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!

Well I have no idea what I'm doing with these podcasts - I think I mistakenly ran w8 last run

So today I did w7r2 - found it really really hard going & I was v v slow - only 3.7 km including warm up walk (but not cool down). Not very good

W6r3 done!! Can't believe I ran for 25 minutes!! I was a sweaty mess by the end, but suddenly running for 30 minutes seems very achievable

BIWI - good luck on your second interview :)

Mitten - try not to worry about your hard run. I found w6r1 hard, think sometimes its just harder for whatever reason. The main thing is that you got through it.

We are away in our caravan this weekend with family, I'm very tempted to take my running kit and go for it on Saturday morning. Would be nice to run in the countryside with nice scenery for a change, rather than pounding the streets!!

Well done on the runs everyone! What a great team!

Go for it Llynnn. A change of scene sounds appealing. I live in the countryside but was only thinking today that I need a new motivator and that a change of route could be the thing. I have run (and walked) the same lane since w1r1! The cows, sheep and alpaca in my head all have cheerleader style pom poms willing me on as I approach!

Hoping to be away house sitting for my friend next week and really looking forward to a change of running route! I am too nervous to try anywhere else round here for fear of coming across a slight incline mountain that makes it harder!

Well wk8r1 tomorrow morning then I get the weekend off! (Although thinking about it I may do Sun, Tue, Thur instead of Mon, wed, Fri) to better fit in with going away on Mon...

Tina, cows sheep and alpaca sound brilliant! I have running-route envy right now! We live close (10 min drive) to the coast so would love to run along that one summery evening. Hope you discover a nice route near your friends next week

Oh goodness, I'd forgotten that W6/r3 was a 25 minute run! I will definitely have to make sure it's a cool day when I do that.

llynnnnf - I do remember from the first time around that once you've clinched the 25 minutes, 30 minutes is suddenly really doable.

Ok.. Am back and have re-started week 5. So just finished w5r1. I have a few days off so am in mood for getting back in track and diet kick started again.
Glad your all still going!

No running for me this weekend as have come down with a bug . Might explain why Thursdays run was so bad

I have finally got ds1 (14) running with me too.. Started him on the free c25k.. Did w1r1 with him as not a proper run day for me today.. he did it begrudgingly but hey ho.. No Xbox if he doesn't ;)

Are you feeling any better forgetfulmog? I had a cold a few weeks ago. Threw me off track a bit :(

Sorry you're not feeling great, Forgetfulmog

worley - am very impressed that you have managed to get your teen out with you! And you never know, he might actually turn out to enjoy it!

Did W6/R3 this morning. Even though it was early-ish, it was still hot. I think the last time I was at this stage we were still seeing temperatures struggle to get up to 2 or 3 degrees!

Thanks Worley & biwi. Still feeling achy & have a sore throat so no running for a bit .

I just hope I get better soon - don't want to leave it too long as I'm on w7 & 25 mins is a longtime to run when you've had a break!

Well done on everyone else's runs.

Memory like a sieve but which of you ladies was laid up with a dodgy ankle? Any better now?

Well did w5r2 again building up to the big 20 next run. Had to invest in the full get running app for ds as I don't think the free c25k is as good as get running. The count down clock really keeps me going..

Hope everyone's going well :)

Well done on w6r3 BIWI - how did you find it?

Mog poor you sounds rough. Hope you are soon on the mend. It's hard when you've stuck so well to have to miss days through being poorly but no way you can run when you are not well. Hopefully by taking the rest now you will pick back up more easily when you re-start.

Go Worley - you CAN do run 3! I promise. Nobody was more freaked out by it than me. Think I even posted a thread asking if it was a mistake in the programme!! But, you do it, take it really slowly and once she says you are half way there is no way you will give up. When it gets tough - slow down! When are you going for it?

We are away now house sitting so I am looking forward to my first ever run in a different place having run the same route since week 1. Assum

Assuming its not pouring with rain I plan to
Do w8r3 tomorrow x

I struggled a bit towards the end, but I think it was because it was so warm! My pace was good though - 6.30m/km. A little slower than the last time around, but still means that I won't be too far off 5K by the time I'm running for 30 minutes.

hoping to go tomorrow.. am in annual leave today but its rest day so maybe before work.. I doubt I'll get ds1 up at 6 though to come with me.. but stranger things have happened.. :)
I actually feel nervous about 20 mins!

BIWI am v impressed with w6r3 completion - I'm sticking on w6r2 for now. Had a terrible run on Friday when i really didn't have enough time for it before work and my app gave up the ghost after the warm up so I tried to do 10 mins x 2 myself but gave up after one lot and went home. It was weird that I just couldn't motivate myself without knowing the voice was going to come in my ear to tell me when to start walking. And I was stressing about work and the time.

had a better run Sunday and again this morning. But am still v slow. Only covering 3.7k including warm up walks. So i'm thinking i'll stay on this run until I can do 4k - might be some time .

Those of you with the get running app it sounds like it talks more to you? I think I'd like that. I have the Zenlabs one and on the longer runs there's no comments made while you're doing them and I'm always worried it's stopped. Do you get more communication from get running?

