Couch to 5k- fantastic plan that works for all!

CadiM Fantastic, congratulations! Enjoy the achievement.

Thanks Cinnamon, hope your cough goes soon too. Running makes me cough more so I'm kinda hoping it will go quickly if I rest for a few more days...

Sports Direct have lots of running clothes in their online sale - I just ordered some running gloves and a couple of tops (optimistically in a slightly smaller size than I am now...)

Haven't been running for a week now, thanks to a persistent cough. I'm missing it so much! Tuesday is normally a run night for me so I'm feeling a bit glum. On the other hand I have noticed I'm a bit trimmer (or a bit less flabby!) in certain areas than I used to be before I started running and DH has started commenting on it

Well done Cadi, I'm at exactly the same stage as you. 5 - 10k app next!

I did it! Completed my W9 R1 today, my first 5k. And I didn't keel over and die, which was an added bonus... I'm going to work on upping my pace as it took about 33 minutes to complete the 5k (I'd mapped it out and I still had a bit to go when Laura was telling me to cool down). So happy to have got this far, wouldn't have believed it a few weeks ago. I don't post often but I've really benefited from reading the running threads. Good luck to everyone!

Actually it's been 2.5weeks not 1.5!

DD and I haven't been out for about a week and a half and as we were only on Week2, I don't know whether we should restart from the beginning

I am seriously contemplating getting up @6.30am and going out before DH leaves for work! I tried to get him to come out with us but he's not good at getting up early and he's back too late in the evening to be going out after dinner

Hi everyone, time to check in.

Well done everyone who's running and / or starting! I set off this morning full of enthusiasm after having felt so good on Sunday - and it was HELL... My calves really ached. My pace was much slower... the weather was good, the time was the same (before breakfast) but it just shows how you can have good and bad days. But I stuck with my autopilot route for 5k but stopped the second I hit the target...

lookout good luck and hope to see you again soon! Yes I took an extended break last November when the weather was getting me down, it was just not working. Now picking up running again it's hard work but no longer with all the negative feelings attached to it!

skills - agree with cinnamon - set yourself tiny targets, do-able and celebrate each one. I found my GPS watch recording my every move made me want to stick with it and it was fun to plot the tracks afterwards and show my kids. Especially in the summer hols when it looked on google maps like it'd been running in the sea (beach at low tide)

Lookout hopefully we will see you again soon. I hope you are feeling more on top of things soon.

I'm taking a break. So tired atm and this just feels like another thing making me feel guilty for not getting it done. All the best everyone and may pop back in when I'm ready to start again. Thanks for all the support

Mine were about the same price and sale shoes too then the insoles on top of that. There were loads of ones on the sale so you could go cheaper only there was very little in my size and I couldn't be bothered going anywhere else.

Only on week one R2 but quite heartened to find the distance I'm covering is 4k after mapping it out today. Mainly walking of course but still. Was fine although colder outside than I thought it was and got a good soaking.

I think the one I have is just called 5k runner then there is the 10k runner too (which I've never actually used!) Right, the next run I do I'll do it with the app and see if that makes a difference. Thanks Bumps!

Or if you want, try Get Running 0-5k to get yourself doing 5k regularly again, then switch over to a 5-10k one?

For me what has helped is having fixed nights when I go out to run, Tues, Thurs and Sat. I run after I have got the kids to bed. DH who is v supportive knows about these nights and he is in charge of supper. Also when I get downstairs after reading my last bedtime story I am knackered and the last thing I want to do is go running.

DH has been briefed to goad me into going ("if you want to be a loser, Bumps, sit right down on that sofa now, if you wanna be a winner, move that ass!" or "I saw on FB your friend X did 5k in 32 mins yesterday, get out there now and kick her ass!).

It gets me going!

I'm just starting Zen Labs 5k to 10K app (recommended by a kind person on this thread!). You could try that?

When I trained for the 10K I did use an app but haven't since. Maybe that will push me?

skills have you got a running app? Having an electronic friend tell you what to do and when to stop is very motivating!

Can I have some motivation please.. I did my first (and only!) 10k last spring but I haven't even managed 5k since then. I try, get a bit bored and decide I've done enough once I get to about 3k. How can I make myself do more? I've got a great playlist, adequate trainers and running kit, lovely countryside around me and a treadmill for when it's really horrible out but I still can't seem to make it to a full 5k...

Well, I got mine in the sale, and they were about £65. But then they flogged me some made-to-measure insoles that were about £30, and some trainer socks...

Thanks Herbaceous, I think that's doable! How much do I need to prepare myself to spend on running shoes?

Hi. The sweat shop I went to just gave me a pair of 'neutral' trainers, and videoed me running for about 30 seconds in the shop. I was a bit afraid I wouldn't be able to run for long enough, but it was fine!

Can I join you all, please? I've started C25k twice before and never got past week 3 before giving up . I also no longer have an iPod and my phone is on it's last legs which means I can't download an app to that, so think I need to buy a new iPod and download a running app.

I also need new trainers as mine are about ten years old. There's a Sweat Shop in my city - what do you have to do when they analyse your gait? Do you have to run on a treadmill in the shop?! Do I need to take my current trainers with me?

You're all doing so well that I'm going to use you all as my inspiration .

I had a lovely run this morning, in the company of two long-time running pals. Unlike me, they didn't take a few years off from training and are taking part in the Manchester marathon in April. So accompanying me on my first week 2 run/walk session was pretty trivial for them - they went out again for a much longer run a few hours later!

Much as I love running I think it can be pretty hard on joints etc, though good shoes and running off-road offsets that a great deal. Doing other kinds of exercise to build strength and flexibility alongside running is a good idea if possible.

Dharma I read the book that was mentioned upthread 'Running like a girl' (loved it) and part of it tackles the negative comments such as aging and wrecking joints. I thought it was a fair point that a lot of injuries in your joints are ones that you probably have anyway, but running can bring them to the foreground. However this can give you a chance to work on them rather than it hitting you in later years when you never even knew it would be a problem and it's too late to do anything about it.

Well tomorrow is the day for me to get stuck back in after a week of the cold, sinus problems and somehow straining my neck. All sound like excuses but I have been dying to get back out there since I had only started.

Bought myself new trainers through the week too that I haven't had a chance to use. After reading on here about gaits and that I went and got mine analysed as all of a sudden it started to make sense how all my shoes wear down in a definite slope. Wasn't surprised to find out I overpronate quite badly. Keeping my fingers crossed this will help as every time I've taken up running I've had to quit at the start when my knees go.