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Original poster

The Couch to 5k 2011 thread :0)

979 replies

dobby2001 · 01/01/2011 20:38

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

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???

OP posts:
MarniesMummy · 04/01/2011 15:43

Eek! DP is away from saturday until next friday with work so I won't be able to get out Shock.

So...I'm going out to start the C25K tonight!
Eek!

Not quite the 11th but I'm just going to brave the dark and get out there. If I start today then I can do 3 runs this week and i'll still get 2 runs in next week.

Will let you know how I get on when I get back!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 04/01/2011 17:31

Well I am absolutely delighted to have managed Week one, Run one! I did all the runs and gratefully did all the walks. I had to wait until it was dark to cover my embarrassment Smile

I downloaded the app that Personalclown recommended, and it is good, so much easier than working it out.

Is it best to do this every other day, or every day?

I asked my DD aged 13 to add some motivational and inspirational music to help me, and she added Well it certainly made me laugh out loud! If you can't quite place it, it is the theme from Benny Hill. Grin

SevenAgainstThebes · 04/01/2011 17:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maclover135 · 04/01/2011 18:57

Hello can I join too. I've completed week 1, days 1 and 2 so far (started on Friday). I'm a first time runner and found day 2 harder than day 1!! I ached a lot after day 1 but not so much after day 2 - is that a good sign?! Day 3 planned for tomorrow - not really looking forward to it tbh but I know I have to keep the long term in mind. Good to see lots of first timers on here to share with Smile.

MarniesMummy · 04/01/2011 21:19

Well, it didn't kill me!

It's very hilly where I live so I was trying to sort it so that I'd be doing my runs on the level, I ended up doing the last three runs downhill.

I think on my next run I'll do the first 3 uphill (unfortunately that's definitely gonna kill me, it being pretty much the North face of the Eiger). I guess it is uphill running that I need help with. So run 2 is going to be harder.

One thing I did notice is that having music to walk to means that it's hard to get lazy (which I think I'm very guilty of doing).

Hey ho!
Run one done. My right calf aches for some reason.
Run 2 on friday!

How did your run go SevenAgainstThebes?

Go for it tomorrow MacLover!

Original poster
dobby2001 · 04/01/2011 23:44

well done marnie, I had a hilly bit on mine and it nearly did me in so i am very Envy that you managed it all.

Back out again tomorrow and my thighs are still aching from yesterday Hmm

OP posts:
YorkshireCrockpot · 05/01/2011 10:32

Dobby, how did your run go today? Went out on my second this morning in the rain! Had to take dd2 in the buggy but at least it meant she's now having a lovely long nap.

Endorphins kicking in now and feeling good and desperatly trying not to attack the tub of leftover celebrations in the kitchen :o

RatherBeOnThePiste · 05/01/2011 11:26

Not too bad after yesterday! I felt so good for starting, I was dreading the actual start of this process!!

I do feel for those of you with hills. Round here it is essentially flat. But I do feel compelled to run in the dark at the moment!

AitchTwoOh · 05/01/2011 12:42

did the first run today, all fine except that it was really icy and i slipped a few times. hmm. this may curtail my plans, i cannot afford to hurt myself.

Original poster
dobby2001 · 05/01/2011 13:14

Havn't done it yet Yorkshire, woke up at 6.20 purely by accident = well needed a wee Grin but the lure of the duvet was too much and i was a bit of a scardy pants about running so early in the dark tbh.

Am trying not to get to psyched up about it as I keep thinking i am going to be worse than last time Sad am going to go tonight after I finish work around 6ish - I live near 2 train stations so although it will be dark there will be people around so less intimidating iykwim - although more folks to laugh at my pathetic efforts tho Hmm

Aitch you need some yaktrax - got some at christmas and they are brill Grin

OP posts:
maclover135 · 05/01/2011 15:59

So ... did day 3 today and seemed to be ok - better than day 2. Have to say I'm dreading week 2 and upping the time for running. Just beginning to feel comfortable/able to manage 1 min of running without feeling sick Blush. Do you think it would be ok to do one more time at 1 min of running etc before embarking on week 2 or is that just defeating the object of following the plan?
Lie Yorkshire, the endorphins have kicked in too so feeling quite pleased with myself!!

