Anyone fancy starting couch to 5k on 26/8?

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

I've done virtually no exercise since I left school, I'm now 27 . I weigh over 14 stone and I'm horribly unfit. I have family history of heart disease and high blood pressure, and I've finally realised I drastically need to do something to improve my health and fitness. DH is running his second London marathon next year, and tbh I find it embarrassing that A) I weigh more than him and B) he can run 26 miles, I'd struggle to run 26metres without being breathless.

I'm running in the evenings after DCs have gone to bed, I'll do Monday, Weds/Thurs then again on Saturday. Anyone fancy joining me?

[HearMyRoar]

My dp's tip was to do loads of stretches after the run. I did a bit of yoga as soon as I got in and feel pretty good. Not too achy at all.

[DearPrudence]

Good progress today people - and welcome to the new runners!

I took DS to the seaside today and we did some good marching along the prom and pier, and one little jog, but I'm not counting that as a proper C25k day. I'm also swimming this evening though, so a pretty good day. I just need to stop eating so much crap now.

I can feel the ache in my muscles from yesterday's "run".

[Lorelai]

I think I might like to join in too please. I tried it once before and got quite bad shin splints, but I think I was pushing it too hard, going out every day rather than 3 times a week. Can I get the podcast onto an android phone do you know?

[trafficwarden]

Hello everyone . A wee bit stiff in the hips today but otherwise fine - did all my stretches and again before I went to bed, belt and braces approach! Good luck for tomorrow everyone.

[FunnyRunner]

Lorelai I have the Android App so yes you can :)

[FunnyRunner]

Was anyone else a bit amazed at how unfit they were? Not so much CV fitness but my muscles in my calves were burning within the first 60 secs running. I never got out of breath because my muscles were limiting the speed I could run at I was warm though so must have been having some kind of impact, I just expected to be puffing for breath and never managed to get to that stage!

I'm going to be running on the beach - hoping it will help prevent impact injuries but I can imagine it makes it a bit harder at the start.

[dadditlass]

Funny, a bit of a strange question but are you going to be wearing trainers or running bare foot when your on the beach?

I think I might try the beach on Thursday.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Woohoo!

I did my first run tonight . I did feel a bit of a fraud with 'real' runners around me, and quite embarrassed when I ran past a group of youths and loads of dog walkers!

I got very hot a red very quickly - and then my fingers started itching dreadfully. Does anyone have any idea why that would be?

I thought to start with that the music might infuriate me, but actually it was ok.

Even though it was sunny tonight and I went out before 8pm, I did feel a nip in the air to start with. What are you all planning on wearing to run in as autumn arrives?

[DearPrudence]

Hello Lorelai. I don't have an Android phone but there are so many C25k apps around, I'd be amazed if you can't get one. Oh, and welcome

Well done Iwish - you did it!

[CuriouslyNosy]

I couldn't manage day 2 today, am still achy and ended up busy with work. I have set a specific time to go tomorrow though, then again on Saturday, so will still catch up! Well done everyone :)

[FunnyRunner]

dadditlass I quite often walk barefoot but I am wearing trainers for running. By about October it really is too cold to be barefoot here although I think there are those 'barefoot' trainers (if that isn't a contradiction!)

[LauraPashley]

Hi all! I did week 5 run 2 tonight and just wanted to say...

• I'd really recommend "get running", it's a free or very cheap app and it lets you play your own music, just interrupts with the instructions! I have it running alongside my music player and also map my run on my iPhone, it's great!
  
• the only piece of kit I've bought is a cheap arm band/phone holder thingy, it actually revolutionized my running! Was all awkward before and I don't think holding the phone was helping my running "style", such as it is!
  
• you can do it! Week 1 almost killed me. Week 2 was fine, then I went back to dying again in week 3! But I'm almost at week 7 and still alive...! Taking me much longer than 9 weeks tho cos I'm working round dh shifts/my work etc.
  

Good luck!!

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

Thanks laura, you should feel very proud of yourself getting to where you are.

funny beach running is meant to be much more difficult, I know on DHs marathon group last year they were doing less miles if they were beach-running, it's good for building stamina though. And yes about being unfit, my legs are worse than I thought, but doubt I could have gone much longer without being too out of puff. I wonder how long it will be before we see an improvement.

