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

Yay just did W5R2 and it was actually OK! Tried to get into a positive mindset about just keeping going for 8 minutes and not panicking and it seemed to work (apart fromy usual last minute of the last run wobble where I had to sloooow down...!).

Really pleased but bricking it now for the 20 minute run which will be on Saturday for me as I still don't see how I can possibly do it. GULP.

Well done dotty! