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

Yes it is my first race (although not really a race) am scared! Weather forecast is shocking too!

My friend did this and she said that it really worked. I am going to try it out soon.

Thank you lovelies! I am back out tomorrow and I know he is insecure and I am superior - just got me at the wrong time! Spooky good luck- report back please. Is it your first race? The atmosphere is always good and you'll hopefully forget your nerves. Edith, well done you. Now you're really making some progress and there'll be no stopping you!

Dizzy, you are a runner!! You may find walking between runs soon becomes a distant memory - but if not just remember that absolutely everyone has some bad runs. Don't even think about giving yourself a hard time just congratulate yourself each and every time you get out there!

Oh no mine I am dreading the 5 minute run have got my last 3 minute run tomorrow morning then go up to the 5 minute one on Monday aahh!!
Edith good luck for your 3 minute one you can do it and it makes the 1.5 minute ones seem so much easier
Still what a horrible man!! well done for doing your 5k and like everyone says at least you are running and you should be proud of that!!

Edith, keep at it. These first few weeks are definitely the hardest. For me, the hardest so far was going from 3 to 5 mins - there was no 4 minute run on the programme I was using. It nearly made me give up. Tonight I ran 30 minutes. I never thought I'd be able to do that in just a couple of months.

Still - he sounds like a right knob! Please don't let him get you down.

Good luck for tomorrow Spooky!

I just popped in to say I just did week 2 run 3 and feeling proud of myself! Bit daunted about week 3 and running for 3 minutes in a row though!

stillearnin I agree with the others what a complete arse that man is.

Go spooky I will be cheering you on, I bet you will love it once you start running.

Good luck spooky!

stillearnin what a complete d*ckhead that man sounds!! Don't let him put you off running, use it as motivation to stick 2 fingers up at him

Well tomorrow is the big day - the culmination of 10 weeks training and a 5k run in front of a crowd...even though I have managed a few 5k runs already, I feel really nervous about doing it tomorrow Will be glad when it is all over by about 10am...positive thoughts for me in the morning ladies!

Still - what an absolute k*ob! He sounds awful and he isn't worth you wasting your energy on. Running is running. Enjoy your birthday run and just blank him and walk away should you see him

I was meant to go out on Monday, but my DD took a tumble whilst attempting handstands in the garden so we spent the evening in A&E! Luckily her bashed foot is not broken but she has some soft tissue damage so there is no running for her this week!

Tonight I completed W6R2 so that means from now on there is no more walking. Does that mean I am now a runner? I do wonder though if I will feel guilty and like a failure should I decide to break a run with some walking

Stillearnin, what a contemptible little man. And what was he doing while you were doing the 5k that he saw fit to slag you over? Sitting on his arse I'm guessing. I just don't understand people like him. Sod him and his limited intellect. Keep on running, girl!

CQ - hadn't heard of it, but found a fairly in depth review here: www.androidpolice.com/2012/06/26/review-zombies-run-is-a-fantastic-app-as-long-as-you-like-working-out-more-than-you-like-zombies/

Finally, I got out and did W1R1 today. It wasn't particularly the breathlessness that made me fast walk the last couple of run sections, but rather the pain in the front of my ankles and lower shins. A friend recommends gait analysis....if I have that done, am I then obliged to buy the shoes from that shop?

Just popped my head in to ask a question!

Any ideas if there's a particular version of C25K that might inspire a stubborn teenager?

DD, 13, really wants to join the rowing club but HATES running and they often do running as a warm up or training exercise. She point blank refuses to run but I was the same at her age - running at school is rubbish, they don't tell you HOW to run or pace yourself so it's fine for the sporty kids and all the others get more and more demotivated. Can't believe schools still haven't embraced C25K.

Anyway, rant aside, does anyone know of a good podcast or app for this stubborn teenager that might gently persuade her that it's cool and fun and that she CAN do it! She'd be such a good rower - I am SO frustrated!!

