Couch to 5k...it's not about speed (thread no 2)

[spookyskeleton]

Thought I would start a new thread for us to continue our chat

[DottyDot]

Hi sunshine! I've done the odd 2 days in a row but understand it's probably better to leave a day in between if possible? But the odd time must be OK, surely?!

Did W4R2 and it went OK - went faster on the shorter runs and a tiny bit faster on the longer runs - apart from the last minute of the last run which I'm still finding a killer!

So I was distracting myself today by wondering what kind of music everyone runs to? Seems to make a real difference to my ability to keep going! I'm better with something very loud - Meatloaf is bizarrely becoming a favourite... Ahem. What do other people listen to?! Can't be as bad as my current musical cravings

[flashnorman]

Minstrel, Spooky & Lady, I took your advice and went out tonight to start the repeat of w7. I slowed it right down & kept my pace pretty much
the same throughout. By the end I actually felt like I could go on for longer!! Ha! Feeling chuffed with myself now.

Thanks for the tips

[Ladyflip]

Well done flash!

[ChameleonCircuit]

Best track I run to? Swords of a Thousand Men, Tenpole Tudor.

[DottyDot]

I need to make a shouty playlist for running!

[spookyskeleton]

flash well done

sunshine the plan is to leave a day in between but I am sure, particularly in the early runs, it really won't make much difference.

Mmm running music - my list is quite diverse (Rihanna, Chesney Hawkes , Fall Out Boy, some 80's tunes to name a few). I have discovered that Wake Me Up Before You Go Go is the perfect pace for me - whenever that comes on, my feet naturally fall into the beat

[Minstrelsaremarvellous]

Flash - well done, how do you feel? I use Top 100 pop songs on Spotify. So it changes. The most vacuous song, Selfie, actually makes me run faster!

[flashnorman]

Thanks guys! I feel great & am looking forward to the next run now.

My running playlist is really varied too, I have some 1D (?), paolo nutini, Gary Barlow, even Pink! As long as it's upbeat I find it's good for running. Sometimes a song comes on & I feel like breaking into a dance....then I remember I'm on the street & there are other people about, my dancing should be saved for the privacy of my own home!

[Whatsthatnoise]

I redid w3r3 and it was ok everyone in my house has the cold and I was practically coughing up a lung by the end. Think I'm going to take a few days off repeat w3 then onto w4. Might struggle for time as then it'll be the first full week of the holidays and dd has an overnight stay in hospital better only be 1night last time she had an overnight we ended up in for 2 weeks
Glad everyone else is progressing so well it gives me hope that I'll get there and to whoever mentioned spotify I downloaded the app before my run tonight it's fab.

[MooseyMouse]

Whatsthatnoise sounds like a good plan. Hope your daughter is ok.

Flashnorman -you're nearly through the programme -not surprised you're proud!

Dotty You done w4r3 yet? I found w5r1 easier than w4.

Sunshine well done for starting. How's it going?

I did w5r1 yesterday (3 x 5mins) and it was fine. I'm going to show off now because I'm so bloody stunned that I'm getting fitter but, I kept going for 2 mins after the end!!!! Get me!!!

Of course I'm in the dreaded week five so the next run is 2x8 mins and then it's 20 minutes no stopping... WTF???

Hi to everyone else.

[DottyDot]

Well I should be doing W4R3 today but we're off to our friends for the weekend to eat and drink as much as we can for 24 hours so I'm definitely going tomorrow when we get home!

I don't understand Spotify because I'm very old but I'll try and 'find' it to see what it's all about

[spookyskeleton]

What is this Spotify that you are all talking about and how does it work??

Well done everyone

I have not got far with my 10k training as life has got in the way so am starting to panic a bit Went out today with the new C25k group - we did W2R1 and it is lovely to hear them all saying how proud they are of themselves as no-one thinks they can do it but they all do. My group leader made me run at the front as I am allegedly a 'fast' runner and I was literally sprinting the 90 seconds (or that is what it felt like ). But, I could barely jog for 90 seconds 3 months ago so I am amazed at how far I have come.

