit to get that exhausted when I'm just walking!

Still not sure about how much the programme steps up next week but hopefully a week of 3 minute runs will get me in practice. And then we'll see!

Hello all! On my lovely holidays now but there's no official Internet here and very little reception so I've been dying to find out how everyone is doing. I'm sat on a wall in a field near the flat now to be able to connect! Sorry to hear the usual crowd are struggling with injuries and time issues but great to hear from the new (but more advanced) posters. I don't feel so bad about having skipped ahead a bit now.

I finished week 4 yesterday but found it very hard and not a 'proper run' as I don't know routes around the grounds and kept ending up on dead ends, going up hill (much to my horror) or having to tiptoe over ornamental bridges etc. Undeterred I decided to go straight into week 5 today (without the recommended break so against advice), using the gym treadmill here. It was a breeze! I can recommend a conversion to treadmill for all those struggling to keep going, for some reason it really takes the stress out if it! I'll hopefully complete week 5 while I'm away but I have no doubt moving back to "real" running when I get back will be tough

Finding this thread really motivating! I've just completed the wk 5 runs and can't believe I managed to run 20 mins without walking, and it was honestly fine, so just wanted to encourage others. I was dreading this week as sounded such a step up from previous week, but each run's been fine, so the programme really does seem to build stamina. Once I'd done the first 5 or 6 mins today I got into a rhythm and it didn't get any harder. Next I need to increase my speed!

Hey ladies I thought I'd join I'm on week five now. Really really enjoying it and finding I'm excited about the extra minute each week!! (How sad!!!) never thought I could feel like this about running!! Really hoping the enthusiasm stays!! How you all getting on? Anyone else in week 5? I've gone through them a bit quick so not actually been running for 5 weeks but already did exercise so finding I'm running more than 3 times a week and moving though the programme quicker as feel ready. Anyone else? Is that okay to do?? Many thanks and good luck!!

Hi everyone

I am still following this thread even though I haven't been out running for a couple of weeks now . What is really worrying me is that I am still motivated now and gagging to get out there, but how much longer can that last before not running just becomes the norm and I sink straight back into my sedentary ways. I am a bit scared about that happening. Hope you will all be sending me messages of the JFDI variety.

Going for my third deep-tissue massage tomorrow morning. My knee is better in so much as if I'm sitting around at home it feels fine and I don't need painkillers any more. As soon as I go out and walk for more then 10 mins, though, it starts to give me trouble again. If I don't have a big improvement after tomorrow, I'm going to make an appointment for an acupuncture session.

£135 so far, these massages will have cost me, and I'm still not fixed. Oh and the £15 for an ice pack thing to wrap round my knee. Feeling quite fed up about it all. If When I get out there again, I fear I'll have to start a new thread as I might have to go back to the beginning and do W1 all over again while you healthy lot will be on W7.

So glad things are going well for the rest of you . Well done to you all. I'm interested in the morning vs evening debate and wondering if going out first thing was not good for me in terms of not being properly warmed up. Hmmm.

W2R3 done - went on the roads this time instead of the playing fields because it was too wet underfoot and actually preferred it even though it meant seeing more people. I think it's something about feeling like I'm heading home once I get partway through!

Still can't slow down though, I don't know what it is but I just keep going too fast. I'm hoping that moving up to W3 will force it slightly. On the plus side it's probably quite good for me - but I just can't see myself keeping it up for 3 minutes next week, let alone 20!