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

[cinnamongreyhound]

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!

Completed the first run of W3 yesterday and surprised how well I managed to run the 3 minutes. in fact the furst one, I could have carried on as I felt good

Am doing it as a group run which makes it better as the volunteers are really encouraging and supportive which is what I need otherwise I would probably just stop and walk

madmonkeys have not found a link between how I feel and my periods but my periods are so all over the place that I never know what is going on

mad first day or the day before I have heavy heavy legs!

spooky well done- all going swimmingly!

I am lurking!!!!

Completed c25K last summer (using my treadmill) but health and motivation took a nose dive in September. I would love to start back up again.

First step I suppose would be to download the apps again! It really helped me to check in on here too. Than you and well done to you all, you are all inspirational.

Loving reading all the achievements of the last week or so. Well done everyone! Was taking it easy myself as had a bit of treatment done that I had to avoid strenuous exercise after so only had two runs last week at a gentle pace.

Hitting it again this week and have decided I have to try and push myself otherwise I will lose momentum. Felt a bit bored with it not having anything to work for so going to try and do the increasing by 10% a week thing.

Mad I get sooo tired before my period too. Really dose up on the sugar before a run and know you're not meant to but I have to take two co-codemol a while before otherwise the exercise will have my stomach in agony after if it's the first two days. Know they say exercise helps but it's always been the opposite for me. I really suffer with ovulation pain too since having the dc which is worse than my period pains and I don't run on those days at all. Physically wouldn't be able to.

Well I did W6R3 this morning but didn't do the full 25 mins.

I was raring to go when I got up this morning as well, felt like I really could do it. As soon as I started running it felt like it was going to be a rubbish run, I kept plodding on though even though I never felt like any of it was 'easy'. It had looked lovely and sunny when I set off but I was colder than I had been for a while when running.

I also had a problem with my pants, I kept feeling them slipping down my hips, I kept hoiking them up (feeling like a fool) and eventually when I got halfway I had to stop for a few seconds to sort them out. They were gathering round my ankles nora batty style so I straightened them out, pulled them up and they never bothered me again!

On the way back I kept pushing myself but when it got to the end I had a bad stitch and my chest was starting to hurt, I was mentally calling the woman on app a bitch for not saying I was finished yet and in the end I had to stop...2 seconds before she said I had 60 seconds left. But I just couldn't do it.

Going to try again on Thursday morning, I'm putting it down to a bad run today, I know I can do it!

Hi ladies, new to this thread, although not to c2-5k. I've have two pregnancies and two c-sections in the last 2.5 years so I'm HORRIBLY unfit. DS is now 12 weeks and I neeeed to get rid of the jelly round my middle. I'm planning to do W1R1 this evening, assuming DH gets home from work at a reasonable time.

Yeah, did it. I am up an "running" again! Dusted off the old treadmill, downloaded week 1 and did my first "run" this evening.

2.3 miles and 286 calories. Disappointed and wanted to push myself further but it's been several months since I completed C25K so I started from scratch again!

Buzzing now though!

Hi, can I join??

I'm about to embark on my first coach to 5k!

Just putting dd to bed and then I'm off while dp cooks dinner

I used to run a fair bit a while ago but this is the first proper bit of exercise I've done since dd was born (she's nearly 6 months)

How hard is it going to be?? Honestly!

Honestly? It's totally doable. The program takes you up in steps so you are ready to move to the next stage. Let us know how you get on! I've had a week off and will be back on the 25 mins 1st thing in the morning. At least I'll have all day to get over it!

Wasent too bad actually! Apart from my trainers rubbing

It is such a good programme as it does make it easy to move up to the next stage. 3 weeks ago, running 3 minutes felt scary but after 2 W3 runs and 1 more to go, I am now looking forward to my first W4 run when we run 5 minutes - who would have thought I would be looking forward to running 5 minutes?

The group (all 300 of us ) that I am running with has organised a celebration 5k run on 7 June so that is what we are all aiming for and I actually believe now that I can do this

You will do it spooky! Went for W7 r2 today and it was ok. Ran on a tiny bit just to make sure (and to get past my friend's house in case she was watching!). My dd (9) wants to start running if I can guarantee we won't see anyone she knows! I want to encourage her. She is heavy but does hours of dance so she must have some fitness. I know we need to start slow but I've tried w1 with her before and it was too hard! It is difficult to run and walk like that but I don't know where else to start. Any ideas?

Hello. I would like to do this but was wondering if anyone could suggest an app that includes music. I did one a few years ago, but that was on a now defunct iPod. This time it'll have to be on my phone, so an android app pls. (Don't have music on phone so can't run to my own stuff). Tia.

