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

Well done nearlyreadytopop, DramaAlpaca and scarecrow22, all great achievements.

The voucher may have been a short term thing watchingout, I didn't get one when I started parkrun.

I just have a jacket nextphase but may invest in a long sleeve top this year. I tend to tie it round my waist as I get into my run.

My half is 17th Nov so a while yet pennygallops. My parkrun got the heady heights of 41 yesterday :) I'm RD again next week, third time :)

I marshalled the round Norfolk relay last night 1.30am-5, google it for anyone interested. 197 miles round Norfolk over different terrains, 17 legs starting Saturday morning and finishing Sunday morning. Starting and finishing in kings Lynn.

Ouch MsV that must be (quite literally!) a pain. No idea of recovery time for a pulled muscle - is there any good advice on the NHS C25k website as they do have a section on aches and sprains...

I haven't shelled out for a proper sports bra yet but have gone down the route of wearing two underwired bras at the same time (sounds uncomfortable but it isnt and it works really well and I am ahem quite large at 34FF).

Have only started running in cool weather so wear a T shirt and a cagoule (look so square) but it's warm enough but not too hot.

My dilemma - run on Tarmac path or grass? Could do either in my park but haven't decided what's better/easier. Or should I just alternate?

Love reading about all you graduates doing park runs - far off dream for me. W3R2 was hard today but I managed it!

Sorry MsVestibule, knew I'd missed someone! It will depend on what you've done. I injured myself just before Easter and it was 2 months before I could run properly but other things heal quicker. Take easy the next time you go out and you'll get an idea of what you can manage and then either have a rest or carry on carefully.

Iwearblack, Tarmac is easier in terms of effort but grass is easier on your joints. Mix and match is good, I prefer running in the forest but soon that will only be a weekend activity :(

I've done it - the full 5k! I can't believe it. Never, ever thought I'd be able to type that.

Never would have done it without your encouragement, thank you all.

well done Lizzie

Iwearblack I like a mixture. I like my through the woods off road, and then down to the river on tarmac. Need decent light tho!

Thanks - I'll go for the mixed terrain too.

Well done lizzie I can't wait to be able say I have run 5k!

well done Lizzie so so pleased for you .

Well done Lizzie that's great news!

Hi couch to 5k guys! A year and a half ago I was size 20 to 22 and did no exercise at all. Ever. Hadn't run since school. I started couch to 5k and week one nearly killed me!

Today I did the great north run, ran every step of the 13 miles. If you'd told me when I started that I would be here today with my achy legs and soggy trainers I would have pissed myself laughing at you. But I did it! Couch to great north run! Keep it up, it is so so worth it!

That is an awesome result sallysparrow Huge congratulations - you must be over the moon! And just the kind of encouragement I need (I think W1R1 is a stretch for people who have never run before too!)

Congratulations SallySparrow!! Fantastic achievement - very inspiring

sally that's amazing! I've just finished W2 and really, really can't imagine doing 5k, never mind 13 miles. Congratulations.

And Lizzie, wonder if I'll be writing those words in 7-8 weeks? Did you repeat any weeks?

Sorry Lizzie, congratulations to you too! Still find it incredible that I'm supposed to be running 5k in 7 weeks. Every time I read somebody's done it, I think 'oh, they must have been much fitter than me to start with'!

Thanks for the advice on the pulled muscle, Black and cinnamon. It's not too painful to walk on, so I may leave it a few days before I run and repeat W2 if necessary.

Wow Sally! Really well done. I really can't imagine being able to run that. far.

MsV - don't start running until its properly healed otherwise you will just aggravate it.

Lizzie - it's a fab feeling, isn't it?!

Well done Sally. Another one not being able to imagine running that far!

Lizzie - well done to you too!

Well done Scarecrow for your park run.

I did W3R2 on Saturday and R3 this morning so will be back to W4 on Wednesday which is back to where I got to before I went on holiday at the beginning of July.

For anyone looking for long sleeved running tops I got a nice one in Sainsburys on Friday. It's turquoise and has those sleeve that you pull down to stick your thumb through and a little zipped pocket at the back for a key. They do go up to a size 22 but only had an 18 which I bought. Im a 20. Tried it this morning and it was tight and clingy but I wore it anyway! I'm doing BIWI's Bootcamp as well as running and figure this top can be a real barometer of a (hopefully!) shrinking body.

