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

Blizy, I am sorry if this is not the most appropriate forum to say this but i could not read your post and ignore it: my heart hurt for you reading you lost your DD. As Cinnamon said yours is very much the best reason to do c25k. A c25k thread baby...that would be amazing. As we are on the same run (did w1r3 yesterday) I look forward to pounding the streets and footpaths (or treadmill) "together".
Scarecrow x

Blizy so sorry to hear about your daughter.

Cinnamon - wow you've inspired me. Bet you look amazing.

I did w3d3 today. Am loving the programme. But is there anyone like me who has lost no weight? I lost a stone before I started but since starting exercise some 5 weeks ago I've lost 1lb in the first week. I'm also doing 4:3 fasting, and shred about 3x a week. It would be so nice to just lose even half a pound. I feel leaner but would love to lose some pounds. I know muscle weighs more but surely I should lose something one month in?

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for strengthening knee exercises? Mine is a bit wobbly and just needs strengthening I think.

Single - hope you get into the 10's soon.

scarecrow and baking thanks for our kind words. I love the sound of a c25k baby, bring it on!

Definitely blizy, we'd love a baby on the thread :-) what a good motivation to keep going x

Just scanning MN whilst in bed poorly and seen your post on here Blitzy. I have been posting with you on the other thread without knowing your situation. Just wanted to say that I am so so sorry to hear of your loss. It is unimaginable. You have the best reason on earth now to real your goal to qualify for the treatment. Will be rooting for you even harder than I already was x

penny & queen hope your knees are feeling better.

blizy so sorry to hear about your DD, & best of luck with C25K and your treatment.

Some hugely inspiring weight loss stories here, I'm using them as motivation! I don't actually know what I weigh, I'm just waiting for my clothes to feel looser .

I did Week3 Run 1 today. It felt like quite a big step up from Week 2, but I managed OK.

Blimey... puff, pant, gasp! Am on holiday and have just been fro a run along a route that looked as though it would be flat. Ha, ha... it's so flat where I live I'd forgotten what a slight incline looked like - and I've never run up one. Nearly killed me!!

Had a fab wibbly wobbly log jog tonight!! 5 miles of undulating, fern surrounded forest tracks with a couple of serious bomb holes and I reckon a time of 49m 30 am grinning ear to ear still

Blizy - hugs. And as others said - a fab reason to do this. Fingers crossed for you. My IVF baby is asleep upstairs. He is almost as tall as me now!

Well I did W3R2 today. Second 3 min run was a challenge but I did it. Can't believe now much I am enyoying it all. Just need to get DS out with me. Had a row with him this morning as he won't come with me. Too embarrassed. He did do 20 mins on the cross trainer though. He is skinny but unfit. Hoping he will run with me on holiday.

Weight wise I am 14 stone 7ish. On current scales. Was 14 1 on old scales!

Morning,

This thread has really inspired me but I've never posted before. Have been faffing around on c25k for months, going back a week, doing long walks instead and never getting past week 5.
Two weeks ago I took the bull by the horns and just ran, I did a very slow mile but ran the whole thing.

Since then I've increased with every run, yesterday I did 3.69 miles, can really feel it today but the sense of achievement is amazing.

My aim is to do the local park run but I'm scared as based on their results I'd be pretty much last as I'm really slow. I'm going to go along today and run the route next week alone to see how I do.

I'm 40 and weigh about 14 and half stone, despite also giving up chocolate I've not lost any weight at all!

Just wanted to say hello and thank you and if I can do it anyone can!

just packing kids in car for day with in laws for mil 70th bday. Want to go for a run instead!

have fun out there on park runs or just on your Todd.

Cinnamon your inspiring description.of your run got me thinking : if any of you are ever in sw London and want advice in nice runs (I used to run up to 10mi so I know them even if I am not back there yet!) - happy to advise. or try and run together.

Morning all! Got up at hit the gym at 7am this morning for wk8r3. I've been doing a mix of outdoor runs and treadmill 5k programme, but still not managing to run 5k. Decided to see how I would fare on the flat this morning and did a 40min programme. So 5m warm up, 31mins of running, then cool down. I appear to have leapfrogged into week 9! Although not doing hills was much easier...

