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???

Geraldine - my running would not be glamorous anywhere

Also Geraldine is right about the Race for Life. It's the taking part, raising awareness and a fundraiser for the charity. No one would be let down if you walked, staggered or crawled. They would probably have been delighted that you were trying to be healthier and fitter.

Midtown - I thought you were stateside from your timings, but blimeee that's fffffrrrrrreeeeeeezzzzziiiiinnnnngggggggggg temperatures. Respect! You are hardy!

What is it with runny noses? Glad it's not just me!

Well ... just been for W4D3 and finally managed to complete a 5 min run!! Woohoo . PIste, you're absolutely right that the 5 mins make the 3 mins seem easy. Think I'm going to have another few attempts before moving onto W5 though.

I am now in that very happy place: post exercise glow, but don't have to go again until Saturday!!

Thanks for all the support re Race for Life. I know my Dad would be pleased however I did it, but would love to be able to do it with some style - at least jog rather than crawl!

Well done Race for life runners, it's a fantastic thing you are doing.

I've done it a couple of times and last year with my 3DD's (the youngest was 2 and in a bushbaby!). It's SO empowering seeing that sea of pink and there are women from all walks of life, in all sorts of situations and at all stages in their life doing it.
I've even seen women in wheelchairs wheeling themselves around the 5K!
You won't fail, you'll be brilliant!!

How're your calves(is that grammatically correct?) Geraldine and LIZS? I'm pretty certain that I'm good to go again but today was so cold and dinner was fish and chips from the chip shop so I thought one more recovery day should be in order.
I feel a bit erm, in need of guidance, I've spent a good few hours this week researching warm ups and yet I'm not really sure of what I'm doing.
I guess I'll find out tomorrow.
I feel a bit disheartened too if I'm honest. Tomorrow I should be starting week4 and I'm now a week behind. Hopefully those good endorphins will do the trick.

Oh! And Midtowner, I wish I was running in New York (even if it is -10).

Ooo New York! How fabulous, think central park is so much more glamorous than our little duck pond! Please tell me you run round central park- I have a vision!
Got to go out with the buggy otherwise I wouldn't get out at all. Prefer not too but husband doesn't like me running at night, such a worrywart !

MM- try not to feel too bad, just think that at least you are doing the runs, just a few weeks ago we were on the couch. If it helps I'm a week behind too as I missed a few days last week. Remember it's not a race, do it at your own pace and if you don't make it out then don't feel guilty about it. Just keep plodding

Can I join in? I've just downloaded the nhs podcasts, my ipod is charged and ready to go, I just need some trainers. The ones I've got were £6 from Asda so prob not the most suitable footwear...may nip to Meadowhall at the weekend and summon up the courage to go into the running shop there

Ha ha ha ha, hardcore. DH is still laughing at the idea (he did 9 miles in the snow yesterday). Equally ha ha ha ha to glamorous! And yes, I do sometimes run in Central Park at weekends - I live about 20 mins walk away, so I don't have time in the mornings to get there and back. I run along First Avenue past the United Nations .

Welcome TMB!

Is there a route near the UN building next to the river MT?

I expect Central Park is alive with the sound of runners at the weekend! We are going to NY later this year, last time we went we took DC to the Central Park zoo - they just adored the sea lions! My bro and his family live in central Tokyo at the moment and there people run round the Emperor's Palace, there's a pathway, but being Japanese, they all run in the same direction! All very orderly. Every time we have been to Tokyo it's been so incredibly humid, I cannot imagine running in those conditions!

On my off day yesterday I gave myself a little test to see if I could run round our block, nothing exciting but there is absolutely no way that I could have done that before we started, DH timed me and it took just under 5 mins. So I was really pleased.It was however odd not having my music blaring in my ears, I could actually hear my puffing and panting - lawks, I am NOISY!!

OMG Midtowner, do you get people shouting about "Cowfee" and having sort of loud shouty banter in the style of Buddy from Cake Boss?as you run along, do you have to run through those plumes of steam? And when you run in Central Park, are there lots of very glam ladies in coordinating tracksuits barely breaking a sweat as they jog along?? Please say yes, I, like Crockpot, also have a vision... I really am loving the whole idea!!

Right, my own injection of excitement for the day - Im off to Lidl.....

Gawd geraldine you know how to live
Marnie dont feel bad about not being up to the week you want to be - christ girl I am STILL doing week one!

But good news is that I have been out twice this week, most recently just now - very odd running in daylight! I think I prefer the anonymity of after dark but it felt a bit easier so I think my energy levels are better - shame that in order to do this the rest of the week i would have to get up at 6am and of course at present thats still blinkin dark!

I too get the runny nose thing! In darkness i do a sort of disgusting wipe on sleeve job as everything goes striaght in wash once home, but that was a bit tricky this morning!, must add a tissue to list of things shoved in my backside pocket - well it wont make it look any bigger than it already is

Going to download week 2 ready for monday now, am scared already but keep reminding myslef that i am still doing it and its baby steps - took me ages to get this u8nfit so its going to be a while before this is a normal everyday thing??!!

Peeks in.
Hello all, I'm starting this tomorrow. I'm ok fit I think, never been a great runner though, but I owe it myself to give this a try.

Have the NHS one on my ipod. Trainers check, sports bra check, Any tips??

Hi Dickcheese
If it is as icy cold as forecast i would recommend some gloves and a hat - the hat will stop brain freeze and help keep headphones in also i find.

Rest of you should get pretty warm soon enough if you are as unfit as moi

Hello all! Just back from W3R2 and it is positively balmy compared to earlier in the week . I actually worked up a bit of a sweat by the time I got home.

