Couch to 5k- Cage your inner chimp and get started!

[cinnamongreyhound]

A thread for those thinking of starting, just starting, making good progress or finish the c25k. For all abilities and stages, come and join us for support and advice, we're a lovely bunch!

Old thread

I think I am addicted to joining running groups - I signed up to Jantastic today - via the guardian running blog but they're also on Twitter.

Treated myself to a teeny new backpack today for running to/from work. Also a new Shock Absorber bra as they were £5 off in Runnersneed.

Starlight sorry to hear you struggled. Some runs are harder than others for who know which if many possible reasons! There's no reason to not do the run from week one once or twice more if you feel you need to. You might surprise yourself though if you move on!

Rugby thanks for the info. I've been looking at that one and the Sony one. Not for yet but mainly because I know that I will get to the end of the program and be running for 30m and only manage about 3k . I'd like a watch so I can increase my distance.

Well done faithless keep at it!

AllFur you started week 6 yet?

Did my week 6 run 1 today and I found it sooooo hard. Wasn't expecting to as I'd done the 20m continuous last week, but it felt so much more difficult this time! On to 12m next time, and 25m at the end of the week. Eek.

Week 6 day 1 - the first time I did it killed. A few people find that lookout.

Lots of us struggled with w6r1 lookout, I think you feel 10mins should be easy but it's still running and I always find the first 3 mins the toughest and you're still doing that.

Personally I'd move on StarlightMcKingsThree and see how you do, I feel it's better to be building up to being able to do w2 than sticking with w1 and not moving forward but you have to do what suits you.

Woohoo, this morning I went to my first Rosemary Conley class since November (new job and poorly kids have meant I've missed loads of classes). Discovered I'd lost 6lb since my last class so I'm the lightest I've been since way before DD1 - still have 1.5 - 2 stone to go to reach a healthy BMI but going in the right direction. So pleased I decided to go straight out for my next run rather than getting changed - a low impact aerobics session is included in the RC class so I was in my gym stuff anyway. Did 5 x 3 min runs with 2 min walks. Hard work but I managed.

Sorry you are finding it tough starlight but stick with it! it'll get easier or at least you'll get further for the same effort. How do you time your runs? Can you set a beep/timer on your watch or phone? I find the runs seem longer if I keep looking at my watch to see how much further I have to go.

pirate I've signed up for Jantastic too but via bug runners (I've joined their team).

Halle when you say the first time, do you mean you did it twice?

cinnamon well it is good to know I'm not the only one but it does mean I'm now a bit anxious about run 2. Usually I feel like I could run a bit more when she says it's time to stop, but this time I was desperate for her voice and stopped walking the second she said I could

I was also wearing a hat this time because of the rain and I was too hot. Maybe that didn't help. What do others wear on their heads in the rain?

Thanks all.

I don't wear anything on my head in the rain. Never occurred to me.

Lookout I have only completed c25k once but done it a few times.

Am out later this afternoon though.

Bloody hell w6r1 almost killed me! I stopped about 6m into the 2nd run it was that bad! I think it was a combination of things, running into the wind, needing a wee, really tight legs. God it was horrific! I wasn't expecting it to be that bad, that 20m run lulls you into a false sense of security! I did try and do the last 5m run, but i just couldn't! Will either try again tomorrow or the day after!

Sounds like everyone else is doing well, good luck to all new starters! I know I've just made it sound like week6 is impossible, but I'm definitely chalking it up to one of those days!

AllFur so glad it wasn't just me! I really struggled this morning. Hoping run 2 will go a bit better otherwise I'll have to repeat it too!

Can I join you all?
I started C25K in September and was really enjoying it (though I hadn't ran since school when I hated running).

Unfortunately I got to week 4 and ended up with a calf injury. I tried to resume running 2 weeks later and did fine during the run but the next few days I was in pain again and it took even longer for the stiffness to go.

After that I've just been too busy but want to get back into it again so planning to start tomorrow morning. Just need to find my sports bra as it has gone walk about!

I had a problem getting the right track on my stupid podcast app so ended up running W8R1 instead. Managed it. So will do the next run tomorrow as won't be able to fit it in otherwise.

Rugby, I have the couch to 5k NHS podcasts on my phone so there is no timer.

What I have found though is that ONE of the tracks has the beat in sync with my running and that run is by far the easiest. Almost like dancing.

Is there any 'system' that can make all my runs like that?

God yes, lookout, wk6 is terrifying. I'm only just graduating from it, I repeated wk6 r1 FIVE times because it was such a leap and 2 & 3 were so daunting. No shame in repeating runs, that's my mantra

I'm going to need to repeat w6 r3 a couple of times too. Wk7 r1 on my 10k app is 20min continuous. I can probably managed about 17 if I really put my mind to it, 20 will be a real challenge. I prefer to run on an empty stomach (or at least 4hrs since my last meal), I get a horrible stitch if I run sooner than that

Last night's 7k was a max stretch of 15min running intervals with incline walks for recovery between. Pretty slow. Speed isn't my forte.

When do you run, meals-wise? I find it much easier & more comfortable to run on an empty-ish stomach (or at least 4hrs since my last meal), I get a horrible stitch if I run sooner than that . I've no idea how people can eat and then be out running an hour later!

FFs, sorry for repeating myself in that last post. Copy & paste fail.

Hello felicia

starlight, I have songs on my running playlist in my iPhone (which is what I use for music when running) which have the right bpm for my running gait/speed. There are some that are better than others for pulling me through a laggy bit of a run and those are the ones I click back on to. I didn't do anything smart or techy to assess their beats per min or anything, I literally made a playlist using my library and by trial and error and a process of elimination I've found songs that 'fit' with my warm up and run pace.

So if I managed w6r1 but it killed me should I still attempt r2 anyway? Or do r1 again? What does anyone think?

UsedTo 5 times is pretty impressive

I run as soon as I get up in the morning. Alarm goes off at 6.20 and I drink half a litre of water while I'm getting into my running gear and taking my inhalers. Then it's off I go. Somehow the idea of breakfast when I get back really helps

Attempt W6R2. I would.

Go for r2 lookout! I don't wear anything on my head ever so can't suggest I'm afraid.

Of course you can FeliciaHardy!

I mostly run on an empty stomach just because of timing of runs but I can run pretty soon after eating. If I'm too hungry or haven't eaten much that day I get quite lightheaded when I stop and I find it harder to run/have lead legs UsedToBeNDP.

Ok thanks will give r2 a go on Thursday.

cinnamon so if you run in the rain it just drips down your face? Is that not annoying?

Felicia good luck on your first run and hope that injury has packed itself off for good!

Yeah. I never wear anything on my head either. Rain is cooling.

W1R2 done! I think I need to work on pacing myself, I wasn't ever a distance runner.

It doesn't drop very often, just stays in my hair I guess! I am in the minority most runners in my club wear hats in the winter whether it's raining or not :)

Finished W1R1 and no problems with calf. It's strange doing it second time round I felt completely daft stopping after the first minute, I was only just getting into the run!

Going to do 2nd run on Friday and then might skip day W1R3 and do W2R1 on Monday.