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.

Oh dear! Should have previewed.....

Oh, am I here alone? You must all be out having lives! DH working, DCs busy having adventures. I am putiing off painting and housework....

Anyway no running for me, did a DVD with Jillian instead. Feeling a bit Jelli all over now!

Hope you're all having fun running

no you're not alone. I just have nothing to report. Although I am thinking of looking up some quick arm exercises on the internet to do with my weights. I can feel the muscles in my legs developing and think that I should do something about my arms and my belly too.

I've had tonsilitis so haven't run since last week. Feeling bit better now though and debating W5 r3 tomorrow. WOuld it be madness to do 20m run after a week of inactivity? Should I go back and repeat W5 r2 or just go for it?

Well done to all who have run in the horrible weather.

sybil you could just have a run and see how far you go. I did this instead of week4 run 3 as I hadnt done runs 1 and 2 properly and I started week 4 again this week. I would be tempted to do that. If you do 20 mins great, if not do week 5 again possibly. Depends on what you can do really.

Hi can I join you? I'm new to mums net and trying to get involved!! Ran the furthest I've ever run yesterday thanks to a friend who's just done the London marathon- I did ten k and my legs are like spaghetti and I ache like a b#####d!!! Feeling quite sick today- is that the running or am I just ill!!!!

Well done and welcome Peachy, no wonder you ache like a bastard. 10k is impressive.

I have just done w6r1 and my legs felt like lead. I think r2 is a repeat of r1, then r3 is 22 minutes . I still haven't loaded any music on my iPod so I am still using dh's. His music choices are somewhat eclectic and I ended up running to an album called 'driving songs', no doubt compiled by that big dick Clarkson

I think I may need some sort of orthotic insert in my right shoe as my arch has felt a bit tender and sore. I need to speak to my physio friend and see what she says, I will have to stick my foot in her face when I see her at book group this week

Ha ha moveit!! Have you tried asics trainers? Their running shoes have different levels of arch support for different levels of flatfootedness! I have flippers for feet so have massive arch support in mine. Good luck with next level - eek! Do you like dance music? I hate it but I listen to it when I run as it gets me in a rhythm. Podrunner is good. Although am slightly obsessed with it- people are going to start thinking I'm on their marketing team!

I have Asics. I have really quite high arches, which makes me think I need a higher support? Gawd, I have no idea, I just know my arch is tender!

I do like dance music and I also like some banging r&b, unlike dh who asan iPod full of dad music (Pink Floyd, driving music etc) . I'll have a look at pod runner, thanks for the tip

Evening All!

10k peachy wow!

Ilike I have my phone music player set to shuffle; so sometimes I get something really inspiring with a driving beat etc. and sometimes I get some gentle jazz sax piece... Just as I was coming to the end of my run yesterday I got Duffy's 'Distant Dreamer' which started badly but I got into it and it had a kind of 'chariots of fire' feel to it just as I was about to make 5k!

Have had the instructions through for the triathlon; only 6 days to go! And they've changed the run route... its now 6.2k!!!

So I'm doing 5.5k runs this week and that should do it; I've completely fallen off the C25K metric plan - I wondered why everyone was talking about week 9 when I only had 8 weeks in my plan; then spotted that I'd copied the plan into my triathlon training plan wrong and missed week 8!

So what I've done is couch to 5k metric weeks 1-7 and am now doing two 5.5k runs and then the triathlon run (6.2k) on Sunday. Does that mean I've finished C25K then or do I have to start again?

My left shin is still sore, but better after switching to grass runs only for the moment. Not sure what to do after the triathlon about my shin/shins - the advice seems to be to have 2 weeks off and then build up slowly + gait analysis and proper shoes; all of which I did this time and they've still come back a bit. Its not painful enough to stop me, but just noticeably sore... Really not sure what to do and don't want to give up running completely as I'm really enjoying it.

Oops; epic post again... sorry!

Hello! Can I join you? I'm doing the NHS C25K (only have an MP3 player so no flashy apps ). I'm on the w2 r3 and really enjoying it.

My slight problem is that DD1 has decided that she likes running too and wants to join me, but she slows me up a bit (she's only 7 but is very tall) so I'm having to re-do some runs on my own! It's a good problem to have

I dont have anything flashy either thanks so just having to put up with the lovely music from Laura. Im quite at those who get to have all this fantastic apps etc. Ive just never seen the point before as I wouldn't use anything flashy for anything else, but now Im wondering if its worth looking into getting a smart phone or something so I can use something else, esp when Ive done 5K and I want to increase to 10K. AFAIK the only things where I can have someone actually tell me to start and stop running are Apps, that I cant have. Otherwise its timeing myself, but I clockwatch when I do that and it drags.