[SunshineofRay]

moosey it's going better than I expected thank you for asking
Did r3 yesterday and i got though it, even managed to sprint for the last 60 seconds
Quite looking forward to w2 which I'll start on Monday

[hellyd]

Thanks guys, I managed a full w3 run, very slow I think I was overtaken by a snail at one point but I did it, I am so pleased. Will do again on Monday ??

[SmallBee]

Well done everyone who ran today. Spooky it's gear to hear how quickly you've progressed.


Just finished my last week 1 run but this time did it without DD in her buggy-it is SO MUCH easier. It made me really confident that if I can do it with her then I'm doing well. Although will now try and get one of my runs in on a weekend so I can have an 'easy' one each week.

[BetterWithCheese]

Hi, can I join? I'm partway through week 2. I had my second baby six months ago and I'm trying to get back in shape/lose weight and I've always found running the best way to do it. I've suffered with plantar fasciitis in the past and have a mild prolapse so I'm going to have to keep an eye on things but you can't beat running for convenience so I'm giving it another go.

[kernowgal]

Also joining in! Just bought some new running shoes as my old pair are 10 years old

I've downloaded some podcasts (not the NHS ones as I didn't like the music) to get me started, but would welcome suggestions of others that have the walk/run timings as I will need those at the start.

Starting tomorrow evening, hoping to run Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday each week as it suits my commitments. Got lots of easy and safe (and flat!) running places nearby so am quite looking forward to it!

[spookyskeleton]

Welcome to the newbies

First week is 5 min warm up walk, then 60 secs jogging running followed by 90 secs walking. Repeat that 8 times and then finish with a 5 mind cool down walk and stretches. That is all there is to week 1!

It has suddenly dawned on me that my last few runs have been good and I haven't had to think about my breathing once maybe I have turned a corner in my constant battle with my breath

[YellowStripe]

Newbie here spooky - finally got my new trainers and have done w1r1 - got a feeling I didn't stretch enough afterwards though, and my shins are a bit ouchy. Hoping it's not shin splints.

I may have cut some of the jogs a few seconds short ..... but that's ok .... I will probably end up doing each week twice I think. I'm not too overweight despite being on 3 weight-gain inducing meds but just desperately unfit.

Can I ask other new-ish runners if you took a while to find your running style?

[ChameleonCircuit]

It does take a while to find a comfy style for you, but I wouldn't bank on having to repeat weeks if it's just run 1 you've done. I'm doing W3R2 tomorrow, and every week I've started the week's runs gasping and saying it'll never happen, but guess what? It does!

Just for comparison's sake, I'm about 5 or 6 stone overweight and asthmatic, and until I started this programme I'd never run, even as a child. My asthma is exercise induced and wasn't diagnosed until I was 27.

What I'm trying to say is that if I can do it, anyone can.

[SunshineofRay]

yellow I've read somewhere that pain in our shins can just be a build up of Lactic acid because of lack of exercise, so you will feel some aches but as long as you rest inbetween and try to ice it after the run
My shins have been uncomfortable during my runs but fine a few hours after

[flashnorman]

Hi yellow, when I started this I thought I had shin splints, my shins were sore for hours afterwards. Now after 7 weeks I don't get any pain in them at all. I think it was just because I was so unfit!

I'm going to do w8r1 later, 28 mins non stop......aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!

[YellowStripe]

Thanks for the reassurance! Shins not too bad this morning - I slathered Voltarol on them last night, and will have ice packs ready for the next run.

I have wondered about exercise induced asthma too - I kind of can't believe I'm THAT unfit. I only do an hour of martial arts once a week, but feel as though i struggle to fill my lungs after a few minutes sparring. Will look into it.

[ChameleonCircuit]

Went out to do W3R2 this morning. Still struggled a bit. It was wet and windy, so not particularly pleasant. I'm thinking I might have some sort of psychological "thing". After the first 90 sec run, I'm panting and don't truly get my breath back before the 3 minute run starts. Then I struggle doing the 3 min run. Still don't quite get breath back during the 3 min walk, then it's time to repeat it all. However.... After the last 3 min run, my breathing calms down really quickly. I'm wondering if that's because I know there's no more running to do so I relax. Any armchair psychologists out there?

[Tanacot]

8tracks is good for workout music, though why everybody on the mix covers has apparently forgotten their PE kit and is being made to run in their pants, I don't know.