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???

Yes, I think it does sound likely, Im surprised by how far you can get shuffling along. Sounds impressive! My running style is a little like an unbalanced slow motion stagger.

I went this morning, it was hard work at the time, because my legs hurt and seemed to be rebelling. But now I've done it, had a hot bath and done a lot of stretches, actuallythey feel better than they did before I went...so that's quite heartening! I still cant imagine doing more though.

Next run for me on sunday evening as we have visitors all weekend . Then I will be moving on to w3 I guess.

Good luck with your run later hope you fly round!

I 'm due to do wk2 r2 but am finding it hard to get motivated - again . Sun is coming out though so will give it a little while to dry up the puddles.

spoke too soon - it's drizzling again. What do you wear in the rain?

I've just had the email from race for life to sign up, which was the whole reason I was doing this. Now I'm scared. I'm still not sure I can do it, and I wouldn't want to let everyone down if they had sponsered me.

For the 2nd time in less than a week I really feel like giving up :(

I'm normally much more determined than this and once I've decided to do something I go for it so it's really unnerving me that I feel like this :(

I need to pull myself together and make a decision

Lizs, I just wear a fleece top, and hope for the best, it seems to ward off the worst of the wet...you can do it, I wasn't in the mood this morning and was doing the same run as you, but felt a bit better once I got back!

Girt, sign up! go on! I have done Race For Life before, years ago and did not run any of it. Lots of people walk it, so you can just do as you are doing now and run some and walk some....BUT I bet you will zoom round. When is the race? I was toying with doing it myself, maybe we should all sign up! Go on Girt, you can do it!!!

I'm back . Didn't do the 5th run repetition . My calf/achilles felt very tight on the 4th, so feel a bit despondent as was going quite well until then. Got rather damp though!

Girt. You must do it! DD and I are signing up and I'm trying to rally some Mates You choose to run, jog or walk at the start and it's ever so inclusive. When we did it at the back were literally ladies with zimmer frames.

Don't feel dispondant, Lizs, you did four of the runs, which is four more than you would have done if you weren't doing c25k at all......next time bet you'll be able to do a bit more, and if not, keep trying and you will get there. I did that run today and found it very tough too, I felt like I near staggered through the last bit. When I got in, my mum was here (tidying all the mess I'd left this morning) and I could barely talk to her for about five minutes because I was so knackered!!

I've done it, I have entered race for life. I've got until 3rd July to be able to walk, hobble or run 5k :o

Well done Girt - that will also help your motivation now that you have a definite goal.

Good one, Girt!!

You can do it!!!!

Things I have learnt about myself and running:-

1)That it is best to go for a last minute wee before setting off.

2)That whilst the rest of me gets very hot, my hands remain ice cubes.

3)That I run better when it's dark because no one can see me.

4)My face goes very red. I like to call this shade "magenta"

5. It is best to look before crossing the road or one may have a Row with a Tesco van.

6. My nose always gets snotty as soon as I get any pace up.

7. That I am not designed ever to run in a stylish manner.

8. That i do not dislike running like I used to at school.

9. That I am happy to the point of smugness when I have run because I have the day off tomorrow.

Week4run2 completed!!
Wooooohooooooo!!

well done Girt!! I really want to sign up for the Race for life (DDad died of cancer this time last year and I want to run in his memory ) but am really worried that I'll let myself (and him) down.

Did W4D2 yesterday. Beforehand, felt a lot like some of you have been feeling - difficult to get motivated etc. But, I made myself go out. I still couldn't manage the full 5 min runs but the 3 mins felt much easier and two weeks ago I'd never have thought that. I, too, am going to just keep repeating weeks until I feel ready to move on. It's got to be better than sitting on the couch, surely! Happy plodding I say!! I managed to overtake a pedestrian too (albeit a pensioner walking a very small terrier)!!

Also, geraldine, I took your advice and took 2 ibruprofen about half an hour before and it really helped with the shin splints. Felt much more comfortable - thanks for that!

