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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:
Tinwe · 18/08/2013 21:00

Sorry to hear that Red but a wise idea I think. Better to heal first than rush and injure yourself more. CS are major abdominal surgery after all. Long brisk walks are a great starting point when/if you do decide to start again too. Smile

redwellybluewelly · 18/08/2013 19:50

Hiya, I'm going to take a break from the C25k running because I think I'm trying to do it too soon after a CS. What I am going to do however is get 30 minutes of walking in every day for a few weeks until I've seen our NHS womens physio and had sone some advice.

Wishing everyone the very best of luck!

lurkingfromhome · 18/08/2013 12:27

Ah, thanks FourGates, I hadn't thought of acupuncture. That's a really good tip. If tomorrow's massage doesn't help I'll get an acupuncture session booked in. Or perhaps I'll do both.

Longing to be back out there! Who'd have thunk I'd actually be missing the running at this early stage Grin

FourGates · 18/08/2013 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tinwe · 18/08/2013 08:53

HAS ANYONE ELSE LOOKED AS FAR AS WEEK 5?! Just about to start week 4 on my next run so I had a look ahead. The runs increase each time (not over a week like so far) and you go from 5 minute runs to 20 mins by the end. Shock So if all goes to plan I'll be running for 20 mins on 1st September... Hmmmm, can't see that happening! Hmm

Tinwe · 18/08/2013 08:48

Sorry emsjy, don't know anything about Podcasts. I hated the NHS music too, found it didn't help my energy at all so I switched to an app on my iphone. If you don't find a better podcast do you have access to an android phone as they have good apps too I believe...

MyDaydream · 17/08/2013 22:42

Have a search through the Podcasts, I think there was another type of podcast for C25k but I can't vouch for their music since I didn't download it. I know what you mean though, I'd much rather have my own music, but it'll just be a perk of completing the programme.

emsyj · 17/08/2013 21:45

I did week 2 run 1 today and found that it was better than week 1 thanks to the reduced number of repetitions. I am hating the NHS music though, but I don't think I can get anything else on an ipod as everything else seems to be an app, is that right?? Sad If anyone knows if there is an alternative podcast with better music then let me know... I wish I had an iPhone now so I could get an app. Sad

MyDaydream · 17/08/2013 15:19

I find it so hard to keep up with you all! I've done W2R3 and am feeling good about next week. The count to 4 breathing tip this week seems to have made it easier for me. Todays run was slightly adapted to fit into Parkrun, so did my warm up before it started and had to push on longer after the podcast finished. Whoever said they didn't want to find it only took them half way round, that's exactly what happened. I went last week but forgot my headphones so just did my own thing, but today I was almost at the halfway line but pushed on. The second lap at mine is easier because its shorter and I know I don't need to do it again! Going to have a long soak in the bath and get ready for Monday. (I can't actually believe I'm enjoying this so much)
Hope you start to feel better soon lurking, hope your massage does something to help get you aback out there.

Tinwe · 17/08/2013 14:06

Poor you Lurking! You sound like you really need medical advice :(

lurkingfromhome · 17/08/2013 13:10

Thanks, all, for your kind messages! My knee is so sore today that I can't even leave the house to go to the supermarket every cloud has a silver lining Am downing anti-inflammatories but can only take 3 of these super-strength ones a day. Hoping for a miracle cure on Monday ...

Good luck with your weekend runs, everyone. I will be cheering you on from the sofa Grin

Tinwe · 17/08/2013 12:19

No probs Dotty, I'm W3R2 now although will be doing R3 tomorrow. Pleased the reducing cycle info was helpful, made a big difference to me Wink

dottypyjamas · 17/08/2013 09:50

Oh and hope you recover quickly lurking and the massage helps a bit - how frustrating for you Flowers

dottypyjamas · 17/08/2013 09:48

Hey tinwe, sadly run twin no longer as I couldn't get out yesterday (was gutted as it was my first missed run) but went out this morning, for w3r2, was ok though I can't help feeling like ilove, that w4 seems quite a step up but I'm going to go with the programme and do it anyway I think, hopefully w3r3 will go ok...

