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

[cinnamongreyhound]

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

Old Thread

Hi there everyone - just wanted to thank Scarecrow and Watching out for the rest day advice; I will take it and have a look at alternative stuff to do. I had a light night last night and am feeling a bit achy and sore throaty, so I think today would be a good rest day!

Go Purplewithred Nice running!
Drama Nearly there!

Wannabe The reason for starting this was my BMI was just about to hit 30. The most running I'd done since school was running for a bus! I agree with a decent pair of trainers, and a sports bra, and go with it. I graduated without repeating a run. I've shrunk, but hardly lost any weight, so you need to remember to keep the intake level the same, not add in extra food as you've done a run!

Lizzie Please take it easy. I was like this, kept going to work (tho the running stopped), got sent home by one of my direct reports one day, felt better so went back to work, and then spent Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues in bed! I've been knocked for 6 for 2 weeks, and probably should have taken to my bed earlier! Went out running last night tho, and did a hilly but short route. Managed 23 mins, which is the fastest time I've ever done that route!

Today was supposed to be week 8/run 1, but I had a complete technology fail! My iPhone kept stopping the music, so I had to keep unplugging the earphones and plugging them in again - for some reason, this seems to sort it - but then Get Running froze half way through, and even MapMyRun stopped talking to to me, so I had to estimate how long I'd been running for - ended up running almost 30 minutes anyway, instead of 28. Good pace though - average 6.11, but first km was 6.00 and 4th was 6.02, so looks like I should be able to keep a good speed going.

That is a good pace BIWI. I'm running much slower than that.

I've just run for a whole hour! Was supposed to be 6.4km, but the route DH told me to do ended up being 9km! With the massive steep hill (which is now fine), and several other very steep hills too.

I was very pleased with it and felt okay, apart from the first 5 minutes of running which are always hard for me. Feet feel a bit tender and potentially blistery though.

Blimey, 9K is a bit different from 6!!!

I know! He still claims he's right though!

I just plodded on. And it was just plodding!

BIWI, those technology fails are so annoying! I had one the other day. Runkeeper woman kept telling me every minute how long I'd been going for, how far and my pace. I told her I didn't care, but she just carried on. I unplugged her in the end!

I struggle with the technology too: had the genius idea of downloading R4 podcasts to listen to while running (don't do music) but somehow managed to hit the nearly invisible button that makes them play at 1.5 the normal speed, so had Gardener's Question Time gabbling squeakily in my ear most of the way round. Might have helped keep my speed up though.

Can I programme map my run to tell me to walk for 5 then run for 30 then walk for 5?

My bmi was 33 when I started WannaBeCareerWoman. I walked quite a bit but did no other exercise at all and I've never run before. That was January 2012 and I ran almost 12k this morning and love it!!!

Congratulations purplewithred!! No idea what you can set it to, may be able to put voice prompts every 5mins and then count 6 x 5mins for running?

Good news nextphase, 23 mins is great after 2 weeks of being so poorly!

That's fab Judyandherdreamofhorses!! I love longer runs, I find the first 5 really hard too so once that's done I can carry on. Could have gone longer today but my friend was failing fast!

Purplewithred - I did the 1.5 button too for my first run ever - couldn't work out why I was back home within 17 mins

The run keeper app lets you set your own intervals. I use MapmyRun and run keeper together. So if I use the NHS podcast too, it does take me a couple of minutes to get going with all the buttons I have to peer at...

There has to be just one app that we could use, surely?

hello everyone, I graduated today! Slightly annoyed as runkeeper lost me half way round the park so don't have an exact distance. I put the route into mapmyrun afterwards and it said 4.2k, which is less than the last time I did 28mins, I don't think I was going that much slower. Any idea on the accuracy of the mapmyrun route planner?

Still really pleased to have got to 30 minutes, and I've registered with parkrun, so will probably trying my first one in a couple of weeks :)

wem congratulations on your graduation!

wannabe not sure what my BMI is but I know I am overweight. I am now just about to start W9 and have got so much fitter over the weeks. I am losing inches and toning up - I can now feel firm muscles under the flab on my belly! It's a great plan, it starts off gently and moves you on gradually, but enough to make you feel you are making real progress every week.

Join us & have a go, you'll get so much encouragement and support on here - and we are a very friendly bunch .

Thanks all who offered advice, and congratulations to the graduates! I think I may join your ranks as soon as I get back from hols :-D.

Morning

have just finished the last week 9 run. Have done this three times before and always end up giving up soomer or later because of injuries. I get so demoralised because 3 years ago I was running 20 plus miles a week over three runs . I can't get back to it no matter how hard I try. But have decided to try the other NHS podcasts - the ones that make you up your speed. I might do better running the same distances faster than trying to run further. So far my feet are holding up - a few niggles but npothing unbearable (fingers crossed!)

That sounds positive, Orm!

Congrats orm and wem on graduating.

LizzieV if swimming is your thing at all, check out swimfit.org for a c25k-like set of swim sessions to follow.

Meant to say, was in M&S last weekend and unexpectedly found double layer (anti-blister) sport socks. Very soft and probably not sports shop prices.

Finished w8 this morning. Am finding the simple "X mins run " format a bit more dull, but working up new routes and will mix in park run, the odd TM session and later might check out podcasts to up speed or distance. Even thinking of joining a running club, but bit intimidated still.

Injuries are horrible OrmirianResurgam, hope this time around you avoid them!

Doggy run tonight only peanut and jack the lurcher. We did 8k again but had jacks owners 8 year old with us so a bit stop start, still did it in 50 min so not bad :)

Aarghh, woke up early - lovely cool morning, would be ideal for a run... but we've got no water!! Apparently there's a burst main somewhere nearby... but I really don't think I can go for a run before work if I can't shower afterwards

Also, that means the dishwasher didn't run overnight and the bits for the coffee machine that I put in aren't clean, so I can't have coffee Yes, I know, first world problems... but I can't go for a run to get rid of my annoyance!!

Go for a run, you'll dry

cinnamon

There's a dribble from the kitchen tap so I have managed to clean my teeth and boil a kettle at least... hopefully it will be back by lunchtime so I'm aiming to go out this evening

Thanks.

Anyone done the stepping-stones c25k+ podcast. Starts with 15 m at 150 beats per minute, then 10 minutes of 155 beats per minute and then 5 mins 160 beats per minute. So same length of time but bloody hell I was knackered afterwards. Just shows how slowly I normall run!!!

Blimey Ormirian, I downloaded those today thinking I'd move on from the week 9 podcast, but I think I'll stick where I am for now. I'd have to make sure my route finished downhill for those last 5 minutes!

Heart rate? Mines usually between 160 and 180 anyway

Oh, I assumed it was something to do with the music they played and you had to keep in time with it, or something .

No idea what my heartrate is, probably very high.