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Original poster

Couch to 5k- We do run run run, we do run run!

972 replies

cinnamongreyhound · 18/07/2013 16:24

A thread for anyone thinking of starting, doing or completed the c25k plan!

The last thread had so many new people starting and working through the plan it was lovely. As well as those who had finished and working towards faster times or greater distances. Everyone welcome no matter age, fitness or ability.

Join us for lots of support, advice and gentle butt kicking of required Wink

Old Thread

OP posts:
DigWeedSow · 30/07/2013 07:22

I run in a cap, mainly to keep my hair out of my face but also to hide under! It's a running cap so is very thin and lightweight, I think a regular baseball cap would make my head too hot.

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 30/07/2013 07:40

I bought a running cap too, for the same reason - the low sun earlier in the year was really quite difficult for my eyes to deal with (maybe it was just unfamiliar? Grin) I got it from Wiggle, it wasn't expensive and it's a lightweight wicking material so it's fine to run in. I do tend to take it off during the cool down though unless I'm still heading into the sun.

elliemummaroos · 30/07/2013 08:49

Does anyone take their children running with them? Obviously now it's summer holidays I have no one in the morning I could leave my 6yo DD with. I could go in the evening but wondering whether (especially as I'm just starting out) it would be ok. Physically she's capable of walking/running it but wondering if she would get bored? Guess its a personal thing!

hairtwiddler · 30/07/2013 09:46

Morning all. I need a bit of a motivational talking to! I went out again this morning but I was unbelievably slow and suffering again from my numb feet problem. After about 20mins I have to stop and wiggle my feet or stretch my calves. If I keep going I feel like I'm running on stumps as I can't feel my feet at all.
The issue is tight calves, but the tightness might be coming from my back, so not sure getting better shoes would help.
I'm finding it very frustrating. Currently I'm making no gains in either speed or distance, in fact I'm getting worse! Not losing any weight either.

Help me get my running mojo back!

nextphase · 30/07/2013 10:22

Hair

My distance has increased a km since I first started, but the time has also increased aprox 10 mins (week 1 to week9) - so 4km in 30 mins, or 5km in 40 mins....... (inc walking)

Week 8, and the weight has finally started dropping - I'm telling myself all that muscle I've been building in the first 8 weeks has been the weight gain cause!

Have you though about (got the money for!) a back massage to try and realign anything squiffy around your spine?

Could you run and clench your calves occasionally whist running (she says sitting at a desk pretending to walk and clenching calves to prove it can be done!!!

To quote someone a long way up there " your still lapping those still suck on the couch", and you have moved from being able to jog for 1 min to quite a lot more than that (think your near me in terms of weeks, but not sure??)

Embrace your snail!

hairtwiddler · 30/07/2013 10:32

Thanks so much for words of encouragement nextphase.
I actually graduated c25k about three weeks ago! I ran the race for life in under 36mins so I know I can do the distance, just seem to have lost some oomph and motivation since then. I haven't lost an ounce either, although I have toned up, I'm sure of that.

Massage is a good idea but I'm a bit scared of them to be honest. The last time i had one my back seized up completely!

I don't know whether to work on my back (which feels fine!), go for a gait analysis, potentially meaning buying expensive trainers, or carry on with continued stops to wiggle my feet and stretch the calves.

Having a bit of a stressful time just now so it could be I'm carrying a lot of tension in my muscles.

Shitsinger · 30/07/2013 10:37

Hello can I join you?
Week 1 Day 1
going out at 6pm when its cooler.
Will report back!

hairtwiddler · 30/07/2013 10:42

Good luck! You will love it and get lots of support here!

Dingle · 30/07/2013 10:49

I really cannot advise but I can say I was having terrible problems with my lower back and before I started running I was shocked to step on the wii board (after a 2 year gap) to discover I had put on a stone and could no longer touch my toes!

Now, as I am about to do W8R3 today, I have lost 12lb, can touch my toes once again, my back pain has reduced too.

I was going to suggest massaging your calves but if you feel the root of the problem is your back I would really get it checked out! x

Shitsinger · 30/07/2013 11:01

Thanks hairtwiddler

nextphase · 30/07/2013 11:11

hair
I knew you were a few weeks different from me. Sorry for forgetting you were infront.
If you think your back is the cause of the problems, I'd look to do something with that. Getting expensive new shoes to counteract something that is wrong else where seems like false ecomony - can you sort your back,a dn then get the new shoes - you run past a money tree, don't you Grin

Could you try some pilates/yoga moves to try and strength and align your back? If you google, and go for someone who looks reputable rather than scamsRus, I'm sure you could find somehing on line to get you moving.

Or, could you drop to running twice a week, and do something else for the third session? I like swimming, and then afterwards almost curling backwards in the water to curve my back with the water supporting some of my weight (kneel up in shallow end and then take head back towards toes as far as water level, your flexibility will allow) BUT this is what I like doing - it may well not be very good for backs in general,. or whatever is playing up in yours.

Welcome Singer Loads of support and suggestions from all sorts of people on here. Can you go slightly later than 6? Its still quite warm here by that point. I've been finding 7.30/8 much better!

Bakingnovice · 30/07/2013 11:33

Go for it singer!

