The new couch to 5k thread......

Montifer, yes I ahve been doing 4 runs a week instead of 3 - would like to do 5 but these seems like way too much.

LOL Jack, it's nice running in the morning, cos then its over and done with and you can enjoy a relaxing evening after work! Well done to you - can't even imagine running for that long.

Am hoping I don't feel so rough tomorrow morning and might be able to do 5 mins. Mind you, I did run into bits of twigs sticking out of a bush and almost swallowed a leaf/bud hanging off it and was trying to breathe/jog and spit out bit of leaf and keep going all at the same time. LOL! Can't imagine what I must look like.

A couple of months ago there is no way I would casually have said Ijust ran for 35 min but honestly I think my body is getting used to it now.

A person at DD's swimming lesson said I was looking more toned yesterday too

I got up and ran before children went to school .

Had on dri-fit clothes from nike (courtesy of ebay) which definitely help although running at 7am also good I think.

Did 3.11 miles in about 35 min so 11.15 min/mile.

Glad I have run now - wouldn't have been nice doing it later on.

morning all - no time this week for MN - dh is off all week and cant have him knowing how little time i spend doing housework and how much time i really spend on the computer .

and its also scuppered my running this week - and the heat is just too much! so scrapping this week and starting w6 again on monday! just had too much on already this week and we're going to a wedding tom and will be away till sat so no chance of doing all 3 runs! feel like i'm skiving but i'll be def be back out monday!!!

havent had a chance to read all the posts but glad you've been discharged nappy!! get those running shoes on!!

Good morning everyone! I couldn't sleep last night (after a horrific nightmare where DD2 was Reagan from Exorcist and I woke myself up screaming out loud) so I got up at half 5 and went for a run, did 2.3 miles and ran for 27 minutes (with min walk in middle) I misjudged my route badly and was quite a bit slower than normal so ended up a bit far awy and had to keep going.
Managed to get back and showered before DD's woke up as well, although didn't manage to get dressed as well

So tryingtocook, I am more virtuous than you Did you manage to get out again?

Nappy, that's great news!

Rita, good one jumping straight back in!

Mithered, I can't manage the straight runs no stopping everytime, I save them for my Sunday afternoon run along the seafront, the rest of the time I am running the distance with a minute walk in the middle. Way I figure it, it's still more than I have done before, so it's not exactly bad to not run the whoel thing! It's still fricking awesome!

Monty, you really truly can do it!
I am a size 20 and weigh well over 15 stone, and I am doing it, slowly, and more of a joggy plod than a run, but I'm certainly not walking!

Nappy - Excellent news, go easy on the ankles

Mithered - I just had a look at W6 and that's great to get straight back in there (especially in this heat - am presuming it's hot where you are)

Jack - I'll try the one run at a time approach tomorrow and see if I can manage 3 mins without stopping

I find this thread really encouraging with so many 'if I can do it so can you' messages. I've tried to get into running a couple of times but given up a few weeks in with the excuse that running just isn't for me.
I really think this time will be different.
If W6 doesn't kill me that is

I'm going on holiday in September and hope to be looking inoffensive in a bikini and able to go for a couple of leisurely 5k runs in the French countryside air

Well I managed to complete w6r1 but god knows how I am going to manage to do r3!
And of course my usual route was being dug up so I had to suffer the stares of all the workmen digging up the road looking at this bright red overweight female attempting to jog and breathe at the same time.

Honestly I am so annoyed with myself for not getting back into it sooner because I was really proud of myself for achieving something for once.

right positive thoughts - it gets better from now on.

Keep going everyone - honestly if I can run for 30 minutes so can you

I will go running tomorrow. 3 miles again - am hoping it won't be too hot.

Good luck mithered!

I am not eating any differently, very slowly going down just through running alone. SO if I do eat sensibly then fingers crossed it will come off faster.

Montifer, just do one run at a time IYSWIM, do the first 3 min without thinking about what's to come, I kept promising myself 'If you manage that then maybe you can stop a bit earlier' 'ok, managed that, lets try it again' type thing...

I have had a few crappy weeks recently, the heat, DD1 not being well etc all distracting, I just try and do an extra session on teh cross trainer to keep my motivation up.

LOL Jack at scale tampering! Down a dress size is fantastic, are you eating differently or just running?
I'm looking forward to a lithe, athletic form emerging, maybe I should cut down on the chocolate!

Good luck Mithered!

Curry - if you struggle with a run do you do an extra session of that week iyswim or just battle through? Maybe today was the 'tough one' for this week.
I think the smoking does reduce the capacity for carrying oxygen on your bloodstream but you should still have quite a lot of potential to increase your fitness in spit of this.

Am due to start W3 tomorrow and am wondering if I can make 3 mins (how pathetic does that sound?) The 90 secs runs yesterday were hardly a breeze.
My legs seem ok and could go further - it's the breathing and beetroot head that seem to be the limiting factors!

