Couch to 5K- the first day of the rest of your life :)

[cinnamongreyhound]

Come and join us if you're thinking about starting, have started or have finished and are loving running! Lots of support, advice and general cheering on for everyone. Find the old thread here.

[NurseEzzzaChapel]

Well done scarletsalt! I'm quite glad there's no more stopping to walk half way through now because it's hard to get going again afterwards I reckon.

Well done on the park run PB cinnamongreyhound and all the best for the race today.

So I went along to the park run yesterday. I decided to combine it with W7R2 so as not to push myself too hard. So I parked a good 10 minute walk from the start line so that I was nicely warmed up before the start. I think running with all those other people made me push just a little bit harder as by the end of my 25 minutes of non-stop running I think I was a little further along than previously which was good, but I noticed as I was walking to recover that my ankle was hurting a little, but not so much that I couldn't run again, just enough to make it harder. So I ran a bit and walked a bit back to the finish line (over which, of course, I ran as it's just too embarrassing to be seen walking over the line!)

I managed a park run time of 39:27, which was better than I had expected, especially as I was walking a lot slower than normal after my 25 minute run and wasn't as up for running again as I would have been. I checked the results online and I wasn't last! Ok, so I beat two 14 year olds, two runners who judging by their PBs were deliberately running slowly to keep the 14 year olds company and the tail runner, but still, I didn't come in last! And going by age grading I did beat a few more people who were genuinely doing their best not deliberately running slowly. So I'm happy with that.

On the way back to the car though the ankle really started to hurt and it got progressively worse throughout the day until last night I could barely walk. I've no idea what I've done to it as I don't even really know when it started hurting. It's feeling a bit better today (I can walk again! ) but needless to say I won't be running again until the physio says it's ok. So you might overtake me again frenchfancy! I just hope I don't have to wait too long to get back out there.

[pennygallops]

Welcome oogerbooger, I think lots of us here started with the NHS c25k - it's great.

Well done on your parkrun nurseezza and hope your ankle is ok today.

I've been out for my Sunday 10k, my DS cycled whilst I ran - he wanted to rest his new cycling gear (birthday presents). It was a little stop start due to traffic. Did it in 1 hour 3 mins. We had a good chat and saw a little bit of sun.

I have notice one of my toe nail's going a little bit yellow and hardening - is this running related? And have any of you got any advice on how to deal with it?

[CiderwithBuda]

Hello. Can I join in please? Did day 1 of NHS C25K today. Well most of it! I did 6 of the 8 runs.

I am very unfit and very over weight - just over 15 stone down from 17 last year. Have been wanting to try this for ages but didn't think i was fit enough to even try. Last year I did a lot of walking and started running for one minute each time. Then stopped even doing that. Been planning to walk again but am on the Weight Watchers thread here and a few people on there are runners and it inspired me. It's a gorgeous day here so I decided to just give it a go. Planned on doing one of the runs to see how it felt. Ended up doing 6 of the 8! The fifth was up a hill so I decided not to do that one, did the next one but after the recovery I still felt out of breath so missed out that one too. Did the final one. I am thinking of sticking to the 6 runs this week and then doing the full week 1 next week.

I have lurked on other c25k threads in the past but now feel I can join in legitimally!

[cinnamongreyhound]

I get stiff/slightly achey hips the day after a run scarletsalt but not what I'd call painful. We had a physio at my running club and she said as the foot rolls in it's the job of the hip to pull it back out and take pressure off your knees. COuld be you slightly over pronate and your hips are having to do more than usual. I would suggest a second pair of socks or walking socks that are two layers as the socks rub on each other and not the feet, if you can fit them in your trainers.

Welcome Oogerbooger, exactly the reasons I started running and I love it!

Well done NurseEzzaChapel! I wonder whether it could be that you have got used to running in your old shoes and know you are properly supported it is putting your foot in a different position? When I got my new shoes the guy in the shop said I overpronated in my right foot but as I haven't had an injury he didn't want to straighten me too much as he may cause an injury. I had some pain in my right knee for a few runs after that.

Well done pennygallops, I got a black toe nail when I started running further and apparently it's because my shoes were half a size too small. It's starting to get back to normal since I got my new trainers

Welcome CiderwithBuda, well done for getting out for your first run.