Good luck to those who have a run to do today.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 05/01/2011 16:02

Could you not just repeat week one? I think that's what Dobby has said she is doing. If you consolidate it then move on?

jamaisjedors · 05/01/2011 19:10

I would do one more time if I were you (but not be tempted to repeat the whole week, otherwise you will just keep avoiding stretching yourself.

maclover135 · 05/01/2011 19:40

Thanks for the advice - think I'll do as you suggested on Friday and try the next step on Sunday.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 05/01/2011 19:57

Harumph. My bra hasn't arrived yet. So think tomorrow I am going to do wii fit, as I promised myself I would start tomorrow :( Well done everyone, reading all your posts is making me feel inspired to get going myself!

MarniesMummy · 05/01/2011 20:12

I agree Dobby, I don't think about it, I just try to do it otherwise I just start dreading it.

Aitch - Go steady! Can you run in the road (obviously get loads of high visibilty gear on first, I know Decathalon do a vest for £4 that no-one'll miss you in Wink.) Or maybe just postpone for a day or two longer till the ice is gone? Nothing'd put me off doing C25K faster than an icy fall.

Geraldineyounotsoluckygoat - Frustrating for you. I admire you for doing some WiiFit instead though! I'm thinking of getting a Wiifit, does it actually do what it says on the tin? Can you get fit by using it for a reasonable length of time (say 30 mins), three times a week?

AitchTwoOh · 05/01/2011 20:18

pavements were fine, oddly enough, it was just teeny weeny patches of black ice on the roads that i was crossing. i have (fake) yaktrax, but they'd be no use because i'd be so unsteady on them on normal ground. paid a blimmin' fortune for them as well, and they just don't seem to be half as good as real yaktrax. bah. will see what friday's weather brings, in any case...

BelligerentGhoul · 05/01/2011 20:24

I haven't managed to buy any trainers yet.
:( I tried at the weekend but the two places I tried were woefully understaffed and in the end I gave up.

I really want to get started but all I have is Converse and I don't think that would be a good idea.

Maybe I could do it on Wii-Fit a couple of times to get something started?

geraldinetheluckygoat · 05/01/2011 20:31

Marniesmummy, yes, wii fit is good, I found. As long as you can motivate yourself to do it. I used it about 3 times a week lasst summer and it was effective on building strength especially. On the wii fit programme there are a set of muscle excercises that I found to be really effective. The aerobic excercises were a bit hit and miss, and can easily become very monotonous. Yoga probably quite good, though I dont like yoga Smile.

I have got a personal training game which i got for christmas, that I haven't tried yet, so I am going to give that a go. I think the problem with Wii is that it can get boring to do the same stuff over and over again, and the key is probably to vary the games you do on it so it doesn't become monotonous.

There's loads of different games you can get for it though and it is a good option for excercising at home, I think.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 05/01/2011 20:32

Beligerantghoul, join me tomorrow on a wii fit session Grin its frustrating seeing everyone else get started and not being able to join in isn't it?

Original poster
dobby2001 · 05/01/2011 23:04

soo I went out for my 2nd run - i had to quickly hunt out my lightweight cycling jacket (which i struggled to do up since last worn Blush) as it started raining just before i left the house. But undeterred i donned jacket and a hat to get out there.

I was crap Sad even worse than last time, i couldnt breath well enough to run for 60 seconed for any of the run section Sad i had to walk for at least 10-20 seconds of everyone

I cannot beleive i am tht unfit, I have had a cold for a few weeks but surely that wouldnt affect me this badly would it? After the first run i was coughing for an hour afterwards. Today I recovered alot quicker and had a hot bath after a strecth so dont feel as bad - no coughing wither but then i cant have run as much - just lots of walking Sad

I want to do this so much but am feeling very disheartend right now [ad]

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 05/01/2011 23:11

for some reason my hip and knee on my right side are sore?? ankle too....what am i doing wrong?

Dobby,just did third run of week 1 tonight. was worst one yet. so wish i'd shifted some weight,feel so heavy!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 05/01/2011 23:21

Dobby - yes a cold can affect your breathing so too can cold air. Don't give up on it yet. I am a novice like you, but someone with more experience will be along to give you better support!

nobiggy · 05/01/2011 23:27

Dobby, slow down. Push it too hard and you'll injure yourself or fail at your run and give up.

Slow it right down. Complete your runs. If you have a means of measuring distance, over the weeks, you'll find you're going faster when it feels like you're putting in the same effort.

"Comfortably uncomfortable" is what I go for pace-wise.

sybilfaulty · 06/01/2011 07:52

Dobby, if you have a cold it is an uphill struggle. I also find it is harder when it is very cold and you can feel the cold air as you breathe. Take it easy and wait for the cold to pass before you go out again.