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?

Slev - I feel similar about being seen, had a great but wobbly and sweaty run on a treadmill here looking down at people walking past the gym then when I left I realised it's not one way glass!

Keeping it up though as there's too much nice food on holiday (cream teas and pasties) and I'd hate to come back half a stone heavier when it was so hard to get it off in the first place quite likely though

Got wasp stung for the first time a couple of days ago, on my bat wing of all places. It really hurt! Still itchy now so annoying me as I run, anyway off to do W5R2 now, after this the next one is the 20 minuter

Tinwe and workate, you are putting us all to shame with your holiday running. I am impressed!

Today, I feel like a runner. W4R2 and I managed to do all the runs, whoop de whoop! I repeated week 3 last week and have been finding it tough so have felt a bit grumpy about it all. W4R1 was awful, I mainly walked it but in my defence it was quite warm and sunny and clearly I can't run in those conditions! Today was cooler and a bit drizzly, much more my cup of tea .

I haven't noticed so much as an inch of change on my wobbly stomach, thighs or sizeable bum , but one thing I have noticed is that I seem a bit more motivated to get things done of an evening rather than just collapse on the sofa so maybe this running lark has given me more energy.

So, thank you all for your words of encouragement and motivating posts about how you are doing. Lurking, glad to hear you're on the mend.

Please remind me of all of this next week when I hit week 5 and crumple!

Slev - could you use an app for running? I've got Get Running which was £1.99 but worth it as it lets you play your own music and just pauses it to give you instructions plus it tells you when to turn back so you don't overrun

Ilove- it can be horrible running in the heat so it's understandable you ran better today plus the programme says it "gets easier with each repetition"

Week 5 isn't too bad so far but I hasten to add that I've stepped down to treadmill. I'll let you know after the 20 minuter!

Ilove - wrt your thighs etc, are you measuring? I wish I'd done that so I'd know whether it's just my keen imagination or I'm genuinely slowly changing shape.

Thanks for the advice, tinwe . I already wear proper running shoes, all professionally measured and all that, so it seems like it's all about the stretching and the warm-up and the cool-down afterwards.

My Achilles tendon is always worse in the morning and seems to ease up in the course of the day so I think I'm going to start with a gentle lunchtime walk/jog/limp tomorrow just to see how things are. I can't bear the thought of doing week 2 all over again for a third time so I'll do one week 2 run once I get going and then see if I can progress to week 3.

I was reading this morning that actually it's a bad thing to rest the Achilles tendon completely so that gives me an incentive to get back out. Eek.

Tinwe I've actually already got an app - I'm using RunDouble (and would highly recommend it in case anyone's looking for one - maps your route for you as well which I quite like). It's just whenever I change level I can never quite gauge how far I'm going to run and I tend to go on a circular route so have to finish the whole thing if that makes sense. Never mind, all exercise is good exercise!

Ilove - I'm with you, I can't see that it's made any noticeable difference to my body shape, although in fairness I'm only on week 3. But I've always found in the past I only really lose weight through dieting - exercise is more about just feeling generally fitter. Although I wouldn't object if I lost a few pounds along the way, but as I got back from W3R2 yesterday and ate most of DS's jelly beans, it's looking unlikely.

I think I've come to the conclusion it doesn't really get easier unless you go backwards. So running 3 minutes feels like ages, but the 90 second bit is now not a problem. I'm nervous about stepping up next week but I think the programme just seems to push you a little bit more each time so I'll stick with it rather than repeating a week until it feels comfortable. Although 5 minutes does sound like an awfully long time to run for...!

I managed to get out to do W2R3 last night after a break of 9 days and it was okay, so I'm going to try W3R1 next time I get out. If I find it is too hard, I'll repeat W2 until I can get a regular evening running slot again.

I really don't want to lose momentum on this, though and I felt so good after W1R1 that I'd love to get properly into running again.

Somehow, though, the whole thing just seems harder than when I first got into running years ago, but I followed a different program then and of course I was 13 years younger!

I'm back!

Achilles tendon still sore, knee fine. I warmed up loads, put a heavy-duty support on my knee, another round my Achilles, heel lifts in my shoes (honestly, all this equipment and I'm not even properly running). Did W2R3 and it was totally fine, in fact the best and most enjoyable run so far. As soon as I got home I did some propler stretches and now have an ice pack on my Achilles just in case.

And I've worked out what the problem really was: running first thing in the morning. I never felt like I'd warmed up properly and everything was always tight and a bit sore.

This time, I went out in the afternoon (having been out to the shops this morning and walked around a bit) and it was a whole different story. If only I'd thought of that three weeks ago ...

Unless I have a terrible relapse will be starting W3 on Saturday. Finally! Hurray!

RosinaCopper, looks like we're at the same stage. Shall we be running partners?

Welcome back! (not that you actually left). And good luck for W3 - just don't overdo it!

Thank you! And yes, no danger of me overdoing it. Have learned that lesson ...

Welcome back and well done Rosina and Lurking, great to know we haven't lost you both

I DID IT! The big one! 20 mins, W5R3. The voice over said "you've just run for 20 mins so can definitely call yourself a runner now!" and I welled up On the down side I don't feel as chuffed as I'd hoped I would as it was a treadmill run and I've put on about half a stone this holiday according to the gym scales

Been looking back to try to find my run buddy but no luck- who were you? I jumped ahead a little (skipped a couple of rest days) for convenience so maybe I lost you, if so anyone on week 6 now/soon?

