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.

Welcome Toffee. I think I'm the least experienced on here but I'm using the NHS couch to 5k programme and I'm on week4. I can recomend it so far! You can find it here.

Orm that's really awful for you when you've got so far.

jelli also especially for a DC free trip! I'm going to Budapest in July as we're driving back to the UK from Moldova and are planning to stop off there for a day or two. Any top tips welcome although we will be with DCs

Hi everyone - I was happily doing 5Ks under half an hour last November when tendonitis on my hip totally benched me. Six months on, I can still feel it a bit but can't tell now if it is stiffness from not having done anything for so long or the tendonitis, so I started running just a little.

I am about to go out for a run a bit, just an unambitious 3 min run/1 min walk. We will see how it goes. If all goes well, I will do the Couch to 5K program again so will properly join you ladies

That's exactly what I need, thanksamillion - thank you.

What about running shoes? I'm running in my Next £16 pumps so far. Should I invest in proper running shoes? Do I need to go to a shop and be fitted or can I order online?

Toffee - You need proper running shoes, with good support. Running is tough on quite a few joints and yours will suffer more than usual if you don't have proper running shoes.

Get measured at a running shop. Also, take there your current sports shoes (if you have any. if not, any soft shoes) so they can see if you have an overpronation problem for which there are special shoes. You will have a choice of air vs gel suspension. Personally, I like air (like Nike Airs) but others swear by gel.

If you have iPhone or iPod, get the RunKeeper app. It is absolutely brilliant.

Welcome Toffee - lovely to see you on here.

I would second Cote's advice about proper running shoes and gait analysis. I started suffering from knee problems a few months after I'd completed C25k, which have now (finally) been solved by a combination of properly fitted shoes (I was wearing completely the wrong type for my feet before, apparently) and a knee brace. DH has just started running too and I sent him for gait analysis before his first run. I wish I'd known that you could have it done here before I started running (the nearest shop that does it is about an hour away from us).

Re C25k programmes, I did the NHS plan that thanks mentioned first time round - as I think I said on the Fly thread, the music can be pretty dire but the lovely Laura is very encouraging. I used the Bupa plan second time round, mainly because there wasn't a huge jump from 8 to 20 minutes halfway through (I was a bit worried about what it might do to my knee) and also so that I could listen to my own music; I programmed the timings into the Runkeeper app, but you could also just do it using a stopwatch.

Jelli Your holiday sounded wonderful especially the cake and wine. I haven't been to Budapest for years, but it's not actually too far from us so we should really try and go sometime particularly as I'm sure they have an M&S.

Yes to the running shoes. I didn't get any properly fitted until after my tendonitis flared up and whilst the shoes haven'tt stopped it recurring (many times!) I got no other injuries at all. Prior to that I had bursitis, a torn calf muscle, an ongoing problem with my knee and a broken metatarsal. It is so worth it and as the shop assistant pointed out once you get a properly fitted pair of shoes you can shop for the next pair of the same model online for a lot less

How do I get gait analysis, Linzer? Will any shop that sells running shoes do it or do I need to go to a specialist shop?

Orm - ow, that sounds really painful. I already have a torn ligament in my knee, so I don't want any other injuries, thanks very much.

I like the idea of using a running app. Then I could use the household routines app as well. I might need to look into replacing my very old, though beloved, phone.

toffee - try to find a specialist running shop. Not all sports shops that sell running gear will do it. I had to go about 40 miles to Bristol to get mine done but if you don't like in the back of beyond like me it should be easier

Linzer - I'm using the Bupa program, too.

Orm - Have you had any treatment for your bursitis & tendinitis? Where are/were they, if you don't mind me asking? And have you had any treatment?

Toffee You'd probably need to go to a specialist shop, but I'm sure there would be somewhere in your area. I had to run on a treadmill while they videoed my feet; it was the first time I'd ever been on one and I think the salesman was trying not to laugh, although he was very nice about it and admitted it did take some getting used to.

I must admit I can't imagine life without a smartphone now; the Runkeeper app is great, as is Home Routines even if I haven't used it for ages.

I read through this thread last night, downloaded an app and went for my first c25k walk/run this morning.
Just wanted to thank you all, have been toying with the idea for so long, reading this gave me the motivation to just do it!

Good for you, Allice

thanksamillion how old are the DC? of the long drive back adventure from Moldova, what larks!

Toffee welcome and ditto the gait analysis advice. I had only done a week or so of Bupa C25k when I got my shoes and I also was a treadmill virgin. The man in the shop was very kind and patient. DH laughed smirked though. The kind man in the shop asked if was an experienced runner or new? I said new. When I took off my shoes and socks he said, "Oh! We classify runners of less than 5 years as new runners but your feet have hardly run at all." in the nicest possible way, bless him!

Well done and welcome Allice, stay on the thread for support and encouragement, it's just amazing how quickly you improve.

They're 7, 5 and 2. We have a big car but it's going to be packed to rafters as we're back for 3 months. The plan is to drive early in the morning and late in the evening and do stuff in the day time. Part of me thinks it will be fab, part of me is dreading it! We'll have to do it in reverse in October which may not be so much fun. Not sure how I'm going to fit in running though.

jellibelli - thanks for the advice. But what will happen to my feet if I run regularly?

Linzer - I remember you mentioning getting your first pair of running shoes on the other thread. Good for you to stick at it!

Orm - am a short train ride away from a big city, so will have to make an excursion one day, I think.

jelli I'm also intrigued by what running does to your feet. I can't say I've noticed any difference so far, but I've only been running for just over a year so am obviously still a new runner.

thanks I'd love to drive back to the UK - well actually, I wouldn't, but I would love to be able to stock up and fill the car rather than just a couple of suitcases. The six hours to Italy is about our limit at the moment, though.