So....my race....
It was good, I enjoyed it and finished in 1hr 1min BUT I know I could have gone quicker if I had started further up the field. The first 1.5K was pretty much single file and I got stuck walking for some of it. First km took 11min and the rest between 5m30 and 6m so a bit :( about that. It was a great experience and I didn't let myself down. I also could have started my sprint finish a bit earlier I think. Really nice route and I will definitely do it again next year :)

[pennygallops]

Welcome ciderwithbuda!

Well done on your race cinnamon, it's an impressive time.

Think I'll have a look at new trainers and summer running clothes during the Easter holidays. I'll go back to get my gait checked again. Summer clothes? Bit optimistic perhaps. It's now snowing here again today!

[BIWI]

Hello! I completed week 6 today, with my first 25 minute run. I ended up running more than that because by the time I finished, it was chucking it down, and I decided to run home rather than walk, so I could get out of the rain quicker.

I then entered the route I'd run on mapmyrun, and it calculated that I had run for 3.95K, (without the extra bit of running) so I was dead chuffed about that.

I honestly didn't think it would be as easy as it has been, and I can't believe that I'm running so far in a comparatively short period of time.

[frenchfancy]

Well don cinnamon you are an inspiration.

Sorry to hear about you ankle Ezzza but well done on the parkrun. I didn't get out today as it is DD2s birthday. (so time fir cake ) Hope the weather is good tomorrow so I can run. I hate running in the cold.

[fromheretomaternity]

Yay just done day 1 (about 2 months after downloading the app!). It was a very gentle start, I was deliberately taking it easy as I have had knee problems in the past and don't want to aggravate it. It was just lovely being outside in the fresh air, even in the drizzle.

If anyone can point me to some advice on how to look after knees I'd be most grateful. Already have good quality trainers.

Bit worried about fitting in 3 sessions a week as I have young kids and I work, think I'll have to force myself to go out in the evening after DH home though it will be dark so not quite so nice.

[BIWI]

What kind of knee problems have you had, fromheretomaternity?

My knees definitely feel it after each run - and to start with, I was having to take painkillers after my runs.

I've been taking a supplement for the last couple of weeks and this does seem to be helping. Although I can 'feel' my knees after each run, it's nothing painful and I certainly don't need to take painkillers any more. Obviously, as well, the knees will be strengthened after each run too.

But obviously it depends on what your problem is.

[cinnamongreyhound]

Welcome fromheretomaternity! It could be that you are an overpronator, do you know what type of trainers you have? I ran evenings in the dark last year, it is nicer in the forest in daylight but I enjoy the run so still enjoy being out on the streets :)

[BIWI]

What is an 'overpronator'?

[fromheretomaternity]

Hi biwi - they both get sore (sharp-ish pain) if I do anything high-impact (eg Zumba, jogging for too long), and tend to make creaking / clicking noises. It's not agonising, but I don't want to take too many chances with it. Saw my GP who just said it was anterior knee pain, with nothing structurally wrong.

Those capsules look interesting but £££ - how did you come across them?

[fromheretomaternity]

Oh and I got my trainers from a specialist running shop who did a gait analysis, apparently I run fairly straight but my old trainers were for serious overpronators, so perhaps were correcting me the wrong way... hoping that might have been part of the cause of the problem in the past.

I'm really quite excited about the running - hoping my knees will make it if I take it gradually!

[jowebs]

I've been trying to pluck up the courage to go running for a while now - I used to love it at school. I'm very unfit though, could be painful!

[BIWI]

With my knees, I can feel it behind the knee caps, if that makes sense. They also do a lot of clicking if I'm sitting with them bent, after running.

The capsules are really expensive, but they seem to be helping - although that could obviously be a placebo! And, alternatively, the increase in exercise could be strengthening my knees as well.

I found them in Boots. I was looking at all the supplements aimed at joint issues.

I have always had knee problems. As a little girl I used to get pains in my knees, which were always described/dismissed as 'growing pains'. I have had various tests for rheumatism/arthritis, which have been negative. And then, when I was pregnant, I realised I wasn't suffering any more - which led me to conclude that it was something to do with my ligaments, and specifically an inflammation of the ligaments. When you are pregnant, your body releases a hormone called relaxin, which softens/relaxes all your ligaments. This was a clue to me that the ligaments in my knees were somehow involved in the pain I had been suffering (on and off - I didn't have it all the time!).

And I realised it was an inflammation, because if I took paracetamol (as opposed to aspirin/ibuprofen) it didn't deal with the pain - paracetamol is not an anti-inflammatory drug.

