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Original poster

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

690 replies

workatemylife · 30/07/2013 10:39

I have not run for YEARS. In the last 18 months I have lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise (walking), and, it would appear, breastfeeding. But I'm back at work, LO isn't drinking me dry any more, my diet is not all that it could be, and the weight is sneaking back on. I don't have the opportunity for long buggy walks with a gurgling baby to toddler groups and playparks, but I do try to cycle to work to get a bit of exercise, although probably not enough. A couple of friends do Park Run eack weekend and I'd love to join them, but at the moment I suspect it would be Park Huff and Puff before Collapsing rather than actually a RUN Blush.

I'm planning to start a C25K plan on Monday next week, and would love some (virtual) run buddies until I feel brave / fit enough to run with real people as well. I've seen some positive comments about the plan on here, although I think I'm still a little Hmm about whether it is possible to progress like that through the weeks and actually get as far as a 5K. Still nothing ventured nothing gained.

I have running shoes somewhere at the back of the wardrobe, but might need to invest in some suitable clothing, and have a weekend of overindulgence lined up. So Monday is the day I think. First Monday of the month, and counting. I'll put a big ring around a late Sept Park Run on the calendar and start counting.....

Anyone care to join me?

OP posts:
RosinaCopper · 23/08/2013 22:14

I'm having to reluctantly step back for a week or two - I haven't managed to go out for a run since Sunday, (which was W2R2) because DH has just become very busy - harvest time - meaning that I don't get the time free to go out running. I'm hoping that when term starts I'll brave going out during the day.

oscarwilde When I used to run regularly (but I'm talking turn of the century here, yikes!) I found that running first thing, before breakfast, was much harder for me than running in the evening. Not so much fresh legs as unfuelled legs! I don't mean to put a downer on your early morning run, but equally didn't want you to feel deflated if W2R3 is hard to get through. I found W2R2 hard and haven't been out since!

Tinwe - I hope you have a lovely time Smile

Tinwe · 23/08/2013 21:18

Workate - doing anything nice this week to mean you can't run? We're off on holiday tomorrow but I plan to try to run while away. Wish me luck!

PS was your cake nice? Wink

Tinwe · 23/08/2013 21:16

Wave to Workate Grin

Tinwe · 23/08/2013 21:15

Sympathy Oscar - did you stretch well too?

Tinwe · 23/08/2013 21:14

Well done to all ploughing through the runs Smile

I had a tough one today. At the end of the 3rd of 4 runs I was really close to stopping and then the voice over told me I only had X seconds left so I held out... I've only got 1 more week 4 run then onto week 5 though Shock

Thinking about it, I had extended my run to allow for the extra distance of this week (last run I had to do a few laps of the local playground to pass time before I arrived home) and I ended up on an undulating road where my usual route is quite flat. Also, I'm def TOTM (when I feel rough and find exercise harder too for some reason) so I'm trying not to feel too worried about it. Hmm

emsyj · 23/08/2013 16:52

Strangely oscarwilde the 'easiest' and most enjoyable run I've had so far was done after we'd had a totally exhausting day out with the DCs and walked miles - I think warming up is the key to not aching etc, and being active all day meant I was fully warmed up IYSWIM.

oscarwilde · 23/08/2013 15:32

Had a dreadful W2R2 - everything just hurt from start to finish. Wasn't too puffed, but knees and hips and legs all hurt and ached. Not fun. Next run at crack of dawn tomorrow as have to be out early for the day. Fingers crossed that running with the dawn chorus will mean fresh legs Smile

emsyj · 22/08/2013 23:48

I'm due to move on to week 3 so just had a little look at what the next few weeks have got in store and I am a bit scared!!!! Shock I don't see myself being able to run for 5 mins without stopping anytime soon, let alone 20 mins! Sad.

slev · 22/08/2013 23:13

Well I did W2R2 and it wasn't too bad. I did try and run a bit slower and then walk a bit faster to compensate which I'm sure helped, but it wasn't actually that much slower - my overall pace was quicker than my last run! So maybe this does work and my stamina really is increasing - who'd have thought that would happen?!

