Any Couch25K new starters?

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

I got abit fitter a while back (had a trainer), he moved away and I kept it up and jumped in at about week 4 or 5, but that was months ago now I really need to get fit for a job and lose at least 1 stone (ideally about 4!) Anyone want to start with me? Or are all the newbies jumping straight onto the massive thread? :)

febes, good luck for tomorrow, how does it feel to have almost finished?

Well done vanimal! 25 minutes! As Laura said, you're officially a runner now

As for me, I've been a bit quiet lately: I came down with a horrid cold and didn't manage to complete W8. I'm out the other side of the sneezing and sniffling now, but I've decided to repeat W8 starting next week so as to give myself lots of time to recover completely. But I'm not giving up!

Well done febes for getting to W9! You must be through the whole programme by now?

I'm just behind you...

Wow, I disappear for 3 weeks and look at how far many of you have got with your running. Well done! As for me, I've run out of excuses now (holiday, illness, half term) so will repeat Week 4 tomorrow. I hope I still have it in me....

Good on your run BsshBossh, I hope it's going well. I haven't run for nearly a week, and can't start up again till Tuesday (as DH is away).

Wolef are you feeling any better? I have also had a week off, and then didn't go running this morning either, as I had had a terrible night's sleep.

I went to visit family during half term week, and didn't do any running whilst I was there, so I am going to start week 7 tomorrow, eek!

I am thinking of signing up for a half-marathon this time next year, there is one quitel literally on my doorstep, the DDs would be able to wave at me from our front window. I got as far as registering on the BUPA great run website, but didn't complete the application - I am going to muster up the courage once I have completed C25K.

I'm back! I restarted w8 this morning. I think I probably could have restarted on Saturday, but wanted to give myself just a few more days to make sure I was 100% again. Plus in my head each C25K week starts on a Tuesday, and I'd have felt all scrambled if I'd restarted before Tuesday

I was really nervous about going out again, in case it turned out I had to start from the beginning or my legs or lungs had stopped working or something, but actually it was OK. I was significantly slower than I had been before I got the cold - I start with a 2.7k lap of the park, which normally takes about 17:30, but today it took 18:45 - but I managed the whole 28 minutes without my legs falling off, which is the main thing, right?

Well done everyone for keeping it up! And I'm impressed by your half-marathon plans vanimal - I'm thinking of going for a 10K maybe next year, but the next few months are going to be pretty busy so my first goal is to complete C25K and then just. keep. it. up. through the winter...

Wolef yay! Well done! I know what you mean about having to start again - I am wondering whether to repeat W6, as I haven't run for a week now, but I just going to get stuck into W7 and hope for the best.

The half-marathon plans are a tad optimistic, I am going to stick with C25K over the winter months too, and then move up a gear once I am comfortably running the 5K in under 30 min.

I am glad you are back on the thread though, it's motivating to know there are a few of us doing this together. I can't believe how close we all are to the end now - although I started this at the end of Aug, and so should have finished by now, it still feels like it's progressing very quickly.

vanimal Well, you could always have a go at W7 and just see how it goes? If you're struggling you can always do W7 twice.

I like this thread. It def makes a difference having a few C25Kers to moan about shins and early mornings with

Well done everyone! I did my 3rd 5k run last night and it felt a little bit easier. My quads are sore today though because I didn't stretch when I got home. MY duathlon is in 4 days time

Wolef I love this thread too, I often type things out in my head whilst I am running, or wonder if one of the early morning joggers I pass by could be you :)

I did W7R1 this morning, and it was fine! I have one slightly sore shin, nothing some stretching won't sort out. The toughest bit was pacing myself and knowing I won't get a break. I struggled on and off throughout the run, but I did manage it. Had to stop for about 5 secs when I was waiting to cross the road.

I think by the time I have done this run 3 times I'll be fine though. The music is particularly uninspiring for this week's runs though, I can't wait to be running to my own music soon. I think more upbeat music will help to keep me going.

febes good luck with your dualathon, you sound like you are on top form for it.

febes eeeek! 4 days' time!

Are you training right up to the day, or having some rest days first? Good luck in any case!

vanimal Glad your W7R1 went ok. My legs hurt like buggery this morning - I think they're a bit shocked at running again - but I'm hoping that will have worn off by W8R2 tomorrow. Can't believe we've all come so far! The idea of not running regularly now seems awful where it was inconceivable 3 months ago

BsshBossh How are you doing?

Wolef I have achey legs too, even though I stretched beforehand. Perhaps a nice warm bath is in order. How are you finding W8? Did W7 get easier for you?

I just mapped my run - 3.7K in 25 mins. I thought I would be closer to 4K by now, but giving how slowly I was dragging my feet towards the end it's no suprise I guess

Is there a new C25K thread, or is this one just slowing down cos everyone has finished the plan?

Maybe this one's slowing down cos a few have dropped off the end, not sure.

