running

[chatterbocs]

Hi I am on 4th week of c 2 5k. Does anyone run 5k on a regular basis after completing the plan?
If so can you share your benefits with us would be 5k runners

I run 5-6 day a week and have done so since completing the program about a year and a half ago. Laura says at one point, I forget which week, that 'you have now become a runner'. You will and it is addictive and life changing.

yep - I started running a year ago at parkrun after losing 6 stone. Ran the full 5k in Feb this year followed by a 5 mile road race a week later!

I still parkrun every week, run 4-5 times a week, have ran 5 mile races, 10k events, done a 10k X-Runner obstacle race and will run my first half marathon early next year.

I find that signing up for races keeps me motivated and I have made so many friends through parkrun - can't imagine not running now.

Yep, it's addictive and life changing

And it means I can eat more

I graduated from the programme but only just over a week ago, so I don't have months/years of running wisdom to share with you yet.

However, I'm going out every other day and running 5K, tryng to improve my time a little with each run. I've signed up for a 5k in early December and am really looking forward to that now. I've also signed up for Parkrun but don't feel ready to do that just yet until I shave a bit off my time. I'm aiming to do my first one in mid-November.

I'm also going to start a 5k to 10k programme, probably in another week as I've signed up for a 10k next spring. I just wanted to have a couple of weeks where I wasn't pushing myself to run further each time but could just go out and try to consolidate running a 5k and feeling myself get better at doing that before I press on with the next challenge.

I feel so much better - more toned, more energetic and certainly mentally better knowing that I am doing something really beneficial for my body and that for all the benefits I can see, there are probably twice as many that I can't.

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement.

Would you say that you have lost weight by just running or did you need to diet aswell.

It's not really possible to lose weight just by running. Basically, you burn roughly 100 calories per mile, so around 300-400 calories per 5k (some of the apps seem to tell you that you've burned 700 calories but you haven't!). You need to burn 3500 calories to lose one pound, which is about ten 5ks! So yes, you do need to combine it with eating well. If you look at any marathon or half marathon you'll see runners of all shapes and sizes - if you could lose weight just through running, everyone would have a more similar shape.

However, the thing about running is that it speeds up your metabolism and builds lean muscle, both of which make it easier to lose weight, so it's not all doom and gloom! Also, I found the fitter I was getting, the less I wanted to eat cake - I was beginning to see myself as a runner and wanted to eat correctly to give myself more energy.

I have lost just over half a stone, but I'd estimate that 90% of that is from eating well and only 10% through the actual running - after all for most of the C25K programme I was only covering 3 or 4k so was probably only burning 200-250 calories every time I went out.

Lurking is right- whne I was training for half marathon, I found that I just 'lost interest' in crap food and 'craved' more healthier food- which in turn helped me lose weight.

The fittest I have ever been is these last few years since taking up running.

I actually found out I was 6 months pregnant at the end of May this year, I had been running 6/7 miles 3 x a week with my running club and didnt notice a thing. Im convinced it was my fitness and health through running that made my pregnancy less obvious.

DD is now 5 weeks old and Im going back to my running club in 2 weeks and cant wait.

re- C 2 5k, I statrted this a couple of years ago, and almost gave up as I felt i would never achieve getting to 5k.

Stuck at it and have so far done umpteen 5k races, lots of 10k races, a couple of 10 mile races and the Great North Run.

I was signed up to do a half marathon last weekend but obviously the pregnancy made me defer - I want to do a marathon before im 40 (2018).

I wouldn't see myself as an unhealthy eater apart from the odd naughty treat at weekends.
Brekkie is usually fruit & fibre, lunch a ham salad sandwich with no butter followed by fruit & a lowfat yoghurt. Sometimes I have soup & a roll & a healthy evening meal.

Do you follow a particular diet or just eat healthily?

I lost a lot of weight by running. Although, it was weight that I had gained while pregnant, so I am sure I would have lost it sooner or later anyways.

I eat what I want, but what I want is usually homemade, unprocessed and organic.

No particular diet but just avoid snacking, always eat home-made, unprocessed food and make sure I have plenty of fruit & veg and not much sugar.

Usually either porridge with fruit or natural yogurt with fruit for breakfast, then soup or a substantial salad (roasted veg/boiled egg/chicken etc) for lunch, and anything I fancy for dinner, as long as there are lots of veg and the portion size isn't enormous.

I try to eat brown rice rather than white (I prefer it anyway) and I don't eat too much bread or potatoes. I have cake/dessert if I'm out but not at home and I don't eat crisps, sweets etc. That's about it, really.

Just to add a bit more- I have found that if I eat a substantial and healthy breakfast ( porridge and fruit ) I'm more likely to continue to want to eat well throughout the day. The most important thing is to never deny your body nutrition when it needs it. Starvation diets never end well!

I just try and eat healthier, smaller portions etc.

lurking don't worry about your time at parkrun. My first was a 43 minute run/walk and I was second last! I still got a massive cheer as I crossed the line and having the results recorded really motivated me as I got quicker. Only 8 runs until I join the 50 club - bring on the red shirt :)

Thanks feathers! I've been a bit horrified at how fast my local Parkrunners seem to be! I've been looking at the results for the past few weeks and basically a 32 minute finish would make me about 372nd out of 376, and even coming in under 30 minutes would only have placed me about 320th.

I am trying to follow your lead, though, and not get hung up on what everyone else is doing (ie sprinting all the way to the finish!)

Thanks again, sorry for all questions..... Do you calorie count?

must be a flat-ish course, lurking!

Ours has a couple of hills, muddy puddles, stinging nettles and horse poo! Slowest times normally around 45 mins, first finishers around 17 mins...

Ah! no, ours is a dead flat tarmac path - it hugs the coastline so very pretty but not the most challenging. Which is good in a way ...

chatterbocs, I very vaguely calorie count but not to the point where I get too hung up about it. I am careful about things that have a lot of calories (eg I always weigh pasta to make sure I'm not making too much as it's easy to cook a ton of it and then just eat it...).

Thank for your help. I know it's not rocket science really, exercise more & eat less....