Running

I would stick on a week until I found it easy, then move to the next.

Yes, around weeks 4 & 5 I did that quite a bit.

Daisy - I found the first session the hardest of all, but from what you said in your first post you've already faced that! The more you do the more your body will get used to it.

Having said that, do stick to having a rest day between sessions. I overdid it & had a whole horrible month of not being able to run at all because my knees were killing me. And while you can pick up clothing & a belt cheap, the things not to skimp on are trainers & a sports bra.

Another vote for couch to 5k. Amazing. I am the most un-sporty person ever and at first I thought I would pass out, but I did it in the end

It took me longer than the prescribed time because I would stick on a week until I found it easy, then move to the next.

I hurt my Achilles' tendon a few weeks ago and I missed running so much while I was off. Fantastic mental benefits as well as the obvious physical ones too.

If I can do it you can too, I promise!

Ah yes I second a belt rather than an armband thing

I started on the C25K but I found it didn’t really work for me. Just pushed myself to begin with using the run/walk method and slowly extended the time spent running. Also, don’t make it into a chore only go for a run when you’re really feleing it You would need bright clothing/high vis for the morning as even with streetlights you’re not always visible.

It’s hard work to begin with but, once you’ve caught the bug it’s amazing! I run 4 times a week and can comfortably run a half marathon without stopping now. (Couldn’t run to the end of the road to begin with!)

Couch 2 5k was a complete revelation. Not sporty. Not a runner. Just completed it. Have all sorts of health problems.
Good bra. Spend £50 ish on shoes. Get a running belt rather than an arm thing. Size larger for shoes, btw.
All good.

I have big boobs. I like the shock absorber run bras.

If you used to run it'll probably come back quickly. It seems to be easier to come back each time I have a break

C25K is excellent. Feels so good to get to the end and run 30 mins straight. I then did bridge to 10k and am running a half marathon next March. I had never run in my life before C25K

I did C25K & then 5-10K last year. I moved house recently so my routine's dropped a bit but I've got back into doing a 5K as part of my commute a couple of mornings a week, & when that feels comfortable again I'll make it longer. I have a lot more energy in the mornings than in the evenings.

Having said that, I'm childfree so I don't have to work around anyone else, & I live in London so for me it's easy to get off the tube a few stops early & run through the parks.

Re running at night, I do stick to pavements but have a cap with a light in the brim and a high vis jacket with a red light on the back to help keep me visible.

Following

Can you run at lunchtimes? That's what I do this time of year.

You've just got to power through the first few weeks when you feel like rubbish and like you'll never be able to do it. And also realise that even the fittest of runners feel uncomfortable sometimes and have rubbish runs.

I've ran marathons and I can tell you that no matter how far you learn to run, that first 2 miles ALWAYS feels a bit strange. Your breathing hasn't settled yet and it takes a good 2 miles for me to feel okay, but once I'm beyond that point I feel like I could run forever.

I always tell beginners to not give up because they feel bad running 1 mile. Get beyond that distance and you'll notice a change. Eventually, when you've gained some fitness.

YY to Couch to 5K.

I wouldn’t run on unlit roads with no pavement at this time of year. Could you join a club?

I’ve always advocated Couch 2 5k, and have nearly completed it again after I realised I’d lost the ability to run for longer than a few minutes. It’s very much jogging for me, it takes me about 35 mins to complete 5k (including warm up). I’ve just been doing it with my kids which has been great as something we can do as a family, but it’s been hard fitting all the runs in (they’re never home before 6 in the week and now it’s really too dark at that time). I should really run tonight but have had a manic couple of days and am talking myself out of it. But working from home tomorrow so will try to get us all out in the morning .

The one I use is BBC and you can choose a ‘coach’, we have Jo Wiley as I like her and she also came to running later in life and wasn’t a natural!

Daisy, have you heard of Couch to 5K?

It's a brilliant way to get into running, & there are several support threads for it on here.