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? :)

Week 3 run 2 done, managed another 3 minute VE and another minute, but with a walk in between so now PB is up to 13 minutes total running! (in 6 bits!) Am totally in awe of Duende and her 10 minute VE! 3 minutes is still the longest run and I am pleading to stop by the end of that! (And I was very much heaving and puffed!)

Haven't been out for a run for over a week, thanks to a combo of report writing and SATs marking! Hoping to get back with it tomorrow though.

W4R1 done . 16 mins running - 2x3 and 2x5. No VE today, but am so pleased!!!

Hey Newport welcome back.

Good vibes to you all for the next couple of days.

W5R1 done no VE here either, didn't have any energy left but pleased I went out.

on a completely separate note - my 2 yr old DS went away today with my mum, they flew to Poland (where I come from) so that DS and my family can spend more time together. My parents are absolutely crazy about him and miss him like mad and he loves them loads. DP and I will be joining them in just under two weeks. I spoke to mum a while ago, and DS is very happy, playing out in the sun with his grandad and nan. They are both off work whilst he's there. I know he will be happy and they are over the moon. I spent most of the morning crying. I am planning to make the most of being child free for a while but also feel completely lost. Plus, all the british people I talk to think I have completely lost my mind to let DS go away without me for so long.
Am I such a horrible mother? I'm definitely not brave enough to post in aibu

Hey duende you are not a horrible mother - you are just having a few days of time on your own with DP, whilst your parents spoil your DS and he also gets to have a big adventure. . . . My 2.9 DS would love to spend a few days with his GPs. You can always be "mummy on the computer" on skype if you need to (and can promise not to cry).

Just make the most of your time for the next few days - they will fly by, I'm sure - and think of the hhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuugggggggggggeeee hug you will get from him.

You have not lost your mind in fact I'm off now to change my name to greenwithenvyatthethoughofafewdaysoffdutywhilstdsiswithgransmurf

Not horrible mother at all Duende Just practical and unselfish to let your son and parents have some special time together! Including aeroplanes! My ds would trample straight over me for such an adventure! My ds had a sleep over at his grans at the weekend and we all (him and us!) enjoyed it and it took some doing to get him to come home!

I have just done wk 3 run 3 and upped the second 3 minuter to 4 AND put in another 4 minutes - I went off podcast during the recovery walk and found a track that was just over 4 minutes and waited til it had 4 mins left and then started running! So PB total is now up to 14 minutes total in 5 bits

How did you get on over the weekend Newport?

hello lovely ladies. thank you for making me feel less guilty. the house is awfully quiet and calm without him. I miss him but I am also trying to make the most of this temporary freedom...
I went for a bike ride yesterday afternoon and DP and I went for a curry in the evening. I went to a zumba class tonight and quite enjoyed it.
Hoping to do W5R2 tomorrow.

umbongo, am impressed wih you pushing the limits :)

cuddly, you have made me realise that I should indeed be grateful for a few days off duty. we don't have anyone in this country who could babysit so "off duty" doesn't happen often.

newport, did you find the time to run?

Just thought I would see how I would do as tomorrow is wk 4 run 1 and I have to run for FIVE minutes and I didn't want to set off thinking "I can't do this" but now I can hopefully try and think "come on, it's only a minute extra to what I have already done"!

W4R2 done - with no VE though as for this one the weather was warm and sunny - which has so not been the case here in Scotland this summer.

Duende good to hear you are just enjoying your time off

UmBongo don't stress about the extra minute, just slow down if you need to to stop you looking like this

Off to work for my penultimate day before 2 weeks of holiday ....

I'VE DONE IT! Week 4 run 1. I have now run for a total of 16 minutes! in 4 bits. Tired but very pleased! Off for a quick shower before collecting ds.

Cuddlysmurf if I slow down any more even the most arthritic snail will be able to overtake me! And I always look like when I do any exercise! But as your dh said - I'm not walking therefore I am jogging!

Hello! Well done UmBongo! I can remember how hard I found that 5 min run the first time - it seems like such a long time to keep going doesn't it!

Have managed 3 runs since Friday and have started running to my own music now, as I've got a rough idea of the distance/time I need to run for. It's so much better because I love all the songs so they give me a real 'lift'. Couldn't have kept going this far without the nice NHS lady though!

I know what you mean about looking very - I seem to still look like that for a few hours afterwards!!

Up to 30 minutes running (using the term loosely!) but it is very flat here which is a real help!