And nobody remind me of that over-confidence when I step up to W3 on Monday and then die in the process...

Original poster
workatemylife · 22/08/2013 12:51

(waves to Tinwe who is keeping us all trotting along!). I'd second what Tinwe says about week four - it wasn't as bad as I imagined, and I'm interested to see that feeling better in the final run after feeling heavy and sluggish in the first is entirely normal. Sorry to give you a fright. No, I'll not be finishing week 5 any time soon! In theory I should be on week five next week, but I know it is going to be a write-off because I'll not have the chance / location to run. It would be lovely to have done that 20 minute run by the end of the month, but it isn't going to happen. Hopefully sometime in the week ending Sept 7th maybe? You might be able to tell me what it is like Grin
I've just eaten the most massive slice of cake. Now that's hardly going to help, is it? My legs will not be thanking me for my indulgence tomorrow. I do annoy myself sometimes Blush

OP posts:
Tinwe · 21/08/2013 22:07

Don't write yourself off as a runner Ilove! You're doing great to have got so far! I found week 3 tough at times but I plan to push on with the plan until I am actually unable to complete a session and then repeat a session or two. If I trusted my feelings of what I felt capable of I'd have given up at week one so I'm just trusting the programme.

I was dreading week 4, it seemed a big jump from the requirements of week 3 but once I'd geared up mentally for a long slog the running parts actually ended quicker than I expected. Also I think I did kind of get into a rhythm on the longer runs. Still can't imagine doing a 20 minute run by the end of next week though!

Tinwe · 21/08/2013 21:54

Lurking - what made your knee flare up in the first place do you know? Did you twist it or similar or was it just the running? Just thinking of how you could avoid it next time once all the treatment has done its job...

Tinwe · 21/08/2013 21:52

Well done for persevering Shotgun! Smile

Tinwe · 21/08/2013 21:51

Workate - I think a few of us have noticed the first bit of running each session is tougher than once we've warmed into it and found our rhythm. My DH who has run for years says the same. I keep that thought firmly in my head as I start out! Grin

Tinwe · 21/08/2013 21:44

Workate - are you starting week 5 now then? Shock

oscarwilde · 21/08/2013 13:03

Hi Slev - I'm off to do W2R2 tonight which is great timing as MIL arrives this pm -if DH wants a thinner wife, he'll have to do his own entertaining Grin so we're around the same point. W2R1 nearly killed me, adding on 30 seconds seemed to be really tough so I'm hoping it will be a bit easier tonight.

Lurking - if it's getting you down it might be worth checking out your local pool for exercise classes. It's usually really rated by physios and the cool water will act to calm down the joint simultaneously. I've borrowed a cryo cuff in the past and it's been really helpful. There are cheaper options though if you want something you can just velcro on after every run for a bit.
www.healthandcare.co.uk/knee-ice-packs.html?gclid=CPrpy_--jrkCFafLtAodSk4A4g

slev · 21/08/2013 11:59

Hmm, maybe I'm pushing it too much then. Although I'd hasten to add that I couldn't do a whole 5k at 7 minutes/mile - which I think is the problem and why I'm slightly nervous about the step up to week 3 next week - 90 seconds feels like all I can manage! I think it's because the only times I've run recently are for trains etc. and then I tend to be going all out (and nearly dying as a result) - in my head running means going quickly. Right, note to self, try going more slowly when I do W2R2 tomorrow!

Tinwe W4 - congratulations! How bad was it?!

Original poster
workatemylife · 21/08/2013 11:40

Morning all! We all sound so determined to make this work that it is quite infectious! Good luck to those of you who are 'on the bench / sofa' for a few days of recovery. Worth it in the long term I'm sure, although hard core massage on the knee sounds less appealing than some of the runs in the schedule, which is saying something!

