To worry about looking ridiculous when I start running?

[Molehillmountain]

I have done no very little exercise since I had the dc-a few periods where I've swum once a week but generally not. I am not huge, but a size 16 and not exactly small breasted.

I've decided that I'm going to start the couch to 5k thing I saw on Nhs choices and I was all fired up and ready to get on with it until I started thinking of getting running shoes and sports bra. Then it hit me that I would look just ridiculous and awful running and that the folks in the sports shop would think I was too.
I'm still going to do it, i would look sillier staying big and more importantly unfit andI want to set an example to the dc, but Aibu to think I will look silly for a while, and how long that while will be?

molehill I started couch 2 5k because of this thread! Thanks :)

hooray! So did I actually! How are you getting on, gym bag? Good name!

Tink phoebe and Rachel in friends. Never feel stupid. You are doing something and the lardy arse couch potato you aint doing shit. Sorry haven't read thread at all just the op headline

Week two done! Lovely run (erm-again, the words lovely and run next to each other!!) with my two physical running buddies, as opposed to you lovely virtual ones! It felt so hard on Tuesday that I felt really demotivated. Have learnt a valuable lesson about each run being new and different.
Come on week three-I'm ready for you (but not til Saturday )

Ooh and another thing that motivates me is that every run I do becomes cheaper. How? Well, spent nearly £150 on shoes, bra and socks. First run cost £150, second £75. Done six now so down to £25 per run .

My gear is an early gift for my birthday (big one) btw. Going now...

mole only done week 1 twice. Was very proud of myself. Am about a 16 too. Going swimming tomorrow then another run on Sat! :)

Thought I would struggle but I could do it, and the lady telling me when to do it made it easier than my own will power but better than a personal trainer who pushes you so much it puts you off!

Mole, I've just finished c25k and your thread is making me want to pound pavements right now! It's still hard, really hard. But I think I might love running. Keep going lovely. It's worth it (and if any if you live in NI I'm looking for a buddy...). Been looking for a 10k to sign up for tonight. Didn't think I'd be doing that 2 months ago.

Good to hear that lurker. Can I ask how you found the jumps between the weeks?

Probably already been said, so apologies if it has as I haven't read all 9 pages (!) but does this thread remind anyone else of the Friends episode with Rachel and Phoebe running together in Central Park?!
Rachel gets all embarrassed about running with Phoebe as she runs really daft with her arms flailing everywhere.
Phoebe's response?

"Who cares if people are looking? You run past for them, and then they're gone!"
Rachel thinks she has a point, shouts "I'm free!" runs off like a look and runs smack bang into a horse

yes I'm a Friends geek

I found jump from 15 minutes run up hard and still think 15 is my true comfort zone. But I can usually slow and do same again. Think my pacing is not good - do most of my running on a treadmill which is ok but when I hit the road I run too quick. I'm still learning so much. Plan to sign up for a 10k in June and there is a half marathon in September which is haunting my dreams... (Can't believe I'm writing that)

Good for you! I am signed up for 5k in May

Well done everyone! I love the idea of composing your mumsnet runreport half way round.

Just another plug for parkrun, a free weekly timed 5 k run in a park near you, every Saturday at 9am or 930am .

You can find your local parkrun here www.parkrun.org.uk/.if you go to the local webpage you can click on " latest results". Scroll down to the bottom and you will see what time the slowest runners are doing - proof that you don't have to be a super fit athlete to do parkrun. Most of the runners finishing in 40 mins are doing the jog/walk thing, just like on C25k.

You'll also see that while many runners belong to a local club, most don't, they are just fun runners like you.

If you want to get your results emailed or texted to you, you need to register online. Again it's all free.

W3r3 tomorrow after a couple of days off and half a tub of salted caramel sauce. Oops!

I really fancy parkrun but Saturday morning is family time. DS still sleeps and after a weeks stress we want to do something nice with the kids and need to be back for sleep. I sometimes head out at about 8/8.30 so 9.30 is currently too late. Give it a year and I plan to have the whole family cheering me on.

Have signed up to park run!

Well done gym bag, I hope you enjoy it. It's a bit scary the first time but usually people are very friendly , especially to a beginner. At our local run they have a briefing for first time runners about 10 mins before it starts.

I'm not on commission BTW, it's just I've found it really useful in making me go out running during the week . And at the beginning it was very exciting as I got a new PB few weeks !!!!!

And Im lucky that DH is nearly always around on a Saturday morning -still in his PJs but around. On the odd week that he's working away I take my kids with me to parkrun as they are all school age. Two of them can run and I just volunteer with the LO -there are jobs you can do with a child attached :-) . I appreciate that Saturday morning doesn't work for l lots of mums

Ladies,

Have you managed to get out running?

W5R2 done! Yay! Was hard but not impossible. My buttocks and stomach muscles are sore though.

It's a bit of a bittersweet victory; now I need to get ready for the biggie 20 minute run straight with no walking. . That's two and a half times the longest I've ever run. Can't believe it can be done. DH is making me a playlist with uplifting tunes so I can run to that instead. Don't know what will be on it before I run, but I bet AC/DCs 'Back in Black' is on there.

Will report back (if I survive), but have decided as long as I run more than 8 mins then it's progress; I'll build up gradually.

Don't want to fail as I've not failed a run yet....

Think of me on Monday about 9am!

Awwwww Mogble,your Dh sounds like a sweetie

And you will manage it. Afterwards you will feel fan bloody tastic.

Good luck mogglemoo. I was terrified of the 20 minute one but I did it and so will you!

Go mogglemoo! Going out for week three, run one in a bit. Dd2 has been kind and gone to sleep easily. I also just posted on another thread that I "run three times a week". Felt strange, but true and very satisfying!

I've just read the whole thread and think you are all amazing! Anyone can sit on a sofa and think of excuses not to get out there but you have all taken the hardest step and started. I took that step 5 years ago and the training program started with a 30 min. brisk walk, last year I did my first marathon! I've got more energy forl everything now, the kids, work and DP . Keep at it! The longest journeys really do start with a single step and you've all taken it Well done!!!!

Thanks, sofa . Well done on your marathon!
Just done (well done and then eaten curry-not a big one!) w3r1. In a strange way it felt better to be doing the slightly longer runs because there were fewer of them. So 30 mins will be a breeze . I do love Laura and her positive comments. Today I learnt that I must keep my head level so I wouldn't appear to be running to an onlooker on the other side of a hedge [skeptical]. Yes-but my astonishing speed would give it away, surely? Anyway, it made me chuckle.
.

Oops- can't spell! I meant [sceptical] obviously!