I signed up to this thread early on but have been rubbish about posting since - sorry about that! But I have at least been doing the running - finished week 4 today and am totally amazed that I've been able to do it - was rubbish at school and hated every minute of running then. But this has been so much better. I'm planning to give myself a little reward if I make it to the end of Week 5!

Well done Piste . How did the 5 min sections go? I think our running styles must be very similar. I can include many of your list on my own! Def 3, because of 4, 6 and 7!!!

Well.... The first 5 min was fine, the second was a Big Effort. But the 5s make the 3s seem easier! And I did it all but was very determined to. I am really making progress because on week 1 I found running for a min a challenge. Am knackered now though

But I'm in that happy place of not having to run now until Friday!
< happy sigh >

Hello all, good to see everyone is still going. I did W3R1 this morning. I was ambling along in a world of my own doing the last walk, and realised that I was walking more slowly than I usually during the 5 minute cool down at the end. I will concentrate better tomorrow . The good news is that the temperature has come up a bit from -10 to 0, but the bad news is that we now have a foot of snow due overnight, and more coming overnight. I'm glad I'm not going out again until Friday!

ratherbe, I loved your list and can relate to everything on it. girt well done on your race for life. maclover, you can do it too

Well done midtowner!! I am often tempted to skip the cool down. The other day I was doing the final run and arrived home, so I just sort of went in and had a cup of tea! That's probably not good.

That's alot of snow mt! I'm thinking you aren't too local to me I am SW of London, we are having cold temps at the moment and that's 0 or -2!! It was cold when I went last night but not the degree of cold you talk about!

Have a good run everyone going today. I'm blissfully on my in-between day.

Maclover, that's exactly how I feel. I am running in memory of Dgran who died in March last year.

I guess if it's ok to walk it then at least we will make it round, even if it involves stumbling along :o

Well done everyone for doing so well. Ratherbeonthepiste, i could have written that list :o what is it with the nose running?

Every time I think oooh I must take a tissue next time and I never remember :o

Midtowner at -10 and a foot of snow. I thought it was bad when it was -1 and I got brain freeze

Just been out for week3 day2 plod with runny nose and buggy. Dd2 screamed after half way cos she was tired but it had the added effect of moving people out of the way, like my own siren! Shes happily asleep now by the way .
Well done for those going race for life, I did it with done friends a few years ago but we all walked and certainly weren't the only ones. Piste- Love the list particularly 4, 6, 7, 8, 9! MT- running in the snow is hardcore!

ratherbe, I'm in New York (hence my posting at funny times). It's usually dark when I go out and I don't check the temperature before I set off (because if I did I'd never go!). Yorkshire, hats off to you for pushing a buggy as well!

Like ratherbe I'm on a day off today. We've had snow overnight, but the streets don't look too bad.

Yes yorkshirecrockpot doing i with a buggy must be twice as hard. Good on you :o

I didn't make it out yesterday but I did swim for a mile and a half in the evening. Trouble is I like swimming whereas I can take or leave running at the moment. Too cold.

Am going to try to run tomorrow morning but it's my 20m run and I'll have the boy in a buggy. Yikes.

Midtowner you are officially hardcore.

Ah excellent, Maclover, Im glad the ibuprofen worked

piste, liked your list, and can relate to all, particularly the full bladder one. I have to go for a wee at the preschool after I drop off ds2 on running days, or face disasterous consequences. Ha they probably think I'm pregnant.

I am running again on sunday evening. We have visitors this weekend, house is disgraceful, have not finished cakes for the week, or my tax return. So all going swimmingly here

Well done all for signing up for races, and for just keeping going and not keeling over in general. Will update after my shuffle on sunday

Oh, also, how could signing up for the race for life and then not running all the way let your loved ones and dearly remembered down? They would be proud of you, even if you crawled round, Im certain.

Lastly, running in New York sounds infinitely more glamorous than running in Bedford.