Have heard of an app called Zombie Run - anyone any knowledge of this? Thanks in anticipation

A bit late but I did W7R2 this morning after getting rained off yesterday. I felt a bit of a pillock doing the school run in my running gear though!

Right then, I am today playing good day/bad day. After running 5k in 36 minutes with the wrong clothing on and on a humid day, I went to pick up my daughter from a friend's house. A friend of this friend was there and had seen me running earlier. He was incredibly rude and derogatory to me about it and would not shut up despite me being uncomfortable and saying well it was hot. Apparently he had been going onto my daughter about it too! I brushed it off at the time but it has been playing on my mind since.

I went out today with his words in my ears. Felt crap all the way round. His daughter will be on the run I plan to do on my birthday and all this was playing on my mind. got to the end of 30 mins and I had done 4.85km the last 4 mins was up a steep hill too! (still feel a bit grumpy tho!)

Do it watto I went out at 6.30 this morning and it was raining lots but I have decided I quite like running in the rain and then come home to a nice warm shower!! Or just stay at home and be sensible unlike me haha!!

I still can't believe that in a few weeks time I am going to be running for 10/20 minutes at a time my 3 minute run felt like such an accomplishment this morning! Well done to everyone that is running that much!!

Supposed to be doing W7R2 right now but I'm faffing about on Mumsnet instead. In my defence, it is absolutely peeing down outside. First time I have missed a run. I'll get right back on it tomorrow I promise!

spooky I finished the c25k a few months ago, start of April I think. Originally I started off doing a 5 to 10k app but found it was too hard on my joints so I increased one run only by 10% every week. Every so often I reduce that by 20-30% and start going up by 10% again (or in my case now by 1km/1mile a week depending how I feel). The other two runs I vary but stay at a distance of about 5 or 6k. I find this approach is much better for me time wise and isn't too hard on the ankles/knees/hips. I make sure I have my rest day the day after my long run too to give my body time to recover.

I'm just in from running over 12k and have foolishly in a weak moment signed up for a half marathon

Spooky I finished the programme about six weeks ago. But I can't run any faster yet and only usually manage around 4.3k. Once a week I will run for a bit longer and do 5k. Slow and steady certainly works for me, if I start off too fast I really struggle towards the end. I'm going to stick with what I'm doing now, it's enough for me and I've found if I run for much more than 35 mins my knees hurt. I'd rather keep doing 30 mins and be able to do it than push myself too hard. I look at it that it's a lot more than I was doing and I feel healthier and certainly fitter for it.

Well done to all those just starting out the feeling of what you can do is amazing.

Well done to everyone

laughing our running coach is constantly telling us to take it slow and steady and you can run much further!

Been looking at what to do now I have finished the programme - there is a 5k to 10k programme which looks OK - it eventually gets you up to 60 mins running. However other people suggest just adding 10% of your time to one run each week and keep the rest at 5k. Not sure which approach to take

my still when I set off on this journey was to run for 60 minutes and I don't care what distance this is so maybe the nhs programme would suit me.

Anyone else progressed?

Dizzy, Sugar and Spooky, your advice worked! I went painfully painfully slowly (was overtaken my many other more agile runners!!) but ran for the full 20 minutes bar a couple of 30 second walks for a hill slope and a section of the route that was one long muddy puddle!

Feeling very pleased this evening! Beginners - well done and good luck! It has taken me longer than the predicted 5 weeks to get to this stage, but everyone else is right, it feels damn good

krasnayaplats edithdickie and other newbies - how's it going?

I did w1r2 today. Really enjoyed it in a weird way. Ran with colleagues with a range of abilities and (literally) disabilities and we all managed it. Again I'm feeling really proud. :-)

Well completed w3r1 today :) feel like it is such an achievement to run 3 mins at a time but I have done it. I had my sister with me today for support which was nice even if she is super fit and a gym instructor!!! But was good to have the moral support she also told me I needed to slow down a bit as was going to fast and getting out of breath quicker - I was just trying to get the run done faster until I realised that I still have to run for 3 minutes