Starting Couch to 5k next week ( 17th May) and looking for company :)

I went out this morning, on the week 6 run 1 and boy was I bad! I only managed 3 or 4 minutes each time, then had to go to a walk. Having said that, I do remember struggling to get to 60 seconds at the beginning, so although I've gone backwards I don't have to start all over again. Already looking forward to doing it again on Saturday! :)

I had some more work done on my foot, so I've not been out. I think I'm about to take on a full time job, so that'll be interesting to fit in.

Hi, I'm feeling a lot better thanks. Might venture out Thursday morning when it gets light! I'm going to try the beginning of Week 7 again. I have checked out Week 7 of Carli's podcasts and have decide I prefer Rawbert's music! Also he's got me through so far, I want to stick with him. :)

isn't it cold now! Of all things, my wrists were frozen when I ran yesterday.

Sybil . I swear, Carli's podcast is word for word the same as Rawbert's. The tunes are just more modern. What's to miss!! I'm not making any progress... still on week 5 and ran the three x 5 mins yesterday and wasn't able to complete. Pouring with rain today and distracted by decorating... I'll try the two x 8s again tomorrow.

How are you feeling, Panzee? How is everyone doing?

Hope you feel better soon Panzee. It's a bitch being ill when you want to exercise isn't it?

Kiwi, I am shocked that you are not a fan of "operator" and other Rawbert classics. I miss the "42 y old guy in N California" bit but not enough to go running with him again. He does think that by the end of the programme one can do 5k in 30m which is too fast for me. I'm on about 40m at the moment.

Right, Michel Roux Jr is waiting for me downstaits. I'm off running tom am if I can get up at 6.30. WIll let yo know if I get any faster

I'm so out of practice. I am due the 20 minute run (is it week 7?) but have been ill for weeks. I'm desperate to get back into it. I'll start that week again when I'm better - when will that be?????!!!! :)

I ran 8 mins on the weekend (5 mins seems sooo last week!!) but I've been sick again since. That's three times since September and cruel.

It does get easier Poppy and you actually begin to look forward to it. I find that I feel envious seeing others out running and think about how good it feels.

I started about the same times as sybil - before the summer... but I have yet to crack week 5. I haven't lost my spirit yet. I am hoping to get to the end of the programme. I started out using Rawbert but changed to Carli's. I've noticed that her dialogue is exactly the same as Rawberts but the tunes are more recognisable.

Fantastic effort N4NNY... amazing achievement competing your run in a brilliant time and well done on raising lots for charity. I hope that you can find a flat run... I'm thinking Netherlands???

I did my run on sunday it was very hatd going it was lots of hills on very uneven loose ground. I did lots of walking on the hills but managed to get round in 1hour 25 mins. It felt a great but feel very disappointed that i wasnt able to run the whole distance. I am now looking for a flat one so i can try agin.

I'm taking a week or two off i think ive managed to crack a rib then plan to get back training. good luck everyone else

And this thread has been great for keeping me at it too :)

Yeah, what Sybil said :)

Some weeks I did twice before moving on, some weeks the three runs got stretched over 2 weeks, but I'm two runs off finishing the lot.

Get the pace right, get the breathing right, the rest is a matter of practice.

Poppy, I started at the end of July and, honestly, the first week I struggled to do a minute. I think the key to it is to keep going - are you doing Robert? He was fantastic for getting me going and really inspiring. I did 4 runs some of the weeks (well, 4 runs over a week and a half before I moved on if you see what I mean) as I felt uneasy about the next stage. It will come. Honestly.

I am still as slow as a snail, but am out there and (almost) enjoying it!!

So Sybil did a 40m run
Kiwi is on to 5m runs
Nobiggy runs for 31ms
N4nny is clocking up 10km...

That's seriously cool. I just finished 2nd run of week 2 and those 90sec runs weren't as easy as I thought! Blah!

Did you guys really start running a few weeks ago?

Please tell me your stories of wonder and inspire me - I'm determined to see this through but seriously worried about next week.

N4NNY - how was it? Well done on the sponsorship. Hope it was a good experience.

