The Couch to 5k 2011 thread :0)

[dobby2001]

Thought i would start a new thread so al those wanting to start or return to running in 2011 had somewhere to post

I have NEVER tried running before so very very nervous about starting, but thought couch to 5k sounded a good method of getting into it.

I am off to bluewater tomorrow to buy running shoes - any recommendations???

Hi all, I just did my W1R1 and it was too easy, a lot easier than what I've been doing on my own. As I hadn't been timing my 'runs' (another plodder here) I hadn't realised that I had been running much longer than the W1 60 seconds and had been walking for a lot less than the W1 90 seconds. By about 50 seconds of walking I was bored and ready to run again.

Not sure what to do now, should I just stay with the plan and do the easier runs to get me back into running 3 times a week or is that not pushing myself enough? Should I move to W2 or W3?

Dobby don't worry about it, you need to get your foot better. Have been very lazy this week as have had a poorly baby. Managed to get out once and did week 3 run1 but it felt good. Week 5 sounds impossible! Was lapped yesterday by a young skinny stick insect yesterday have yet to overtake anyone!

Running tap, I'd move onto a week where you start to find if tricky- someone here said you should be comfortably uncomfortable. It's a programme for non runners to do 5 k so if you can do more to begin with then why not start at a harder week.

Yorkshire Thats what I was thinking, I'm just a bit bothered I'll push myself too far and I'll just quit.
I think I'm running with friend later in the week so I'll see how I go, time myself to see where I am comfortable and take it from there. That sounds like a plan doesn't it?

Week 5 is running for 20 minutes???

Blimey! I think you could have given me some warning before slipping that one in there!

I am definitely getting my calf better before I carry on!

Dobby - Good to hear from you. Get yourself better otherwise you'll be nursing injuries from here on in which is pretty much a watse of time. I won't even be due to run if all was well until tomorrow but I'm chomping at the bit (which is good in it's own way I suppose).

Running tap - w2 longest run is 90seconds so you may want to look at week3 (3 mins) or week4 (5 mins) or even further if you dare!

heap not heal.

Doh!

Yes Marniesmum! The third run of week 5. For me that is under two weeks away. That just seems daft!

Marnie - I think I'll try W3 maybe? I'll wait and see how brave I feel!

Hope you start to heal soon, it must be very frustrating.

TWENTY MINUTES??!!

I am going to pretend I didn't read that!

Well I started w2 again, as I only got out once last week due to ds1 having a little op and then being at home, then getting a cold and having too many cakes to do.

This weekend I went to a running shop to get feet and gait assessed! I have slighly low arces and over pronate a bit, so he offered me some great trainers for £75.00.....after I picked myself up off the floor, I asked him if he had any cheaper ones, he came out looking slightly sour, with a £72.00 pair! I resisted the urge to say, "Oh, excellent, yes, it was that extra £3 that was tipping me over the edge" and went to a cheaper shop, got some for £55...still pricey but better.

Anyway, went out in them today, and legs are a lot less painful. Also took advice of running friend and took ibuprofen half hour before I went, which helped too.

How the hell I will ever move on to running for longer I dont know....I managed todays runs, but it was hard, cant imagine doing more. Did anyone else feel like that?

Marniesmummy, so sorry youve hurt yourself, rest for the rest of the week, that's what I did last week and it did help a lot. You will get back out there, don't lose heart. Ditto Dobby, hope you soon feel better soon, good to hear from you, was wondering hwo you were getting on!

Who feels like they have lost a bit of weight? Even though I only went once last week, I do feel like I have lost a bit, or at least everything seems to have firmed up a bit...even though I am not exactly running, but shuffling - another one here who worries about having to overtake walkers!

I seriously cannot imagine running for 20 mins! I defiantly gave not list weight, I eat too much cake. I feel a bit fitter though

Have not lost weight- doh!

It goes from me running/shuffling 5 mins tonight to 20mins a week on Friday.

