C25k - just did my first run!!!

[flossyfloo]

I can't believe I managed to do it! I am very unfit and about 3 stone overweight. But I did it

Just wanted to share with someone as I'm very proud of myself at the moment

[flossyfloo]

Just got back from my 2nd run - ouchy!!!

That hurt way more than the 1st run! Does anyone know if there's anything I can do to help ease the muscle pain or is just a case of 'no pain, no gain'?

[EauRouge]

It's normal to be a bit achey, I had a couple of days in between runs a few times at the beginning.

But if it's so bad that it puts you off going again ever then you might need some different running shoes. Some specialist places have a treadmill that they have you run on and then they analyse your gait and help you pick shoes that will support your running style and foot shape.

[flossyfloo]

It's not putting me off going again yet, but we'll see how I go over the next few days. Plan to go out again on Thursday and Saturday but if the pain is bad I could leave it a day and do Friday but would then have to wait til Monday til I can go out again.

I do need to go to a specialist running shop and get a decent pair of trainers. There are a few specialist places where I live so there's no excuse!

[RememberingMyPFEs]

Well done!!!
I started on C25k last Feb - 3 stone overweight and ran a half marathon last Sept only 1 stone overweight. Currently PG and missing my runs
My advice - good trainers and lots of stretching (if you fancy Yoga there's a great runners one by (?) Christina Felsted or similar.
Oh, and enjoy

[Crikeyblimey]

Oh my word! I just did it :). I ran and everything!!! Went in the dark wearing a light coloured fleece and a head torch (I did have trousers on too :) )

I really enjoyed it, bloody knackered though. Couldn't wait for that woman to say "start walking" every time.

I'm off for a bath now :)

Thanks so much for motivating me to do this.

[EauRouge]

Yay! Well done :) Glad you enjoyed it. I think the thought of running is much worse than it actually is. I never thought I'd be one of those bonkers people who gets up early and goes running! But I love it.

[flossyfloo]

Well done crikey. Doesn't it feel amazing?!

You're right rouge, the thought is much worse than it really is. I found I was really nervous before I went out for the first time on Sunday, but was quite looking forward to it today!

And remembering, well done on the half marathon, that's fantastic in such a short space of time. I would love to be able to do that but can't see myself running for 2 hours

[SizzleSazz]

Good trainers, sobothane (shock absorbing insoles good for shins & knees) insoles and stretching calves afterwards.

[RememberingMyPFEs]

flossy when I started out 90 seconds if running seemed an eternity but I got to an hour, then 2 and did the half in 2:32 with 2*1 min walks while I had a carb gel thing (if I had it while running I ended up with face pack instead of getting it on my gob)
You never know how far you'll go - just keep enjoying it

[flossyfloo]

OK, just got back from my 3rd run and I am in agony with my shins.

They were still hurting yesterday so I thought it best to leave it another day but my shins are so painful.

I managed to get through it all as I was determined but can hardly walk now.

Oddly enough, I found it easier going up hills than on the flat or downhill, my shins hurt a lot less. Wonder why that is? Actually, on a few occasions, I found it less painful running than I did walking.

Please tell me it's meant too hurt this much and it will get better!

[YeahThatsTheBadger]

flossy you need to get to a shop which checks your gait. You might need trainers with a lot of cushioning. I had shin splints and a sore knee and getting my gait checked and better shoes those pains disappeared.

Don't let this put you off though. Gait checked, a few days off running and try again.

But well done on getting out and running! I'm struggling to get my motivation back. DS is 8 months and I can't seem to push myself to get back out.

[flossyfloo]

Thanks badger. You are right, I really do need to get some proper trainers.

There is a shop about 10 mins drive away that gets you on a running machine to check your gait, I need to get myself down there.

I'm hoping I can go find a bit of time on the weekend but what with working both days and fitting in the DC's ballet, swimming lessons, parties etc I'm not sure I am going to be able to go. If I don't, the next time I am free is Tuesday afternoon which would mean another 4 days til I run again and I really don't want to lose the momentum.

[EauRouge]

Yes, defo go to a specialist running shop and get your gait analysed. I got slightly sore shins at the start but not so bad that I could hardly walk.

I did the first run of week 9 the other day, I managed 4.6km. I'm determined to get to 5km in 30 mins! It might take another couple of weeks though, and also timing my run so it doesn't coincide with school run/rush hour because i had to stop for traffic several times.

[flossyfloo]

Well done rouge . It really is amazing that you can go from nothing at all to running for 30 minutes. I'm looking forward to achieving that!

I am aiming to do the Race for Life in June. They have a 5k and a 10k run. Definitely want to do the 5k as a few of my friends are doing it with their kids and I would love to be able to do that too. And at the back of my mind, I'm wondering if I am gonna be ready for a 10k by then (as it is another 15 weeks away!) but not banking on it so it won't be a huge disappointment if I'm not, and I don't want to put too much pressure on myself as that's when I usually fail.

[EauRouge]

Yes, I am by no means sporty or outdoorsy. I've spent the last 5 years on the sofa eating biscuits and only breastfeeding has kept the pounds off. If someone had told me last October than I'd be a) running 3 miles and b) willingly going out in public wearing lycra then I would have died laughing.