Did you get up early and do it Jack? LOL!
I did week 4 run2 this morning and really struggled. Had to keep stopping!

I am a smoker though and am wondering if this is going to hold me back with the longer runs now.

Hi I would like to join you again. I managed to get to week 10 and did a few weeks of doing 3x5k per week then I went back to work 4 months ago and its all gone downhill

DC were ill, I was ill, holidays etc etc.

Anyway no more excuses am off out now to try wk6 r1 and see how I get on. I am going outside and I may be some time...

I have gone down a dress size, and then today I realised the scales weren't weighing right as DD1 had nicked one of the feet off them and I am losing weight at a pound a week, which is great, so it might stay off! Have lost about half a stone since I started!

I am thinking I need to get up early to runa s well, it is either getting up before DD@s wake or waiting until the afternoon when DD1 is in school and DH gets home. Whereas if he is working early he leaves at half 6....might try it tomorrow....

Wow Curry, getting up at ten to six to run, that's quite humbling - good on you - you deserve that weight loss for sure.

Jack - have you lost any inches if not pounds?

Re the nose breathing thing, it does limit the mad panting a bit imo. There is the downside that when I'm breathing as hard as my nose will allow am a little concerned that bogeys might fly out at high velocity!
Can't imagine ever being able to run whilst 'comfortably holding a conversation' but then again can't imagine running for half an hour without stopping / collapsing. One more W2 tomorrow and then onto W3.

Jack, that is exactly how I feel - like I need to breathe in more air, and it doesn't feel like I take enough in through my nose.

Canella, I was sort of doing what you said anyway, trying to breathe through my nose until my breathing had calmed down and then through my mouth again. But I will try the tongue thing tomorrow LOL

I have to get up at 5:50am to be able to go jogging as there is no other time in my day to do it, and today I did not wake up until half six so didn't do my first week 4 run and I feel horrid. I like how I feel after I have run.

Went out today at half 1 as it was the only time I could, I have abandoned Rawb as he has just solid runs, and I still can't manage that every time, so am now using my sisters devised plan, which was 3 x 9 min runs with 1 min between. And I did 9,2 walk, 6, 2 walk and 8.
Oops

Although it is 30 degrees here with no breeze!

Still no weight loss from me.

I don't get the nose breathing thing, I tried today and just felt horrible like I wasn't getting enough oxygen through. Shall try again next time!

Canella, I have succumbed to looking like a pillock when I finish, I normally run past a couple of mothers from DD1's school or a neighbour'pant...pant...hi...pant'
I just think, well, I may look a bit red but that's because I have been running, what have you been doing? And I feel so much better!

afternoon all!! managed w6r1 this morn but felt it was a bit of a step back since i'd done a 20min run on fri but it was sticky hot here and that was before 9am so i was glad of the shorter runs really!! was beetroot red when i got back - inlaws here - felt like a right fool!!

but note to self - drinking lots of wine the night before doesnt help the running!!

Curry - i cant believe either that i'm running for these length of times but i am determined to do it and that helps! you'll get there! well done on the weight loss!!

about the breathing - i used to teach breathing exercises in my previous job - we advised patients to try to breathe thro the nose all the time and if they just couldnt cont doing it to slow down until they could then continue! but i agree with montifer about putting your tongue on the roof of your mouth - it def helps! the theory behind it is that mouth breathing encourages you to hyperventilate which isnt the most effective way to get oxygen in as it doesnt use the bottom of your lungs which are the biggest parts. but you cant hyperventilate through your nose!

ok enough ex physiology for today!!!

good on you jack for saturdays run - keep going!

Trying - Aitch's tip for breathing is to put your tongue to the roof of your mouth which makes you nose breathe, works for me. I also find if I don't think about it to much it just happens (which I guess is what generally happens with breathing!). Good luck with week 4, I'm due to start W3 this week and am a little concerned about the 3 minute runs, I still seem to be very red in the face with the W2 schedule.

Nappy - I completely understand the beetroot thing now, does it get any better?

Does anyone run in glasses or contact lenses? I don't really like running with glasses on and only use contacts (disposables) very rarely. I feel like it would be a bit of waste just to put them in for a 30 min run . Maybe I'll try without and hope I don't run into a lamp post or get lost!

at weight loss. I seem to not lose any

I live in Bedfordshire. Normally I find it a little annoying it is flat. When running I am glad

Wow, can't believe some of you guys are running for 20mins or longer. I am due to start week 4 tomorrow and don't think I am going to be able to run for 5 minutes. I did four week 3 runs this week and still feel like I am going to explode at the end of the 3 minutes.

Can someone please advise me on how I should be breathing as I have noticed you have mentioned keeping your mouth closed. Am I supposed to breath in and out through my nose all the time? Sounds really stupid asking how to breathe doesn't it - like I should have figured that out already at 29 duh!

I have managed to lose 10lbs now and it is definately through the running - so am so so pleased!