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

Lookout I have only completed c25k once but done it a few times.

Am out later this afternoon though.

Thanks all.

I don't wear anything on my head in the rain. Never occurred to me.

Halle when you say the first time, do you mean you did it twice?

cinnamon well it is good to know I'm not the only one but it does mean I'm now a bit anxious about run 2. Usually I feel like I could run a bit more when she says it's time to stop, but this time I was desperate for her voice and stopped walking the second she said I could

I was also wearing a hat this time because of the rain and I was too hot. Maybe that didn't help. What do others wear on their heads in the rain?

Woohoo, this morning I went to my first Rosemary Conley class since November (new job and poorly kids have meant I've missed loads of classes). Discovered I'd lost 6lb since my last class so I'm the lightest I've been since way before DD1 - still have 1.5 - 2 stone to go to reach a healthy BMI but going in the right direction. So pleased I decided to go straight out for my next run rather than getting changed - a low impact aerobics session is included in the RC class so I was in my gym stuff anyway. Did 5 x 3 min runs with 2 min walks. Hard work but I managed.

Sorry you are finding it tough starlight but stick with it! it'll get easier or at least you'll get further for the same effort. How do you time your runs? Can you set a beep/timer on your watch or phone? I find the runs seem longer if I keep looking at my watch to see how much further I have to go.

pirate I've signed up for Jantastic too but via bug runners (I've joined their team).

Week 6 day 1 - the first time I did it killed. A few people find that lookout.

Starlight sorry to hear you struggled. Some runs are harder than others for who know which if many possible reasons! There's no reason to not do the run from week one once or twice more if you feel you need to. You might surprise yourself though if you move on!

Rugby thanks for the info. I've been looking at that one and the Sony one. Not for yet but mainly because I know that I will get to the end of the program and be running for 30m and only manage about 3k . I'd like a watch so I can increase my distance.

Well done faithless keep at it!

AllFur you started week 6 yet?

Did my week 6 run 1 today and I found it sooooo hard. Wasn't expecting to as I'd done the 20m continuous last week, but it felt so much more difficult this time! On to 12m next time, and 25m at the end of the week. Eek.

I think I am addicted to joining running groups - I signed up to Jantastic today - via the guardian running blog but they're also on Twitter.

Treated myself to a teeny new backpack today for running to/from work. Also a new Shock Absorber bra as they were £5 off in Runnersneed.

Thanks. I'll probably do one more week run an apd go back to late night running. I ran before dinner tonight so that might be it.

Close to midnight I always feel more alive and my headspace is calm enoug ph to do something boring.

Keep trying Starlight, it does get easier! I was struggling the first week but can now run for 25 minutes, have faith in the programme.

Bleugh. Just done w1 r3 and there is NO WAY I can move onto week 2, maybe not ever.

It was the worst run so far and I couldn't do the last one. Though I quite enjoyed the rain in my face.

almost, I'm fortunate, my children are older & my H is only away a few nights a week so I work my runs around those or take DD with me to the gym (which is where run).

We'll done faithless

W6 R3 done today. Enjoyed it so kept going and ended up doing 7k over 65min walk/run with a v steep incline walk interval. Bit of a surprise really!

Started the C25K today. I got absolutely drenched as it started raining just as I was finishing up my last run but so glad I started it, now to keep it up.

Hi all, I'm planning to start the couch to 5k this week. I need to wait until my DH gets home on Wednesday for DS1 and 2 first!!

This is the problem I find with my exercise plans!! With a husband that works away 4 weeks at a time and two young children I just can't maintain it. Does anyone else work around this?

Anyhow, I plan to download the podcasts and be ready to start. I thought I could order trainers from Next Online to begin with because I can't get shopping and they will come next day. Can anyone recommend a good pair? Or with my wonky feet and legs I should maybe go to a reputable running shop?