Hi all,
I posted about starting C25K on the Chat board. Was directed here. Thought I'd post before the thread fills completely.

I started without an app last week. Did 3 sessions, 6 to 8 minutes of running, a minute at a time, with a few minutes of walking in between. Was bleddy exhausted and achy ALL WEEK, but by Sunday was feeling better (after 2 rest days). Downloaded C25K and went again today and did day one. I'm really so, so unfit that the running bits were excruciating, but I did them. I had enough energy left at the end to get on the machines on the outdoor gym at the park (brilliant things outdoor gyms!) and do 60 squats and some upper body exercises. I think I need to stretch a lot more though, and suspect that not enough stretching was half the problem last week.

Just wanted to ask if anyone here has done the first week of the C25K more than once, as I find it very hard to believe at my level of unfitness (47, 2 stone overweight, anaemic, not done any proper exercise, errr, ever) that I'll be ready to go on to week 2 next week.

Or do you just force yourself, whether you feel ready or not?

Trust the programme! You will be getting fitter with each run you do, and you will find it easier than you think. Having said that, if you're at all worried, then just repeat a week (or a run) until you feel you can move on.

I did an extra run on some weeks. If the 60sec runs are that bad then of course you can chooses to stay at that level till you feel they get a bit easier. They don't need to get too easy though! Maybe do four W1 runs and then try W2. If the 90sec runs are too hard go back to W1. It's not a race and some of us will take longer than others!

I'm not stretching enough either. Will try and look at the C25k website later for their stretches.

Well done LizzieVereker, that's fab!

I am similar sallysparrow157, started January 2012 at 15st and I'm doing my first half in November. The great north run is supposed to have a fab atmosphere but it's a bit far for me :)

Welcome Minifingers! I always say give the next run a go rather than repeating one you know you can do and then if you don't manage it repeat that run until you can complete it. But really trust the program you will do week 2!

So, any suggestions for a new thread title?

I haven't been here for ages! apologies. I did have a week off when we went on holiday but came back and started again. I somehow got stuck on wk6 r2, even though I have done w7 but felt too scared to try it again ! So, last week, I chucked the c25k app, and just set endmondo on minutes to see what I could do without stopping. Well blimey!! I ran for 28 minutes! Just didn't want to stop - I seem to have got past the barrier. V chuffed. Although I haven't 'finished' c25k as such, I know I would never be here without doing the ground work and the first six or seven weeks (even if they took me three months )

Welcome Minifingers - what Cinnamon says and trust the programme

Anyone fancy being my virtual running buddy early in the mornings for outdoors running? The chimp seems to have moved into my bed cos even though I got up at 6, looked out the window and it was dry and not too windy, that sodding chimp stretched out his arms and dragged me back into a warm bed. I knew I'd regret it, but couldn't manage to shift him

I WAS going on Mon, Wed, Fri mornings, but willing to shift to suit a buddy!

Please help me find my mojo

I will probably run Friday mornings and alternate Tuesdays, meet my rl running buddy at 6.15 so you're welcome to join us watchingout!

watching what are you trying to do these days? You've been running mon, wed fri am for ages now - I remember you getting cross, as I over took running Fri, Sun and wed evenings!
I've now worked my way through stepping stone, speed and stamina from the 5k+ set - and have finally managed 5km - 35 mins of stamina and I did it. Hallelujah! So I'm super slow!

I can boot you out of bed in the mornings if you want? I'll just teach DS1 your phone number, and he can call whenever he thinks its reasonable to get up. Usually just before 6. I'm sure a 4 year old will get you out of bed!

Minifingers I can only echo the above - trust the program. If your really unsure, maybe try one more run at week one, but give 2 a go. You can always go back if its really too tough. If you don't try, you won't know.

New thread title: can anyone come up with something to do with chimps and snails?

Well done sallysparrow!

Welcome Minifingers, glad you've come over to this thread. You'll get great support on here. Like everyone says, trust the program - it works!

Like nextphase says we should have a thread title that suggests defeating our inner chimps & embracing our snails - or something like that but much snappier of course!