And Tina - w8r3? - big respect!

i think its really pretty damn impressive that we're all out there - 3 times a week, making up our own rules doing the programme. With the weather and kids and work and stuff just doing something like this and sticking with it is pretty good going. So thanks all - reading your posts is great motivation.

BIWI that's a great pace. Really good. I don't get the impression that the majority of people make 5k by the end of wk9 so you should be super proud to be on track for pretty much that

Worley I know what you mean. That 20 mins was such a big deal. I was nervous too (understatement of the day!). It's worth it though because the joy when you complete it is just great! Good luck tomorrow.

Mitten I agree. I think it's bloody great that we are all doing this! There seems to be so many on Mumsnet at the moment ploughing through c25k! I also seem to see a lot of people out running lately. Or is it like when you buy a new car and then suddenly notice lots of the same model on the road!

Re the Get Running app... I've not used the Zen Labs one but Get Running tells you when to walk, when to run, when to cool down etc but also tells you how far through the longer runs you are every five minutes. So on 25 min run 5 mins in it says you have been running for 5 mins then 10 then when you have done 15 it tells you that you've run for quarter of an hour and only 10 more mins to go. You then get another notification only 5 mins left and then it tells you well done time to cool down when it's time to walk. It also tells you when you are half way through the programme for that day so you know when to head for home if you need to. Earlier in the programme it talks to you at shorter intervals when the runs are shorter. I honestly cannot fault it. I wish they did a follow up one as I like everything about it and I tried a few! I am so fussy - I even had to like the voice

P.s didn't make it out this morning due to heavy rain so now planning to run tomorrow. Thanks again for all the updates and group support.

Tina - w8?!!!!!! Woah, that'd crazy, bet you didn't think you'd get to that when you first started this thread eh?!

Mitten - well done, don't be too despondent on the pace though, that's still a good pace & I think the aim is to run for a long time rather than really quickly.

I did w7r3 today, really really hard going. I had stitches & I was really hot too. I timed just the run bits & managed about 3.5km in total - 6.27 min/km so not bad really. I did think I wouldn't be able to complete it though, but that's the good bit about the motivation of the app, keeps you going!

Well done everyone, we're doing brilliantly

Sorry I've been AWOL! Great to hear how well you've all been doing :)

I haven't ran since last Thursday :( I'm really missing it and annoyed that I can't get out but life is just getting in the way! We were away at the weekend and my plan to run on Saturday while we were there fell through after too much wine consumption on Friday evening and since then its been one thing after another and I know I won't get out tomorrow either as its dd's birthday. I know it's excuses after excuses but life is so busy and tiring!! Must make an effort on Thursday but after a week off it will be interesting to see how w7r1 goes!

Keep going everyone, you are all doing much better than me, but I'm definitely not giving this one up!

welcome back Llyn. i wouldn't worry too much about the break - I think your body can remember a week ago now you've got this far. Maybe just take it slow if it feels hard.

And thanks Tina for the app info - I think I'll swap. It's a sad day to give up all my ticks for the runs I've done on the Zen app but I cant imagine running 25 mins without some time checks so if I'm to move on at some point I'll need Get running. i think it will help me with my speed a bit - might be able to put a bit more effort in if i know when I'm in the last 5 minutes

V well done on your run Forgetful - what do you do about stitches? I've had a couple and just try to keep going and they've gone - weren't too bad - but a bad one might be more challenging. Is there a trick or do you just push on through and hope it goes away?

Welcome back Llynnn & waves to everyone else too.

Week 8 run 3 done this morning. Was really nice to have somewhere different to run. The time passed more quickly as I had got to the point of knowing every inch of my normal route!

My knees are really hurting now which isn't good. They don't usually start hurting until the evening but today - ouch. I couldn't even crouch down to unknot one of the children's shoe laces! Planning to call the podiatrist and ask if I can get gait analysis done next week. Top of my right foot isn't 100% either so really think it will be worth doing. Weirdly it doesn't really hurt when I run or walk but going up/down steps or crouching down (and more to the point trying to get back up!) is a real problem! It had got better after 2 data rest but clearly each time I run I make it worse!

Was strange running somewhere new today. Where I run at home anyone I pass says good morning or at least meets my eye and nods/smiles. Today com

Oops...

today completely ignored! Other than a wolf whistle and a comment I didn't hear from two lads about half my age. iPod happened to be inbetween tracks but I pretended I hadn't heard. Felt a bit uneasy and vulnerable for the first time ever since I started running. As I headed back they had come round the other way and were sitting on a wall and I had to walk right past them to get back. Felt quite hacked off as it really quite took the edge of a good run.

Oh Tina I know what you mean, I hate feeling like that too! I had to run past a group of lads the other day & I remember thinking "please don't say anything!". I must have sprinted past them!

Mitten - I just try to ignore them tbh. There is a way of getting rid of them by breathing in & sticking your tummy out at the same time, but I can't concentrate on that when I'm running! It's bad enough finding the energy to actually breathe!

My stupid alarm didn't go off this morning so I'm going to have to do my run tomorrow when dh gets back from work. Feeling cheesed off now!