Anyone fancy starting Couch to 5K on Monday 5th Aug?

[workatemylife]

I have not run for YEARS. In the last 18 months I have lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise (walking), and, it would appear, breastfeeding. But I'm back at work, LO isn't drinking me dry any more, my diet is not all that it could be, and the weight is sneaking back on. I don't have the opportunity for long buggy walks with a gurgling baby to toddler groups and playparks, but I do try to cycle to work to get a bit of exercise, although probably not enough. A couple of friends do Park Run eack weekend and I'd love to join them, but at the moment I suspect it would be Park Huff and Puff before Collapsing rather than actually a RUN .

I'm planning to start a C25K plan on Monday next week, and would love some (virtual) run buddies until I feel brave / fit enough to run with real people as well. I've seen some positive comments about the plan on here, although I think I'm still a little about whether it is possible to progress like that through the weeks and actually get as far as a 5K. Still nothing ventured nothing gained.

I have running shoes somewhere at the back of the wardrobe, but might need to invest in some suitable clothing, and have a weekend of overindulgence lined up. So Monday is the day I think. First Monday of the month, and counting. I'll put a big ring around a late Sept Park Run on the calendar and start counting.....

Anyone care to join me?

Back from w3r1 wearing my new trainers! I even decided to stop being a wimp about running in public (I've been hiding in the gym!) so proud of myself!!

Well done Ellie! Did the new trainers help?

I haven't run for a week and I'm not used to running on the streets so I could feel that was different but the trainers definitely helped. I didn't feel like my foot was rolling and they felt so much more supportive than my old ones. My trousers nearly fell down. Next step, buy new trackies!!

I did w2r2 this evening and... I actually enjoyed it!!! I am shocked. I even ran through most of the last recovery phase and did an extra minute at the end! I plotted on mapmyrun and completed 4.68k in the time.

Feeling very pleased with myself - having never been able to run and the whole thing seeming like an impossible task, I can now see that it is probably achievable.

ellie I felt very nervous about running in public and considered hiding in the gym too, but from a childcare perspective it would be a massive arse to have to spend all evening and drive to the gym, wait for a treadmill etc etc - it's much easier to just skip out of the front door whilst DH does bathtime and I'm home in time to feed DD2, I love that it only takes 30 minutes.

I put the ipod on so loud that even if I did get a heckler, I wouldn't be able to hear them jeering and laughing anyway . We live right on the seafront and it seems silly to pass up the opportunity to run along the (flat) promenade so I've bitten the bullet and I'm doing it. Every time I go out in public I feel a little bit less self-conscious, although I do still hate running/walking past other runners. Makes me feel like a faker, which is stupid, but there you go.

I'm going to the coast at the weekend and am really looking forward to running on the promenade! I came off the main road and did a double loop in some quieter roads. It was fine and like you, I had my music loud and was totally in my own world!

I did W2R1 yesterday and it's not getting any easier - please somebody tell me that it does! I do wonder if I'm running too fast on the run bits and then walking too slowly on the walk bits as I attempt to recover - does anybody know what sort of running speed you're doing? Mine tends to be about 7 minute mile - is that too fast?

ellie/emsyj I know what you mean about running in public. I tend to go down to the playing fields near the river which is also a bit of a hangout for yoofs in the evening and I'm pretty sure they're highly amused by me lumbering round the football pitches. But then I remember that I'm going to be fitter and healthier than all of them and just forget it while looking in the other direction so I don't actually see them laughing at me

Slev, I probably jog slower than I walk to stop me getting tired and struggling. I'll work on speed once I've got some stamina. Try slowing down and see how you feel at the end.
I was meant to go out last night for W3R1 but I was exhausted. I feel much better today and am raring to go once DP gets home.

I mapped the run I did last night using mapmyrun and it came out at 4.69km. I actively ran slower as I was conscious on previous runs that I would get really puffed and knackered super-fast, and it made a big difference. I haven't run on a treadmill for a long time (and have never done so regularly) but I would normally have it on 8/9 to be running. I am going more slowly than this running outside on the streets. Interestingly, there were some serious-looking runners with fancy tights and all the right clothes who were going the same speed as me when I was headed home (albeit without the walk-breaks!) So you don't need to be running as if you're running to catch the last train outta here or anything! Try slowing down, it worked immediately for me - and I found week 2 run 2 a MILLION times easier than week 2 run 1...

Slev - I'm running a 7 minute kilometre not mile! I would consider a 7 minute mile fast.

Emsyj - I'm averaging just over 3.6 km every run if I stick to the exact instructions (ie starting and stopping my Map my Run app when the C25k instructions start/end)... I must be going v slow! Oh, maybe not, what week are you on?

Bit nervous about my run tom... Going from 1.5x2 + 3x2 to 3x2 + 5x2!

I'm only on week 2 Tinwe but I'm quite tall and I walk pretty fast anyway so even on a brisk walk I would cover a fair bit of ground I imagine! I also ran through most of the last recovery walk as I was feeling pretty good - it takes me a while to warm up so I struggle much more on the earlier runs and feel better towards the end.

Slev - just checked and a 7 minute mile is just over a 4 minute kilometre!