C25K is meant to last 9 weeks so you'll have some time left over. You might be able to do 10k, you could always walk bits of it.

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Hello, hello! So glad someone else has started a new C25K. Eau was very kindly answering me on the old one but I think being with other beginners is the way forward. I started it two and a bit weeks ago and just completed W2R3 tonight. I had to miss a few days here and there as dp was working away and then I was ill, so tonight's run (on top of DS's first sleepover last night with two very excited and non-sleeping friends + wine when they finally went to sleep) was not the best. But I did it - finding it hard to imagine doing 3 minutes next week though!

I second getting good trainers. I have a dodgy knee which came on the last time I tried doing any running 13 years ago and have never run since. I bought a good pair after two runs and it's made a huge difference to me. Also the fact that this programme is nice and gentle (so far.....see above comment). I'm doing the Race for Life in May, and I've also just signed up for the 5x50 challenge too. Is anyone else doing that?

Eau, well done on the Wk9 run. That seems a loooonnnggg way off for me after tonight's run.

[flossyfloo]

Hello business and welcome. It's nice to be able to chat to people who are at the same stage or just a few weeks ahead, we can all go through this together! That 5x50 challenge looks good, never heard of it before. Do you plan on running every day or are you going to do some other exercise when not running?

I've just been to get myself some new trainers from a specialist running shop who analysed my gait. I need lots of cushioning and even then they can't get my right leg to straighten out at the ankle bone completely . I haven't run since Friday and my plan was to get the trainers today and then run tonight, but my shins are still very painful, can't actually touch them even lightly and even running on the treadmill for a total of about 80 seconds has made my shins hurt even more .

I am at a stage now where I really don't know what to do - I'm worried that I may do myself some proper damage if I run on my shins any more but I really don't want to lose momentum so do I keep on running now I have the new trainers and hope the pain will ease off eventually??? My DH reckons it would be a good idea to see a physio and in the meantime just go out for a brisk 30 minute walk until I get some proper advice on what I should be doing. Any advice/opinions welcome...

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Hi flossy. Re the 5x50, I'm just running as per the C25K program, then will do alternate things on other days; either a walk, cycle, possibly swim or something like my Wii Zumba class for half an hour or so.

I have no useful advice about your shins but, ouch, that sounds painful. I would be tempted to wait a few days until they calm down and possibly do as your DH suggested and try walking in your new trainers and see how they go before trying a run again. You could try posting on the NHS forum Eau mentioned. I'm on there too and there are lots of experienced runners as well as newbies who could maybe give more authoritative advice. Hope they get better soon anyway. I'm still out of action with illness so I'm also pondering whether to launch into wk 3 when I restart or redo a run from wk2 to see how I go.

[EauRouge]

Ooh, are you on the NHS form too?

flossy, sorry your shins are still knackered. If you want to leave running for a bit you could try doing the pod cast on a cross-trainer or exercise bike, that would be lower impact but you'd still get the cardio benefits.

[EauRouge]

NHS forum, not form.

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Eau I am. I've only posted a couple of times as I haven't bn running as I'm still not well but I'm reading it religiously to get a vicarious fix . I've noticed a few people using mn abbreviations like dh, dd, so unless they are in use elsewhere I'm guessing there are a few other mnetters on it too. Are you at graduation yet?

Flossy how are your shins now?

Are there any other people out there still keeping up with the program?

[EauRouge]

I snuck a sly 'DH' into my blog today thinking you might see it

I did W9R2 today and it was awful. Ever have those days when you just don't enjoy it? That was me today. But only one more to go now and then I've done it! So Saturday morning I will go for my last C25K run. I'm looking forward to it, in fact I'm more worried about the NCT sale that I'm going to afterwards!

I might buy myself some new running gear to celebrate.

[flossyfloo]

Shins are still painful here . On the way back from the school run yesterday I was let across a road by a stopped car so did a little jog to get over quickly. I literally jogged 3 paces and my shins hurt immediately . I'm trying to walk as much as I can at the mo but I haven't run for 6 days now and they are still painful. Also, I had SPD in my pregnancies (ended up needing crutches with DC3) and the running seems to have induced similar pains. I'm sure it can't be SPD as my youngest is nearly 4 so not sure what's going on there?!

DH says I should see a physio but we don't have the money at the moment and it's a very long wait to see an NHS physio so really not sure what to do

[flossyfloo]

Sorry to hear you're not well by the way business. Hope you get better soon.

Rouge well done on the W9R2 (even if it was rubbish!)

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Ah ha! I wondered if it was you. We're like the Masons with their funny handshakes....

Flossy, that doesn't sound good. You poor thing. I really hope it sorts itself out soon.

I don't quite know what's wrong with me. Started off as cold/cough symptoms but then moved onto exhaustion, weaknes, shaky type legs, loose bowels.... My chest is a bit odd from time to time and I've had the occasional head spin too. Nice. Really annoying jus as I'm starting out trying to get fit! I keep reading all those NHS C25k blogs and feeling frustrated and envious, then daunted cos I feel so far off being a le to do it again. Grrr.