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?

Well done for sticking at it even when it felt tough.
thanks for the GPS advice. I do carry mine in a zip pouch at midriff level. Possibly too much heat and belly fat for it to deal with! Tomorrow might be a rest day though, tempting as it is to play with gadgets

Hmm, my phone goes in my bum pocket (so to speak - there's one on my shorts!) and I didn't have a problem until last week - unless I just had an unusually warm backside that time round? I'm inclined to think GPS and cloudy English weather don't mix.

Off out tonight. DDs have colds and im weary with lack of sleep. 5 am on Monday before bed and midnight yesterday. Plus been non stop over the last few days. When does it get to the point where you've been running a while and are not looking forward to it being over? Last few runs I've been mentally willing the time to pass. Anyone actually got the runners high/"could keep on running for ages yet" feeling when out? Maybe you only get that when you stop progressing and therefore aren't making each weeks runs harder (ie finish the plan)!

Good luck to anyone running today, we need stats and stories to pore over...

W8R2 done. A tough one. I've been struggling to mentally get into the mood since I hurt my foot (which incidentally is still sore when I run). I was shattered and for various reasons hadn't had more than a biscuit all day too, so had no energy all the way through. I felt like I was going so slow I was running on the spot sometimes!

Strangely enough I bumped into a friend who's a personal trainer on the way home and she gave me some advice about eating before a run (when and what etc), which reassured me a bit. I think I need to take this a bit more seriously- change my thinking pattern as all the way through I keep thinking "I can't complete this one" and take more care with what I eat/drink before a run.

My stats aren't right either as my app played up and I was stood there a minute before I could stop it but I expected to be a lot slower this time.

Anyway, stats:

29mins, 4.55km at 6.2mins/km
(Removing my stationary minute I think it's about 6.1mins/km)

Thanks Slev Unfortunately I read your message when I'd finished my run! I think I probably feel/think like you've described when I'm in a less hormonal mood

Oh well done, tinwe for getting through it. God, no, I don't have the runner's high when I'm out there. I look forward to doing it, really feel great when it's done, have an overall feeling of satisfaction that I'm getting fitter, doing something really good for myself and that it's having all sorts of benefits that I can't even see ... but actually enjoy the run itself? Not really, other than for maybe a minute or two at a time occasionally I think perhaps you're right - we're constantly pushing ourselves to go further and faster so each run is a real challenge, rather than just something we do. I am curious to know if that will change.

Off out for W6R2 in a bit. Today it's run 10, walk 3, run 10, in preparation for the 20 minuter on Sunday. Must keep thinking positive thoughts. Will report back later with stats.

Anyone else out today? dotty, how are you doing with W6?

Back from W6R2. It followed the same pattern as usual:

first five minutes: oh this is really hard and I haven't warmed up enough

second five minutes: oh this is really quite ok after all, I am almost enjoying myself. I am nearly a Proper Runner.

third five minutes: I wonder how long I have to go

final five minutes: will this never end?

stats not too terrible:

4.51km
average speed 7.20/km
running speed 6.41/km (slower than last time)

I'm averaging out at being able to run 5K in 32 minutes, which isn't horrible slow, I suppose. Will try to get that down to 30 after I've finished the programme and before I attempt a Parkrun.

Sunday is the dreaded 20 minuter. I am going to spend a bit of time putting together a brand new playlist so that at least I have some new music to spur me along.

Who else is going out today? Is anyone on W9 yet?

Well done Lurking! Good solid times there and right on course.

Your minute by minute description made me smile- very familiar (although lately the "when will it end?" bit has been creeping earlier and earlier!)

Another fantastic effort tinwe, and well done lurking. However poor you felt part way round, you're still only 0.5km off a 5K, which is great.

And I feel the same - the 'I can do this' menality starts to give over to the 'would it be really bad to stop' after about 5 minutes. Then comes the mental kick up the backside, and a section of 'this is okay actually, I'm glad I stuck with it'. Then comes the 'how much longer?' and then the 'if only I could sprint for the finish this would all be over, but unfortunately my legs are not listening to my head and I just want to sit down'. I want to enjoy this, but it is not happening.

