New Years Resolution couch to 5k thread

building up for my first 10k at the end of april. did almost 9 k today and now feeling exhausted but am pleased cos I did it almost 10 mins faster than last time. it's the first time I've ever seen a time go down - usually there is no difference between my 'fast' run and my 'slow' run

I'm still wimping out of the great outdoors, but I will get out there soon, I promise. I've just finished week 7 (I think!) which I may repeat. I've got a teething, non-sleeping baby so feeling particularly tired at the moment so lacking in motivation to run. I did go on Saturday and did a timed run and whilst I ran it all, I didn't seem any quicker than the last time I did it. I have seen some results; I bought my first pair of size 12 jeans on Saturday. I was size 20 before I got pregnant in 2008, so I am proof that the exercise does work.

Everyone seems to be making great progress.

Wk 7 R1 DONE

I had a totally fabulous run this morning. Very inauspicious start as it was cold and wet and dark and gloomy at 6am but I rugged up and went for it. I managed to run for about 17 mins then stopped for 2 and then did the final 12 in a (mostly) run, some walk fashion.

I utterly utterly loved it.

I think my mild cold virus has lifted and I felt brilliant. Also I was listening to ace music and I can really see results now. I am running longer/faster and my fat arse and stomach are becoming teenier and weenier.

So huzzah and hurrah!

Also very well done doyouthinktheysaurus, 7 miles is effing amazing! Shame about the pulled muscle tho.

I managed 7 miles on Saturday, off-road and a bit hilly and into a freezing wind first half which went quite well, but today managed to pull a muscle kneeling down on the floor

I went for a run anyway and did a 3.5 mile plod along the seafront which actually felt harder than saturday's run.

I much prefer running off road, I love it up on the Downs. I am going to try and run part of a very hilly route I used to cycle tommorrow. No idea if I will manage it but it's such a lovely route I hope I'll enjoy it anyway.

I can honestly say I think generally it is getting easier now. Running seems to be more comfortable than it was, it seems easier to get into a ryhthm.

I hope it gets easier for everyone else soon.

Thanks doyouthinktheysaurus, I was looking at the DM on line and saw Zoe Ball jogging along Brighton seafront. I imagine you can bearly move there, these days, full of slebs running off the babyweight .

Wuglet it does indeed get harder. I thought it would get easier. Surely that happens sometime.

Go for it tummytime. Great idea to have a focus, and 10k is doable by the end of May, surely?!

Sorry should have said - 10k

The ligament is much better now thanks Sanfairyann and I have the stretches/ exercises if it feels a bit sore again.

Now given I'm still only on W5 of the programme and not yet running a whole 5k, would I be completely insane to sign up for the Oxfortd town and gown run in May? Is it reasonably traightforward to up the distance once you've started? I just want to make sure I have some races to focus on...

Not far from brighton Claudia, nearer Worthing.

We used to live in Brighton but moved out a bit when ds1 was a baby and living in a one bedroom flat lost it's appeal

You are right about running along the seafront, it is lovely.

Well done on your run, it's hard running in the heat I'm sure. I guess I might find out one day...

Doyouthinktheysaurus where abouts are you? I used to live in Brighton and loved running along the seafront - most invigorating.

It's 2pm here and I've just done 5.5ks on a HOTish 30 degree day with a bit of a cold. My legs went all funny and I felt faint. God am so weedy. Still it feels great to have done it - I didn't run very much or very fast which was a little disappointing but this cold is making me feeble.

I am sitting here with sweat trickling down my back - off now to shower mmmmmmmmm, luvverly.

Lovely weather for running this week on the South Coast. Hope those with injuries are doing ok, just take it easy. And well done to everyone, looks like we are all making good progress

It was gorgeous Monday so decided to go up for a slow 3 miles on the South Downs. I under-estimated the mud though and slid my way there and back It was good though, the views were great and it's so peaceful.

I did 5 miles along the promenade today and couldn't believe how much easier it's got. My stamina has improved massively and although it takes me a while to get into my stride, once I am I feel like I could just keep going.

Here's hoping the weather stays dry.

Hey everyone, it's amazing how much progress we have all made isn't it? Well done!

I ran for the first time in a week last night. It was a lovely night and I really enjoyed it (perhaps more because I had been stuck in all day looking after a poorly, clingy DS). Had a bit of a twinge in my ankle but it wasn't painful and I did 5k in my usual time. I actually felt like I could have run further (not like the time before) but I didn't want to push my luck. But yet again my calves and muscle on my right leg were really tight and sore again when I got home. I managed to make it much better with lots of stretching though. And have continued stretching intermittently throughout today. I am hoping that I can continue running and manage the strain with stretches as having a week off almost killed me!

good luck with the return to form,slug, bet you get back to where you were v quickly

how's the ligament now tummytime?

did my 'slow' run today (how come they all take the same amount of time ) and felt full of beans and like I could keep on running -can't have been going fast enough! I'm going to start some speed work on hills soon. bleurgh

Hello everyone. I started with the Bupa C25K in the New year to do the Macmillan run at the end of March but then pulled a ligament in my knee so am on week 4 run 3 at the moment.

I'm pretty slow (I think 11 min miles or so if I ran the whole thing which I'm not) but really loving it. Except when the time comes to get off my arse and actually start...

Hi Ladies, I'm back. I had to give up for two weeks after I came down with a succession of colds. I've now completed week 3 and am trembling at the thought of wheezing through 5 whole minutes of tragically slow plodding on Wednesday. Wish me luck.

ooo I've just checked my Feb Stats from Runkeeper (nerd emoticon). Apparently I've run just under 55K and burnt almost 5,000 calories.

I am delighted.

This month I'm gonna do more - if I aim for 15K/week (3 x 5k runs) it should be totally doable.

Oh right, hurrah, thanks llareggub.

No, you did it right, Claudia. I did week 6 run 1 this evening, and it is definitely 8 minutes x 3 with a 2 minute walk. I did it on the treadmill again as it is freezing here again and I'm a wuss.

Wuglet, it takes a me a lot longer than 25 minutes to do 2.5 miles.

I've just come back from wk6 run1, but have just looked at the BUPA site and I've done it wrong. I did 3 8 min runs instead of 4. Oh well, will do more next time.

Also I found the last run hard so walked a teeny bit. As usual.

But I feel ACE now.

Wuglet are you following BUPA or Robert thingummy?

wow!!!!! well done!

I did 5K! OK, I did it in the gym on the treadmill but, I did it! I felt fine after the 7 minutes run x 3 so decided to carry on until I reached 5k, as I'd reached 4k. What a buzz.

I'm going to venture onto the road on Monday now that I am equipped with my ipod, snazzy new headphones that actually fit my ears and the couch to 5k app. Hurrah!

What a lovely DH you have llareggub! I run with headphones similar to Claudia's, round the neck and in the ear. There is no way I could run without music, my motivation when it gets tough is just to get to the end of the song and so on...

Claudia I am very I have seen nothing on my runs this week due to the driving rain

Hope your leg is sorted soon Rollergirl.

It might even be dry down here when I run tommorrow. That would be a real novelty!

llareggub: Aww, bless your DH! I reckon music will make all the difference y'know. I wouldn't even contemplate going outside without it. It gives you something else to focus on. You just need to make sure you don't run out infront of traffic cos you can't hear!