Wow some of you are fast. 7-minute miles would put you as the first female finisher in my local Parkrun. My ambition was simply to finish, probably in twice the time Blush

emsyj you sound pretty close to the 5K distance already which must be encouraing - only the equivalent of once round a running track and you're there. Fantastic.

Week four has been okay for me I think. Oddly, I find the second two runs easier than the first two. It may be that I just slow down a little to a more manageable pace, or perhaps it just takes me a while to warm up. I still feel a long way off the 'run for 20 minutes' effort at the end of week five. I won't be able to run as regularly for the next week or two anyway, so maybe spreading 'week five' out a bit might be no bad thing.

OP posts:
ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 21/08/2013 11:07

Ouch your knee sounds painful Lurking. Be really careful when you go back out < states obvious >.

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 21/08/2013 11:04

< waves back >
Hi all - been absent a couple of weeks but lurking and being inspired/sympathetic.
I think I count as an utmost beginner still - been perservering with my 30 sec runs and doing okay, so extended to a minute on Saturday and effectively did W1R1. Felt fine but next time out (Monday), my knees were sore after two steps. Back to the bench Sad.

I reckon it was partly the increased time, but tbh I was going faster than usual; DH was with me and commented on it. I was going to throw in the towel and give up, but reading here I think I'll give it another try, although I'll have to leave it at least a week before getting back out.

At this rate it'll be Easter before I make 5k -but I'm inspired by the mner who recently achieved it aged 55 - I'm 50 so in theory it should be achievable.

lurkingfromhome · 21/08/2013 10:52

Thanks, everyone. Thanks Apparently it's the connective tissue just below my knee that is very inflamed so there's nothing for it except (very hardcore) massage to try to disperse the fluid that has built up (ewww), ice and rest (and yes yes, definitely the mags and tea). Gaaaah!

iloveaglassofwinesorry you are finding this hard but I really don't think you should give up now! You are doing wonderfully well and there is no shame in repeating runs or weeks of runs. I did 4 runs in week 1 then 5 in week 2 before I had to stop running altogether. I think it's better to keep going until you feel ready to move to the next stage or it will always feel just a little bit too difficult. If it takes a few weeks longer, that's nothing in the great scheme of things.

I was talking to a friend of mine last night. She had done no exercise at all until she was 45 other than walking everywhere and an occasional yoga class. She took up running, is now 51 and did her first marathon this year. It took her 6 years to get there but get there she did.

iloveaglassofwine · 21/08/2013 10:41

Hello all,

You're all doing so well, well done! So well in fact, that it's making me question whether I should carry on as I am finding it so hard Blush. I'm repeating week 3 this week and finding it tough going, week 4 is due to start on Sunday. I've said for years that I am not cut out for running, it appears I was correct in this assumption!

Anyway, sorry for the rant - feeling a bit sorry for myself.

Lurking, glad your knee is on the mend. Lots of rest, trashy mag and a few cups of tea will see you right.

Redwelly, sorry you are taking a step back but think you are doing the right thing.

Tinwe, how was W4R1?

Hello to everyone else!

Tinwe · 21/08/2013 09:33

Thanks for the positive words too Lurking! I've just survived W4R1 so I'm pleased Smile

Tinwe · 21/08/2013 09:32

Poor you lurking! Did you say you knew what was causing the pain, or just trying to manage it? I hope it resolves soon, as I can tell you're really motivated to get going again. Don't rush things and do yourself a permanent injury though.

lurkingfromhome · 21/08/2013 07:52

You are all doing so well!

My deep tissue massage has helped my knee somewhat (no longer wake up in the middle of the night in agony; in fact it has been more than 12 hours since I took any painkillers at all). As long as I'm resting it's not too bad but if I walk around too much it starts to hurt again. So I'm officially Not a Runner for a little while longer. Sad

Have another massage session on Monday so I think I'll aim to get back out there next Wednesday, all going well. I am desperately hoping I will be OK, and also that I don't have to start again at W1. Sigh ... this is very very frustrating.