Ran at 8kph and did a distance of 5.01km. Just need to be able to run for a week bit longer before the race for life. The aim is to do it under 40mins, which is still slow but I'm an old gimmer and have never run in my life before.

Feels good to get exercise out of the way before breakfast!

Congratulations cinnamon - sounds like a challenging run, great time.

Had a nice little parkrun this morning. Paced my DD to a new BP of 33.15mins. She loved it and is now as addicted to running as her brother and I. DS finished 25.37mins - he's a bit disappointed not to be under 25mins.

But best of all for me was that it was a comfortable run and I managed a decent pace for the last km. Happy with that.

Well done penny! How young are children who do the park run? Do they train or just able to do it as they are children?

I've looked up mine and I'm amazed how fast everyone is! The really fast ones are amazing! I guess like anything it improves with practice. Not sure I'll be confident to start after wk 9 as planned as there's only a few v slow entries!

twasbrillig and others worried about park runs.... my first park run I ran c 5 mins faster than expected (go on somebody. please ask my time ), such was the distraction and 'pull' effect of other runners. But more importantly I was really so so nervous I felt sick before it: I need not have worried they were the friendliest bunch of people I have ever come across in al my years of sport, parenting, socialising etc and lots of us stayed to keep the atmosphere and encourage the people at the end. lots of park runners will have started where we are. I honestly think it is the most judgemental sport ever. maybe because you are totally reliant on your body and no kit etc.

Scarecrow: what was your first park run time? (and have that improved as you've carried on?)

have has

I am lurking with interest about the park runs! Well done everyone, the collective support and encouragement is amazing! Thank you.

Just done last run of week 3 and feeling rather smug with myself. I managed to notch it up a bit, walked at 4.4 and plodded at 5mph. I managed to cover 2.4 miles...just a bit better than my last run. I was a bit disappointed that I only burnt off 4 extra calories though, I need to burn off that cooked brekkie somehow!

Hubby is just finishing his run now and we are letting our DD(11) have a go on the treadmill too. Not sure how she will get on, she had Down Syndrome and a bit uncoordinated, but we shall see.

We have been very brave and faced the camera in our running gear and taken photos of each other. The thought behind that is to do the same in 6 weeks time to see if there has been any visible improvement. I am making up a secure folder, so no-one else can see! lol

Can I ask about info on warm up/ cool down....does anyone do any stretches that I should be incorporating into my routine. I am starting to panic about what is ahead for us in week 4.

I just do the usual "school" stretches, but it's important to do static stretching NO bouncing.

1. grab elbow with opposite hand and dangle arm behind your head
2. arm straight across the front of your body, other arm holding it just above the elbow
3. arm above head and bend to the side
4. hands on hips, one leg out in front, one behind (don't bend front kneefurther than your toes)
5. grab foot and hold behind your bum.

Thank you for thattrazzle. I was bouncing my attempts at stretches so I will stop that. Do you do these both before and after your run please?

Dingle, there is a lot of conflicting advice about stretches, warm ups etc, buy I think most would now agree not to stretch before you are warm (picture cold inelastic muscles as more brittle than warmer ones) so perhaps after the initial brisk.walk in early weeks (not sure if this continues as part of later programme). Another system I like is dynamic stretching - might be best Googling this s on phone!

New to the thread... I'm going to put my DS to bed and then I'm going to start week 1, session 1. Podcast downloaded and ready to go. Really don't want to. I don't need to lose weight, but I don't do any exercise at all, so although I don't look it, I'm incredibly unfit! Wish me luck! DH will probably laugh his head off when I come home with a bright red, sweaty face.

I use the five minute walk at the start of C25K as my warm-up, then finish the workout with five minutes of walking, followed by a few long stretches for the calves & hamstrings. It seems to be working as I never have sore muscles the next day & I am very unfit.

Hello CaptainJamesTKirk, there are lots of us on here who are quite new. Hope your first run went well.

Week 3 Run 2 for me tomorrow.

twasbrill DS is 10 and very active and for, he does triathlon training too, along with swimming and a whole host of after school PE activities. We do at least run together a week. We have a good chat. DD is 8, quite girlie but has natural athletic (but no competitive edge).

Let us know how it goes captainjameskirk