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

[EauRouge]

I felt like that for ages, until about week 5- then I felt like a proper runner! It does move on all of a sudden but it's psychological rather than physical.

[Thistledew]

Hello, can I join?

I started C25K in January, but due to the snow and ice it took me two weeks to complete week one. I then managed to complete the three runs in week three within a week and felt I was starting to make progress.

I then fell off my bike, straining the tendons in my knee, twisting my pelvis into a spasm and removing various bits of skin from myself. I wasn't able to walk properly through February, let alone thinking about running.

I started running again last weekend, and thought I would give it a go to pick up at week 3. I did the first run really slowly but I was really pleased that it felt ok. I have just done day one of week 4 today.

I did find that to start with I was probably going a bit too fast, and have now settled on a pace that I feel I can keep going in.

I had fun today on my run- a woman entered the park about 40 yards in front of me; I didn't pick up my pace but still managed to catch and pass her within about 200 yards.

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Hello Thistledew. You sound like you've been in the wars a bit. Well done for carrying on. I'm hoping to restart after a week off with illness - maybe tomorrow, although I might leave it until Monday just for one extra day to make sure I'm totally well again. I had done wk 2 so I'm now debating whether to try wk 3 despite the break or redo a wk 2 run and see how it goes.

Are you looking for fitness mainly or do you have any specific goals in mind? I'm doing Race for Life in May as well as wanting to get fit.

[noyouhavehadawee]

hello all, i have just started this today, i did it about four years ago and ran race for life with a injury then packed in, started again in January and my trainers were wrecked so saved for some decent ones which i got yesterday so just took dd out with me and we did run one week 2, i am now laying on my bed feeling smug but my god am i unfit!!! it does work though! my aim is to do the park run without keeling over or stopping

[Thistledew]

Hi NBLSB

I was also debating where to start in the program after my break. I opted for picking up where I left off but dropping the pace right down. I decided that I could always stop and go back to an easier run if I struggled but it was fine. I had kept up some exercise in those weeks though as I had been swimming twice a week.

My aim this year is to compete in a Triathlon, so I need to be able to run at least 5K by June.

I cycle a lot so have a reasonable amount of fitness, but I have never been able to run. I started cycling two years ago and had very little cardio vascular fitness, then 18 months ago I had a change in my asthma medicine that for the first time in my life means my exercise induced asthma is more or less under control (I am not quite 100% symptomless, but would say I am about 90-95%).

Before that I could not run more than 200 m without feeling like I was suffocating, so I really am a running novice.

Also, I have slightly hyper mobile joints, so I need to build up strength and resistance quite carefully to avoid injury.

[HearMyRoar]

Hello. In a moment of madness I just bought myself some running trainers so now I guess I'm going to have to start running or something.

Anyway,was hoping I can hang out with you guys and try and look a bit like I know what I'm doing. I have never run before and feel a little bit sick just thinking about it. Oh dear

[EauRouge]

Hello, HearMyRoar. 6 months ago I thought runners were utterly bonkers. When we passed them in the car I would say to DH 'shall we ask them if they need a lift?'. And now I get up early, put on lycra and go out and run I was amazed how much I enjoy it. I'm sure you will too.

I was going to attempt W9R3 again tomorrow. So far I've been scuppered by high winds (yesterday) and a DH too worn out to look after the DDs (today) and I suspect tomorrow will be a non-starter because poor DD2 has been sick twice tonight. I am never, ever going to graduate :(

[meebles]

Hello all, I've had a fit of madness too and I joined the gym a few weeks ago. I've been enjoying running on the treadmill and yesterday tried the first c25k run...this is most unlike me. I've done no exercise since school and am about 5 stone overweight . can I ask a few questions of you all?

Firstly, are special trainers necessary? is it worth going to the scary sports shop?

what do you wear to run outside as its fairly chilly at the moment?

any music recommendations to keep a good pace?

tia

a so-apprehensive-I-ate-the-emergency-choc-stash meebles

[Thistledew]

Hi meebles

Congratulations on deciding to become a runner!

Good trainers are really important. If your trainers don't fit properly or are not up to the job then you are likely to end up injured, and to lose the motivation to carry on, especially if you are not used to exercising. Don't be scared about sports shops. Just go in and say that you are starting the C25K program. Shops such as Decathlon and I think Runners Need can analyse the way you run and suggest specific shoes to minimise risk of injury based on your gait.

Clothing - I managed to get a pair of thermal running leggings for £15 from Sports Direct, but any sort of jogging bottoms or thick leggings will do.

I am running in two layers of long sleeve thermal tops at the moment. I already had these for cycling, but it is another thing worth investing in as a modern sports specific fibre will wick away sweat far more efficiently than cotton, which holds onto it and becomes heavy. One decent base layer will make you feel comfortable and they wash and dry really quickly so you don't need loads to start with.

A good sports bra designed for high impact sports is essential- nearly as important as trainers!

I also wear a thermal head band, gloves, and I have an arm band which holds my phone.

I'm not really a music person so hopefully other people can make suggestions about this.

[EauRouge]

I second all Thistledew's suggestions.

For music, I use jog.fm to choose songs that suit my pace. There's all kinds of songs on there.

[noyouhavehadawee]

can i ask does anyone feel really cold after a run , i only did a week two run yesterday and since i have been really shivery to point i have had lemsip as thought was lurgy, am at work today and all cold again and our building is hot

[meebles]

Thank you Thistle and Eau, very helpful suggestions. :-)
Love the look of jog.fm - have no idea of my kilometre time though!

[EauRouge]

If you get a running app for your phone then that will tell you your pace. There are loads of free ones, you can also get C25K ones that you can play your own music on. I use rundouble which was only about 99p or something.