I just came across this and it struck a chord...

triathlonhumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/look_like.jpg

Would your dd be able to ride a bike/scooter while you run stillearning? I dunno but I would think just running might be a bit boring for a 9yo. When I was younger I used to do the bleep test with my mum and dad. It would be a shorter distance to run before you get a rest (at the start anyway) and I finished and they carried on. We set up on the school pitches close to us so there was no chance of running into anyone we know. Or what about some form of 100m runs/sprints? Maybe do a couple of them with a rest fully in between without timing the rests inbetween? Sort of a bit like stride training.

Good sports socks are what you are looking for Lj. Glad you enjoyed it :)

Oh my goodness becca I had a cs with my first and there's no way I could even have thought of running 12 weeks after. Just be careful as the hormone relaxin may still be present through your body putting you at risk of joint and ligament problems.

Slowly working my distance up now I've finished the c25k using the 10% rule and doing 6k atm. when does it get easier??? I'm still finding it tough most of the way round. I know in my head I can do it, which is a big difference from the start I suppose, but I want to be breezing along, delicately glowing not huffing and puffing, covered in sweat with a beetroot red face. Is every run forever destined to be like this no matter how long or whatever distance I run?

Stilllearnin - I have a 9 yr old DD too (who is a swimmer) and we have been out together. She was the one that listened to the podcast so had to call out the instructions to me! Other times she has ridden her bike whilst I walked/ran. As a family we have entered a 3k fun run so that we have something to aim for and the pair of us want to take part in a Color Run so again thats extra motivation for her!

Dizzy I wonder if you are near me! We are doing a colour run too! But we won't run I don't think. I have tried the calling out instructions bit but she gets discouraged if she can't keep up. So I'm thinking we need to build our own program so that we're in control. I was a swimmer and I think it's good for endurance so running is doable but my dd finds it harder. She just really wants to be able to do it. Part of my route has a run of lampposts and it's off the beaten track so I was thinking of running and fast walking between them.

Java the nhs mp3 are downloadable from iTunes or the website. It has music on it with spoken instructions over the top. The music is that soundalike stuff- you know sounds like the kaiser chiefs but isn't. A friend of mine used to do that for adverts until he realised he was dying inside!

Sorry i didn't mean keep up with me- I have much longer legs than her! - I meant keep up with the number of runs. Maybe I'll try doing less running and build it up.

Hello. I'm about to bite the bullet and do this. Which is the best app? I just looked for it expecting to only find one option but there seemed to be loads. Help!

Covered I use Runkeeper, it lets me play my own music.

I'm really struggling through week 7, I'm finding running 25 mins much tougher than 20 minutes. I had a 30 second rest after 15 minutes today as my stomach was hurting, not a stitch like pain though.

I had pancreatitis and had to have my gallbladder removed 15 months ago, I get a twinge of pain still every now and again but my consultant thinks it's something I'll just have to live with as they can't find anything wrong. When I'm running it's this pain that bothers me at the end of a run, it goes within a minute of stopping running. Whatever length I've run it's always been toward the end of a run so I'm hoping it's just fitness. It was being ill that made me want to take care of myself more so don't want to have to stop doing an exercise I've managed to stick at so far.

My legs are starting to feel much better now though, I may change my mind about that in the morning though!

Hi all, I've been staying at my parents for a week, so been 'offline'. I finished week 8 today. Just one week to go, I started off too fast today I could only just keep going for that final five minutes. While staying at my parents I went down the canal bank and it was very hard after being used to running on pavements.

stillearnin that colour run sounds good. You must be on week nine by now?

I've noticed a big difference in my legs, yes they are still very fat and flabby but they are definatly toned and stronger. My knee never hurt again and I don't get any aches after a run now.

covered I use run keeper too. I only use it at the minute to track how far I've gone etc. I listen to the podcast for the timings. Once I've finished the programme I will listen to my own music.

Kaster I'm still on week 7!!! Grrr I've been slowed down by a terrible cold which is most unlike me. Back on it on thursday. My dd alternated running and walking between trees up the hill toward home (!) it is massive so she was well pleased with herself. We were walking up and she just started doing it!

Felicia, you are doing so well- I hadn't realised you'd had surgery. Logically there can be very little difference between continuous running and having the small rests you take in terms of fitness or health benefits. so rest when you need to and you will get fitter meaning the parts that you are running will be less of a struggle.

Absolutely nothing happening here on the exercise front for the last couple of weeks - but as our 3k is less than 4 weeks away, I shall be forcing DD out on Thursday as we need to crack on with the program.

I have signed us up for ColorMeRad down in Bristol (as it's near my sister). As it will be the day after my birthday at the end of August I should have time to train to manage 5k by then