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???

'a bit more longer'???? ' A bit more time' perhaps.....
And 'disappointed' of course - must proofread!

Went out for w6 r2 this morning- got lapped by young sporty student again! Another biggie tomorrow- 25 minuter [gulp]. Once that's done though onto week 7 and is starting to feel like I can just see the finish.

Clenched- I hit the wall at week 4 too but I just did the week again and got a positive head on and it worked. There's no shame in repeating if you need to.

Not noticed exercise interfering with sleep but mainly because dd2 is interfering with my sleep!

Been blathering on at home about running so much dh has got jealous got himself some new trainers, downloaded his app and is off out tomorrow! A convert! He'd better not get better than me- there's going to be some competitiveness in the yorkshire household let me tell you!

Welcome new joiners! And glad to hear we have more converts! Two of my work colleagues have also started C25K after my incessant blathering on occasional mentions of how good it is.

Piste, not sure how it has happened but I'm at the same stage as you now. I'm going to walk to the park, run round the lower loop twice however long it takes (a smidge over 5k) and walk home.

If I survive I'll report back later.

Thanks everyone for the lovely, warm welcome - I'm in awe of you all getting past W1R1! And great to have some of you just starting too .... will be following your progress as I sprint huff and puff my way through nine weeks.

Didn't sleep well last night funnily enough although I was really tired - was a trifle (oooh trifle yum, noooooooo! step away from the trifle!) excited though that I'd managed to finish at all, so maybe that was why.

It's also good to know that there's no shame in repeating a week, as I expect I might have to repeat W1 a few times.

I'm just pleased that I've managed to drag my big, fat bahookie off the sofa and not died doing it.

Hey all - thanks for the motivation and support. I did 20 mins! It was fine. Am so happy. Onto week 6 now :)

New here too. I've just finished W4 and am dreading W5 - it seems such a big jump to do 20 mins non stop (by the end). How did you all find it? I am also now a running bore, with my husband rolling his eyes every time I mention it - which, to be fair, is a lot.

Welcome PeskyPiskie!

well done molly! That 20 mins is such a breakthrough!

Well I DID IT! I walked to the bottom of Central Park, ran through the Park to join the running track and went almost twice around the track (ended up stopping for a loo break a tiny bit before the end of the second circuit). I set the timer on my ipod and when I stopped I had done 40 mins running. I hadn't checked as I went along and had no idea how long I'd been running for. I've mapped my run and it was 3.68 miles = 5.9km!!!!! I feel fab !

Welcome newbies. Look out for bottom corners!

midtowner - 40 mins!!!!!! 5.9 k!!!!!!!! {so impressed she faints emoticon] - serious respect, that is amazing!

Thank you clenched! I have no idea how I did it - if someone had said "midtowner, today you are going to run for 40 mins non stop and cover over 3 and a half miles in distance" I would have told them they were taking to the wrong person .

As gormers said upthread, once I'd told you all that I was going to do it, I didn't feel as though I could not do it IYSWIM.

Isn't it funny that a 'contract' with lots of unknown people on-line can feel so powerful/motivating etc!
well, whatever was behind it, you've done really well and I hope the buss from it is suitably amazing?

'buss'????? what is it with me today! - the 'buzz' of course, sorry midtowner!

Yaaaaaayyyyy W9R3 and I did 5.3K!!!!

No one can be more surprised than me!
If you'd said before Christmas that I'd be doing this then I would have laughed. Amazing ( you can tell I'm having a post run buzz!)

Off for my shower now . That was what my face looks like

Welcome all newcomers. Stay and achieve good things.

Well done Midtowner ( amazing )
and well done everyone. We really can do this

yup, still buzzing!

We went out for a Chinese lunch (so I could refuel!). My fortune cookie said "you will achieve a long held goal soon" - very appropriate for today

WELL DONE PISTE! You are one fast lady!

Envy at running in Central Park! My local park is not quite so iconic!

phew - Just caught up. Nice to see some new peeps. I felt like a gatecrasher when I joined in 5 weeks ago but I gained so much motivation/inspiration from those posting that I hope I can now repay the debt to the newbies.

