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Original poster

Anyone else nearer the beginning than the end of Couch25K?

42 replies

Annner · 24/07/2009 22:09

[Shyly enters room full of skinny and fit Mumsnetters]

'cos I did W1run1 today and could use some company!

It seemed fun, and I'm glad to have lost half a stone first and to have practised for a couple of months on my rebounder first.

Next run on Sunday!

Anyone else at the start of it all and wondering how on earth they are going to be running all that way in such a short time?

OP posts:
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charlotteolivia · 27/10/2009 00:09

hi, i'm not un-used to exercise, i bike and sail so i have some level of stamina, but at the minute i would collapse after 100m!!
First went ok, number 2 tomorrow!!!!

giddykipper · 26/10/2009 20:47

I have lost count how many times I have got as far as the end of week 2 and lost impetus. I was really determined this time but haven't been out for a week.

I really want to run (mainly because I want to be able to eat what I want and not diet!)

Original poster
Annner · 26/10/2009 20:42

Good luck, Charlotteolivia! It really goes by quickly, and you'll very soon be at week 6. I can't believe that I only started this thread back in July/August - and I'm now running 5K three times a week. I'm down to about 32 minutes for the distance, and sustaining that as it gets darker and colder is my aim for the time being.

I wonder if anyone else is still out there?

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charlotteolivia · 24/10/2009 17:13

HI,
The few couch to 5k threads I can find, you are all off on week 6+...
I'm just about to go for my first one now!!

Original poster
Annner · 29/08/2009 21:01

Oh, definitely agree with that, Cataline. Now that I believe that I can run for 20 minutes it's happening. I'm on Week 6, too - doing the second run tomorrow morning (Sunday). I love mornings, as I'm so much more with it, and running when the day is fresh makes me feel really good. Blimey; if the 21 year old me had heard me say that, she would have wet herself laughing. (Instead of having a leaky pelvic floor ) The first one of the week wasn't so good: I had to go out after a looooong day with the DCs, it started pouring with rain when I was half way round, and the jump from a long run back to intervals really confused me. I set off waaaaay too fast on the first 5-minute-er and then was rather more aware of my hips than I should have liked to have been. Oh well.

It really seems to have come round so quickly - getting this far into the programme, doesn't it.

I'm even looking to life beyond the 5K, and I'm toying with entering our local 10K in Feb. Until then I'm going to aim to get my 5K up to a half respectable pace.

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Cataline · 28/08/2009 22:02

How are we all doing ladies?

I've managed to get up to week 6. I've found i'm definitely better in the mornings (which, of course is the most inconvenient time to fit in a run for me!)

For the most part,i'm enjoying it and i'm finding that (sore and achey shins/calves aside)it's definitely more about th emental than the physical - anyone else finding this?

Original poster
Annner · 24/08/2009 23:11

Oooh, new crops. V smart!

W5 has its moments: it's one podcast, but three different runs. I've done the first two, so I'm up to eight minute runs but tomorrow is the biggie - 20 mins. eeek.

This said, it's all been do-able thus far...

Good luck!

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LolaLadybird · 22/08/2009 21:56

Hi All - yes I'm here, lurking at the back! Got back in the early hours this morning from a week with DH's parents. I was full of good intentions and packed my running stuff but it just didn't happen. However, I've already arranged to go out for a run with my neighbour tomorrow evening so v keen to get going again. (It helps that I bought myself some new cropped running pants for a bargain in TKMax which I'm v keen to try out!)

Well done on getting to Week 5, Anner - how are you finding it?

Original poster
Annner · 21/08/2009 17:40

Yoo-hoo! Anyone still here?

Just about to do first run of Week 5. Week 4 was terrifying at first with its 5 minute chunks - but it felt great finishing it! Gawd knows what Week 5 has to bring.

Lola? Cataline? Malfoy? How are we all doing?

Rentanag...

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Original poster
Annner · 13/08/2009 11:55

Hello there y'all. Yep, I did do my run on Sunday round the woods in the campsite. Again, the smugometer rocked off the scale.

It was quite fun going through the trees, but I totally misjudged where I was going and ended up a good twenty minutes away from our tent instead of alongside it.

I did my last Week 3 run this morning, as I missed my usual Tuesday run as we were taking down the tent instead.

Week four, here we come!

We never had to do cross-country at school, as it had been worked out that if somebody was sent back to school in tears (easily managed!) saying that she had seen a flasher, we weren't sent out... Bargain.

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mooseloose · 10/08/2009 22:48

I'm a 34 g bra size and run with a shock absorber bra. Keeps everything in place, but the back has never ever given and is still tight as the day I bought it. Wish i had got the 36 for more comfort breathing!

LolaLadybird · 10/08/2009 22:43

By the way, Anner & Cataline, how are you getting on? Anner - did you do any cross-country running in Norfolk {has to physically shake off horrid memories of school cross-country runs}!

LolaLadybird · 10/08/2009 22:40

Hey, you're nearly there Malfoy - the planning is v important after all!

I went out on Friday & Sunday so have finished Wk 2, next run will be Wk3. That said, I've been tweaking it a little bit as the village I live in is in a valley so whichever way you try and run out of the village you hit big, steep hills. So it does make things easier to run smaller chunks during the first half of a run (some steep uphill bits) and longer on the second half (coming back down). Also, mindful of the fact that I have this 4 mile target on 20th September, I'm trying to build up a little bit quicker than the programme (ie. did one 3-min stint during Wk2).