Welcome dickcheese. I second dobby's suggestion of a hat and gloves. And dobby, good to see you again!

Ratherbe and Geraldine, yup. Lots of impossibly skinny well groomed facelifted people in the Park. There is a path by the river but it's been too cold, icy and windy to try it.

Yes Dickcheese... Go to the loo before you leave

Dickcheese, dont push yourself hard the first time, there is plenty of time to speed it up.
Stretch before and after. Good luck

Dobby dont be scared about week two...it isnt too bad, hard but not impossible compared to week one. Also, yes your energy levels could be up more in the daytime, BUT I bet it's also down to you getting fitter - YAYYYYY!

I have definitely pulled a muscle in the back of my left leg. Went to aqua aerobics last night and made it worse - what an idiot...
Marniesmummy, what did you do to get yours better?

On a plus note, we had the hardcore instructor for aqua aerobics last night, and for the first time ever I did not feel traumatised during the session at any point.....definitely fitter than I was

Oh yeah, definitely have a wee!

Doing Week4Run3 tonight, well when it gets dark. I need to work out a longer route so that I can do the 5 min cool down, because I'm skipping it.

I also know that I'm not near running 20 mins which for me is next Friday/Saturday. My friend runs half marathons and says you have to get in the zone and Just not stop. She says she gets tired but pushes through that. She doesn't listen to music or anything because she is zoning! I will give the 20 a go but am not over/ at all confident!

Will let you know how my run goes later

Just tried wk2r3 and came back after 3rd repetition - 5mins + early. Both claves felt tight and it was soo cold, the wind more than just the air temperature. Guess will have to repeat :( . My midweek route is more hilly than the Sunday one and just can't seem to get past the mid point of the run .

Thanks everyone for your support, I think I could fairly easily not bother going out again.

However, ... tonights the night. I'll definitely post once I've got back in!

Dickcheese, can I also suggest taking your runs slowly. It's about keeping going to the end of the length of time not speed or distance covered. (Well, not for at least the first 3 weeks anyway!).

Geraldine, I love Lidl too. On getting my calf better I followed Maclover's tip (as well as not running for a full 7 days) and used 'Wood Lock'. You get if from Chinese Medicine shops. It's very menthol-y, but mine was a liquid (rather than a balm which I think Maclover's was) and in a tall clear glass bottle. I put it on twice a day, once before walking to school and I really felt that doing some gentle exercise (like walking) once it was on was doing something good. I also put it on before bed (but that's cos I thought it smelt lovely - evidently I'm a menthol freak).

I'll definitely use it again should I be unfortunate enough to get a similar injury.

Tonight I'm gonna warm up like crazy and hope I do enough of everything to keep myself free of injury!

Midtowner, tell us more, I too am having great fun running vicariously courtesy of your good self! Are you in the right kit? Is everyone else looking beautful in the latest correct gear? How do you feel compared to them (deopending on your answer to the first question)? I look like an idiot when I run, tracksuit bottoms that are a bit on the bobbly side because they are so aged, a T-shirt who's next stop wil be the bin and a jacket that I don't mind being covered in sweat (so clearly is also desperately unattractive!). Thus the dark is my friend .

As soon as I graduate on week 9 I'll get some better gear.
Right!
I'm off to start dinner so that I can crack on with my run as soon as DP walks through the door.

Go Marnie!!

LIZS - don't give up!! What I'm thinking you need is some Fame / Flashdance style legwarmers?!!!!!!!!??!!!!! Today wasn't the day. But don't give up!

I have just got changed and am just Contemplating Going.

w2r2 was last night...and i dropped my iphone and smashed screen!! that was because i had gloves on. it still works,but any mp3 recomendations??? anything i can put the nhs podcast on??

Tiffany - what a shame. DH got me an arm band thing for my iPhone but I don't really like it.

Just in a happy haze having done W4R3 so a day off tomorrow before the dreaded Week5.

I went 2.3 miles today according to gps but it will be about 3 miles for 5K and that's all running.
Thud (faints)

Rather - that's good going on the distance (and completing w4!) by the time were running the last few weeks I bet you'll easily be ticking off 5k.

Tiffany - Not good for your iPhone. Being the fashion guru that I am I just stick my phone in my pocket and clunk all the way round.

So, I'm back having completed w3r2! Fantastic! My calf didn't like it (despite my dynamic warm up, followed by the 5 minute walk) but it didn't conk out on me!
I did the runs with no problem but I felt like I had my speed limited by my calf (mybe just worrying about it stopped me feeling out of breath!).

Much happier now!

on week 2 using nhs podcast we get a tip about breathing......i dont understand it.....breath out when left foot hits ground and count 4???

how does everyone 'breath'?

i attempted it and it was better,but dont feel its right iykwim?

Well done to everyone who has been out. It is perishing cold here but lots of runners were out and about.

I have this for my MP3. It's waterproof and I really use it for swimming, but it's small and light, and if it gets trashed it's not the end of the world. Much cheaper on Amazon too.

Alas I forgot to charge said aquabeat so I had just had "hi, I am a 42 year old guy in Northern California" when the bloody thing died!!! I had to run with just mu thoughts (also making a hell of a wheezy racket!) and did 2 miles in 25 mins! Was thrilled. Did not stop though felt like it. I was very tired but just kept pushing til the end. Huge sense of achievement but FREEZING cold and needing multiple wees afterwards. Week 6 next week then I am back to running with music.

Stay warm everyone and keep on running.