Also, whoever pointed out upthread to remember there are less repetitions (ie from 8 runs in w1 to 6 in w2 and then 4 in w3) was an absolute lifesaver!

Tinwe · 17/08/2013 04:16

By the way everyone- did you know Aldi are selling women's running gear at the mo? It's got black and pink on for the person who said they really like pink kit Grin

Tinwe · 17/08/2013 04:15

That's a shame Ilove. Why not try the next level and see how you do? You could always revert if you need to. Maybe it was just a bad day, like you said you felt ready until that last run. Had you eaten within a few hours of running since it was later in the day?

iloveaglassofwine · 16/08/2013 22:09

Hello Tinwe. I set off okay and felt like i could tell i was improving but it came to the last 3 minute run and i couldn't do it - i had to walk it. I don't know if it's because i ran this evening and i was tired and warm (i usually run at 6:30 am) or if I just need to repeat the week. W4 really steps up with a couple of 5 min runs and i don't thonk I'm fit enough / prepared enough.

Tinwe · 16/08/2013 21:48

dotty , my run twin, have you done W3R2 yet?

Tinwe · 16/08/2013 21:46

Hello Ilove! Not seen you for a bit. Why such a disaster? I found W3R2 quite a bit harder than R1 but still plan to try and move up as planned after R3. If I can't cope with the next level I'll step back then.

iloveaglassofwine · 16/08/2013 21:25

lurking, could you maybe try some ibroprofen to reduce any inflamation in your knee? Sounds awful. Plenty of rest, you can pick up the running again when it feels better, then maybe you could strap it up when you first start to run again.

Disclaimer, i have no experience of this so feel free to ignore my waffle Grin.

iloveaglassofwine · 16/08/2013 21:19

Oh. W3R3 was a disaster. I won't be moving on to w4 on Sunday as planned, I think I'll repeat this week and see how I get on. Feeling a bit Sad if I`m struggling already then it doesn't bode well.

slev · 16/08/2013 14:56

Well I did W1R2 last night and oof, that was a lot harder than the first one. Think the novelty has worn off already and my muscles just couldn't be bothered. But I did enjoy nonchalantly (sp?) informing DH that I was "just going out for a run" - because that's what I do now. Apparently I covered 2.2 miles - although suffice to say the interval distances got shorter and shorter as I got more knackered. Will try and do R3 first thing Saturday morning I think, and then have the weekend off.

And I'm pretty sure I'm not going to lose any weight but on the plus side I can justify the piece of carrot cake I've just demolished because at least I did something to earn it. Even if it had twice as many calories as I burnt off in my run... But for me it's more about fitness and hopefully just being a bit less lethargic in the evenings.

lurkingfromhome · 16/08/2013 12:55

Aaargh. My knee is now so painful that I can't possibly run on it, in fact I can barely walk and I am downing extra-strength Voltarol. Woke up at 6:30 this morning just with the pain. What have I done to myself? Sad

I have another sports/deep tissue massage booked in for Monday morning. My Achilles tendon is not too troublesome but I need to get the knee sorted before I can go out again. Grrrrrrr. Very very annoyed, especially as otherwise I actually feel I am doing quite well, not getting any new injuries and managing the cardio stuff just fine.

Hoping if I rest until Wednesday that I might be able to go out again then, which will mean a 6-day break. Sigh.

Original poster
workatemylife · 16/08/2013 12:35

Well done Tinwe!

I'm not using an app so I can only guess at speed from time and distance covered. Today I covered about 3.8km in 26 / 27 mins. I do wonder if I walk faster than I run though (!) so the warm-up walk was probably the best part of this!

At the moment I'm just following the timings from NHS Laura and not worrying too much about distance. But I've found a map of the local Parkrun course and might try running around that in the later weeks of the schedule. I'd love to know whether I could get round the Parkrun course before I register to do it and discover that 30 minutes of running for me equates to about one lap!

Here's to some loose-fitting jeans as a result of all this. I don't possess a lycra jumpsuit alas, but would probably burst out of it if I sat down at the moment Wink

OP posts:
Tinwe · 16/08/2013 10:44

W3R2 completed! According to Map my Run I'm averaging 7.4mins /km. How is everyone else using the app doing?

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