Couch to 5k...it's not about speed (thread no 2)

I tried w4r2 yesterday but I had to stop half way because of cramp in my calf I had taken dd swimming yesterday morning and got cramp in the pool so it was probably a bad idea attempting to run.
I'm going to try another W4 run in the morning, then I'm going to a wedding so will undo all my hard work

On the plus side I have lost 10pounds.

w9r2 finished here; I'm still red in the face and I finished running 2.5 hours ago! It's going really well for me now, and I'm loving the early morning runs when very few others are out of bed. I'm not sure I'll feel the same about a 6am start in January!

Keep going kernowgal, it's taken me months rather than weeks but I really feel I can do it now.

Good luck for tomorrow DottyDot; as for the weight thing, I still haven't lost any (and I'm very overweight) but I console myself that I must be fitter and several people have said I look thinner, so that must be a good thing.

inkspell will be doing it tomorrow....! Panicking slightly because I will have had 2 rest days due to being out and about tonight and last night, but will get to the gym on Saturday morning and at least will be fully rested and ready to give it a go

Am slightly that although I'm doing tons more exercise than I ever have and am eating less and drinking more water, I don't look waif-like yet... I've lost about half a stone since starting but it doesn't feel enough for all the effort I'm putting in

kernowgal - everyone has bad run days. try again and it will be better!

Finished the repeat of week 4 last night. now I am looking forward to at last beginning week 5. My dd is not very confident of doing w5 but I think we need to move on.

dotty - dying to know how that 20 min run goes for you!

I am on holiday and contemplating a run tomorrow morning I am scared to stop cos it was so much effort getting to my 5k on Mon night.

Oooof. Tonight was difficult. Left it quite late as it was so hot, and I've been out working in the sun all day so am probably quite dehydrated too. My lower leg started hurting at the first run, probably through not doing enough stretching before and after on the first two runs. I had to give up after the fifth run as it was hurting too much.

Lesson learned. Going to have a few days off and then try again next week. Also going to look at some running videos because I'm not convinced I am running correctly.

Aww and thanks all for the encouragement - I love these threads - often find myself thinking of everyone on here as I'm turning puce on the running machine...!

I'm loving having the running bug

Have decided that if I make the 20 minute run on Saturday, I'm going to venture outside the gym and do some of my future weeks' runs OUTSIDE...! Think I need to give it a go as dp and I are going to have a go at a park run in august when (in theory) we'll have got to week 9. I know this will sound silly, but I'm worried about keeping a rhythm going when there are things like crossing roads to tackle so I think I'll just go round and round our very small local park at first..!

After not being able to get out for about 10 days, I decided that 1pm in the blazing sun after a breakfast of Pringles and Liquorice Allsorts was the ideal time to go for a run!

W8R2 completed. I decided to take my cross country route which involves a long slow incline at half way. I didn't expect to run as far as I did over the 28 mins so had to finish with a run up the steep hill out of an underpass. My legs were certainly wobbly during the warm down walk!

My speed seems to be consistently 1km in 10 mins.

Dotty - I too never thought I would last the 20 minutes but you WILL. Just keep at a steady pace and it will be over before you know it! I have realised that each song/track on the NHS podcast seems to be about 2.5mins long, so for the 20 mins, "Laura" will pop into your ear at @5mins (2 tracks), half way (another 2), 5 mins to go (another 2) and then with a minute to go (another 1.5). You will feel great finishing that last 60 seconds.

I did a W3 run today for fun even thpugh it should have been rest day! getting the bug
dotty you are my inspiration you can do it

Dotty for me, the first 5-7 mins are the worst, and then everything seems to settle down. So actually the running, stopping, running stopping for me is harder than just keeping going.
Agree with those saying start really slowly. Its easier to go faster when your feeling good near the end than to try and judge how your going to feel later.

Spooky any chance of using the C25K group as a warm up, and then running for 30 solid mins afterwards? It would up the total cardio?

I've recently done a couple of 8km, after not going over 6, and took it really slow (7 mins per km, as opposed to 6.10 or 6.20 when doing 5km), but felt really good at the end, and suspect an extra 2km would have been doable.

Good luck with the 10km - I think the atmosphere may also keep you going.

Dotty you will do it. Just go slowly! Good luck.

Well done dotty! Honestly you will be able to do the 20mins, you've worked your way up to it, just try to keep your pace the same throughout & focus on what's in front of you.

Yay just did W5R2 and it was actually OK! Tried to get into a positive mindset about just keeping going for 8 minutes and not panicking and it seemed to work (apart fromy usual last minute of the last run wobble where I had to sloooow down...!).

Really pleased but bricking it now for the 20 minute run which will be on Saturday for me as I still don't see how I can possibly do it. GULP.

Lovelidl - get a gait analysis before buying any trainers. It depends on whether you're neutral, overpronate or supinate (whether your foot rolls inwards, outwards or not at all) as to what trainers are best for you. I'm fat with extreme over pronation due to flat feet so got maximum cushioning and maximum support.

Me too Dotty. Was boasting about my 20 min run and work colleague casually mentions she did 11 miles at the weekend

Just back from W6R1 not too bad at all - although I have got my first blister

Maybe time to ditch my (at least) 10 year old trainers and buy a new pair...any suggestions?

Good luck everyone running tonight

spooky I bet you'll be great and so what if you have to walk a bit - you're doing it and that's what counts!

I got chatting to someone at work today who had done a 12 mile run this morning before coming into work - she started running via the C25K programme 2 years ago..! Clearly bonkers though, obviously... . I felt a bit of a wuss confessing my worry about having to run for 8 minutes today...

Thanks so much for all the advice and reassurance. I'm having a rest day. Off to buy some proper running shoes so I'm ready for w1r2 tomorrow.

I didn't stretch afterwards. Just did the warm down walk then collapsed onto the park bench. I'll have a look on-line to see how to do calf, hamstring and thigh stretches and will make sure I do them after tomorrow's run.

Fun- you are where I was last week. I recommend the rest day 100%. By the third run my aches had gone & you can always do something else on the rest days. I take my DD for a walk usually.

Yellow I did my W1R3 on Saturday & it amazed me how much easier I found it, it does get better! Although I did W2R1 yesterday and on my last two runs I didn't make it to 90 secs. But hopefully tomorrow I will!

Oh fellow runners, thank you I was feeling rather sorry for myself and expecting instantaneous results I suppose. Thank you for the pom pom waving

Fun - rest day!

I'd rest, Fun

The thing that really helped me was some simple stretches after I'd finished. Maybe you could go for a walk today, warm your muscles up, and then stretch, ready for tomorrow?

I know others think differently, but in the early days, I wouldn't do more than every other day - so 3-4 times a week. Some people have been doing the shread, or other excerise on the days off. I suffered when i tried to C25k, swim, C25k in the early days.