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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:
Original poster
workatemylife · 05/08/2013 21:25

What a busy day on here! I have a silly question : does anyone else get a sore head after a run? I have tried to drink water in case it is dehydration but now I wonder if its not just my belly that wobbles but my brain too Grin

OP posts:
HerLadyshipsSoap · 05/08/2013 21:16

My face still looks as if I fell asleep in the sun one hour later

TallyGrenshall · 05/08/2013 20:44

Wk1 finished Grin

I have decided that running in the rain is much nicer than running in the heat and sun. The rain was keeping me nice and cool, I was even jumping over puddles Grin

I might start wk2 tomorrow night because it's DP's birthday on Wed and we're getting pissed as farts going out on Friday so I need to jiggle about a bit. I'll see how I feel though.

HerLadyshipsSoap I didn't even think I could ever run for a minute at a time when I started but tonight was fine. I'm definitely in a much better state tonight than I was when I started. I don't carry water with me either, I have a drink before I go and then one when I get back. I think if I tried to walk and drink at the same time, I'll fall over Grin

HerLadyshipsSoap · 05/08/2013 20:03

Did it! Last 30 seconds seem to go much faster when walking for some reason Hmm. Dont know how I will ever run for more than one minute without dying. I didn't carry water with me - should I?

lurkingfromhome · 05/08/2013 19:41

Well done everybody who went out today. I think running in the rain is probably something I am going to have to get used to, bearing in mind it's the UK and this summer(ish) weather can't last too much longer.

W2R1 tomorrow for me. Have a meeting in town and need to leave the house at 10:15 so will be doing an earlyish run. Just in time for rush-hour traffic and loads of buses with commuters staring out at me wondering why I can only manage to run for 90 seconds at a time and yet STILL have a purple face Grin

TallyGrenshall · 05/08/2013 19:35

I'm waiting for a storm to pass before I go out. I was allfur running in the rain but I'll give lightning a miss Grin

oscarwilde · 05/08/2013 17:48

Well, got home just in time for the heavens to open in biblical terms so it was well worth getting out there when I did. I don't mind running in the rain actually as my face always goes tomato red in seconds so it's nice to avoid heatstroke in a spot of British summer. Haven't been this red in the face since I had DD2 though. Poor DH Blush

It wasn't too bad actually. 1 min on, 1.5 off x 8 seemed to be just the right level though I am embarrassingly red for what is in fact just 8 mins of running in total. Onwards and upwards

One top tip for you ladies which I am going to do later is to measure myself (rather than weighing). Waist, chest, hips, thighs, calves, upper arms and write it all down. I'm going to come back to it in 4 weeks and see what has changed. My experience of running (for me) is that I don't lose a pound for ages and then it all falls off. I actually put on weight (under the lard) as I build some muscle so it's deeply depressing. I did a bootcamp pre DC and the inch measurements were a brilliant indicator. One lady "only" lost 10 lbs but 18 inches off her hips....They had to find her a belt to keep her trousers up on going home day as we'd spent the week in what was by then manky tracksuit bottoms.

Off to make myself a virtuous cup of tea and check out the weather forecast for Wednesday.

I can give you a bootcamp circuits program Dotty if you want it? I've seen the Shred mentioned on here. Apparently it's on Youtube so I might have a gander and see if it can be done discreetly at home.

dottypyjamas · 05/08/2013 17:38

Nice one oscar - It's not so bad in the rain once you give into it is it! Would still rather run in the dry ao hope the good weather will last a bit longer

coconutty you can do it with a stopwatch if you wanted to start before getting a new phone, just google couchto5k and you can get the programme there.

Go for it herladyshipssoap, hope you have a good first run!

Next run tomorrow, I need something to do on rest days so may look at the NHS stretching app someone linked to (sorry can't remember who mentioned it!?) Unless anyone has any suggestions of exercise that works for them?

oscarwilde · 05/08/2013 17:19

Done it! Quite wet now but the cool water on my altogether puce face was v welcome. Grin Realised just as I was leaving that I have no music on my phone so had to listen to my heavy breathing all the way aroundShock

redwellybluewelly · 05/08/2013 16:51

Jfdi!

oscarwilde · 05/08/2013 16:19

About to go out and heavens have opened. Tell me to jfdi would you all please?

Coconutty · 05/08/2013 15:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HerLadyshipsSoap · 05/08/2013 15:32

Ok this is clearly meant to be as I was trying to gather the will power to start today and then I saw this thread. I've got the new trainers, I've downloaded the app, just need DH home from work to mind kids and semi darkness so no one sees me and then I too will join you all.....( wonders is there such a thing as a sports belly bra?)

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 05/08/2013 14:26

Oh nightmare! You could order a few online to try and you'd have them before the weekend - save a trip.
Ennell is brilliant if you're booby

redwellybluewelly · 05/08/2013 13:01

I have today made a quite enormous effort to get into the city (with both children) in order to purchase a sports bra. Simple one might think.