Toffee And what a waste of money that was - I can't believe I spent ?100 on shoes that weren't even suitable for my feet! A shopping trip to the city sounds like a good idea; shopping trips always sounds like a good idea to me.

Orm hope it's getting better. I had to have a few weeks off with a dodgy achilles which I have gently rehabilitated. 4 miles in 35 min on Friday!

It is slowly. Lots of ice and as much rest as is compatible with 3 kids and a dog who needs walking . I have found a few useful websites with advice for massage and treatment regimes.

cote - I tried the GP (useless - 'Ooh yes, it's tendonitis. That can be painful. I recommend RICE....goodbye') Sports physio who did some v painful massage for 2 expensive sessions and then told me the same thing as the GP. The chiro who did bugger all for it TBH (although he was always good with my upper back). I've done a bit of exploration and massage and found out it's just one tendon - the middle toe one, done some foot circling and some calf stretches as an overtight calf is one cause of extensor tendonitis. Have also found out that having laces done up tight can cause problems for runners. Going to have a break for a week and then go back to it but be much more strict with pre-run stretches. WHo knows..... it might even get better this time

But I have finally taken a stand by telling work I will be working from home for the next few days. So I can keep foot up and ice it as often as possible. I am buggered if I will give up my thing (running) to rest it but have to carry on as normal with everything else. Running is the only thing I do for me and me alone.

Hello again, I have not been on mumsnet much lately, but glad to see that people are still running and hope all you with injuries get better soon.

thanksamillion - I have stopped off with my kids in Budapest three times in the past five years while driving a similar route, and my kids always loved it, it was the highlight of the drive. The only downside was that I kept on getting parking tickets there - I have two old unpaid ones sitting in a drawer somewhere . I have never been there with a 2 year old, so can't help you there, but my children were similar ages to your other DC. The whole city is beautiful and you could spend ages just drifting around the old parts of town and the castle, but the things my kids particularly loved were:

• Climbing up Gellert Hill, starting near the Hotel Gellert - great views from the lookout at the top, and interesting things on the way up: the first time we went we never got to the top because we got stuck at a great playground with long slides going down the hill and never got any further You also pass the Cave Church, which is a church hollowed out of the rock, which my kids found unexpectedly fascinating. At the top there is a Citadel and cannons.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gellért_Hill www.sacred-destinations.com/hungary/budapest-cave-church

• Margaret Island: a large island on the Danube, you can drive there in your car and park there, and it has lots of stuff for families: an enormous open air swimming pool, a small zoo, some old ruins (old church or convent? I can't remember) that are great for kids to climb on, and nice gardens and a lookout tower in the middle. My kids loved the peddle bikes that you can rent by the hour to peddle about the island, you can find some that are made for two children to peddle by themselves.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Island

• City park (Varosliget): contains the Szechenyi thermal baths which all my family love as well as nice playgrounds, a zoo (haven't been there, so don't know what it is like, not a great fan of zoos myself), Vajdahunyad Castle, and several museums and exhibitions that we have not been to. You can walk towards Heros Place (which my kids found very hot and boring, so maybe best avoided with little kids!).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Széchenyi_thermal_bath en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Park_(Budapest)

• I have always thought that Statue Park could be interesting and fun to visit with children, it contains all the old bombastic statues from the communist era. I have never been though.

www.budapest-tourist-guide.com/budapest-statue-park.html

As you can see, I am a great fan of Budapest! Hope this helps.

Orm - I was diagnosed with calcifying tendinitis of the hip muscle (gluteus medius) six months ago.

The treatments I had in the first 5 months:
Icing it every single day and night
Multiple specialist dr appointments
Physio treatments (x6)
Chiro (x6)
Shock wave therapy (x5) - this actually helped a lot, I think

This brings us to last month, when I was better but walking was still slightly painful and so nowhere near being able to run again.

... and so one night last month I was icing my hip again when apparently the cloth cover of the ice pack has slid off and the ice stayed in contact with my skin. For a long time. And so I got proper frost bite, crimson, swollen, and painful and when the pain from the ice burn went in a few days, my tendonitis was gone and now I'm finally running again!

Either I have killed off a nerve with frostbite that I don't feel a thing there anymore, or I have discovered a revolutionary new treatment for tendinitis

Not read the thread properly, but just popped on to ask

Im finally going to get some new running shoes tomorrow (my current ones have holes in) and can finally afford some decent ones. So Im going to go to up and running and see about having my gait checked (I know I know I should have done it by now, but I wanted to make sure running was for me before I spent a lot more than I have ever done before on footwear). So what do I need to take, ie running shoes? Will I get in straight away or will I need to make an appointment?

FB Yes, definitely take your old running shoes - they'll be able to tell things about your running from how the shoes have worn. Other than that, just wear (or take) clothes that you're comfortable running in for trying out the shoes.

I would imagine that it varies from shop to shop as to whether you're seen straight away or have to/can make an appointment. At the shop I went to, you can't make appointments and it wasn't too busy when I went so I was seen straight away, but DH had to enter his name in a list and wait a little while.

Waves to the newbies and returning veterans

No idea about having to make an appt FB. I know you don't at the place near me, but it is in a quiet Suffolk market town, not a metropolis

Someone mentioned their headphones falling out the other day. I noticed dh had some little things on his earphones - they're called ear buds apparantly.

I done 22 minutes this evening, so whilst I still feel like a slacker I also feel like I am picking it up again after being ill and then the long weekend where I done FA running.

I now have Budapest