Today I went out for the last run in week 8, although ran on a little at the end. I had done some reading about how to improve speed, much of it scary (run further. run up hills. run for longer. lose weight. do all of the above). But I did find a couple of suggestions - one was to set off slightly faster than 'usual' - maybe about 5% extra speed (not sure how to measure this though). The other advice was that taking smaller, faster steps is less tiring than trying to take longer strides.

I tried both of these things. According to MapMyRun, I did the first mile in slightly over 9 minutes. The second mile was a little bit slower, but still faster than my standard 9mins 40 secs. The third mile I reverted (without really intending to) to my standard speed. The end result was the completion of the Park Run course in 29 minutes and 18 seconds, which is about half a minute faster than my last time, and I didn't really feel any worse for doing it.

That said, I don't know if the short strides thing is really a good idea. It did seem a bit artificial. My time was a bit better, but (as I discovered as I ran past a large glass window) the shorter strides also made me look as though I was running while trying very hard not to poo. Sorry - I've lowered the tone of the board, clearly, but I can't think of a better way of describing it! Is the shame worth the better time?!

Well done Workate - you've graduated twice now! Completing week 9 should be a breeze as you've done an almost 30 minute run twice already! That must make you more relaxed about it all, including socking it to those people you know on the Park Run you mentioned

Long strides aren't wise for lots of reasons regarding the least economical and causing more joint stress but I guess very short strides probably aren't either- even if only for your dignity!

Did you go out again today Harry? How did it go?

I'm back! And have done W6R2 which was not fun. Mostly because it was so hard to motivate myself to get out there after a week off. But it's done and I'm quite pleased (if somewhat scared) that that's the last of the interval ones out the way as I definitely find it easier once I'm into a rhythm rather than a stop start.

Total GPS fail but I've plotted it manually on the mapmyrun website and they reckon I covered 2.55 miles in 23 minutes so 9.01 min/mile. Which sounds fast but also possible - I took workate's advice and looked up that website to find songs that matched the pace I know I can run at and it definitely helped giving myself a beat to run to. So including the warm up I covered the 5k - now I just need to run it.

But it's good to be back!

Well done Slev! Must've been tough getting back to it but the rest obviously served you well!
I missed a run yesterday, even though I was due for family reasons (out all day sorting DHs outfit for a wedding and DDs shoes, then poorly baby, visitors coming in the evening etc). No way I'll be finishing for my initial target date but hoping to go out later today and plough on... Really indulged yesterday and still have the wedding next month to trim down for

I am just about to go out for my inaugural 20 minuter. Yikes! If I don't return with stats you will know I have expired in a sweaty mess of pain somewhere en route

Will catch up with everyone's recent exploits if and when u return.

I not U. Honestly, can't even type, never mind run...

How did it go Lurking? I'm about to go out for W8R3 with a hangover

Weeellll... That didn't go so well. I picked a new route to motivate me but didn't figure out the slight inclines huge hills involved. I HAD to stop after 20 minutes of what felt like constant uphill and walked minutes 20-25 then ran through to the end of the cool down. So basically I still ran the 28 mins but with a 5 minute walking break 2/3 of the way through. I could've coped with probably half the break but I needed to start on the next 5 minute reminder to keep track of how long I'd run for. I was really disappointed especially as I should really be able to tackle an incline or 2 by now) but on reflection I'm doing this to get fit and lose weight and today's efforts still achieved that. Plus my foot didn't hurt today! I'm just getting a bit worried I'm on a downhill slide :(

Stats: 5.11km at 6.3 mins/km over 33 minutes (includes the 5 minute walk and the 28 minutes running)

Well done slev. I have yet to follow my own advice on music, but glad to hear that it worked for you. I'm too IT illiterate tight to pay to download stuff that I don't know if I like, so I keep meaning to listen to some of the tracks, but I have put some of the NHS podcast for 'moving on' from C25K onto my Mp3 player. I won't be running the time or distance, but reviews suggest that the podcast has a bmp in the 150-160 range, so I'll see if it makes a difference.

