Couch to 5k- Cage your inner chimp and get started!

I had achey legs last week, but I've put that down to getting proper running trainers and that correcting things which is making my muscles work properly, or something!

I'm hoping the weather's not too bad here tomorrow cos I won't have anyone to watch the DDs on Sunday, so I'm going to have to go tomorrow morning! Also got to make sure I drag my arse out of bed in time to go!

I don't usually ache after running either. I find some other exercises make me ache though. Perhaps it depends on your body shape and what your body is used to doing. Sometimes I get a cramp in my calf during the run. I've always had crampy legs so I just ignore it. Not aching might be a good sign as your technique is fine if not causing you any pain :)

starlight it will definitely get easier. I've been raving about C25K to everyone as it has made such a difference to my life. I really struggled in the first couple of weeks but now I can run 30 minutes no problem. It's worth having rest days and sticking to just the three runs per week at first to avoid burning out or getting injuries, but obviously up to you what works for you! I'm pretty sure I was slower than my walking pace in my first few weeks but now I'm a little faster at running than walking, that's not something I've deliberately worked on, it's just happened. I'd say focus on just doing the runs for now and then when you can run for 30 mins you could start doing speed work if that's what you want, but I'm sure as you get into it you will speed up naturally anyway :)

As it turns out tomorrow is my last available day for a lie in of the holidays so I'm going to have a 2 day break and run on Sunday instead. It's forecast to rain more heavily tomorrow too so leaving it til Sunday might be the best option anyway.

Starlight, it definitely does get easier. And I don't ache either. I find it weird because others do, but I'm doing what I'm supposed to, a light jog, sticking to the times etc so I just carry on. I find it takes less and less time to recover between runs and that's how I know it's getting better. You should really try and have a rest day if you can, even if you don't ache, your muscles are still repairing and need the time to do so. I know some people run every day though with no trouble, you just wouldn't want to get injured so early on in your commitment!

Well I hope it does get easier. I might try again today. It says to have a day of rest but if I did that it may well end up being a year. Nothing hurts so I may as well.

starlight well done for starting! It honestly does get easier! My "running" is more a bouncy walk half the time, but it all counts! When I first started, I found the first week impossible, 2months ago I posted elsewhere saying I'd cut short all the 2m runs. Then I had a month off cos I was poorly and yesterday ran 20m with a 1m walk in the middle! At first it feels like you'll never do it, but honest, you'll get there!

lookout I'd just realised that too! I'm either going tonight or tomorrow morning, ideally I'd like to do tomorrow, but I'm going to keep an eye on the weather forecast!

Fast? I reckon I'm slower running than I am walking. I really am going as slow as I can. Must be doing something wrong though coz Dh did it too and says he aches. I don't ache.

Thanks. I kept going doing one thing or other until then end. I doubt I'll be able to move onto week 2 for a few months though. I quite liked the music and tonight was a fine night for being out.

DH did it after me so hopefully we can support each other.

Just realised AllFur that we are on exactly the same run! When are you going for w5r3? I'm going on Saturday morning. Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement solve. I am kind of looking forward to challenging myself now. And it's getting lighter in the mornings already so my run in the woods is less scary!

Starlight Well done for getting started!! I do think jogging has it's very own special fitness category It took me 1 year of Pilates, 6 months of Barre Concept and then 5 months of interval training before I felt I could even attempt running, and even then it was damn hard work. Keep at it though, it does get easier. And so rewarding!

Grrrr, PLEASE tell me that the definition of couch potato is a size 10 regular netball player. I just tried first one and couldn't get through the second run though I walk 8 miles each day in term time.

lookout, I was soooo nervous about the 20 minute run on week 5 and really didn't think I was going to be able to do it. But I did! So don't worry too much, it's all I the mind at this stage.

It's nice to hear that some if you are low carbing, I am too. I entered ketosis on NYE so today was my first run in ketosis. I expected it to make me more tired but the 25 minute run wasn't any more difficult than it was when I was full of carbs!

Only one run left of week 7 now.

Well done everyone on your running!!

Did w5r2 today and found the 8m easier than expected. 20m on Saturday though...

Well done everyone! First run of the year for me today and I actually really enjoyed it! It was w5r2, so 8m R, 5m W x2, but I actually did 12m R, 1m W and 8R! I was properly shocked! I can't believe I did 12 minutes running! I was properly dreading the 20m run, but I can totally do it! I never thought I'd be able to run more than a minute! I saw the positive side of it too today, took the DDs out on their new bikes and was chasing them without being out of breath!

Well done Ruby and Shiney.

Well today I got well and truly lost as I went running in the woods. I did my 25 minute run and then as I was soooo far from home I did another 10 minutes. I had a little break as I navigated myself out of the mud and the woods. Plus I would haven done more if it wasn't so much uphill.