Re W7, it definitely got easier. By the end I was grinning practically all the way round except the first ten minutes which is always hell.

My legs are still v achey, but I'm looking forward to W8R2 tomorrow. Just have to hope little brother doesn't keep me up chatting too late tonight - he's staying with me for a night on his way back to an overseas job and never seems to need sleep

I played netball last night- first time in 11 years!! I loved it but am a little sore today. I am planning on doing NMTZs by Jillian Michaels today. A 5k run tomorrow evening and then a rest day on Saturady before the duathlon on sunday.

It is good running to my own music now although I need to change the music on my shuffle to more upbeat stuff. I mapped my run and I am doing 5.25k on my loop. I'm just running that distance for a while and in a few weeks I'll time myself and see how I'm going.

Hiya febes, what is NMTZ?

I still have super-achey thighs from yesterday morning's run, and wierdly, also an achey waist!

I am off out tonight for my annual date with DH, really looking forward to it. It's just a meal out, but there is a high possibility of having too much to drink afterwards, so I may skip tomorrow's run in favour of a lie in.

Wolef how did W8R2 go?

No More Trouble Zones- a fabulous Dvd from Jillian Michaels

vanimal - w8r2 was ok, def easier than r1 despite aching legs. I woke early with the clock change so had loads of time to stretch first, which helped. I actually didn't time it in the end, as I pause 58s in to check out a calf twinge then was about 10mins in before I realised I'd stopped my timer and not started again! But I know the route that takes 28 mins so just ran that - if it was a minute or so over then so much the better for w9

Good luck making it out tomorrow morning

I did my first duathlon this morning. 1k run, 10k cycle, 3k run. I completed in in an hour and 5mins (estimate- waiting for official timings) I found the runs good although it was getting hot by the last run it was around 9am and its really sunny here today. The cycle leg was ok but I had road bike envy. I am borrowing a friend really awesome mountain bike but its not really good on the road- a bit clunky. Still no head wind and overall I'm really pleased. Next one is in a month 1.5k run, 15k cycle, 4k run so need to up my training.

Febes - you are amazing! Well done on your dualathon, that is so impressive! How are you feeling now? Post-dualathon smugness must last a very long time :)

Haha thanks I feel good! I went for a 4.5k run last night which felt great. I thought I had to be home at 7 for an appointment so cut my normal 5+k short but the lady didn't show until 7.30 so I could have run a bit longer but never mind.

4.5K run the day after your dualathon

I did W7R2 this morning, and found it really tough going, did not enjoy it at all. I did manage it though. My legs were not are sore as they usually are, but I hope these runs get easier so I can enjoy them a bit more.

Well done febes!

I did W9R1 this morning. Had a great start, as for the first time ever I didn't struggle at all on the hill near the beginning of my route - just plugged away up it and wasn't too out of breath at the top. That's great news, as I'd like to be able to settle in to 2 laps of the park once I've completed the C25K, and until now the idea of doing that hill twice has made me feel a bit faint.

And best of all, the extra 2 mins on the end of the W8 runs felt like nothing. In fact, I was struggling more last week, as I'd been ill the week before. I feel a bit achy now, but nothing unmanageable. Oddly though I find myself not wanting to finish this week - as though I'm going to fall off the edge afterwards and won't know what to do... Still, I'm determined to actually do it this time. No excuses, no getting ill

Well done for W7R2, vanimal - and (at least for me) it definitely did get easier. I have to remind myself sometimes if I'm struggling or feeling really slow that all kinds of things can affect your performance - mood, PMT, what you ate last night, how tired you are, all sorts. Just keep going!

W7R3 - Done! I struggled again, but I managed it. I changed route, which helped, but I was really tired right from the beginning, so some of my running was v slow.

I am not sure why I am finding this week so difficult, but I am not feeling great generally, bit stressed at with work, DH and kids stuff at the moment. So I hoping it's partly due to that.

But it's done :) I have a huge headache now, and a day of work ahead of me, so I am glad I fit in the run this morning whilst I could.

Well done Mjanatee for nearly finishing - I feel kinda sad that you'll be done soon, but well done! Who'da thought we'd make it so far?

vanimal Some weeks can just be an absolute fucker, for no known reason other than cosmic malice. This week's been a bit like that for me so far. You have my sympathy. Well done for persevering!

When it comes to this running business, for me it seems that consistency is more important than performance - ie unless I'm actually properly ill or missing an important limb it's better to finish the run, however slowly, than skip one. Otherwise I get all scrambled and out of sync somehow. I don't give a stuff if I'm slow as anything some days, as long as I get out there. Speed you can work on. The key thing is just sticking with the habit, I reckon.

Woop woop! Survived W9R2 yesterday, W9R3 tomorrow. Can't believe I'm on the last week. Was really chuffed yesterday, too, as I ran the 5K course I'd mapped out, to see how far short of 5K I'd be at the 30min mark, and I wasn't nearly as far off (about 200m I think) as I thought. So 5K in