I cannot imagine that

Thanks, Piste

That is bloody terrifying, though, isn't it? TBH i will be overjoyed if i can even manage five at this point! Did I mention that I saw spots before my eyes on the second 90sec run this morning

20 Minutes?
God. Help. Me.

I am afraid that I bottled the 20m run today. I had a rubbish sleep, a hard day at work and was frankly in the mood for cake and a DVD. I went out anyway and re did day 2 so 2 x 8 min runs. WIll definitely do day3 and the 20 min run later in the week. Have done it before and it is doable, you just have to keep on plodding but it was a step too far today.

Well done to everyone who has been out. I have lost a bit of weight but am still wobbly. My tummy is shot after 3 kids and (whispers) my pelvic floor is a bit ropey as well. Esp if I really go for it. i don't think that was quite what Rawbert had in mind.

Keep on running evreyone.

Lol sybil - you will do it, today wasn't the day.

Well i did W4R1 todays, so two lots of 5 minutes, and two lots of three minutes and I did it, and was really pleased I seem to do fine on the Run1, fine on the R3 but totally pants on the R2. I really do not know why.

I cannot for the life of me imagine running for twenty mins, even if my life depended upon it. God help me too!! Having said that of course before we started this caper, I could not imagine running for one minute.

Good luck everyone - let's keep trotting on!!!

Weeelll, I completley lost the plot at the weekend. I worked on sunday and I was so tired on monday I could barely function. I actually thought what the hell am I putting myself through this for, I'm not doing it any more, I haven't lost any weight,I've got blisters and I'm just wearing myself out.

This morning i decided I was being stupid and I forced myself to go out for week 3 run 1. I never thought I would be able to do 3 mins of running but I surprised myself and actually found it really managable. I felt really good, and full of energy when i got back, so have managed to talk myself into carrying on.

I am going to struggle to fit in 3 runs this week though as DD is sick, so not at school and I'm working nights and days.

How long would be too long to leave between runs before you should repeat the week?

Oops pressed post to soon :o

Marniesmummy, sorry to hear you're injured, hope you heal soon.

Good on everyone for doing so well.

I think I need a kick up the bum

Girtlush, well done for turning that around! I think its hard to motivate yourself sometimes, I find it hard, especially when I am very busy or tired. However, I think that it is those times that you benefit most, as it lifts your mood and makes you feel a bit more in control!

I am well impressed that you managed the week3 runs so well! I think that if you manage the next stage up, despite the longer gaps between runs, then that is fine, but if you find you struggle, then go back a step and do that weeks' run once or twice more. I guess the point is getting fitter and stronger, and it doesnt really matter how many times you have to repeat...am fully expecting me to take a lot longer to reach the end goal!!

I am going out again tomorrow morning...I went back to week 2 as I only managed it once last week (and also I am putting off week 3!!)

I was talking to my running friend last night about the all round horror of running for 20 minutes....she thinks that we will be able to do it as we will have more or less done it in bits before that, andthat it is actually easier by that point to just keep going rather than stopping and starting.

Obviously, I dont beleive her. She goes hill training for fun, for god's sake

Hope you are all ok, check in when you do your next runs!

I am not really seeing how this works:

Week5 Run2 is run 8mins, walk 5, run 8
Week 5 Run3 is just run for 20mins
Week 6 Run 1 is run 5 mins, walk 3, run 8 mins, walk 3, run5.

Does that seem odd?

HMM it does seem weird, doesn't it? I have no idea why it does that, except perhaps to give your body a bit of extra time to adjust?

Also, stop looking ahead at all the long runs, Piste, I still haven't got my head around five minutes yet

Aw Geraldine, I'd rather run for 5 mins, even 20, than do a tax return

I am about to go out on w2r2, have slightly pulled a muscle in one leg so will have to see how it goes that is if ds1 ever stops blowing rasberries and actually puts his school uniform on...

May be repeating w2 until im into my late sixties.

tax return half cobbled together, thanks for the support

do you think all these little injuries are all part of it? till we get stronger and can bound up and down the Tall Hall steps with crowds of kids chasing us, in manner of Rocky?

I really do Geraldine, after all we are making our bodies do something quite/ very alien. We are bound to pull muscles and stuff. I don't think my running style is very good, in fact I don't think I have a style at all!

I have now been able to add GPS to my app and on Monday it said I had gone 2.2 miles. Does that seem likely?

Have W4R2 later, when it is dark and no one can see me