Couch to 5k - just started! Help with podcasts, iphone apps and timing please.

[TinaSurrey]

Hi all, Hoping this is the correct place to post.

I have just done my 2nd Couch to 5k "run" from week one. The 1st time I went i timed myself using the clock on my phone so I knew when to run, when to walk etc but it was far from ideal. I used the Nike app to track my run and loved the fact it told me how far I had covered, average speed and calories burnt.

This time I had worked out how to get the NHS podcast on my iphone and played that and followed Laura's instructions which was much easier.

Questions are...
Can I make the podcast play AND monitor my run on the Nike app at the same time and if so how? I couldn't find a way to do it. Secondly, is there an alternative podcast without the music. Laura was great but I'd prefer silence in between her instructions rather than their music. Finally if you are running using the podcast how do you know when to turn round (at the half way point) as I expected Laura to tell me when it was half way but she didn't so I ended up too far away from my car before I realised I should have turned round!

I am determind to do this having not done any exercise to speak of ever!

[WorrisomeHeart]

Yep tina - the tight legging style. Far more close fitting than I had intended to wear but having the pocket is very useful!! I think they were £9 or so?
Just done w6r1 - it actually felt harder than the long run of week 5 - somehow the stop/start was tougher today. I also went off too quickly in my overconfidence from completing last week.
Oh and every single week I can't imagine how I'll step up to the next challenge, but the feeling of achievement when you do is fantastic. Good running everyone!

[BIWI]

Well, finished week 1 today. #shinwatch is swinging into action! I'm finding it all a bit frustrating, to be honest. I know I have to go back to the beginning and take it slowly, to make sure that I don't injure myself again. But I just want to run! Having to stop after a minute is not what I want to do.

Anyway.

I had a hot bath when I got home today, and that does seem to have helped, and my shins seem fine. Doing lots of stretching as well, so hopefully ....

[TwasBrillig]

I'm going to try every other day - so wk 1 run 3 on Tuesday and might try wk 2 run 1 on Thursday . . . Let me know how it goes.

My husband has indeed been fab :-) I'm very overweight so he has a vested interest, but still very much appreciate his support.

I think I need some sort of bottoms. I'm running in leggings and I have to keep pulling them up. Want to be half my size in a few months though.

[TinaSurrey]

worrisome - excuse my ignorance but what are running tights? Leggings? I shelled out a whole £10 on M&S jogging trousers on Monday :-)

[TinaSurrey]

twas yay go you! Good on you for getting out on a sunny Sunday afternoon/evening! I can't claim to enjoy the running but the feeling when you finish the last run (and get to walk for 5 mins!) is fantastic isn't it?!

Glad you've got the podcast and trainers sorted as you wanted to. Husbands are so useful aren't they?!

I have been searching out the apps recommended on here to replace the NHS podcast. Shame as I like Laura (just not that keen on the music). I have made a decision on "Get Running" based on my very scientific analysis - I like the voice better than the 5k runner one!!!!

Will check that I can get it sorted with the Nike app later (with husbands help). For the next run I will use just that and see whether I want to put my own music on a dome point or not. To be honest being around the children so much I actually enjoy the silence!

When are you doing your next run?

Is it just me that has done week one and doesn't think I will be able to do the 90 seconds required to move to week two?

Well done and good luck everyone :-)

[TwasBrillig]

Oh my husband somehow worked out how to put the NHS podcast on my phone (why I was originally on the thread). Don't love the music but its ok, and I like being talked to1 must admit I used the bra tip . . .

I must look a sight (obese) but keep reminding myself this should help!

[TwasBrillig]

I can't quite believe it! I made myself go out and found it easier than my first run. About run 3 I was gasping but the others were ok although I was relieved when she said stop. Still not sure I'll manage more than a minute yet . . But still, a minute is more than I thought I could do a week ago!

Tina - still impressed you've finished the first week and not given up after the first run. Lets encourage each other to stick at it?

Bizarrely when I mentioned buying running trainers to my husband he had a rummage and found a pair I must have bought over 6 years ago, pre kids. I vaguely remember getting a book and getting all inspired but only wearing them once and collapsing. I wore them today. They are some kind of nike running trainer and are far more comfy than my walking ones so I will stick with them I think.

Feel knackered now though!

[WorrisomeHeart]

Highly recommend wiggle.co.uk for running shoes - I got a great pair of Asics from there which are really comfortable and at 40% off rrp! Oh and Amazon has Karrimor running clothes for ridiculously cheap too, again I got a great discount on a pair of running tights that have a zip pocket. If you'd asked me 5 weeks ago if I would ever wear running tights, I would have laughed in your face! But then I'd never run for a bus, let alone the 20 mins I managed yesterday! Good luck for the week ahead all!

[TinaSurrey]

Hi twas thanks for the well done but I should confess I have done one week (3 runs) not 3 weeks!! I can't see myself being able to do more than a minute either at the moment! I am considering doing a 4th run using the week one timings before moving to the week two.

For the trainers. I went into three shops on Monday: sports direct, JD sports and Club Sport. I had no idea on earth what I needed. I only knew I wanted black (so if I didn't take to the running at least I'd wear them for other things occasionally). In the 1st shop they gave no advice, had v few womens trainers but they had a £30 black Adidas pair in the sale only when it came to it not in my size. 2nd shop had literally walls full of women's trainers including a specific wall for running trainers. I tried to stick to £30 but v few black and again none of the ones I selected in my size! Last shop had no advice to give. Lad can only have been just out of school! Useless but polite. I chose a pair that were black, not too bulky, nice and light and Addidas (hubby had said that was a good brand to look out for). They were £45. There were cheaper unbranded ones that were white/bright colours though.

