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???

Midtowner - I hooted when I read the bit about you having to haul yourself up by the wall.

Marnie - you say the same as DH - he also says there is a point when you have to go for it, and how do I know I couldnt do 20. I shall see how it is tomorrow, am just unsure.

I have been doing essentially the same route but have had to extend it. Then starting week 5 I changed my route to make it even longer. It was quite nice doing something different! I also try to avoid crossing too many roads esp I don't cross any that would involve using pedestrian lights.

Goes off to cultivate a swishy pony tail.

Marnie, if I'd known what it was going toe like when I went out I'd never have left the house . Glad to have brought a smile to your day.

Rather - I think you know your dh and Marnie are right. When I was running last autumn I was amazed how long I could run for once I got going. Go for it (and then report back)!

I too am in awe of you Midtoner hauling yourself up with railings - you havn't got a swishy pony tail by any chance have you?

I did wk2 run2 last night and it was hard hard work - t be honest I thought it would be as i was up till gone 1am the night before hence v.tired spent all day with 3 under 2s who took it in turn to have mega tantrums and push all by buttons! only for parents of 2 to be late meaning i had to really rush to get changed into running gear and get DD off to Brownies (the hall its in is on my "route ) hence after all that I was not in a good mind set iywim.

Anyway I got through it,just and had a good soak in the bath once home so and ok today, although i seem to be getting a recurring pain inmy left ankle right after running - strong enough to need some ibruprofen today it is a dull ache after walkiing any distance - noticed it after pushing double buggy into town and back - realy hoping its not going to hamper my efforts tomorrow.

very in awe of all you lot doing even 5 mins,let alone 20!

Midtowner i meant of course! or maybe freudian slip as of course we are all getting fitter lol!

Rather - I've just done week 5 run 3....almost! I repeated run 2 so did that twice and as it was such a lovely day today, bright and breezy I got the courage up to try.

I managed 10 mins then walked for 1 to catch my breath then finished the other 9 . Next week seems to slack off a bit for the first 2 runs, then up to 25 mins.

For me, repeating a hard day seems to work - on the next run I try harder to push myself, knowing that I've been well prepared IYSWIM.

Dobby - well done! You inspired us all to start too. Thinking about your ankel,have you got good shoes?

I'm starting to vary my route a bit more and to try and have a mix of surfaces. I'm also getting quite good at estimating distances in the town where I live and when the evenings are lighter I'm going to be a bit more adventurous.

Keep on running everyone.

I'm going to try W5R3 later this evening, I am so happy to have a running twin in cubscout, because then I know what is coming!

I am in awe of anyone running up any incline!

Good luck for later Rather.

Well done you guys!! you're all doing so brilliantly!! I have not been able to run this week as I am trying to get my leg back to normal before going again, to give myself half a chance of getting anywhere.

On my school run I have seen lots of joggers, and have felt really envious of them...so desperate to get back out (well, sort of, you know ).

Anyway going to Aquaaerobics tonght to see how leg holds up, and then hopefully get back to it next week...ugh, will have to complet week 2 AGAIN!! (or might just try week 3, what do you think?)

I only Bloomin well did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week 5 Run 3 - run for 20 mins no walking!

Yaay
Although by the end I was almost stumbling jogging.

The first 10 was 'ok' and the podcast announced half way which was great. Then it was a matter of hanging on. I did look at time left when there was 3 mins left and I forced myself to finish. Forget magenta, tonight I was deepest burgundy! Am knackered

I tried to not think about timings but the route itself.

I am chuffed to bits. And feel I may fall to bits!

omg, well done, Piste! thats so brilliant!!!!!! Very, very impressive indeed

I am so chuffed. And rather surprised to be honest.
Am currently collapsed on the sofa

Piste I hereby award you an honary pony tail to SWISH!!

you go girl! (or lie on sofa if thats less achey right now}

Did w3r3 in the wind..... Up a slope.....swishy ponytail unleashed itself!

I looked like the wild woman of Borneo when a very startled ds1 opened door to me on my return. Think I will repeat it before moving on to W4!!! it was like being on a treadmill!

Yayyyyy! Kudos to cubscout and ratherbe! Well done!

dobby I am liking the new name you gave me. I hope the ankle gets better . I am in awe of your day, I could never deal with more than one littley at a time . geraldine how did the aquarobics go?

I'll be braving the streets again tomorrow morning. They were OK when I came home, so hopefully they won't be too icy in the morning!

Dobby - squeal!!!

I accept this honorary pony tail with joy! swish

Lol at the wild woman of Borneo!
Good luck Midtowner don't skid on the ice though.
Geraldine - hope you are getting stronger. Aquaerobics is really good exercise, I did it for a while and loved it. Maybe repeat the end of week 2 to ease back in? You don't want to push it then hurt yourself again.

I am on a blissful day off today!
Good luck to any runners. Cubscout - are you going today?

