Starting out on c25k - New Year, new start [title meddled with by MNHQ]

W1 R2 just done. No easier, no harder, than W1 R1. Is that normal?

And no dolphins, but feeling a bit muggy headed (pleasantly) as I sit here.

I noticed on the NHS pod-cast how she only announces first run, second run and then seventh run, final run. So you don't get discouraged in the interminable middle runs!

W2 R3 done tonight - well done everybody and good luck for the weekend runs!

Missbetsey I guess it's up to the individual, I think if I struggle I will repeat because otherwise I'll get discouraged by another tougher week. I'm pretty unfit.

Sunshine everyone says it gets easier. I hope so!

Tomasz hooray for the dolphins!

Welcome neeps, good luck tomorrow! I'm only one run ahead of you.

Hi, can I join in?

Doing week1 run2 tomorrow. Week 1 run 1 was okay, but a bit boring (I just have the NHS podcast - and it took me long enough to download that on to my ancient ipod that I'm not going to try anything else!). I do it in the orchards nearby - running rows of trees. I take my dog (but he just runs around offlead doing his own thing for the 25 odd mins it takes - I have no idea where he is most the time!)

Quite looking forward to tomorrow's run!

Hello - sorry for disappearing for a while - been a tough week but still managed the runs and...

I got the dolphins!! Woop Woop!! It was w1 r3 went with DH, DD, my friend and one of DD's friends. What was so lovely was that DD's friend who has been through her parent's horrible spit up last year also got the dolphins and was absolutely buzzing afterwards. It was lovely to see the massive smile on her face. Her mum came to collect her and said she didn't shut up about it all the way home! It made my day

I've also been struggling with the where and when to run, given the horrendous conditions outside. We live in a rural area which is very hilly. plus with no street lights, it makes the only place to run the main roads, and I have far too many wobbly bits to run on the road

I decided to go down to a proper running track and it's made a massive difference. It's half an hours drive and costs me £3.20 but if it keeps me on track I think it's worth it. I wouldn't think twice about spending £5 on a bottle of wine, so why wouldn't I spend £3.20 on getting myself fit.

It's great to read all your posts it really inspires me to keep going!

Sunshine welcome, yes it definitely gets easier :o

Hello can I join
I have just got back from my first run, ran around the streets as fields a bit boggy at the moment
I found it really hard and could only manage 4 full 60 sec runs and brisk walked the rest
I didn't realise how unfit I was, I do the shred now and again but I think I will have to really be strict and do more exercise
Please tell me it gets easier!

Ah that's good. I could do week 1 fine and it was enjoyable! If you find a week really hard, do you repeat it until you can do it ok?

Missbetsey week 2 doesn't change to much for me so I'm not too worried. Week 3 is a big jump for me.

Hello all. I'm just finishing week 1. Bit scared of week 2 - does it get much harder then?

Also, does anyone else run with their dog?

Celia that's is so good to hear especially cos I just did week 1 run 3 and I think a combination of starting too fast/wearing an extra jacket/running just yesterday really hampered me. Was slower than the same run when I did it in Monday by 40 secs a mile. My program is a 1.5 mile walk/run week 1 days 1 and 3 and interval training on day 2. Ah well Mondays is just a 45 minutes brisk walk and that I can nail.

Thanks for your advice ladies. It's very difficult for me to find the time to actually get out of the house and do this, so I feel quite proud of myself for doing it yesterday. DH works very long hours and I've got two small kids who can't be left yet (and are too small to join in) which makes exercising difficult. I've got about three stone to lose but have a serious crisp problem that will need beating before the three stones go!!

Only managed the first 2 runs last week and haven't been motivated since (generally not just wrt running) but grabbed the bull by the horns tonight and DD went for run 3! Amazingly after a week off, I actually felt like I was running (as opposed to shuffling along) for the first couple of sets. The skies opened half way through so we got drenched and not spotting puddles in the dark resulted in wet feet too!

Not sure whether to re-run week 1 again or push on with week 2. I need to lose 8 stone and tend to swim but thought this would help strengthen my legs which I don't tend to use very much.

Welcome lady flip could you listen on your shuffle and use a stop watch for timings?

Soontobe thanks for your wisdom. That's amazing. I'm not overweight myself (I do have some wobbly bits though) I just want to be fitter.

Ladyflip, try the Zenlabs app - exactly the same running schedule as the NHS one but you can play your own music.

Whilst I am a "beginner" again - just about to finish week 2, I did it this time last year and yes, it does get easier however, you keep moving up so it's hard to realise that it is better, occasionally when I did it before, we would go back and do a previous weeks run and realise that we found it relatively easy. Our measure was always how much we could still chat while running :)

That was usually never on day 1 run each week but a fair bit by day 3 run!

I was nearly 5 stone overweight when I started last January and we never ever got to week 8, but that was never really the object of it for us, we just wanted to get out and get some exercise. We got as far as the 20 minute run but always put of doing it so just kept repeating the earlier weeks. That combined with a bit of The Shred and using myfitnesspal took nearly 3 stone off.

I put half a stone back on which I have already lost and would like another couple of stone off. I am however starting in a much better position this year than I was last and am finding it much easier, whether it is just being lighter or whether I have managed to retain a bit of fitness I am not sure.

So good luck again to all the new starts and I hope you get out of it what you are hoping for.

Please can I join in? Have done week 1 run 1 today with the dog. Thought I was going to die half way round and dog would have to be like lassie and go home without me. Dog fed up because my running isn't as fast as his running, so he just does a sort of fast trot while looking at me as if to ask why I can't run any faster. I finished it at 2.30 and think my heart rate has only just returned to normal! I have so much weight to lose, but would love to see at least a stone go. How long does it take to feel any better??

Is there an podcast where I can listen to my own music? Am using NHs at mo but don't have an iPhone, just a shuffle.

So you lot ahead of me. Can you really run for longer without stopping and feeling like you are gonna die than when you started?

Week 2 run 3 completed and it was fine, which I wasn't expecting as week 2 run 2 was really hard and my legs felt like lead!

Ghost I still felt stiff today after my run on Tuesday but my legs felt better while running today.

Wow, am stiff today after first run yesterday. Was going to do run 2 tomorrow - is it better to wait til stiffness subsides, or just dive right in?

Did week 1 run 2 today which was 1 minute running and 90 secs walking repeated 10 times. Was ok, I was flagging by the end. I won't have a chance to run over the weekend so I'm considering doing week 1 run 3 tomorrow but I will see how I feel.

Knit I can't believe you ran all those days without a break. Wow. I like a rest day.

Well done ladies keep up the good work.

My running is no faster than my walking either! You are not alone Ceila.

W3R1 yesterday and it was okay.

I only run three times a week, I have not got time to do more than that (work in the eves too) plus I am not sure I could!

knitknack - i never do every day. usually 3 times a week, sometimes slip in an extra night, but I'm now also doing a stretch and tone class once a week. I'm finding it much easier than I did last year, so it's definitely worth keeping going. I didn't finish the whole thing the last time, just kept on repeating week 4/5 anything rather than do the 20 minute run! :)

Really need to find time to do The shred a few days a week too.

time not 'town', doh.