Ilike - I wear orthotics in my running shoes (also boots and shoes wherever possible) and they have really made a difference to my back problems. I have high arches too. The only time I can't wear them for exercise is doing static stuff like lunges where they dig into my arches too much and give me cramp, but I always wear them for running. Mine are the standard Orthaheel ones from Boots. A word of warning though, they were exceedingly uncomfortable for a week or two until I got used to them, now I miss them if they aren't there.

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get my gait analysed ( and new trainers bought) as I failed tonight at w6r1 (5 min 8 min 5 min) as my left calf seized up because of how id been protecting that shin I think. Plus not enough stretching, and not doing the shin splint exercises someone posted way back for me.

But there's not really anywhere to run round here that's not pavements or through muddy dog pooey woods without a drive first, so I'm slightly stuck till I can find enough grass to try instead.

WOw, Neil, you are hardcore! I am sure that you will be ready to run the 6k by next weekend. I am impressed.

Midnight, I always run on roads, as I'm doing it at such odd times parks etc are closed or worryingly empty.

Welcome to all the new people, good to have you on board.

I am going to do W5 r 3 tonight. That's the plan at least. Pouring here again, of course, so it will be a bit moist. Never mind! I feel like a real runner when I am doing it in the rain.

I am using Laura for the next 3 weeks. My reward once I have finished the programme wil be some decent music! Can't wait.

Keep on running everyone

Ishall I'd stopped the shin splint exercises once I got to W7 as I wanted to go straight from bike to run without cooling down; I'm wondering if that's what has caused the soreness (hesitant to call it shin splints as its nowhere near that painful... yet).

I'm going to go back to them for this afternoon's run and see if it makes a difference - although its improved a bit just from switching back to a soft running surface, so not a very scientific test... Will report back with my findings anyway.

I did week 4 run 1! [giddy with excitement emoticon]

Bizarrely though I'd found the 3 min runs in week 3 hard, I breezed through them this morning and only found the 5 min runs tough.

I'm so pleased with myself - is that allowed?

why thank you thank you

Not quite at triathlon level yet but the longest I've run in over 25 years!

Ah, Kew, you are experiencing what we referred to last year as PRSP - post running smug phase! A well deserved and glorious endorphin rush after a good run.

In some ways it IS easier when you do more running and less stop start, isn't it? Well done. Have a lovely bath or something to mark the occasion. I am out for my 20 m non stopper tonight. I hope I will feel suitably pleased as well.

Hurrah!

Hah! I celebrated the run by going straight to the school to help with the 90 miniute river walk along the same route I'd just run herding cats 6 yr olds this time.

Well done kew its the thought thats worse than the actual doing it.

Well I have good news too in that I have done week 4 properly too . After failing it twice last week so repeating it I have so far done it properly twice this week so another time then its hello week 5. While doing the 20 min run in week 5 do I listen to Laura or do I time myself and listen to some running music? I have just recieved my £20 worth of itunes vouchers curtesy of a survey site I subscribe to so have downloaded a running album. The advantages to listening to my music is that it will be something I will enjoy more, but I will be clockwatching the whole time. With Laura she will tell me when to stop running so I dont have to think about it, but the music is a bit too cheesy. Whats best? Is the encouragement from her during run 3 of week 5 worth it or am I best just doing my own thing? I dont have the luxury of anything that will enable me to listen to my own music while someone else tells me to stop running as I just have an ipod, no smartphone or anything so I will have to have a watch on if I choose that option.

Also on another note a FB friend of mine has just taken up the C25K, but mentioned in her status about getting cramp mid way through week 2. Is there any advice I can pass on?

Am repeating Week 5. Nothing new there. I have repeated every week so far! That means I am on Week 10 in real terms.

Good luck Sybil

I don't listen to Laura at all, just use the timer on the treadmill and listen to my own music.

No idea about cramp I have never suffered from it. Is it linked to dehydration?

There's nowt wrong with repeating weeks Rez. When I first started to run I didn't follow C25K timings, then after about 8 weeks when I felt I needed a plan I picked up C25K at week 5. So whilst I didn't repeat weeks as such, I think the earlier running helped me pick it up where I did, so they weren't wasted, nor will your repeating weeks be. It is all running after all. It is better than doing nothing, and if it takes you 18 weeks, so what? I am sure I will have to repeat weeks of the programme at some point. For the moment I can run for the amount of time stated, but my speed (or lack of!) means I don't cover the distance. I guess that is my lack of fitness?

Sorry I haven't kept up with you all. Sounds like everyone is doing really well.

I have a couple of questions.

My lovely DH is really suffering from pain on the underneath of his feet. I'm thinking fallen arches. Any suggestions to help him? We have a 5k run in two weeks and he can't run at the mo.

And I went out for a run the other night and got soaked in a downpour. My shoes where soaked through and my feet blistered. Can anyone suggest some water proof running shoes?