Re the running buddy - it does make such a difference in terms of motivation to go out. We go away for a week on Friday to visit DH's parents and I'm going to take my running stuff in the hope that I can keep up the momentum. The change of escaping MIL for half an hour might provide the necessary motivation!

malfoy · 10/08/2009 22:18

Hi again, still haven't started but I am one step closer in that I now have DH's old ipod.

Now off to find what I need to download.

Original poster
Annner · 07/08/2009 11:17

Yoinks! Just done Week 3, run 1. It's getting serious now. Same running time as week 2 - but two x three minute chunks I'm glad that I hadn't looked beforehand as it would have totally spooked me.

I was even more shocked that I managed it! Yeehaa.

Don't we all look smart in our lovely new sports bras...

We're off camping for the weekend, so I may miss a session or two and have to catch up when we get back. I'm not sure how taking my trainers to a field in Norfolk will look.

It must be great to have company, Lola. How is Week 2 going?

Cheers, Annner

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LolaLadybird · 06/08/2009 15:01

Never one to pass up a retail opportunity , all the talk of sports bras on here sent me off in the direction of Figleaves and I've ordered some new ones to try. I'm a D-cup so not quite as wonderfully busty as some of you, but still enough to warrant some decent 'scaffodling' (good turn of phrase Cataline!). Also, I realised I hadn't bought a new one since having DC2 and it was definitely getting a bit baggy.

I've been out running twice this week & have started with Week 2 as that felt OK. Not using the podcasts though just timing myself on my watch. My neighbour is also keen to run and has come out with me so no need for music so far ...

Cataline · 03/08/2009 18:46

Annner - just got in and saw your last post - I actually went to John Lewis today and got a shock absorber bra ( your plus D cup assumption was indeed correct!! )

I tested it out on my final run of wk 1 this afternoon and it's definitely providing some heavy duty scaffolding!

I'm a bit alarmed at the prospect of week 2 but i'm hoping that the music may change on the podcast - i'm definitely not a fan of the tracks on week 1 (with possibly the exception of run 4/5!)

Lola - the squash sounds fab! Is it like a squashy version of couch to 5k??

LolaLadybird · 02/08/2009 22:43

Well, when I say 'playing squash' - it's actually beginners coaching with 4 or 5 of us on one court with the instructor so whilst there are some knackering rallys, the running around is fairly well spaced out!

It has occurred to me that between triathlon and squash talk, I may be sounding like a v fit person. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth - I am fairly lardy and rather unfit, I just talk a good talk!!

Original poster
Annner · 02/08/2009 21:51

Hi all! I haven't been around, as it's been rather a heavy week.

Welcome aboard Cataline! I'd really recommend the Shock Absorber bra. If you're within striking distance of Portsmouth, there is a Playtex shop in Gunwharf that does them for £18 (went there on Saturday). Otherwise (she said, rudely assuming that you are over a D cup!) try Shock Absorber Just seen that you are in Newcastle - so nowhere near Portsmouth! Shock Absorber do loads of styles, but only the Level 4 is any good for anyone with larger boobs who wants to run without them smacking her in the face.

I did Week 2, run 2 this evening, and I suspect that my honeymoon may soon be over. The last 90 seconds seemed to last for a very long time. Ho hum. It definitely gives me a good buzz and a bit of a high when I get home, though.

Malfoy, how did you get one?
Lola, I am totally in awe of anyone fit enough to play squash.

Week 2 ends on Tuesday, here.

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LolaLadybird · 01/08/2009 22:16

I think I bought my current sports bra from M&S and it's pretty good. Figleaves also v good - I think they do free returns so you can try various different brands (Shock Absorber very good).

So, who's been running this week?? Despite my brave talk from last weekend I didn't make it out (altho' in my defence I played squash instead of a run on Tues). However, a friend and I have decided to sign up for another team triathlon at the end of September, only this time I'm planning to swim and run 4 miles which will need me to start training NOW!

Cataline · 01/08/2009 10:01

Hi, Can I join you?

I started the couch to 5k last week and then found you on here this morning!

I'm only on wk 1 and did my second run yesterday. I desperately need a sports bra though - have been using a slightly too small well fitting bra with the straps tightened! Any recommendations? I'm just outside of Newcastle so have most major retailers at my disposal!

Original poster
Annner · 26/07/2009 23:13

Did it! Meant to get on earlier, but I've been trying to scale our ironing mountain this evening.

I survived. It was a bit harder this time, and my legs were not terribly impressed once I got going, but I did do it faster than last time without having set out with that intention. I hadn't ached after the first run, but my joints squeaked a bit today.

I followed the same route, so I could see where I was in relation to Friday when Rawb started yapping.

I'm not going to it on an empty stomach again. My batteries were distinctly flat by the time I got in.

Off to bed now! Good luck tomorrow, Malfoy and Lola. I wonder whether I will dream of flying along the road. Or just crash out. It was a good start to the day, and I could feel the smugometer ricocheting off the scale, but you should have seen the short work that I made of the bowl of Shreddies that I demolished on my return.

Running in my swimming costume would be one of my worst nightmares. One more at this level, and then week 2. Gulp.

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malfoy · 26/07/2009 22:35

I am still thinking dreaming about running.

LolaLadybird · 26/07/2009 22:31

Planning to do my first run tomorrow as long as DH gets home from work at a civilised hour.

LolaLadybird · 26/07/2009 22:29

After my swim today, I ran from the pool to the transition area (about 150m) in order to 'tag' my relay team-mate - if dreaming about running counts then so must that! Oh, and I had to do it in my swimming cossie .... the shame!!