[BIWI]

I read something recently about a woman who had breast cancer at a really young age, and it had been linked to her habit of keeping her phone in her bra! No idea if that's true or just another scaremongering story, but it's put me off doing that (I sometimes do this when I'm at the gym). When I'm running I have a waist belt that I use for the phone, keys and tissues. (My nose runs a lot for some reason when I'm running!!!)

[TwasBrillig]

Did you just go for what fitted Tina? Or did you know what type you needed? I suspect I'm procrastinating by not having all the finer details prefectly sorted!

Congratulations on sticking with it for 3 weeks, that's a great achievement well done! I can't see myself ever running for more than a minute at the moment but I'm hoping it will eventually get easier. I need to go tonight but trying to work up motivation. I have to go at a time husband can watch little one.

[TinaSurrey]

Forgot to say...Re trainers I got a pair of Adidas running trainers from Club Sport. They were £45. I wanted black ones which limited my choice but I have to say they are stunningly comfortable. Very pleased with them.

[TinaSurrey]

Thanks Teenagers I will look again for the app with the new name! And BIWI thanks too - I will also look at Get Running. I absolutely love my iPhone but am not brilliant at the tec side of it. I just use the bits i need. I don't even have any music on it! Still, thanks to all the posts on here including the step by step which button to press from thisisjustgrape I managed to use Nike & NHS together today. As a result I know how far I went and that I burnt 217 calories!!

That was my 3rd go at week one but I really don't think I could run any more than 60 seconds so I think I will do another go of week one before trying to move to week two. I must be soooo unfit!! It's the being out of breath that's the problem, my legs are ok!

My plan going forward is to go three times a week during the week days so I get weekends off. I plan to drop children at school (which I have to do by car), drive straight to where I want to run, do the 30 min as per podcast, drive home, shower, start work. In theory I should be ready to work by 9.45-10am. I did Wed, Fri & today. Today was instead of tomorrow as a meeting means I can't do tomorrow morning & I just know I won't do it at the end of a day by the time my husband gets home!

Good luck all of you. Great up read your posts. The group motivation really helps as well as your advice and suggestions. I got my husband to read the thread so he could help me look for the suggested apps - was was rather amused by the phone in the bra inside a sock!!! Thankfully he has an armband to put the phone in & headphones and he lent me both!

[TeenagersDriveMeMad]

I started off using barefoot trainers (Vivobarefoot) that I got off eBay for £30 and they've been really good, though barefoot running isn't for everyone - if you need a lot of support from your shoes then they're not going to be suitable. I've just 'upgraded' to Nike Free 5.0's because of sore knees after running. My feet also appear to have shrunk and I'm now a size 6 down from a size 7 (vanity sizing for feet now?).

I think a good time to invest in gait analysis is when you're sure that you're going to stick with it and the money won't be wasted. Although don't think that it's overkill if you're only running for a minute - that's still time that you could get injured through poorly fitting trainers.

[TwasBrillig]

I'm just using my current trainers at the moment (I think walking type -from a camping shop). At what point do you buy proper trainers? There's a shop near me that does the gait analysis but trainers look like they start at 70 quid. I'm still only at the running for a minute stage so that looks like overkill!

[TeenagersDriveMeMad]

Tina - my mistake, the app is called '5K runner' and is developed by Clearsky. I really should check before posting!

Glad everyone is going well, I'm on W6D2 at the moment and waiting for my new trainers to be delivered.

[worley]

just did day 1 of couch to 5k usuing the get running app and couldn't fault it. had map my walk running in back ground so i could track how far i went.
It also fave me a half way point so i would have known when to turn around.. however i took ds2 to the park and while he played on equipment in centre i ran round the field / park. perfect. no one else around so was happy with my first ever seasion :)

[BIWI]

Get Running is the one I use. Doesn't come with music - I use my own - but works over the top of your music.

[TinaSurrey]

Ok, we have managed to get the NHS (Laura) playing along with the Nike app. Good news and will stick with this if needs be. Ideally like to keep Laura speaking without NHS music so I can have silence (or my own music) in between the guidance.

Looked for the Azumio couch to 5k app suggested above but can't find it?? Have found other apps which are called couch to 5k but give a slightly different programme to NHS one and have annoying American voice!!

Thanks so much for the tips to get me this far with the techie stuff. Any further suggestions on an app for my iphone to replace the NHS one that seems to only come fixed to include their music.

[TeenagersDriveMeMad]

I use the Couch to 5k app by Azumio (it's on the App Store, about £2, I think), along with having my own music playing and recording my run using the Nike Running app.

When starting a run I start the music first, then the Nike app, then the C25K app, and then lock the screen - everything works fine doing it in this order :-).

As for holding the phone, you can get armbands specifically for this purpose off play.com for £5-£15. The Adidas x Sennheiser collaboration headphones are really good too - they have 'wings' that stop them falling out of your ears.

[TwasBrillig]

I'm doing day 2 tomorrow. Just hoping I can keep the momentum up and my feet don't start hurting. I'm sacred stiff of being seen by someone I recognise!

[TwasBrillig]

I don't think it is as far as I can see -just on iTunes.

[LIZS]

did you get NHS app on android ?

[WorrisomeHeart]

I'm doing the NHS app and have just completed run 3 of week 5 - 20 mins with no breaks!!! It's such a great plan and you can really see results. I like the music and motivational crap that the NHS app gives as it spurs me on but thanks for the tip re Map my Run, will give that a go.

[TwasBrillig]

Ah found the cool running app! Only 1 pound something and works without headphones so will be easier to use than my stopwatch on phone as I lost track a bit towards the end. I like that it tracks it. It uses own music but as I don't have any I'll leave it silent!

What am I missing from the NHS one though? Hasn't that one got tips etc?