Tinwe, that is wonderful! Congratulations, you Proper Runner, you! I would not fear about the dreaded holiday half-stone: once you get back into the normal routine and go out Properly Running regularly, it will just slide off again. That is a really great achievement, so please feel very chuffed with yourself.

I am deliriously happy to note that I have no bad after-effects of yesterday's run. Feel slightly achey, but in a good I-have-been-exercising way, rather than a scary I-may-never-walk-again way. On to W3 tomorrow. Hurrah!

Hi tinwe I think it was me, but I only ran once on hols and then somehow the days passed without me running - oops! I got back to it this morning though, repeated w3r3 just to see how it felt - about the same as before so moving onto w4r1 on Sunday. Massive congrats for completing the 20min run!

lurking really pleased for you that you're back running!

Hi to everyone else too!

Wow, 20 minutes - does that make Tinwe our first Proper Runner? (apologies if someone else has already done it and I missed it). And I wouldn't worry about the half a stone, that always happens on holiday - you'll lose it again once you're back home and eating normally.

I did W3R3 this morning - was quite impressed with myself as I got up at 6.15am to go out, despite going out for dinner and a glass or five of wine last night so really wanting a lie-in. But knew I wouldn't be able to go later and wanted to keep up the every other day habit otherwise I'll start making excuses. I did it, but slowly - on the morning/evening debate I'm definitely better in the evening! So W4 on Sunday - slightly alarmed at how much the pace steps up, but it's working so far so I'll have faith!

Ooh slev we're run buddies - I'm off out on Sunday too, will avoid the 10 day gap this time!

Btw, did you feel you ran off the wine head?a friend has a theory you can run off a hangover, so curious whether that's right!

Oooh, yay, a buddy!

I was very sensible and downed a lot of water when I got home which probably helped. But actually yes, I've felt surprisingly good all day despite having 3 glasses of champagne, 2 glasses of wine and a Cointreau (DS is at his grandparents so we went out to play and got a bit carried away ). So maybe the exercise does help - although it was blimmin' difficult to motivate myself to go out this morning!

On my home now, dreading the weigh in and back to work and other sensible things :(

So yesterday I did W3R1. Man, it was hard. This is the first time I really felt it quite difficult and was pretty tired. Not helped by the fact that I seemed to be running into the wind for the entire time (even though I kept changing direrction, now how does that work? ).

However, I did it, felt great afterwards and the legs are fine. I ache all over like I've been kicked by a donkey today, mind you, but I'm figuring that won't do any harm as long as I'm not actually injured. I can't imagine I'll be ready to move on to W4 in just another two runs, though. I can see myself having to repeat this week ...

Welcome back tinwe. Hi, dotty and slev - are you both going out to tackle W4 today? Eeeeeeek! Come and report back on how gruesome or not it is. Anyone else around today?

Hey lurking glad you're feeling good, if achey, I won't lie, w4r1 wasn't easy but it was an awesome feeling after, somehow 5 mins felt like a 'real' runners interval iycwim - even if its not really! . I managed to keep my running pace around the 10 minute mile mark so was really chuffed, and felt for the first time that I got into a rhythm which shorter intervals hadn't allowed me to. It also felt quite autumnal today with a nip in the air which was nice to run in, if a bit tough on the sinuses! (Im a runny nosed runner unfortunately!)

Sorry bit of an essay that!

slev hope your run goes/went well today!

Welcome back tinwe our chief cheerleader! What's your next run?

Just back from w3r3 on the promenade and it HURT! I was planning to go early (6.30/7ish) but fell asleep again so didn't go until just after 8.30 and it was busy and the sun was a lot hotter than any of my other runs so that didn't help. I also read last night that you shouldn't need a drink if its only a short run and waiting until you finish is fine and because I'm away and didn't have my smaller bottle I decided to be brave and not take a drink but that really didn't help because I was in serious need of one! Back home today and back to normality (work etc) and am going to try to leave for a run by 6.30 and fit it in before work. Also only been going out twice a week so not building up the stamina I should be.

Hoping back to work/reality will make having a routine easier!

Ellie xXx

Thanks Lurking, Dotty and Slev for the cheers of encouragement, much appreciated!

I'm shocked I've ended up so far ahead but think it's because I've run day on day off most of the time, not skipped 2 days at the end of each week. Well done to all those who have got back on the wagon after long gaps, I find my motivation to run increases a bit then decreases with length of time since the last run, with a peak of interest around the end of the next day and a significant tailing off after that!

My next run is due to be Monday after a 2 day break. Can't do Monday as I've got pilates so will try to go today I think (not leave it 3 days for the reason above). It will be much harder in general to run from now on though as DH is a teacher and will be back to leaving for work very early in the mornings so I'll be running in the evenings. Living in the countryside I'm now trying to figure out flatish runs which are lit. I know I need to start working on hills etc (one of the reasons we moved here was so DH could hill run) but just want to build my stamina and endurance first.

Lurking - I think the first few weeks are just as hard as the bigger jumps in week 5. Once you can run for about 5 mins without counting the seconds til it's over then building the time from there is imaginable IYSWIM. I agree with Dotty - when you run for a minute or 2 you're always thinking of the next break to stop your heart rate going up and up but when you've done 5 mins you have a rhythm and your heart and breathing rate have probably plateaued so can imagine adding another minute or 2. DH kept teasing me as I worried about 20 mins saying it's just pushing the shorter runs together and keeping your legs moving and I think I see what he means now.

Change of plan- both sports bras have been washed with holiday clothes and are too soggy to wear so I'm relaxing with soup and tear and share garlic bread