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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:
redwellybluewelly · 13/08/2013 22:31

Hmm

I tried a decent cool down tonight and stretches but my CS scar is really sore and pulling inside. I know if I stop doing this I'll lose momentum but at the same time don't want to cause long term damage.

Any thoughts?

Tinwe · 13/08/2013 22:31

Well done Selv! The first step is the hardest Smile

Tinwe · 13/08/2013 22:30

RedWelly/ Workate - good point about safety. It has crossed my mind that having earphones in when running in a secluded area is somewhat risky. I live in a country area which means more bushes/trees and less lights than main streets but also feels like I'm less likely to meet anyone at all! Now I'm using my phone to Map my Run I feel a bit safer should I fall and need to get help and I try to keep the volume down but loud enough so I can hear it through my gasping breath so I can hear any cars coming.

slev · 13/08/2013 22:27

Well I think I've just joined you! Went for my first run this evening and feel surprisingly okay after it - and quite chuffed with myself for getting off my fat backside the sofa and getting out there.

Planning on doing W1R2 onThursday - fingers crossed I can keep the motivation going. Must sort out the GPS on my phone as well - ended up doing laps of the park and lost count so no idea how far I actually went. Fortunately I had it to myself so nobody to see me running round and round like a nutter!

Tinwe · 13/08/2013 22:21

Good as - which core exercises are you/have you been doing?

Tinwe · 13/08/2013 22:20

MyDaydream - how long do you normally leave after a meal? I think I'd need at least 3-4 hours! Stomach cramps must be awful, I hear there's something like runners' belly too Confused

Tinwe · 13/08/2013 22:18

Hi RedWelly, I'm using Map my Run too. It's great! Do you know whether the calorie count bit considers gradient? I went on a hill walk yesterday and it says we covered 8km but mostly almost vertical.

Tinwe · 13/08/2013 22:15

Wow Goodas! Sounds like you're doing the hurdles not jogging! Grin

Tinwe · 13/08/2013 22:15

Dotty! You'll be my run buddy as I'm doing W3R1 tomorrow too Smile

Have just had a 2 day break and really missed running today as I've only had 1 day gaps so far. Hoping that extra break will have helped me when I move on up tomorrow! As someone else described for themselves up thread I've got weak glutes, inner thighs and core so my knee caps are tracking wrongly too. I've started Pilates today though to build my core strength and balance my muscles. I'm also doing weights and stretches on my rest days to sort my upper body!

Running tracks - I have quite a few on shuffle so here's a sample. I consider I have eclectic tastes but for my upbeat running list I chose mainly cheesy, "bouncy beat", old stuff... feel free to critique! I'm sure music choices reflect a lot about personality too so I'm enjoying reading other people's Grin

theme tune from the A team,
theme tune from Shaft,
Thorn in my side - Eurythmics,
Dance to the music - Sly and the Family Stone,
Think - Aretha Franklin,
Don't get me wrong - The Pretenders,
Little L - Jamiroquai,
Everyday is a winding road - ,
Rasputin - Boney M,
I am what I am - Gloria Gaynor,
Take me Out -Franz Ferdinand,
St Elmos Fire by ?,
Suddenly I see - K T Tunstall,
Bat Out of Hell - Meatloaf,
Live and Let Die - Wings,
Moving on Up - Screamadelica, Clocks - Coldplay
I don't want a lover - Texas
Everyday is a winding road - Sheryl Crow

goodasitgets · 13/08/2013 21:31

I think I will be repeating w1r1 until I can do it
Having to dodge gates, drinking teenagers and small children throwing tomatoes possibly didn't help Smile

redwellybluewelly · 13/08/2013 21:05

Yes I think I am - slightly concerned - its meant to be c25k and its called Zombies! Run! but seems to have a different setup. I'll see how I go but even if I do this foreeight weeks and then the NHS version it'll all be good exercise andmI'm using map my run as well so can compare increasing fitness.

dottypyjamas · 13/08/2013 20:58

X post with mydaydream Garr silly cramps!

dottypyjamas · 13/08/2013 20:54

Evening all, sounds like everyone is doing well! Hope those with injuries/niggles feel better soon.

W3r1 tomorrow (was meant to be on Monday but forgot to upgrade my app from the free 2 wk trial, so had to redo w2r3 - doh!)

red are you doing a different plan? Mine ends in a slow 5 min cool down not a jog? Just curious Smile

lurking jealous of the massage!

Hopefully dd lets us sleep tonight so I have some energy tomorrow!

MyDaydream · 13/08/2013 20:49

Did W2R1 on Monday but didn't leave enough time wafter dinner and ended up with stomach cramps 3/4 of the way through so just speed walked home. Up to that point I was feeling good, the 90 second runs seemed to go much quicker than the shorter ones last week. I've found some local woods I'm going to try out tomorrow, I'm still struggling to find somewhere I want to run in my area.

redwellybluewelly · 13/08/2013 20:20

Did it.
Didn't burn as many calories apparently but I think I paced myself better finishing with a solid five minute jog..

goodasitgets · 13/08/2013 19:26

Ok 15.38 done Sad
It's my legs that hurt, my breathing is fine

redwellybluewelly · 13/08/2013 18:40

I'm just feeding the baby then putting the older child to bed then getting changed to go and run. Thats the plan!

goodasitgets · 13/08/2013 18:36

I've downloaded the app. I have all the clothing so no excuses
8 weeks off exercise due to sciatica (caused by weak core) so I've been hammering the core exercises
Just eaten so should give it half an hour? Hoping people won't laugh at me Blush

oscarwilde · 13/08/2013 17:20

Hi Leon - that's brilliant. Thank you.

