Couch to 5K- join us if you dare, running is highly addictive!!

[cinnamongreyhound]

Another thread for us long termers and a new one for those just starting. Whatever stage you're at come and join us for lots of advice and moral support.

Old thread here

nextphase - I think I would have to drive to somewhere to find more off road running which I really don't want to do. I love the ease of just walking out the front gate and heading off. I think my legs hurt so much on Friday because I was basically on my feet all day after the run.

pennygallops - sounds good! We are off to California in July and I am planning on running there. Golden gate park in San Francisco for sure. And I am going to check out some runs to do in the other places we will be.

W2r1 done! Definitely harder than week 1. One run was particularly hard to get to the end and I told myself I would skip the next one. And then the lovely Laure told me that the next one was the last one! So I did it. Yay!

Next run due to be on Wednesday but will see how I feel and might leave it till Thursday to leave two days between runs.

BIWI - I remembered when I was out that years ago I used to do aerobics and got bad shin pain. Aerobics instructor called it shin splints and gave me exercises to do to build up the muscles. I remember one was sitting with legs straight out in front and flexing feet and holding and then bringing toes back holding. I'm going to start that in an effort to avoid issues. I think my knees will be more of a problem though.

How do I get Laura's tips? I have her saying 'run' 'walk' but she never says its the last run etc.

That's odd bakingnovice, did you download the NHS podcasts?

CiderwithBuda, we're off to cali tin July too - might be running past you in golden gate park!

Good luck with being run director, cinnamon!

hi episode, can't believe you went out at 11! I think it was around that time, after several glasses of wine that I decided I was going to do it, but I did wait until the next day to start! I started 6 months ago and have lost nearly 50lbs in total since I started it. Dropped from 22-24 to a size 14. I track what I am eating on MFP, but I do have quite a lot of treats, so not a strict diet. I run about 10-15 miles a week, I also cycle a lot - 50+ miles a week, walk, and go to the gym once in a while. Running has def increased my cardio fitness far more than any other exercise ever has.

babysocks, I love early morning runs like that. I usually see rabbits and game birds!

well I was dreading week 5, did first run twice, second run twice and thought id try the 20 min run even though it seemed impossible after running 8 max but I managed it and ran 2 miles so I was pleased.

Chopstheduck - look out for me. I'll be the one with the big fat red face!

Actually there seems to be loads of MNers heading to Cali this summer. Maybe we should have a meet up?

Muddy prints - I haven't looked ahead at runs but a 20min run in week 5? Sounds flipping scary! Well done for managing it.

W3r1 completed this morning - yay!
Was very shocked as Laura said 3 mins running just as I opened the gate.. But I did it maybe only 2.5 mins on the second run
Still seems a long way to go to get to 30mins plus of running, but there are loads here who have done it.
My mantra this morning was "if you give up, it's harder to start again"

Thankfully my sore shins aren't from shin splints, Buda - it's more to do with very tight, lumpy muscles! That's caused, apparently, by vibrations from the impact of running (so says my osteopath), which is why running on softer surfaces and plenty of stretching after finishing a run is so important.

So far, it seems to be going well. I did Week 2/Run 2 this morning.

Watchingout

You're doing great, and it's amazing how quickly you'll be running longer distances. I just followed the podcast and it really did what it said on the tin

I'm trying to get quicker in time for my first 5k next week, am hovering on 26/27 minutes, but I'm scared I'll go too fast and peg out on the hills at the end!

Just read back over some people's weight loss achievements which I

Oops got interrupted!

Weight loss achievements which are very inspiring. I'm trying to use MFP for monitoring what I consume. Not dieting as such, just keeping aware.

Still hunting the elusive endorphins, but have pinned some motivational quotes/posters. I like "sweat is just your fat crying"

Good lord! just done wk 3 day1 - didn't realise that you go from 1.90 to 3 mins straight away - I thought it was two lots of 1.90 then 2 lots of 3 mins Still, I did it!!!!

well done eminemmerdale! I'm pretty much at the same point as you, did run 2 of wk 3 tonight. The thought of 3 minutes wasn't great but such a good feeling when you manage it!

Just started on week three. I'm more worried about next week from what I've heard about week 4 - 5 mins of running??!!!

I felt so chuffed that I could do two, TWO, 3 minute bursts.

