Couch to 5k 2011: Part 5 - Polished and Ready to Run

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yet more space for us to talk about our progress on the Couch to 5K programme, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the gadgets we use -and our nail varnish.

New runners are warmly welcomed - come and give it a whirl, you know you want to! Although this thread has been going for a year now some of us are re-doing the Couch to 5K, some of us are relatively new, some are doing half marathons already, we are a good mix and would love to hear from anyone who would like to run with us. Just jump in whatever stage you are at.

Quick question while I am waiting till I can afford the gait check thingy in another couple of months. Those of you that live in the country where do you run? I was looking at the weather today and its really wet so the field I would be running around will be just too muddy for trainers. There is very limited paths and the roads are really windy. I dont want to start then have to stop for a week or too because of the weather. The rain doesnt bother me, its just the mud.

w4r2 earlier - hated every second of it till I hit minute 3 of the last 5 mins and the endorphins kicked in. It was hard work, but worth it in the end .

ooh, I know I ought to have my gait looked at (after surgery on both feet) - how much does it cost roughly? I'm in the SE, so it's going to be the highest of any estimates .

Actually Ive got a confession to make. Ive taken the NHS couch to 5K up and have not got my gait checked as yet. Have got proper running trainers though, not just fashion ones. I just figured that as Im walking more than running I'll be ok for now, but I am saving up to get my gait checked. Ive heard its about £70-£90 Though one person did tell me in RL life that they were offered 3 pairs from £50 - £80.

It has been constantly raining here and the field I run round wont be mud free unless it stops for 2 or 3 days, but I dont want to stop. I should be starting week 3 tomorrow and dont know what to do. I cant run in mud (can I) and there's no pavement (well there is, but it only takes me about 60 secs to walk it let alone run it).

2ombie Not sure about the mud, I live on the edge of a small town and can choose road or countryside which I imagine would have been pretty squelchy this week. Is there a country park or Forestry Commission place around? We've got both fairly near here and they tend to have lots of gravelly paths which aren't too muddy.

Ishall / 2ombie- I've just googled the shop where I had my gait analysed and my shoes are now £75 on their website. The women's shoes there range from about £65 to £95, the gait analysis is free provided you buy shoes but I think they charge for it if you don't buy any. That's in the SE.

Notsure - I have tried running with DS (8) on the scooter, but I didn't really count it as a proper C25K run, I couldn't listen to the podcast and chat to him at the same time. It was enjoyable though.

I'm still signed off as it were, my back is twinging a bit, but hoping to get out tomorrow or Monday. I have to say, I have managed to shift an enormous backlog of paperwork this week by doing it in the slots I usually reserve for running!

Thanks for the ideas whoknows I have had a look on the forestry commission website and have found one place that's about a 20 min drive away although its a dog walk apprently and the comments suggested it was covered with dog poo (though I know I can avoid that). I have also had a look at the Natural England website at country parks, but they list them by name and Im new to this area so haven't a clue which one is nearest me. Will need to click each one.

DH suggested running from one end of our village to the other (its essentially one street with a couple of little roads off to 3 or 4 more houses), but I dont know if that will take me past more than 1 run.

I have considered running on the road (I do have a bright pink top so will be visible), but with the windy narrow roads Im a little unsure if Id be completely safe from cars.

I am determined to go out today though, dont want to give up now.

My gait analysis was free at Royles in Wilmslow - don't know if they wouldn't have charged if I didn't by running shoes there though... However, the shoes I bought (Brooks Endurance GTS) were the same price everywhere so there didn't seem to be any particular mark up for having the gait analysis done.

2ombie5layer, have you looked to see whether any of the long distance cycle routes go near you? I've lived near both the High Peak and Trans Penine trails and those are both, mostly, covered in hardcore so don't get too muddy. Sustrans' website has a map with them on.

Linzer its the 13th of May so if all goes to plan I should have a brief break after finishing the final week of C25K and the triathlon itself. (Un)fortunately, we've also booked to go and see Amateur Transplants with some friends that evening, so I'm going to have to try and stay awake for it!