So I concluded that my problems were down to inflamed ligaments. (Quite what would cause this, though, I have no idea!)

Anyway, at one point I started to take Glucosamine, as this is widely recommended for joint pain. But it only increased the frequency of my knee pain - and when I realised that I was having to take aspirin almost every day, it seemed to me that Glucosamine wasn't helping. So when I was looking at the joint care vitamins/supplements, I was trying to avoid this - and that was how I spotted the Regenovex. This supplement supposedly deals specifically with the synovial fluid - which makes sense to me, as - if anything - the knee pain does feel as if there's something missing, something 'dry' at the back of my knees.

[fromheretomaternity]

Thanks biwi i will pop into boots and take a look.

Happy running!

[BIWI]

And to you!

[jchocchip]

Hello everyone, what a lot of new peiple! oojer cider from here to maternity jowebs well done for starting.
I was going to go out for a run today but we have snow and it is still snowing so I don't know whether it will be any good for running later. Where did I put my spiky things?

[pennygallops]

Welcome all you new people - cider, fromheretomaternity BIWI and jowebs. Running should come with an addiction warning. I started last September - 2 or 3 runs a week, following the NHS c25k, thought I'd just be doing 3 30 mins runs a week (about 5k each time). Now I'm doing 4 or 5 runs a week - a parkrun, a 10k, 6k and a couple of others. I've started buying a running magazine, a book and I look on the Internet for extra information on training. If I could fit it in, I'd join a club (waiting for my DS to transfer from cubs to scouts) so we can both go on the same night. It's just a very flexible way to get exercise.
Good luck everyone and happy running.

[Chopstheduck]

It's great to see this thread so busy! Well done on your run cinnamon.

I actually quite like my trainers muddy, it shoes they have WORKED rather than walked around the town I have to brush it off every so often though!

Today is a run day today, but I have booked an appointment at the gym to sort my contract out. Depending on how long that takes, I might just run on the treadmill. Though I really want to get out in the woods for a cross country run. I've never really run on a treadmill, bit worried I'm going to fall off or something!

[Zatopek]

Hi,

I'd like to join in too please.

I started running in September. Didn't follow Cto 5k but tried to get in shape for a local 10k. I got addicted early on and did too much too soon- I had a basic level of fitness but was running 10k (slowly) after 3 weeks. I got calf injuries on both sides which forced me to rest up for 3 weeks.

I then got new shoes though I admit I like the ones I initially bought off the internet better.

I started off running 5k in 30mins plus and can now run 5k in about 26.30 now but would love to get under the 25 minute barrier. I've yet to enter a race.

I do keep getting niggles and minor injuries which is probably down to my age and trying to do too much too soon. I find slicing seconds off my PB really addictive whereas I should be building up my strength and endurance first.

I don't have a lot of time to train though so can only get out approx 3 times a week for half an hour. Will go out more when it gets lighter ( i run in the dark along a route well traversed by fellow runners).

I do love running in the cold though.

Currently nursing what I think is a groin strain. Any tips on recovery. I took a week off, it cleared up but then came back when I started running again. I hate not being able to run (just end up reading loads of books on running)

[Chopstheduck]

I went to the gym, signed up, walked out of the gym and went to the forest for a run! Will actually USE the gym tomorrow, I wanted to run today, and not really fancying the treadmill!



And, I did my first 10k Absolutely loving this! I'm seriously thinking of doing parkrun this weekend now.


Zatopek, welcome! I'm afraid I'm not really experienced enough to help, but are you warming up and down, drinking plenty, and have you had your gait assessed?

[Tabbykat]

All these parkruns sound great! I should be out doing W2R1 at the moment but it's absolutely chucking it down so will have to go Wednesday.....hope weather improves soon as v sick of this!

[pennygallops]

At my local parkrun, some people finish in 17mins, some finish in 50mins. Those that finish in 50mins get the louder cheer. Some people walk and run it. When you feel brave enough, just sign up and go along. My DS and I love it.

[Zatopek]

pennygallops "Those that finish in 50mins get the louder cheer"

Too right, they've been on their feet longer!

Chopstheduck- I do warm up- at least I walk/run slow for the first 8-10 mins or so. I drink an hour and a half before I go out so I don't have to wee on route (obviously I'd drink more if I was running over an hour).
I have had gait analysed and I do over pronate. I do have shoes to correct that but I find them rather tight so I do alternate between these and a pair of more neutral shoes I use for shorter runs.