Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

Couch to 5k- fantastic plan that works for all!

995 replies

cinnamongreyhound · 04/02/2014 12:57

Come and join us for support, advice and a gentle butt kicked when needed!

From starting out to those of us who started 2 years ago, and everyone in between!

OP posts:
Dharmalovesdraco · 06/03/2014 07:16

Oh and thanks for the running club reassurance!!!

Original poster
cinnamongreyhound · 06/03/2014 07:19

Take it S L O W Finlaggan! And believe you can do it, I felt amazing after it and never thought I'd get through it. If you're on the nhs podcasts then Laura really helps you through.

OP posts:
stilllearnin · 06/03/2014 10:07

Once again I dreaded the 2nd run of the week and one again it felt great. I'm only at w2 but I've done it before right up to 10k and then had to stop through an unrelated injury. So I have the benefit that I know it works. You really just do as your told and it'll build you up to the 30 mins. Honestly! (btw I was never slim and now I've got an extra 2 stone!!!)

I'm looking forward to hearing from the 20 minuters and getting there myself. It's such a milestone.

FeliciaHardy · 06/03/2014 12:32

Finished week 4, I've found it easier each time I run it and I find the 5 min runs easier than the 3 min runs, I think becuase I know they are going to be longer I pace myself better or soemthing :S

I'm not sure I'm ready for week 5 though. Run 1 I might manage but the next 2 scare me a little. Not sure whether to continue with week 4 for another week or just continue to week 5 and just keep repeating a run if I struggle at first, like I did with week 4.

Plus I was feeling a bit of shin pain yesterday (rest day), it had gone by last night but when I started running it came back. I slowed down and it went away but they are mildy aching again. Should I worry about shin splints I've had no problems up till now?

pregnantpause · 06/03/2014 12:35

Can I join please? Week 1 run 1 done this morning. It wasn't too hard, and I'm feeling positive now. Have been reading the thread a few days and using it to spur me to start. I haven't exercised in a very long time and am horribly unfit. I don't really care about my weight or how I look, but being unfit is really upsetting when you have young DC who want to run jump.climb and play.

Kasterborous · 06/03/2014 15:17

Hi pregnantpause I'm glad you are feeling positive I'm doing it for similar reasons to you, so I'm fitter to play with DD. I did my second week two run today, I didn't really want to go out and do it, but I made myself and actually enjoyed it in the end, and found it easier than the first one I did this week.

Kasterborous · 06/03/2014 15:18

Thank you for the encouragement Morrigu and HalleLouja Smile

HarrietVaneAgain · 06/03/2014 15:42

Omg! I need to join now! I was sitting here feeling crap about myself and my lack of motivation and somehow found myself signing up for that gorilla run. It sort of appealed to my sense of humour. I needed something drastic to get me moving though.

GerundTheBehemoth · 06/03/2014 18:21

Fab, Harriet! It is great fun. Even better if you can recruit a couple of friends to be gorillas too. I also recommend doing a few training runs 'en gorille' round your local streets or park when your suit arrives, just to get used to what it's like, and maybe to startle/amuse a few people too. I did a training run round Hyde Park with two other gorillas, it was great. Ah, I'm getting all wistful about it now, maybe I should sign up too...

GerundTheBehemoth · 06/03/2014 18:47

Also, just done first week 4 run. I mostly enjoyed it, though it is quite a big step up from week 3. Covers much more ground as well, I misjudged everything, was back home before I'd finished the last 5-min run so had to keep going - I need to work out a longer loop!

HarrietVaneAgain · 06/03/2014 19:18

Do Gerund. I'm just imagining pounding the streets locally dressed as a gorilla. That's going to be fun. Grin

GerundTheBehemoth · 06/03/2014 19:27

I think I just might, Harriet...

I just remembered the best bit. We were all assembled a few minutes before the start of the race, a few hundred people, all in gorilla suits. There was general chatting, and then a sort of natural hush fell. Then someone in the crowd made a very low, soft, chimp-style 'hoo-hoo-hoo' noise. Then someone else did. Then someone did a shrill chimp screech, 'eeek-eeek-eeeek'. And then pandemonium broke out as EVERYONE started making ape noises as loud as they could :D

dizzyday07 · 06/03/2014 22:31

Got round to doing W2R1 this evening. I even added a couple of extra little runs at the end!

I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and go out during the day without DD as it's too tricky with current afternoon/evening activities to fit more than 2 runs a week with her. But as sometimes she can be more of a hindrance than a help I will probably get on faster!