Well done Rather - you definately deserve the ponytail. And I'll be chasing your tail too! Agree that it's great to have the mutual support on here and arunning 'twin'

I went to bed at 9 last night, ached all over. I'm resting today, starting week 6 on Sat morning. Don't feel too achey either this morning.

Dobby and Geraldine - take care of those injuries, Midtowner, be careful.

Good luck to everyone running today.

Hi everyone

Cubscout - I am on Wk 6 too. I did run 1 on Wed and it was OK. Was aiming for run 2 today before DH went to work but it didn't happen. So I'll try run 2 tom and run 3 Sun or Monday. Then I'm off Robert and back to normal music.

Sounds like we are all going well. Long may it continue.

Cheers everyone.

Rather, Tiffany and Cubscout Well done! I love that our bodies are beginning to suprise us with what they're capable of.

Geraldine - You're right to ease yourself bck into it very gently. The frustration of sitting at home twiddling your fingers waiting for an injury to heal is far worse than taking a run super slowly for the following week. You'll be bck at it before you know it!

Last night I did w4r2 and had no problems. (I was still gasping like a Beagle after a tobacco testing after the uphill bit but I finished running about 100 maybe even 150m further on than I did on w4r1! I'm very happy. It was really windy where I was too Tiffany, it was great to run in (apart from when it begn to rain aswell!) as it kept me fairly cool. (Had my woolly hat on so no swishy ponytail for me). Something that really made me smile was that a runner that I've seen a few times while out smiled at me! A really small thing but he's clearly of the 'I'm a young rugby player and my runs are just to help my fitness' variety of runner so I felt as if it was almost acknowledging me as a fellow runner (rather than crimson faced, shuffling, forty something).

Anyway, one more run on w4, my thoughts are already turning to the joy of w5! Aargh!!!

Everyone is doing so well :o

W3 R3 for me this afternoon. I'm actually looking forward to it and i can't wait to move on to week 4 (never thought i'd hear myself say that :o )

I think i can actually feel myself getting fitter. The only problem I have is that my knees hurt, all the time, even when I've had a few days off.

geraldine i had a week off between week 2 and week 3 and i was surprised at how well I managed w3 R1 despite the break. Maybe you could just repeat 1 of the week 2 runs instead of the whole week.

Soo I had my day all planned out, get up, take DD and self to dentist,before dropping her off at school and then out for run, before i get down to the admin I have seriously neglected whilst skiving doing more pressing things.

So get home from dentist/late school run to find parcel has been returned to depot as not in jump back in car to collect parcel from depot. return home and hens are going crazy to be let out of run as its that time of morning. think "will have quick cuppa whilst hens out THEN have run"

So two of my hens decide to have mega bun fight leaving one of them with torn comb - cue lots of blood flying everywhere as I have to try stoppng fight and splitting them up, catch injured hen (who is the one i find hardest to catch typically isolate then put in pet carrier to check over/possible vest or at least bring inside to calm down and remove from other hens!

Have just had to wipe blood up from my newly cleaned floor and change top

Oh and whilst all this going on take in parcel for lady next door

Rest of hens now shut back in, injured hen in pet carrier calming down so at some point i can take a proper look at injury and I have yet to get any admin work done.

Run may have to wait till another day - think I need one of these instead !!

No time friday evenings due to DD being in swimming squad and training - if my after schoolie goes home with mum tonight ias sometimes happens i might be able to do somelane swimming for half an hour instead - or just lie down in a quiet corner...

..... and breathe Dobby...
Breathe

Dobby lie down in a quiet dark room with a nice bottle of red! Dramatic morning hope the chooks are ok. Well done everyone, I've following all of your swishy ponytailed antics whilst being quarantined on the sofa eating cake and watching charlie and Lola almost continuously.

DD1 is so much better now so I'm continuing on week4 tomorrow morning. Although little bit worried how I'll do especially as am off out tonight with some friends for a meal and we usually consume several gallons of wine!

Please can I join?

I've just started - literally just got back from Wk1 Run2, you all seem to be ahead of me but hopefully that will spur me on and make me too embarrassed to slack

I have never run before and am wondering how long I will have to run for before I stop turning into a beetroot as I run? Also, I HATE getting stared at as I'm running, which, unfortunately as I'm in central London, is very hard to find somewhere without people. But I am determined to persevere!

aero.....none of those lovely parks nearby to run in?? well done for starting and welcome!!!

believe me,i was struggling when i started wk 1 too....but now,about to start wk4 and those short runs feel so easy now!!! they are like taking a break,thats how quickly you feel results.

i want to repeat last nights run because the wind spoiled it,but its still windy...grrr

girtlush....try some painkillers before you run to help with knees....mine hurt sometimes too

Sybil - good luck this week. Have you done 25 mins before? I'm nervous having had to walk 1 min of the 20 min run, but runs 1 and 2 on W6 don't look too challenging.

Aero- what about sunglasses so you can't see anyone

Yorkshire - hope you get out soon.

Marnie - love the smiling rugby player type! I daren't took any other runner in the face just yet and go out often in the dark, early morning or evening so not too many people can see me. Don't know why feel so self conscious.