TIA X

lookout - I forgot to answer your question about my watch, sorry. I have a Garmin Forerunner 10, mostly because I had Curry's vouchers to use and this was one of the few running watches they do. It's really basic - it has GPS and as I run it displays time and distance for that run. At the moment I have run/walk intervals set on it so it beeps to tell me when to start running/walking. I can also flick to another screen that shows calories burned and pace but I don't really bother with it. When I get home I connect it to my laptop and it shows a map of my run with time, distance, pace, calories. It does a little graph to show how fast I was going throughout the run which I quite like as I can see all my little runs with the slower walks between. To be honest I really just wanted the time and distance but I'm a nerd and love the little route maps and graphs - makes me feel like a real runner . It's nice and light, small for a gps sports watch and comfy to wear. It was about £90 but worth it as I'd been promising myself I'd do this for ages but the watch inspired me to get out there plus my vouchers needed to be used.

Thanks cinnamongreyhound - I have a few hours without the kids this weekend so I'll check out Sports Direct and someone on Running Bug has suggested TK Maxx. I usually just order online but I'm never sure which size to go for with sports stuff - it is usually quite small compared to normal stuff but don't want to buy big and have it flapping around.

Hooray - managed to get out and do week 2 run 1 today. It was pouring with rain and freezing but really satisfying to be out again. I've been running in 3/4 length jogging bottoms, a gym top (very light, breathable type thing) and a fleece. It's okay but the fleece was horrible in the rain and its a bit too thick/heavy really. I will treat myself to a couple of nice running tops when I have cash but the budget is a bit tight post-Xmas. Can anyone recommend something not too expensive to help with the cold for now. I'm not bothered about getting wet and don't usually mind the cold - I'd rather be a bit chilly than too hot - but it's blooming well freezing ATM, especially when I'm walking. Would I be better with a long-sleeved baselayer rather than a jacket/sweater?

We'll done to everyone who's been out this weekend.

Hello all, after another two week break I finally got out again this morning, on wk6r3 which is 25mins run, felt ok after 25mins so decided to try and run 30mins, managed that and I'm also using an app to track distance and saw I was at 4.8k so decided to push on and get to 5k and I did it I was only just jogging by the time I got to 5k but I made it

For those of you just starting out I would never have thought that I would manage to run 34mins continuously or 5k. While I'm not overweight I was really unfit to start with and couldn't manage more than 30secs of running without gasping and giving up.

What has been even more of a change (and a revelation for me!) has been going from hating exercise and the idea of running to actually enjoying going out for a run, looking forward to it and wanting to challenge myself - like today when I could have stopped at 25mins and still achieved the run for the day on the programme.

Now my aim is to get back to 3 runs a week and improve my time and maybe try a park run in the next month.

Just back from run in the rain. My programme was 3x6mins with 2 mins walking intervals. It was downhill but I managed 14 mins slow jogging, then did my 2 mins walk and my 6 min jog ( about. 3 mins of who hw as uphill and nearly killed me). So I am going to move onto the 2x12 mins for my next one.

I think having done the programme before means it is easier for me to pick up again, as after a 3 month break I only started again on Boxing Day.

I have to say I feel very pleased with myself and hope that by my birthday next month I will compftably doing at least 30mins of slow jogging. I will never set any speed records as I don't stride just pootle along, but it will good to hit 48 feeling fit and healthy ;0)

Starlight that's dreadful of the shop assistant. It is absolutely not a reflection on you but on their awful behaviour. I can see how that would put you off, but in a running shop they will be so pleased to see someone giving exercise a go that they will be happy to help. My local shop were so kind and helpful with me, unfit and overweight as I am! It is definitely worth trying, and then you'll know for sure and can carry on with your All Stars if need be.

Change into your bra though!! And TheLeast is right, all the supermarkets do sports stuff now which is reasonably priced and not bad quality. My running tights are from Sainos and my tracksuit bottoms are from Tesco

Week 2 didn't feel that much harder to me. It felt like a right and gradual build up. Finish week 1 and move on the week 2. If you find it really too punishing, you could try the next time doing week 1 one more time and see if that helps. But honestly, you should be able to at least give it a go. I was really worried about doing my run today but it actually worked better than I could ever have hoped. trust the plan, as Laura say

Well done and good luck!