Am thinking of ditching Laura for a little while and putting on my own music for a change. We will see. I have grown fond of the cheesy music. My podcast app on my android phone kept cutting out. But I think the android runkeeper was more accurate.

Ok, I know this isn't great shakes but I started the C25k on Boxing Day after not having done any exercise for at least 3 months.
I did week 4 today of the programme I am on, so 5 sets of 4 mins, with a 1 min rest between sets.
The last set was really hard but by the time I had finished it, I honestly could have carried on a little longer...well, the flat bit anyway...the uphill was tough.
I am going to try 6 min sets next just to see what I can do.
Feel free proud of myself and am hoping for some good weather over the weekend so I can try the longer runs (well, very slow jogs)

Oh and rugby I find eggs and cheese are the best for keeping me full for longer. Also I try and eat slowly and mindfully which seems to help. Try to eat things that will keep your blood sugar fairly stable, not too much sugar or simple carbs, as when it spikes and then falls that can make you hungry.

Well done rugby I felt exactly the same when I first started, thought I'd never be able to finish the programme. Which leads me to my next point...

WEEK EIGHT RUN THREE DONE!!!

I'm not quite up to 5K but ran for 30 minutes solid. Yippee! I cannot tell you, although I'm sure those who have already finished will know, how fabulous it felt to finish. Such a sense of accomplishment. It's taken me a little over eight weeks and I run fairly slowly, but when I compare that to how unfit I was when I finished chemo I could never imagine how quickly I would improve.

So if you're in the first few weeks and thinking you can't do it, you can! Stick with it, it's definitely worth it.

My plan now is to continue to run for ~30 minutes on my two weekday mornings and then try and run 5km on Saturdays. Then once I can manage 5km I will start using my 5K Forever app to increase my speed. I don't have any strong desire to run further than 5K at the moment.

Rugby, awesome, you've just done week 1!! Well done on getting through it, you're right to feel pleased with yourself. To fill up, snack on nuts and seeds, and have stuff like almonds, avocados, salmon, eggs, chicken which fill you up for longer. Soups with veggie carbs are good for comfort food at this time of year too (thanks to cinnamon for making me think of that!) Out of interest, which watch do you have and what does it do?

Soups are great even when low carbing. In fact they are awesome over the winter: the sweet potatp, parsnip, carrot, squash, lentil combinations are pretty much the only carbs allowed so are great on a day when I allow carbs. I love pasta too, so used to have pasta some weekends, and I'd let myself have gluten free on a running day I reckon. I think I may have a gluten intolerance, I've felt like crap since I started eating wheat again, so will be happy to cut down again really. If only it didn't taste so damn good!

Just demonstrated my first bit of self control of 2014: rather than stay up with dh with another beer and another episode of Dexter, I am off to bed to get at least 7 hours in before my run tomorrow

Hi all,

week 1 run 3 completed and feeling pretty pleased with myself. It was really hard just to manage 2 minute runs (it was run 2min + walk 2min, 6 times) and it's hard to imagine running 5k but it seems everyone feels like that at the start so I just have to stick with it.

I love downloading the runs from my running watch to my laptop - I'm such a nerd but seeing the little map and my time/distance makes me feel a bit professional and is helping me stick to the running. So glad I had vouchers to use so I could treat myself at xmas .

I'm combining the running with dieting - logging everything on MFP and will be back to Rosemary Conley next week. I'm hoping to lose another 2 stone (and maybe a bit more but I'll decide once I get there) and I'm finding being active makes me want to make healthy food choices BUT I'm really hungry all day and I seem to be really feeling the cold. Any tips for filling up?

cinnamon - congratulations on the great weight loss and on maintaining it. You must feel so much better for it.

HalleLoujaandHappyNewYear - I've just read the free sample on my kindle and enjoyed it so hoping for kindle vouchers for my birthday in a couple of weeks. Let me know what you think.

solveproblem - hope the weather is better tomorrow. How are you finding wek 7?

lookout - the exercise def has to be better than nothing and hopefully it'll help you when you decide to go back to the diet. I know I couldn't low carb even in the summer - love my pasta, rice and cous cous although I'd happily give up bread - but I imagine it must be really tough over the winter.

cinnamon it sounds like you were pretty committed and I think that's what I lack. I tried low carbing at the beginning of the year and loved it, felt so much better for it, but since the onset of winter, I have been craving carbs something rotten! I'm hoping I can get back on it once ds1 and dh are back at school and we are back into a routine. Atm the lazy days and evenings are just not conducive to me making an effort with food/alcohol . I keep telling myself though, that at least I am making an effort with my fitness, and that that's better than nothing at all.