Next - I've found I'm finally losing weight too now I'm at w8. I gained about 4-5 lbs when I started running and it's all going. How much have you lost?

I need to lose another stone, and Ilhaving lost some last week I feel it makes me run better.

Slubberdelatrinae · 30/07/2013 11:37

Many belated thanks to all those who answered my asthma q. I upped my relievers before the run and didn't think about my breathing at all, didn't feel tight chested so will just continue slowly and fingers crossed the longer runs won't make me wheezy.

wem · 30/07/2013 11:45

Anyone around who did C25K then went on to running 10k? I'm trying to work out if I should sign up for one in November. I looked on the NHS c25k website and found the quote, "Set a new goal that?s realistic and think about a plan for achieving that. So if your goal is a 10K run, that?s quite a big step up and it?ll take longer than another nine weeks. Be realistic about the time frame."

I'm on week 7 now, so 2 more weeks to finish the plan gives me about 13 weeks til the 10k I think. Does that sound ok? Has anyone used the 5K+ podcasts with Laura?

wem · 30/07/2013 11:50

That's great Slubber, I've found myself worrying less and less about chest tightenings etc. I actually went out and forgot my inhaler a couple of weeks ago - gave me a bit of a panic when I realised half way round the park, but I hadn't actually used it while running for ages so kept going and luckily was fine. (I definitely take it with me still)

amigababy · 30/07/2013 11:56

once the September school term starts (and it's cooler?) I'm going to add in one long run a week to head for 10 km, or 60 minutes. I've got my new app (Simple B210K) which is a plan over 6 weeks e.g. week 1 is run 10;walk 1 - for 4 times. The idea is to do it 3 x a week like C25K.

BUT - I like my comfort zone - so I'm going to keep doing our week 9 twice a week, and just add 1 long run, so it'll take me a good 18 weeks to build up to the 60 minutes. That's actually New Year's Day! Smile

5madthings · 30/07/2013 11:58

I did wem started running end of Jan with couch to 5k and did true London bupa 10k in may so I think a 10k in Nov is perfectly doable. I and a few weeks off along the way with illness etc and managed my 10k in an hour and 7mins :) could do it a bit quicker if its wasn't so busy etc.

I have another 10k I a signed up for in Oct and really need to get running consistently again as have been a bit hit and miss for the last month or so.

5madthings · 30/07/2013 12:00

I uses the zenlabs app which is the same,e as the NHS but no annoying laura and I play my ow music, or did use it now I just go and run :) zenlabs does a couch to 10k app, its 14wks? And the first eight weeks get you up to 5k then it increases you up to 10k or running for an hour for the remaining weeks.

wem · 30/07/2013 12:11

Awww, I like Laura :) Thanks, will look into apps and stuff. I like the idea of using my own music, but will probably end up spending ages trying to find tracks with the right bpms Grin

Original poster
cinnamongreyhound · 30/07/2013 13:54

Sorry to hear you're not enjoying it at the moment hairtwiddler :( I know you said it's definitely your calves so feel free to ignore but my friend had problems with numb feet. She was told she was lacing her shoes too tight so she loosened them and it made no difference. Someone else suggested her shoes were too small and sure enough she was wearing the wrong size trainers, bought 1/2 a size bigger and never gets numb feet at all.

I don't think that's unrealistic at all wem, the coaches at my club always say you can add a mile a week although that seems ambitious to me from 5k, 13 weeks to add 5k is very reasonable I think. Worst case senario, you walk some of the 10k :)

OP posts:
hairtwiddler · 30/07/2013 13:59

Some really useful help here thanks all! I'm going to try the calf massaging (thanks for that Dingle, certainly can't do any harm) alongside making more effort to do the core strengthening exercises I got from my physio, and maybe have one session a week on the cross trainer or something, instead of running.
Amiga, I really like what you are doing with the slow build towards 10k and may take on that approach along with you!

Re: going out with kids. I had thought about going out with DD on her bike or scooter but think it would infuriate me beyond belief! She might be up for a wee run with me, especially as I'm hoping we'll do the Great North kids run together. DS is only three and would be total liability. Although he has endless energy.

trickydickie · 30/07/2013 14:21

elliemummaroos is there anyway you could go to a park and your daughter could go on her bike while you jog?

I took my daughter who is 11 out on my first week and she managed it but got bored half way through and complained that she didn't want to jog again after about the third jog. She then refused to come with me again.

My friend's 12 yr old daughter has came with us on her bike. Obviously she was much quicker on her bike than we were. We just told her to cyle ahead and wait etc. Could you maybe do something like that with your daughter on her bike?

Let us know if you decide to go out with your daughter and how you get on?

EeTraceyluv · 30/07/2013 18:39

Just one w6 r1 at the gym again (still can't get onto the park Angry ) I did 2.3 miles in 28 mins, so not too bad. Looking sooooo forward to being able to get outside again though!

EeTraceyluv · 30/07/2013 18:40

just did* not just one!

scarecrow22 · 30/07/2013 19:00

just back from w5 r3. harder than I'd expected but feels great. Remind me to stretch later as had to grab only half hour dh was home and now putty.g kids to bed in a pool of sweat

I would not have done this without the thread, so thank you all Wine Brew Thanks

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