Sorry no idea about the itching iwish. I'll buy a running jacket when it starts getting chilly, probably a fluorescent one as it'll be dark when I run in a few weeks, sportsdirect.com often have good discounts.

Welcome to today's newcomers.

[gintastic]

Grrrr just remembered I'm going to a baby shower tonight so won't be able to run. Unless kids go to be early and OH is home by about 6.30... Shower starts 7.30 about 4 doors down from me so might be able to squeeze it in.

If you'd told me a week ago I would be trying to squeeze a run in before a night out I would have said hahahahahahahahahahahaha....

Really don't want to miss a day, might put all the clocks forward half an hour to get the kids in bed early!

[FunnyRunner]

SevenReasons that's encouraging to know about the beach running building endurance. I will remember it when I collapse in a heap

Surprisingly ache free today, just the odd twinge in my thighs when I first got up (which is weird because it was my calves that were burning yesterday). Another run tomorrow - I feel tired even thinking about it!

[DearPrudence]

gin I've also just remembered a night out tonight, and am a bit gutted that I can't do my 2nd run as planned. I'm going to try and get out of work early and fit it in, but it's unlikely.

I do feel so motivated by this thread though - if I was doing it on my own I might not have bothered to continue, but I'm determined to do it by tomorrow morning at the latest.

A bit jealous of FunnyRunner getting to run on the beach

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

pru glad to hear this thread has motivated you. I knew I'd feel the same, I don't want to let the side down by giving up!

I'm not far from the beach bug the groynes would make it a bit of a pain, I'd only want to run on the shoreline not the softer sand out of the groynes way. I have a lovely quiet country road route while its still daylight that amounts to around two thirds of my run time.

I've inspired my mum to start running, she's coming out with me tonight :)

[mikkii]

Well done everyone. I started about 10 days before I went away (planning to tart again on my return) and managed ok for first time (I'm 44 and very overweight) but managed to get a tummy bug that lasted about 6 days so that put paid to more exercise pre holiday.

When I get back from holiday I plan to buy a cheap iPod to help me as I struggled to keep setting stopwatch on my phone.

Keep it up, join you after my holiday.

[HearMyRoar]

Phew, just did week 1, run 2. Went OK except I had to dive into a bush for an emergency loo stop about a third of the way through

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

Oh dear hear!

I done run 2 tonight too, went really well, I pushed harder and already found it easier than last time. My knees didn't hurt this time and my thighs were starting to ache when I got home rather than half way round.

DH has had his hours changed, he's now doing a split shift on Sat, as well as his usual Fri and Sun so I can't run. I know I shouldn't really but I'm going again tomorrow if my legs feel ok, I'll have until Monday to recover so should be ok. I'd rather that than miss a run or be behind everyone else.

[FunnyRunner]

My hips have gone a bit tight during the day, hope they loosen up before run 2 tomorrow!

[DearPrudence]

I do hope it was only a number one HearMyRoar Well done anyway. And to you, Smile.

I've just done week one, run two! Last time I only did a couple of the jogging sessions, but this time I did them all, and I got much further as a result. My old ankle sprain definitely makes me limp a bit, but I'm trying not to. Also had quite a bit of pain in my lower back, but I pushed through and got back in one piece. I am definitely unfit.

Did you mange to get out gintastic?

[HearMyRoar]

Thankfully i run round a nature reserve so not many people and lots of foliage. Running with a full bladder adds a whole other element of danger to the exercise :o

Well done everyone. Do you wear a support or anything on your ankle Pru?

My thighs are rather achy today.

[DearPrudence]

No support for my ankle. The doctor at the hospital told me I could use it normally, so that's what I've done. Dr Google seems more inclined to advise rest and strapping up, but it's too late for that now.

Nature reserve sounds rather naice.

[spudmasher]

Well done everyone!
Iwish...I can relate to your feelings whilst passing groups of teens etc...
Yesterday DD1 and I were doing week 3 run 1. Chose 4.30pm to do it which was a bad time...park was packed with people and lots of teens as school is not back yet. DD is a lot fitter than me so she runs ahead and runs back to meet me kind of thing......
Anyway, she ran past a large group of teens, one of them ran alongside her and started to chat her up...she is gorgeous and had on short shorts....he was jogging along and chatting away. She turned to him, smiled and sprinted off at the speed of light leaving the guy standing. As I jogged past his group of pals he was getting a right ribbing!
Really made me giggle...and the run passed in a flash!