Duende I'm glad you're enjoying the time to yourself. My family are a few hours away so we don't get much 'off duty' time either, but at least they're in the same country - it must be very hard for you.

DH and I went away for a few days at Easter and DS stayed with his grandparents. When we got back we were so looking forward to seeing him, and anticipating his excitement at seeing us again........he was having such a good time playing with his cousins that he looked up, said "Hiya" and carried on playing. I wasn't sure whether to be pleased that he had enjoyed it so much, or upset that he clearly hadn't missed us at all!!

Your DS will be having a whale of a time, I'm sure, so don't feel guilty and enjoy the rare time off!!

Hello All!

Week 1 Run 2 done! It's waaaay harder outside than it is on the treadmill and my calves feel so short and tight.

I cannot wait until I can do 20 minutes!

Welcome HappyDoll and congratulations on starting week 1! I can't believe I can already do 5 minutes after only 3 weeks, so persevere! The pain wears off! Good luck

Hi everyone and welcome to happydoll. Great to see us all moving forward!

W4 done . Did R3 yesterday and finished with a 2 min VE tagged on to the last 5 min one - new personal best of 17 mins . Can't wait to match Newports. 30. Have 79 days till the 10k I'm signed up for ......

Off now to finish packing - were taking our caravan on tour (no comments please) to the Orkney Islands for a few days of holiday near to BIL and his family then a few days to "wander" home again.

Let's see if you can all make this one into a 100+ thread while I'm on my travels

hello everyone! I did W5R3 yesterday - 20 minutes of non stop running! it was difficult and my legs felt veeeeryy heavy but I finished it. I was so pleased with myself.

*cuddly", enjoy your holiday, it sounds good and I am quite jealous :)

W5R1. At a place called Huna, a stones throw from John OGroats. Looking over the sound to the Orkney islands. And best of all SUNSHINE

Go duende!! that one is creeping up on me.... but I'm ignoring it

Wow Smurf that sounds fantastic, you lucky thing! I am currently putting off todays run, but I will have done it before the end of today! Problem is, if I get caught in a shower today, they seem to be coming down as monsoons here, so will get a little damp!

Me again! Did manage to kick myself out of the house to do wk4 run3 and feel much better for it, and stayed dry! I think I was congealing! Too much cake today (went to friends 3yr olds party!) and was feeling bleargh

But week four now finished and I feel much better for getting on with it! AND my second 5 minute run was a SEVEN minute so again a bit of anticipation of next week. PB now up to 18 minutes total running

Smurf I have just been on google streetview, Huna looks like a fantastic place for a run, as long as it isn't too windy or wet! I want a holiday in Scotland .

Hello everyone :)
I thought it was just me left here talking to myself. I did W6R1 yesterday, got caught in a downpour after 5 minutes and decided to continue to run as I was soaked pretty much straight away. Got home very wet but pleased with myself :)
not sure if I'll manage to motivate myself tomorrow if it doesn't stop raining though

I haven't read all the posts on this but hopeful this will give some of you the motivation you need.

6 weeks ago I couldn't run...I posted on here (can't remember the thread) about how I had just started and the few problems I had...

I can now run for 30 minutes....C25k NHS podcasts is how. I didn't take a break every day and did a run 5 times a week hence why I am not up to week 8 of the plan. Some weeks were hard and I did get a few aches and pains and soreness but it wasn't serious so I kept at it!

If I can do it anyone can...at school I never was good at sport, always overweight and had no interest in even trying to do it...although I will not be running any races anytime soon and I am still overweight I am on the right track to getting it sorted out....I'm amazed how simply being fit makes everyday tasks so much easier! I hope to never go back.

Just remember its only difficult for a few minutes, slow down your pace and thing about breathing, speed will come with time!

Congratulations VivianDarkbloom I remember thinking Aaargh when Laura said 2 more runs to do! I look back now from the giddy heights of the end of week 4 and think "Blimey, I used to be wacked after 1 minute" and I ran for 7 minutes non stop last night. My shins hurt at the beginning too, and that has eased. I still look like when I have run, but I got to the fourth minute of my first 5 minuter this week and thought that yes, I am knackered and it would be nice to stop, but I am no more knackered now than I was a minute ago, so another minute will be do-able!

I have to do 20 mins by the end of this week, but if Laura says I can do it then I can! I do wish she had better music though!

Thanks cupcake I was the same at school! I have already lost over 1/2 a stone since starting running! I hope speed will come, I am not currently breaking any land speed records and have been overtaken by arthritic snails!