Bravissimo is all upstairs with no lift and the one downstairs changing room was in use. Baby started scream so we had to go. Got to John Lewis and baby asleep. Started looking for sports bras and the 3yo decided to have epic tantrum which then woke the baby.

So we came home.

I might try again at the weekend or possibly risk buying online!

MyDaydream · 05/08/2013 12:56

I'm starting today, looking over Google maps to find a good route because I live in a seriously hilly area so trying to find the best route with a lovely downhill to the finish!
I told DP about Parkrun, with my plan being to start halfway through C25k but DP is quite into the idea of it so were both going this weekend. He can get the coffee in afterwards while I plod in 15 minutes later! I've looked at the results for my local one and the slowest people are around the 45 minute mark which I can do speed walking. How successful I'll be running with DS is still to be seen.

Original poster
workatemylife · 05/08/2013 11:57

What a great weekend you've all been having! I spent most of mine eating too much Blush but I knew that was going to be the case and pulled the trainers on this morning to get the week off to a better start. At least it isn't as hot this week, although my face is radiating a fair amount of heat across the neighbourhood!
I do feel slightly better already, although this may just be a delusion. I really appreciate the walking breaks, but I caught running with a bit of a bounce in the step today. It probably felt better than it looked though. I suspect I run like an 80-year old. Fingers crossed that we get to the end. Thank you to all those who are popping in to say that it works.

OP posts:
ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 05/08/2013 11:06

Yay I went out yesterday! 45 mins in total, did 10 x 30 sec runs. It felt fine and easily manageable but I'm determined not to push too quickly (done that before and regretted it).

Been feeling achey and inflamed lately but the run hasn't made anything feel worse so that's good.

lurkingfromhome · 05/08/2013 09:15

Well done everyone who went out over the weekend. I went out yesterday and did W1R3 so will be doing W2R1 tomorrow. Exciting! I feel ready to progress now, probably because I did an extra R1 before I decided on my app. Looking forward to pushing myself a little bit more tomorrow.

anotherworld, thanks for the Parkrun tips. My local one is far far too daunting at the moment (I mentioned upthread that there were about 370 runners in mine and the slowest one was faster than I can imagine ever being ...) but I'm going to get my courage together and join them in a few months' time.

tinwe - I hadn't heard of that app but sounds like something I'd really like to do as I am definitely very untoned of muscle as well as horribly unfit. I'm going to go and investigate.

maggietess - your poor DS Sad sounds like it's not stopping him from being a future runner in the making, though!

I was thinking this morning that we have done so well starting this new programme in summer as by the time the cold dark mornings come along, it should (hopefully) be second nature and we'll just get up and go out running without really thinking about it. Am I being too optimistic there?

Good luck today, everyone!

Maggietess · 05/08/2013 08:19

W1r1 going to happen this evening.

Had planned on starting on Thurs then ds broke his legSad ... He's not even quite a toddler so I've been wallowing ("what a bad mother I just be Shock ").

But he's decided he can speed crawl in a cast kit makes some noise!) and still cruise the furniture so I've decided I can now leave him for half an hour with DH and actually go for it. Will report back!

Good luck to all starting today!!

AnotherWorld · 05/08/2013 08:09

Hi all. Just to add a recommendation - I did c25k back in jan last year. Excellent program. Took me literally from the couch to actually running 5k with a few bumps along the way.

I also added Parkrun and run when I can. I am honestly say they are a lovely lovely group to run with. There will usually be a tail runner whose job it is to help the new runners round. I owe a lot to a chap called Aurelio who is our local tail runner. Even if you aren't actually last he's still shouting encouragement. My 5ks are around the 36-37 min mark.

Give Parkrun a try when you are towards the end of the program though as you may find it a bit de motivating before that.

iloveweetos · 05/08/2013 07:25

It's the 5th already!!! Will do a run later after work x

Tinwe · 05/08/2013 07:04

Just about to give the NHS stretch and strength (or similar) podcast a go. It's supposed to help you be more flexible and tone muscle and can be done on c25k rest days. Anyone else tried it? Smile

TallyGrenshall · 04/08/2013 15:00

It's me with the hill. It's a big hill so my warm up doesn't get me to the flat bit (or even close). The only way round it would be to drive to the park and run around that but that would mean more people to see me Shock and more faff so I'm just going to stick with the hill.

On the plus side, I suppose if I ever do a 5k or a parkrun then it will mainly be flat so it won't seem so bad Grin

iloveaglassofwine · 04/08/2013 14:19

It was okay dotty. I expected it to be much harder running for those extra 30 seconds but it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. I wouldn't quite say i was enjoying it as such but I can see that i might until the dark, cold mornings in the winter.

Tinwe, lots of dog walkers here too, they prob wonder why I'm dressed in running gear but keep walking.