About to run off home so sorry to be brief. C2k is my first attempt at exercise in a lonnnng time. I think I may have briefly used a cross trainer and cycled a bit in between pregnancies but clearly not enough to make an impression.
So far I've done wk 1 and start wk 2 tomorrow. I have a set of dumbells still in their wrappers at home, a pilates ball (not inflated), a long sausage shaped foam roller and a hybrid bike which I plan to start commuting 6 miles to work on in the very near future when I stop procrastinating
So no squats or anything similar done yet. Glutes are already tightening up and giving sciatic like pain but not down the leg so I know I need to get moving.
I've had a lot of personal training in the past so I've got a reasonable idea of "form" and posture for exercises. I know that I was quite good on one leg but very weak on the other for one legged squats for example.
I'm not sure where to start though leaving aside finding the time. What would you recommend as a basic set of strengthening exercises with someone starting out? Would you do them on the night off or after a run?
What's a good sign that you are running incorrectly? Tight hamstrings?

leonferao · 13/08/2013 17:10

Hi Oscarwilde

I have been lurking on the site for the best part of the last 10 months, as I have recently joined the happy/tired world of parenting. Having found this site very useful, I wanted to start giving something back by helping out with health, fitness and general wellbeing questions.

I have been in the industry for almost 14 years now, run my own strength and conditioning facility, so I have plenty of hands on experience...

I wondered what the issue was, as the chances are I can help you strengthen the imbalances and ensure that you're at way less risk of this happening again.

I have just posted on the site under the exercise section regarding any questions people may have and that I would be happy to help.

Do you currently train at a gym or do you have any home equipment? and has anything been done as yet to strengthen the glutes?

Thanks
Leon

oscarwilde · 13/08/2013 17:05

Hi Leon. I tore some ligaments running on sand (not a good plan) and had physiotherapy for long time. Diagnosis was poor strength in glutes, knee caps sliding off to one side so I wore a brace for a long time and then gave up running when I got pregnant.

Just started running again after 4 yrs off so hoping that's enough to stop a reoccurance. Using Saucony trainers (new 4 yrs ago and barely worn but fitted after gait analysis). Haven't started any strength training, squats etc as yet and running on grass to reduce joint damage.

Why do you ask? Smile

leonferao · 13/08/2013 14:45

Hi Oscarwilde

what issues were you having with your knees and what trainers were you using?

Are you currently pain free and did you see a specialist about them?

lurkingfromhome · 13/08/2013 14:27

One of my parks is so busy all the time that I dare not go there for fear of bumping into someone I know. Grin The other one is much more beautiful but quite deserted and I do know what you mean about feeling a little bit vulnerable. I tend to run on busy streets.

Welcome, murtette. In wk 1, you do a 5-minute brisk walk to warm up and then run for 60 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, with 8 repeats (so you're actually only running for 8 minutes in total). I think that covers just over 3K but I'm not exactly sure

My playlist is a bit embarrassing, I'm afraid Blush. Lots of Abba, lots of Blondie, lots of Donna Summer, "Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac - in short, all the things I would never listen to at home or my DH would laugh at me too much. Grin

I too would be delighted to hear more suggestions as I'm having to change the playlist every couple of runs to keep my interest and I usually listen to Massive Attack and Portishead type stuff which is far far too mellow for running Grin

Original poster
workatemylife · 13/08/2013 13:55

Sounds lovely lurking. I hope you start to feel the benefits soon - it must be time to move on a week especially since some of your problems were to do with technology rather than actual running! I went out yesterday so today was more leisurely - I went for a walk rather than running, just to stay loose.

Well done welly on sticking with it. I had a CS and was nowhere near as energetic as this for a long time afterwards. Look after yourself!

I know what you mean about safety. I ran around the park in the morning the other day and felt quite conspicuous, although I'm sure I saw another lady doing C25K or similar - headphones, walking, running, walking, running, and quite frankly, who cares (in theory - I still think passers by worry about my wellbeing!). My other route is round some playing fields which are deserted. The first couple of runs I did were there and i appreciated the lack of spectators, but after that I started to wonder whether it was really the best place to be. Running alone, not capable of sprinting away from danger, wearing headphones etc etc. Even more simply, if I stuck my foot down a rabbit hole I could wait weeks before anyone came along and rescued me. I've almost talked myself into heading back to the park.

Maybe have a look at your local park in the evening? You might find that there are a lot of people around anyway. Ours tends to have a fair number of folk jogging and cycling

OP posts:
Murtette · 13/08/2013 13:54

Hello
I've finally run out of excuses and am planning on starting c25k this weekend. For those of you who listen to your own music, what tracks do you listen to? I think I need a playlist so I don't end up with something slow when I need to be fired up. Also, how many k do you cover on week one runs? I'm presuming that if its a mix of running & walking, it's going to be about 3 or 4k. This would be useful to know as then I'll know which direction to head in. And how many runs are there in week one?
Thanks

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