If you don't want an app you could always just time yourself on a stopwatch and then when you get back, plot your route on walkjogrun and you'll be able to calculate your pace then (if you're doing walk/run intervals you'll get an average so this only really works if you run the whole way). There's a good pace calculator here.

[flossyfloo]

Definitely get good trainers. I did my first 3 runs in old crap trainers and managed to injure myself. Nearly 2 weeks on and I'm still in pain. I went to a specialist running shop who analysed my gait and recommended the best trainers. I was really self conscious going in but I told them I was doing the C25k and they were great. Also, I was lucky that there was no one else in the shop at the time, I hate running in front of people!

I downloaded the NHS C25k podcast which is good. Not really into music so really couldn't be bothered looking for something that I would want to listen to.

[HunterWellies]

Hello? Can I join?

I did W1R1 this morning. I bought the trainers about three weeks ago and this morning I just got the urge to go, so I did! It was a bright sunny morning, that helped I think...

Anyway I ache a bit now. Planning to go again on Weds. I found music really helped keep me moving. I'll have a look at jog fm.

My dh thinks its hilarious. I am just such the opposite of a runner But I'm not far off 40, stressed, bordering on depression, struggling to find the energy for looking after a 3 year old and a 5 month old and totally addicted to chocolate... Oh and I have about 2 stone to shift. So I need to do this.

Any cheerleading would be greatly appreciated!

[noyouhavehadawee]

[determinedma]

I have done C25K before and gone from complete, overweight unable to jog for a minute, to doing 5K in 32 minutes. Last year I did it in 38 mins but I'm 49 and getting past it.
Will try again this year once the bloody snow stops!

[HearMyRoar]

Aargh! Sports bra! I knew there was something I'd forgotten. Must get one on Wednesday :)

[LauraPashley]

I am a big confused by all the apps/programmes/music options etc- I have an iPhone 4S- what is the best thing for me to install to get started?!

[HunterWellies]

Thanks noyou :o

Laura I downloaded the C25K free app. This morning I set iTunes off playing a running playlist I put together myself then opened the running app and set off.

The instructions to walk / run / tell me I was only halfway came through as a VoiceOver automatically. The only problem I had was when I pressed the lock button or looked at iTunes, the VoiceOver stopped working then. You basically have to leave the C25K app active and then it works perfectly :)

[NoBusinessLikeSnowBusiness]

Lots of people. Brilliant!

Meebles, I second or third getting good trainers. It made a big difference to me. I have been going out in full-length light wick-away-sweat bottoms from Asda, a vest, long-sleeved top, fleece and a puffy gilet over, plus thermal hat and gloves - can you tell I don't like being cold?? I did lose a layer a few times when it wasn't quite so achingly cold. I run in the night though so I might wear less if I was out in the middle of the day or not. At some stage I will invest in some lightweight tops to wear.

LauraPashley I also use the NHS C25K and with your name you should too as the personal trainer in your ear is called Laura . She is good for motivation and tips if you don't mind accepting the music they provide.

Noyou yes, I get cold too afterwards sometimes. I always make sure I have a hot shower or bath straight away to try to avert it. I don't know what that's all about really.

Hello Hunter and HearMyRoar and determinedma. Hunter, I've never been a runner either! I take my hat off to you doing it with a five-month-old.

Eau, I've been waiting to read your graduation blog. Sorry to hear it keeps getting delayed. Hope your dd is better and good luck for tomorrow if you do manage to get out.

After a very long day yesterday (hard stare at ds for waking up at 5.30 both days of the weekend) I managed to get out again after eight days off and I decided to go for it with week 3 run 1 rather than repeat week 2. I'm glad I did, as I managed it quite well. That said, I ran extremely slowly because I was so afraid of making myself ill again and also of not being able to do the three minute segments otherwise. At one point, Laura says try not to bob up and down when running and advised keeping the movement limited to that which if there was somebody on the other side of an imaginary hedge next to you, they would think you were walking from your movement rather than running. Well, they wouldn't have had to be on the other side of a hedge to think that! I finished the whole thing streets earlier than I have done in previous weeks which just shows how little ground I was covering. I was dead chuffed I did it relatively easily though, so slow and steady is definitely the way for me. I can't imagine ever being able to run 5k in 30 minutes.

[noyouhavehadawee]

I feel a bit better today but DD is now not so good full of cold etc so looks like we will have to not do our run2 tonight, but gutted though my legs still ache.

[Flisspaps]

Has anyone run with metatarsalgia? I get it when walking more than a mile or so, probably caused by an op that I had a few years back. I quite fancy getting into running but there's no point shelling out for trainers if I can't ever get going due to the pain in the ball of my foot.

[HunterWellies]

Well, I did W1R2 this morning. Wish I'd worn gloves it was soooo coooold! I thought the running would keep me warm but not your fingers apparently

I did a bit of post-natal yoga when I got home but I think I need to do more in the way of calf stretches etc as my legs are still sore from R1. Squats are agony!

Anyway, on a positive note my throat didn't burn and I found a fairly comfortable stride a snail overtook me :o

[EauRouge]

I found myself wearing loads of layers in the early weeks, it's not until you start doing longer runs with no walking breaks that you start getting really hot. I don't think I'll be going out in shorts yet though like a bloke in my village does!

Well, I still haven't managed my graduation run, DD2 is the only one doing any running around here and it's entirely the wrong sort of running. She's getting better though so maybe Saturday will be the day! I hope so because my local parkrun is starting in 3 weeks and I'd really like to be able to do 5k in 30 mins by then.