Emsyj - I'm quite tall too and thought I was fairly brisk in pace :( BUT I certainly didn't run any more than told to (that was enough for me!) and week 3 sessions are shorter than week 2 by a few minutes so that might make a difference too I suppose... I'm very impressed by all you athletes out there running so fast or for extra minutes to the plan, it bodes you well for the later part of the programme unlike me, hauling my wobbly body round until the second I'm allowed to stop

Off to start week 4 now. I'll be impressed if I even complete this one, never mind worrying about my time/distance anymore!

You are all doing so well!

My deep tissue massage has helped my knee somewhat (no longer wake up in the middle of the night in agony; in fact it has been more than 12 hours since I took any painkillers at all). As long as I'm resting it's not too bad but if I walk around too much it starts to hurt again. So I'm officially Not a Runner for a little while longer.

Have another massage session on Monday so I think I'll aim to get back out there next Wednesday, all going well. I am desperately hoping I will be OK, and also that I don't have to start again at W1. Sigh ... this is very very frustrating.

Poor you lurking! Did you say you knew what was causing the pain, or just trying to manage it? I hope it resolves soon, as I can tell you're really motivated to get going again. Don't rush things and do yourself a permanent injury though.

Thanks for the positive words too Lurking! I've just survived W4R1 so I'm pleased

Hello all,

You're all doing so well, well done! So well in fact, that it's making me question whether I should carry on as I am finding it so hard . I'm repeating week 3 this week and finding it tough going, week 4 is due to start on Sunday. I've said for years that I am not cut out for running, it appears I was correct in this assumption!

Anyway, sorry for the rant - feeling a bit sorry for myself.

Lurking, glad your knee is on the mend. Lots of rest, trashy mag and a few cups of tea will see you right.

Redwelly, sorry you are taking a step back but think you are doing the right thing.

Tinwe, how was W4R1?

Hello to everyone else!

Thanks, everyone. Apparently it's the connective tissue just below my knee that is very inflamed so there's nothing for it except (very hardcore) massage to try to disperse the fluid that has built up (ewww), ice and rest (and yes yes, definitely the mags and tea). Gaaaah!

iloveaglassofwinesorry you are finding this hard but I really don't think you should give up now! You are doing wonderfully well and there is no shame in repeating runs or weeks of runs. I did 4 runs in week 1 then 5 in week 2 before I had to stop running altogether. I think it's better to keep going until you feel ready to move to the next stage or it will always feel just a little bit too difficult. If it takes a few weeks longer, that's nothing in the great scheme of things.

I was talking to a friend of mine last night. She had done no exercise at all until she was 45 other than walking everywhere and an occasional yoga class. She took up running, is now 51 and did her first marathon this year. It took her 6 years to get there but get there she did.

< waves back >
Hi all - been absent a couple of weeks but lurking and being inspired/sympathetic.
I think I count as an utmost beginner still - been perservering with my 30 sec runs and doing okay, so extended to a minute on Saturday and effectively did W1R1. Felt fine but next time out (Monday), my knees were sore after two steps. Back to the bench .

I reckon it was partly the increased time, but tbh I was going faster than usual; DH was with me and commented on it. I was going to throw in the towel and give up, but reading here I think I'll give it another try, although I'll have to leave it at least a week before getting back out.

At this rate it'll be Easter before I make 5k -but I'm inspired by the mner who recently achieved it aged 55 - I'm 50 so in theory it should be achievable.

Ouch your knee sounds painful Lurking. Be really careful when you go back out < states obvious >.

Morning all! We all sound so determined to make this work that it is quite infectious! Good luck to those of you who are 'on the bench / sofa' for a few days of recovery. Worth it in the long term I'm sure, although hard core massage on the knee sounds less appealing than some of the runs in the schedule, which is saying something!

Wow some of you are fast. 7-minute miles would put you as the first female finisher in my local Parkrun. My ambition was simply to finish, probably in twice the time

emsyj you sound pretty close to the 5K distance already which must be encouraing - only the equivalent of once round a running track and you're there. Fantastic.

Week four has been okay for me I think. Oddly, I find the second two runs easier than the first two. It may be that I just slow down a little to a more manageable pace, or perhaps it just takes me a while to warm up. I still feel a long way off the 'run for 20 minutes' effort at the end of week five. I won't be able to run as regularly for the next week or two anyway, so maybe spreading 'week five' out a bit might be no bad thing.

Hmm, maybe I'm pushing it too much then. Although I'd hasten to add that I couldn't do a whole 5k at 7 minutes/mile - which I think is the problem and why I'm slightly nervous about the step up to week 3 next week - 90 seconds feels like all I can manage! I think it's because the only times I've run recently are for trains etc. and then I tend to be going all out (and nearly dying as a result) - in my head running means going quickly. Right, note to self, try going more slowly when I do W2R2 tomorrow!

Tinwe W4 - congratulations! How bad was it?!

Hi Slev - I'm off to do W2R2 tonight which is great timing as MIL arrives this pm -if DH wants a thinner wife, he'll have to do his own entertaining so we're around the same point. W2R1 nearly killed me, adding on 30 seconds seemed to be really tough so I'm hoping it will be a bit easier tonight.

Lurking - if it's getting you down it might be worth checking out your local pool for exercise classes. It's usually really rated by physios and the cool water will act to calm down the joint simultaneously. I've borrowed a cryo cuff in the past and it's been really helpful. There are cheaper options though if you want something you can just velcro on after every run for a bit.
www.healthandcare.co.uk/knee-ice-packs.html?gclid=CPrpy_--jrkCFafLtAodSk4A4g