Hmmm I could also be stuck on W3 for some time. Took a beautiful sunny morning to stop me turning around at the gate at 0630. Wish I hadn't just read that about W4. Ignorance was bliss..

lalalalalalalalalala sounds good!
I'd decided the pod casts might get stuck on week 3 for a bit!
I can't actually beleive I can jog for 3 whole minutes without collapsing!

Another run, 5.11km tonight in the sluggish time of 38.48. Hmph.

But it was all running. I find the first 5 minutes hard and then I seem to settle a bit. I was tempted to walk a bit this evening but thought that if I walked then I would have to do another first 5 minutes!

That and I am about 4lb off losing 2st and I have to get to the next goal. ( and shift that last stone too!) I have decided to go for a pedicure when I get to 2st lost as a none food related treat!

Well done to all the week 3ers, you CAN do it. Bloody hell if I can then you lot can!

Can I join you? Just done my very first run. I had DS 9 weeks ago (also have a DD who is 3) and, although BFing has helped me lose the baby weight, I definitely need toning. I also want to feel fitter and stronger.

I really enjoyed the run but I did consider skipping one of the runs as I'd developed a stitch. Luckily, Laura said there were only two left so I plodded on and it went away.

I have two questions:

How important is it to have 'rest days'? With having a new baby it might be easier to just go running when the opportunity arises, but this may mean two days in a row. Is that bad?

How can I work out how far I have run? I have an iPhone so is there a special app?

Welcome sneezy! Don't know about the resting (someone else will no doubt advise) but I managed to measure my distance by dropping a pin in Maps at my furthest point and then 'routing' it from home. Can you tell that I just went there and back?!

Other posters have talked about the mapmyrun app but I haven't convinced myself I'm a runner yet

lots of us on week 3, I just did w3r1 today. It wasn't too bad. And I think the mysterious endorphins are appearing. 5 hours later while driving I found myself looking forward to my next run. Most unusual.

Endorphin central here! I ran 5k tonight!!!! Took me 43 minutes but I am so bloody chuffed with myself. I finished c25k last week and was despondent that I was nowhere near 5k and the running was plodding it was awful.

I had a legs like lead run last week but have run on winged daps ever since!

I am so happy. I am still several stones overweight. Haven't lost any weight yet but that's due to dreadful eating. Definitely toning up already - it's noticeable to other people.

So, I am hunting down my goals one by one. Parkrun for the first time on Saturday. Hope the marshals aren't hoping to be away too early!

Thank you for the words of encouragement last week. And chin up de'ma. You've always been one step ahead of me and an inspiration to me.

I use run keeper app for tracking and recording distance and time.

Well done everyone on your running, those worrying about week 4 don't, you can do it! Trust the plan and yourself :)

Well done on weight loss as well as another 5k UmBongo!

Welcome SneezySnatcher, I think rest days are down to you and how you feel. I didn't run consecutive days when I did the plan but I do now if I need to. The second day is always slower and I'm usually a bit stuff but once I'm up and about I'm fine. Distance wise I used to use runkeeper, which is a great app, my friend who I run with uses endomondo so I switched to that both struggle at this time of year for me because I run in the forest and you need to be able to see the sky. I've also used the Nike + app when I ran with my iPod but guess you could get that on an iPhone. Or there's mapmyrun which is a website you can go to once you know your route and plot it. Happy running :)

that's great ItsNotUnusualToBe, enjoy your parkrun!

well done ItsNotUnusualToBe!! I love that high from achieving a goal, and I think my first was a similar time, you will get faster.

well done sneezy. I'd personally try to stick to the rest days to start with, it is quite important to let your body recover. I used to use runtastic because it syncs with my fitness pal, but then switched to runkeeper as there are good plans on there, and more of the features without paying for it.

I am NOT looking forward to going out today. It's bloody Royal Ascot week. The roads will be gridlocked. I can't drive anywhere, I can't run on the racecourse without dodging limos and picnics, and my usual route will be full of queueing traffic full of drunken louts and the Scarecrows Go Racing display!! I'm going to aim to go out very early and hope that it isn't too busy yet, though it was already building when I dropped dh this morning at 7.

I religiously do every other day - it suits me and having a rest day is important I think - I reckon I'd get really fed up doing it daily, but actually look forward to the run after a day of not doing it