Thanks neils will take a look at that website.

notsure, I saw your post last night and wondered if it was on the wrong thread

I had a horrible run this morning (not helped by having indulged last night in DH's patented curry and wine run preparation scheme - it seems to work better for him than it does for me). I got cramps in the tops of my feet (where they meet the bottom of your legs) and had to walk parts. I also got quite light-headed on one of the downhills and started seeing double (I think because I wasn't wearing my glasses and my eyes couldn't cope with refocussing). My final time was 46 mins 08 seconds for 4 miles - over a minute slower per mile than the first 5K I did last year. Indeed every race I have done has been progressively slower - from 10.14 minute miles to 11.32. It's not supposed to work like that is it?!

Good luck with finding somewhere dry to run 2ombie!

Oh Shredded! that is me too, just getting slower and slower. I haven't run much since I went back at work last Thursday, just Tuesday and then this morning. Two slow, quite hard runs. I have made A Decision to increase my speed again. DH has a calf injury at the moment but I am hoping he'll drag me along a bit quicker when he is back to running. I need to Get a Firm Grip.

at jelli getting a grip. I must do the same.

I will be away for work a couple of days this week so intend to make the most of my new surroundings. Maybe that will be the boot up the rear end I need .

I hope you all have a lovely week, and do lots of running!

Hi
Can I join in. I started NHS couch to 5k last night. I am literrally aching, I didnt think I was fit but cant believe I was that bad!

I am getting the gait analysis done today and need a sports bra - any other tips

Welcome nancy. I ached loads after my first few runs (and still do now if I haven't been running for a while); I think it's quite normal. Gait analysis and proper running shoes are definitely the most important thing although it's taken me a year to get round to it. I have a Shock Absorber bra, which is supposed to be very good, but tbh the few times I've forgotten to put it on instead of my normal bra, I haven't noticed a difference (that's just me not having anything to shock, though).

Hope you enjoy the change of scenery, Shredded - possibly even while running through it.

Neil Sounds like you have it all well planned (apart from having to stay awake for Amateur Transplants - which I had to google). I hadn't finished C25k before I did my first race, but at least it was only just over 3k so not too much of a shock to the system.

I did W7R1 this morning and am making it up as I go along now, sort of doing a cross between the NHS and Bupa plans but more NHS. I decided to run for 20 minutes this morning and will up it to 22 minutes on Wednesday. I still can't imagine running for 30 minutes at a time but my knee was OK, which is the main thing, and I keep telling myself that I've done it before so can do it again.

Hi fancy My tips are good shoes, shock absorber bra and a good warm down. To warm down I walk until my breathing has returned to normal. I then shower, then once I have showered, dh and I do some stretches together (dh needs to do daily stretches because of an injury, we don't just do random stretching as a couple )

I ran on Friday and yesterday. Both were hard and I also had a crisis of confidence. I seemed to be finding the same run is getting harder rather than easier. I was feeling narky about it last night, but realise I just have to keep plugging away. I am doing this as a lifestyle change and I want it to be something I do for years to come, so it takes as long as it takes. So, another one who needs to get a grip

Evening all! Welcome nancy - I'm still putting ice on my shins after every run; although I think its now habit rather than need - so it does get better!

On the bike I find I go through phases where after doing 5 days a week for several weeks my averages start to go down rather than up. I then find a decent length break (at least 3 or 4 days) and I'm back up to speed again and feel more 'enthused' to build up from there. For me this happens naturally when I have a holiday from work (since my cycling is my commuting) - I might struggle to pick it back up again if it wasn't how I had to get to work though...

Well, my update is as follows; did 23k on the bike in 55 mins and went straight into W6R1 - pushed quite hard throughout and averaged 15.6 mph on the bike and 7:30 min/miles in the running section. Won't put me anywhere near the top of the field for the triathlon, but its not embarrassingly bad either... I'd like the bike average to be nearer 20 mph, but am currently trying to blame that on the dynamo lights and loaded pannier.