I have signed all 3 of us (DD, DH and me) to a 3k run round Green Park in Reading in May Shock

Morrigu · 06/03/2014 23:02

The gorilla run sounds brilliant, if not somewhat sweaty doing 8K in a gorilla suit Grin

pregnantpause · 07/03/2014 14:38

W1 r2 done. Bit harder on the calves today, but I felt good afterwardsGrin Shock

MadMonkeys · 07/03/2014 19:17

Well I'm off for a run in a minute to see if whatever happened to my leg last time is better...

MadMonkeys · 07/03/2014 20:18

Yay. I ran w5r2 and my leg was fine!

Morrigu · 08/03/2014 11:27

That's good news Madmonkeys

Starting week 5 tonight and I'm bricking it for this week. My problem is I run far too fast for me and I don't know how I'm going to be able to complete 20 mins. I've tried slowing down and it seems to exhaust me more as it's very unnatural for me to do given that I walk at a high pace. Any ideas? I've downloaded some slower songs on my playlist hoping they will slow me down a bit.

MadMonkeys · 08/03/2014 11:42

morrigu this is weird but i found it suddenly got easier after running for 6 or so minutes, like my body got into its natural rhythm. I actually had a few more minutes run in me at the end of both 8 minute runs last night. I'm not sure how the 20 minute run will go tomorrow though... I think ill have dh waiting with a hot chocolate for when i finish. Looking back im quite amazed tho, i found those 90 second runs c hard in week 2 but now i can do 8 minutes.

does anyone else find themselves grinning ridiculously at the end of their run?!

MadMonkeys · 08/03/2014 11:44

Meant to say, how is your ankle herb? I do hope your family crisis is resolving. X

Morrigu · 08/03/2014 12:00

Thanks MadMonkeys that's comforting to hear. Well done for the 8 minute runs and best of luck for the next one!

I covered just over 4.7k in week 4R3 with all the walking in it so know my pace is kind of high. Probably too high for my fitness levels, given I was a pack a day smoker too until a month ago. You're right it's amazing how much we can now do compared to a few short weeks ago. Have to remember that rather than putting myself under pressure.

Kasterborous · 08/03/2014 19:49

I've just done the third run of week two and it feels like I'm finding my rhythm and pace a bit. I really enjoyed it tonight. I used run keeper alongside and it said I'd done just over three miles at 10.20 miles per hour. I feel good right now, bring on week three. I always feel really 'high' mentally when I get in from a run.

anja1cam · 08/03/2014 20:53

MadMonkeys yay good to hear that your leg is holding up!

Everyone else sounds like you're making superb progress, apologies if I don't managed to mention anyone by name. If you've just started, brilliant! That was the hard bit-I had everything ready for about two months till I ventured out for my very first W1 run 3 years ago!

Sorry been away from the conversation for a while but I'm still around! Work and family just get in the way Smile

The gorilla run sounds like fun if somewhat daunting! Wow! I have only signed up to sport relief which I'll do with my DD

Whoever said they felt so good they ran a bit extra, do be careful when you do that, I think the general rule is not to increase by more than 10% per week, to avoid strain-related injury.

I can report that I have now completed a full week's schedule (sat mon thu sat) of morning runs, 5k each time and no walking, yay. Speed slowly improving, I think last week was nearly 32 and today was a couple of seconds over 30 Grin. having "Don't stop me now" on my playlist at about 26 mins was also an inspired choice Grin At times I am even enjoying myself now... 10 mins discomfort as I get properly warmed up, 10 mins nice running and then the slog to get to the end Blush

Sorry wrote an essay again, I'll try to keep up with the conversation this week! Happy running everyone. It's the local half-marathon tomorrow, I'm definitely not taking part Smile

MadMonkeys · 09/03/2014 10:06

Just did w5r3... morrigu look away now...

it was hard, i looked like a beetroot and sounded like a wounded buffalo by the time i had finished, but somehow my legs kept going! I'm really chuffed now so um having a cuppa in the garden and its gloriously sunny, dh has taken dd out on her bike so it is deliciously peaceful...

however, its nice and warm so i didn't need my coat which meant i had nowhere to put my phone. In the end i just tucked it in my knickers... What do you ladies do?

GerundTheBehemoth · 09/03/2014 10:22

Lovely morning today! Very much enjoyed my w4 run.

Monkeys - I don't take my phone when I run - music is on a tiny MP3 player that goes in my bra, and keys go in the pocket on my running tights. If/when I get to running longer distances again I'll dig out my old bottle belt, to carry water, phone etc. I have never fancied the armband carriers, I reckon they'd be really annoying. If I just wanted to carry a phone I'd probably get something like this.