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

Yey that's great news cinnamon, hope she is ok.

Yay!

Ok thanks. First step: buy trainers.

If you can, it's also worth going to a running shop and get your gait analysed, and take their advice about which shoes to buy.

Right. I'm checking them online tonight. Will get some at the weekend. First run Monday night.
Can I get the c25k app on android?

I wouldn't run in converse but I didn't get my gait analysed until I knew I was sticking to running and just bought a cheap pair of trainers from sports direct. I think once you start covering longer distances its worth it!

Cinammon, what a worry with your cat... hope he's ok now.

I've just completed week 7 with a struggle. The first 2 runs felt horrid but not sure how much of that was down to running on hot days. Tonights run was definitely easier but I was running into a cool wind. However I'm quite impressed that I'm managing to run about 3.5k in 25 minutes considering 3 months ago I couldn't even run to the end of the street.

This tread seems to have fallen off my 'I'm on" list somehow.

I managed wk 2 run 1 and quite enjoyed it. Felt ok, but ready to walk each time she said to. Can't quite see myself doing 3 minutes next week!

At uni I'd do 15 mins at the gym without thinking. I hate how far I've sunk. On good news though I've lost my first 6 pounds. . . Just another 5 and a half stone to go!!

Thank you ladies for sharing your reasons for starting . Onwards and upwards !

I started as I'd kept putting it off until "i'd got out of the obese" category. I use to enjoy jogging at uni and would like to be fit and healthy and its free and easier to fit into life. However it wasnt until I realised that it was ok for very overweight people to try couch to 5k that I started and I'm enjoying it so far. Aware it may well take me longer but ok with that. Already running 90seconds easily when initial a minute was hard so should get there!

I went for my run today, expecting to do Week 2/Run 3 - but my app told me it was Week 3/Run 1! So I did that, and it was fine. I'm enjoying running much more, second time around, which is interesting. I think it must be to do with the psychology of it all. I know that I can run 5K, so there's less worry about what's coming next, IYKWIM!

TwasBrillig I cannot believe that I ran (a very slow plodding ) 5k last Monday. Seriously I was puce and ready to puke after 60 seconds at the start. It's some sort of witchcraft that if you JFDI (Just Fucking Do It ) you miraculously get better at it. Injuries, ill health and extreme weather conditions aside, it is that simple.

And that's why I started. Despite being old, tired, overweight and unfit I know I am lucky to be in good health and no physical reason to not JFDI. I am 41 and already seeing people my age starting to age badly. I don't want to stay young or anything but I want to be on the best shape possible health wise. I've got older kids and younger ones and I want to be the same mother to all of them iyswim.

First Parkrun on Saturday. Gulp!

Reasons for starting? I hate the thought of going to a gym not sure why but needed to get fit. Exercise classes and the swimming timetable really didn't fit in with my (and the kids) lives. So needed something that could be done at times to suit me.
I also need to shift the baby weight (he's 2 now), and although it seems C25k isn't brill at weight loss, getting fitter, and increasing muscle mass has got to help but not the cadburys bubbly thing I scoffed all of earlier
Basically, I needed to get off my lardy arse, as serious calorie cutting really isn't for me, so need to cut some calories, and burn some more.

Well done to us all for still being here!

Have skim read this thread but I started cos I need to get fit again & hopefully lose some weight to boot, running is free & can be done quite flexibly AND when I used to run I did really enjoy, and I am enjoying (& hating!) it this time round too.

Only trouble is I am on week 6 now & finding it really difficult to run a full 20mins without a walking interval in between.
Other prob is I am fine on the flat & downhill but going up hills are still proving a huge problem

After watching my mum's mobility degenerate very quickly to being wheelchair bound, I took the view of "use it or lose it". Also overweight, hate gyms, but scared stiff of ending up like mum (who not overweight, but never did any weight bearing exercise)

And running is free

On the trainers issue - any recommendations? Thinking of updating my dog walking pair now that I've got as far as the end of week 3 (well tomorrow)

I loved my saucony pro grid but I slightly over pronate so they may not suit you.

Congratulations itsnot! I'd love to graduate to a park run, its my goal!

I'm very overweight and tire very easily. I want this not to be the case. Also scared of diabetes etc.

Well, w2 r2 tomorrow. Running kit is out & alarm set for 5:45am. Am now lying in bed listening to the horrendous downpour that's forecast until mid next week. To run or not to run? If I give in to an excuse now they'll start cropping up all over the place. Any tips for running in the rain?

Out any 6 am this morning to try and squeeze in a run before R4L on Sunday but it was disastrous. Puffed and blown after 10 mins so walked home feel in miserable. That's two crap "runs" in a row and feel I'm getting worse and really worried about not doing it on the day, especially as forecasting high humidity and heavy rain. I've done the whole programme and managed a 5k last week so what has gone wrong. I'm really pissed off with myself and with running

Felt really fed up, had a bad morning and almost never bothered but hubby is home from work and we decided to both get our runs done early rather than this evening.

W2R2 -I upped the pace a bit from my last run but still only managed 2.1 miles and burnt 261 calories. I am struggling with my breathing and still feel really congested. This bug just wont shift. (It doesn't help me either that IBS is playing up and I've not been to poo since Monday! LOL)

I do hope that with regular exercise, more water as I run shuffle..will all help!
It's very inspiring to read everyone's up and downs and their reasons for taking this up! xx

Oh dementedma it's hard enough at this stage so cut yourself some slack when you're battling against the elements. Forecast for my inaugural Parkrun tomorrow is bucketing down Wales style. Nevertheless I telling myself I won't dissolve in the rain, I'm not competing against anyone apart from Myself From Nine Weeks Ago, and frankly compared to her, I am awesome.

Hello please can I join in? I've just finished week 1.

Hi all...am delurking to say I completed W6r3 today! 25 mins of continuous running, done at 6.45 before breakfast. It was fab...I got into my pace early and really enjoyed it. I did exactly 3 miles in the 25 mins so am pleased with myself. Am starting W7 on Sunday. These threads are fab and give so much support. Well done all...am going back to lurking now.

Just done w3 r3 - superb timing as it poured the minute i got back in the house! managed to not stop at all so am v proud. Not sure whether to attempt w4 on snday or do one more week of 3...Had a horrible time last night - our next door but one neighbours cat, who has sort of been our part time cat for ages, died in our front garden :( he had been terribly ill and thin for a while and had deteriorated so much in the past week
. he used to just sit on our doorstep and wander in slowly and sit for a while. our FatCat was clearly aware he was ill and would sort of watch him and then let him creep out again. It was so distressing. i got the owners who rushed round and picked him up in a blanket, i think that was the point he died as his eyes just went blank and he howled for a horrible second. he looked straight at me. It was devasting. I had to run today to get through it - mad really, he wasn't even our cat. but we had come to really love him :(

3 miles in 25 mind sarahandduck?? Bloody hell! I was pleased with just over 2 at that stage!!