Hope you get home soon lurking and that you enjoyed the run. Yes, ENJOYED. Someone has to start loving this soon!

tinwe that really doesn't sound bad at all. Tough course, a slice or two of and you still put in a pretty good effort. At least you kept moving, and the distance looks good. It may not be what the plan was advising, but it surely counts as a decent run nonetheless.

I hope to go out tomorrow and start week 9, but my usual M, W, Fr schedule probably won't be possible this week. I should really have gone out today, but I was feeling lazy busy tidying up the garden

I am indeed back and I did it . It really wasn't much more of a stretch than the last one although I was even slower than usual. Will post stats and full report once I'm back in my computer as I hate posting from my phone. Just wanted to reassure you that I hadn't expired en route.

Well done slev and welcome back! We are running partners now, more or less (although your speeds are way beyond what I can ever inagine doing). Really pleased you are happy to be back

tinwe, well done for getting through what sounds like a tough one! I feel your pain re the inclines. I am now not even attempting anything that isn't perfectly flat or (preferably) downhill. Will work on that after graduation... Great news that you've recovered from your ankle injury too.

Another week over. Graduation time for some of us soon

Oh and no, workate, I cannot say with any honesty that I enjoyed it. I think perhaps I had a moment of elation when I realised it was nearly over but that's the closest I got

My stats for W6R3:

4.03 km
average speed 7.29 mins/km
running speed 6.53 mins/km

Man, I am so slow. I feel like I'm trotting along quite quickly when i'm actually out there but the stats beg to differ . However, I am not minding too much as speed can get sorted later.

Yesterday I realised something: the route I'm taking at the moment is along a canal path where there is a nice pub at the end. Pre-running, whenever I went to the pub and walked home along the path instead of taking the bus or a taxi, it felt like a good bit of exercise. Now I am running there and back and usually before 10 o'clock in the morning. I would never have thought that was possible just seven weeks ago.

Well done lurking. Sounds like a good run, and a great way of measuring progress too. I had one of those 'I could never run that far but now I'm just keeping on going' moments last week and it really cheered me up. The speed looks fine. We can't all be speedy slev (although I wouldn't mind being that fast )

I went out this morning for a pretty poor effort. I ran on playing fields rather than the Park Run course, and my feet got soaked and really cold. Plus it was really muggy, so the rest of me was all hot and sweaty. Pleased I am not. And no sign of enjoyment yet either. I did 6 laps - 1 and 2 were okay, 3 and 4 were depressing and 5 and 6 did hold out the promise of it all ending. Same pattern as most of us I think.

My GPS / Mapmyrun went nuts again - I know it is only a little thing, but bloomin' annoying. Apparently I ran for less than a minute! Really? NHS Laura guided me through 30 minutes on the podcast, so at least I know I did something that approximates to week 9. On a more positive note, week NINE! I think I'm only here because of you ladies. I'd be too scared to report back that I can't actually be bothered!

I'm amused by the whole speedy slev thing - honestly, if you saw me you'd say it's anything but - and it's certainly not elegant. Although possibly more so than workate's constipated waddle which has amused me! And definitely no hills - fortunately there aren't even any inclines near me which obviously helps.

And congrats to everyone for being another run down - and lurking - you are now a Proper Runner . I'd like to say it gets easier/more fun but I'm not convinced of either.

Oh and on the music thing - I haven't paid to download any, I just spent an hour on the website while I was supposed to be working looking at tracks that fell into my speed. There's a lot of American stuff on there that I hadn't heard of, but I managed to find some I already had so that's now my playlist. It really helps me to have something to focus on but I'm weird like that.

Well done Lurking! And a very respectable time too!

Sounds like a nice route to run, I thought you were going to tell us you felt compelled to break your run with a quick stop off at the pub

Well done Workate... Week 9! You're only 2 runs off finishing! Must be frustrating regarding your stats but whatever pace/distance graduation is only days away