Advice needed re taking up running. Or a virtual running buddy? Help somehow please!

[Dumbledoresgirl]

I have recently realised that things are on the slide. I have put on some weight and reducing my intake of food is not doing anything to help. I also suffer from a periodic condition presumably connected to the menopause/peri-menopause which means that I am often extremely fatigued and suffer headaches that go on for days, all of which means I have cut down on day to day activity.

I will not let this be the start down the slippery slope to permanent weight gain and total lack of fitness!

So, I recently started following the Couch to 5K running plan

But....oh boy! is it hard! I am hopelessly unfit and really struggle to follow the week one regime after about 10 minutes. I have to rest after the exercise for nearly as long as the exercise itself took!

Have I taken on too much too quickly?

Is there a gentler plan to start on?

How long do I have to continue before I start to see a tiny bit of improvement? I daren't move on to week 2 as I know I won't be able to do it and I don't want to collapse in the street

And finally, is anyone else doing this and would like some mutual support sharing?

[ididyeah]

Hi all - can I join in? so glad to find this thread. I'm 42 and started 'running' last week after donkey's years - I am well unfit plus about a stone overweight, and somehow when i run it feels like I'm all knees and elbows, but for some reason I don't care and just really fancy having a go again!

last week it was literally run for about 40 seconds and then walk for ages (didn't bother timing at this point) until feel human again and repeat. but today it was six lots of one minute with two minutes in between; it started chucking it down towards the end but I still kept going, it actually felt pretty good!

I'm really pleased to find out it's not just me. reading what you have all written gives me loads more hope! I have a mild muscle problem (comes and goes) so am not sure how far i can get with the plan, but am hoping to try and use visualisation to do the best I can (and beat my own mental block and ignore the uber runners of essex too) xx

[ididyeah]

just looked at the cool running link - don't think I'm even at week one stage yet! looks like a great plan though

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Anyone still running? I've just started week 3.

[MegTheCat]

I went out this morning and Saturday - still on wk 1 of the C25k but it is getting easier. Not sure whether to do one more wk 1 run or go on to week 2 next time. It's half term for us and I am off work all week so I plan to get on to week 2 - it is on my to do list. (must download the next podcast)
I saw an old work colleague on Friday who has taken up running since we worked together (about 6 years ago?). She looked great - had obv lost a lot of weight and has in fact lost 3 stone. I realised afterwards I put on 3 stone in the same period...(have lost one again recently, thankfully).
Anyway seeing her and talking about running inspired me to keep on keeping on. She said she just eats what she likes these days and works off the calories with running.

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Hi Megthecat! Glad to know I am not on my own. I did week 1 for 2 weeks. I don't care what they say, I think it is quite a hefty start and I just felt I needed to do it again. It then became a lot easier the 2nd week.

That said, I didn't think I could do week 2 but managed mostly ok, and then was horrified that week 3 involves running in 3 minute bursts, having only run for 90 seconds prior to that, but I was able to do it! So maybe you think you aren't ready for the next week when really you are.

My programme is about to get messed up. My children have an extra long half term - starting tomorrow - so I am not sure I am going to be able to run for the 12 days. I am going to have to though, aren't I, otherwise I will be back to square one.

Anyway, good luck with it. I liked what your colleague said about being able to eat anything. I look forward to that!

[MegTheCat]

Hi Dumbledoresgirl! You were quite right. I started week 2 today and it was fine. It is weird how much easier everything gets with practice. It feels like it is going so much quicker as well (poss because I am now not spending an hour searching for mp3 player, keys, trainers, trying to find some sports gear to wear etc etc beforehand). I am lucky my dcs are old enough to leave (12 and 16). I don't think they even noticed I'd gone. How old are yours?
The 90 seconds was no problem at all - but the jump to 3 mins sounds a bit daunting...

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Great news that you have started week 2! Keep going!

My children are old enough to leave too - aged 16, 14, 12 and 9 - so my problem is not leaving them. It is the fact that I have not told any of them, or dh, that I am doing this running. I want to surprise them, well, dh really, a few weeks down the line when I can actually run a fair bit. It did occur to me that, like your dcs, mine would probably not notice I am gone (I did manage one run last week on a day when dh was working from home!) but, if they did notice, they would tease endlessly. It is not so much that I can't take the teasing, more that I want to shock them with the brilliance of my running at a later date! I am also away staying with family and friends for a few days next week so, even without keeping things secret, I am not going to be able to run for a few days.

Will I regret this? If I don't run for 12 days, will I be able to pick up with week 3? Oh, I'm not sure now.

[MegTheCat]

I reckon you'll get back into it ok after 12 days. First session could be a little tough but you won't be back to square one.
You could always just say you are popping out, or going for a walk (on mine I'm still doing more walking than running) - or would it look a bit suspicious that you were going out in sports gear and trainers?

[MegTheCat]

On second thoughts, if you're anything like me the red face and sweatiness when you get back from a run would be a bit of a giveaway.

[MegTheCat]

Hi mirai - thanks for kind enquiries! I did first run of week 5 today. Loving it.
Dumbledore - did you get back into it again after your break?

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Hi Mirai and Meg and anyone else reading/running. Meg, you are doing really well. Week 5! I dread to think what that entails....

No, I didn't get back into it after half term. Many reasons: there has been a lot of stuff going on which has meant I haven't had the privacy to get out, the weather has been awful (I don't mind if it is cold or damp, but pouring with rain and howling winds? ) but mainly I suppose I simply lacked the will-power.

So I am back to no exercise, but I am looking at buying some proper sportswear and I won't delete the podcasts from my mp3 so I haven't totally abandoned the whole idea. I suspect the weather won't be favourable in January (thinking that in January I will feel newly determined) but maybe start again in February?

I am seriously impressed that people run at this time of year.

[MegTheCat]

Hi Dumbledoresgirl - I wouldn't be running if I had to do it in the dark or pouring rain. I I have Wednesdays off so can fit in a run then and one at the weekend. I must have been lucky with the weather - it has been quite sunny, and not too cold. I am 5 minutes (brisk warm-up) walk from the park and it has been lovely to get out and see the autumn leaves etc etc. The last run I did was 3 x 5min runs with walking in between.

[SarahWithAFringeOnTop]

Hi everyone, I've only just found this thread... are you all still running? How is it going? I have struggled my way through to W8 but (a) feel a bit alone (b) know I'm very slow and still unfit and (c) in the event I actually manage to finish W9, don't know what to do next and would appreciate some ideas about maintaining it. And any other thoughts...