Well, week 9 run 1 for me today, cold hands! Last weeks Rawbert podcast was a minute short, but I found it. He calls a minute to go on the half hour run at 30 minutes!

31 minutes then, 2.2 miles.

I did my final run last night before the big run tomorrow, finally managed to run 10k it took me 1hour 30 mins cos im a very slow runner i had hoped to have been doing the 10k 3 weeks ago so i could work on my speed and a little more on hills coss its a hilly route but that wasnt to be but i feel ready just going to be one of the last to cross the finish line. I've almost manage to raise £200 for cancer reasearch so i'm very happy to finish and finish last.

Well done Poppy. It's brilliant to remember how difficult it was to run for one minute when we all started out. You seem enthused and enjoy challenging yourself so will fly through the programme.

Well done Sybil... 40 minutes!!!! You're proof that it can be done. Fab news from you too nobiggy. I hope you are feeling better.

All the best for your run on Sunday, N4NNY. I can't wait to hear how you did.

I ran week 5... the first one again as it's been more than two weeks since I have been able to get out. I was amazed that I ran the first two 5 minutes easily and struggled on the last one. But, I am putting that down to the route I took being on an upward incline coming home and my thighs were burning. I'm not sure what to do about the loss of daylight. It is only going to get more difficult once the clocks change.

I am meant to be running with my sister tomorrow who is a runner. This will be interesting! She virtually runs with me now because I text her when I set out and she sends me messages while I am running. It's fab!!

Just back from a 40m run and feel very chipper.

Nobiggy I am also 41 and wish I'd started earlier. But I am hoping to have 40 odd years of runnning left. I will be one of those old dears pounding the streets - am now!

Poppy, it does seem daunting to run for 20 m but the sense of achievement is HUGE. You can do it. Keep on running!

Yes, it seems such a jump, but you do it, not sure how it works but it does.

It's an extraordinary thing all round. In some ways it's a shame I was 41 before I had a go, but maybe it's just time to do it now.

nobiggy that's an awesome time; I'll be delighted if I'm anywhere near that level of fitness on week 8!

I now finished week 1 and managed to increase my speed & distance on run 2 and 3 and bizarrely started looking forward to progressing to harder intervals. Surely I won't turn into a... "running person"?

Still, had a look at weeks 5 & 6 and felt slightly sick at the thought of the 20 minutes!

I finally got out and ran on Monday managed about 4.2k so was really pleased aimming for 8.4 on wednesday then 10 on saturday and then hopefully i'll be ready for the big run on sunday

I decided not to go out today - had various things to organize anyway - but I will go to aquafit in the morning, just to keep things moving.

Well done, nobiggy, that's a great time! I would take it easy if I were you and wait for your cold to go as it's not fun running and sniffing at the same time.

Have had a bad cold and not been able to run since Friday but am hoping to get out later in the week.

I did 2 miles on Sunday, 27.59! Fasted yet. That was my 3rd week 8, was all set to start the final week but got myself a cold. Not sure if I should. I'll see how I feel later I think - see if I can breathe!

Well done Poppy, keep at it, it's really worth it.

Right... finished run 1/week 1 yesterday and doing my 2nd run tomorrow.

I didn't run particularly fast, but it wasn't as horrid as I expected and although I was glad when it ended, I did feel I could have kept going a bit longer. Fingers crossed tomorrow goes well.

nobiggy - really enjoyed the NHS podcast. You can get it on their website or Itunes and the girl has a pleasant voice. Don't know about you, but when I'm doing something that requires effort, I get annoyed really easily and I get the feeling Robert would drive me bonkers!

Mind you, you've been doing really well, so I wouldn't change half-way either. Hopefully I'll stick it through and get attached to my chic too!

Thanks desertgirl looking forward to it. You are on week 7, did really well so don't beat yourself up too much - I find that the main thing is to not over think it and just get back on the horse.

As a Type A personality with occasional bouts of OCD, when I'm in that sort of situation, I try to focus on the mantra "progress, not perfection" - even if you couldn't finish today, at least you started and did part of it. Next time will be better!

Anyone using Nike+ software?

Oh Mrs D, congratulations on losing a stone, great stuff and am hugely envious.