Oh! and it had been raining and now my shiny running shoes are all muddy :(

Went swimming today; I feel like my technique is coming on - actually left some water in the pool this time rather than swallowing it all and managed to not stop my arms each time I took a breath... Sadly I didn't bother checking the time when I started so I've no idea if the technique is improving the times!

And then I went shopping; tri-suit, elastic laces, race belt, new cycling tops... I have so far resisted the temptation of getting a newer/lighter bike than my current commuting steed, but there are some real bargains on ebay at the moment

Can I join you, just done my first session today.

Quite easy apart from the fact I need to get some new trainers, my running shoes from a previous incarnation have expired and can feel some foot pain this evening. But I'm a bit of a gym bunny at heart anyway so have a reasonable fitness level.

I did it i nthe gym, but wednesday I might take it outside to the park, weather dependant.

Morning Pizza, welcome! It seems to be a bit quiet in here at the moment - obviously everyone's out running...

Well done on making a start; although rather you than me in the gym, I much prefer the great outdoors; weather and all!

I missed the good weather yesterday as I was waiting for a delivery for DS' birthday... But I'm hoping to get out and do W6R2 this afternoon.

Can I join in? I have been doing the C25K and am just about to start on week 5.
I am really looking forward to moving on to the longer runs so I can listen to my own music rather than the podcasts -Laura is delightful but I am getting tired of the inspirational music.
also, anybody got any tips on good bras? i am about a 34C and my bra is fine in stopping any bouncing but the straps keep slipping down over my shoulders and I have to sort of reach in my T-shirt and hitch them up again, which tends to dislodge my ipod or headphones and robs me of any pretense of stylishness...

Well I found a place to run that isnt around a field or on the road. Ive just had an appointment in the town near me and I got lost trying to get back to the car (Ive only lived here about 6 weeks or so) and found the loveliest walk. It was by a river, all on footpath, but completely off the road. Looking forward to going out on Friday there. Its a 20 min drive away, but parking is free.

maybe we're not running because of the weather, and are too embarassed to check in here and admit it . I almost went out earlier as there was a gap in the rain, but got sidetracked, and now it's torrential .

I went out this morning (am now up to 22 mins) but it was too hot for my liking - partly my own fault admittedly, as I was wearing a hat. I had my hair cut and straightened at the weekend, which will last a week if I don't go running - but if I go running without a hat, it will return to its usual frizz. So I was boiling in my winter hat. I'm going to order a running cap from Amazon (and hope I don't look too silly in it), but need to find something else to order as well so that I can get free postage.

Welcome Pizza and another. Re running bras, the Shock Absorber I mentioned a few posts up is very good and I never have any problems with the straps slipping down (there's an extra clip at the back that keeps them together).

Hi pizza and another

Your post about your hair made me chuckle linzer, I try and time my runs around my running so they coincide with a hair wash night

Last night I done runs of 7, 5 and 2 minutes. I am stunned and really chuffed with myself. I haven't been following the C25k programme, but seemed to be plateauing with what I was doing so thought I would just see how far I could run.

When I started running I found doing 60 seconds running a challenge and last night I done 7 minutes. Can't believe it

Well done, ILike. I remember when I used to find running for 60 seconds a huge struggle so anything longer is a major achievement. Actually, even running for 60 seconds used to be a major achievement for me.

I try and time my runs with hair washing days too, but ideally I'd like to run three times a week and I don't really want to wash my hair that often. My hair is quite dry so never gets greasy - it's actually still looking good four days after its last wash even if I probably looked ridiculous wearing a winter hat on my last run.

Hi all, still running now on w5 after conquering my massive hill slight incline that kept making me stop. Still fearful of a 20 min run so have done w5r1 twice so far (3x5 min runs) and have managed to complete them without stopping except for brief 10 second for crossing the road so think I'm doing ok.

And... after my worries the other week about weight gain I was in work and one of my students asked me how I managed to lose so much weight over Easter

I'm enjoying this running lark. Officially the longest I've ever stuck at it and have entered my local Race for Life as a small incentive but got my eyes on VLM next year in memory of my Dad. clearly I'm mad

Hope everyone else is doing well