Today I did the big one - w5 r3 - a full 20 minutes of running. Strangely the first 5 minutes were the hardest as I tried to find a pace which I felt I could maintain for the full 20 minutes. the second 5 minutes were OK despite an uphill section, I had to slow the pace and felt I would have been quicker walking but I kept on moving, the third 5 minutes were a breeze for the final 5 minutes I even upped the pace. When Laura said slow down I just stopped dead it was hard to keep walking for the cool down. However the upshot is I RAN FOR A FULL 20 MINUTES I am so pleased and looking forward to joining you 5kers!

Justaminute - exactly the same here. I really didn't think I could do it but it was fine. The first 5 minutes was hard but once I'd turned round after hitting halfway I just knew I'd do it. I found it easier than when I first did 5 minutes actually and considering I got a stitch in my very first minute in week 1. I'm amazed at myself! Pixie - you can do it. Honestly! And midtowner - all I can say is wow!

justaminute and mollycuddles well done to you

YorkshireCrock - my dh is out now, despite complaining about a sore ankle. I did suggest that he might do better on his bike, but he's got the running bug too now. We learnt over the years not do any kind of sport together - neither of us is particularly competitive with other people, but for some reason we are with each other. And because he's bigger/fitter/stronger than I am it brings out the worst in me!

Who was asking about shoe chips to measure distance upthread? I was reading up on them the other day, as one of the babysitters we use was posting her half marathon training progress on her FB page from her ipod/chip combo. I found out that Nike trainers have a special compartment for them, but if you don't wear nikes you can get a special attachment to fit them to any shoe. I saw one when out today - it's a little orange pouch which fits over the shoe laces. I had one of those "the things people will pay for moments" - my granny would have been proud of me , but am now feeling quite tempted. Am I mad?

Midtowner. DD had one of those chips in her Nike trainers and it linked with her iPhone. That is until I put her trainers in the wash cos they got too muddy and foul. That was the end of her running technology ! [twit]

Bet you were popular piste! Did it work for DD? Reviews on some websites seem a bit mixed.

Hi can I join in? Am moving onto week 5 on Monday and am also dreading the 20 min run!!
Am loving the running apart from the whole clothes thing, still can't find trousers that don't slide down arrgh.

Welcome Pumpster!

What kind of trousers do you have?

Crikey - what a lot of runs to catch up with! A catch all well done you all for some fab running the last 2 days, and welcome to newbies! Mental note to check thread more often - routine always goes to pot at weekend!!

Good run on Sat morning - w2d2. Felt easier and faster than day 1 this week. Am really looking forward to being where you guys are that are doing 20 mins etc, but must have patience.

I used to run with Nike +, in fact I still do butt gamin has kind of taken over which I got a couple of months before stopping running ( another reason I'm glad to be back out there as garmin was otherwise looking like a stupid investment!!). I loved the Nike + as I loved to see my distances tracked and have a tangible record of improvement. Also, the website let's you set yourself challenges etc as well as joining challenges with others. I'm really self-competitive and love to beat previos times so was great for that. I didn't have the Nike trainers, but used a shoe pouch to carry the chip receiver - it threads on to laces and is pretty small, you barely notice it - it cost about £6 from amazon.

Toting with idea of another run in the morning, will see how tired I am. Otherwise, rest day.xx

Midtowner they are m & s performance running trousers- I am a size 20 with an apron belly (4 sections, 2 in the last 22 months) so I fear it may be my shape causing the issue!
I may have to safety pin my top to my trousers
That distance chip sounds interesting, will look into getting one I think.

Hey - off line for a few days and some amazing achievements! Well done Piste, ILT and midtowner - fantastic performances.

Molly and justaminute, well done also. That 20 min run is a big boost.

I've not been well so not out since my disaster on Wed of managing only 2 miles before conking out. Feeling betetr today, so will try again early in the week.

Welcome all new joiners. Have a good week everyone.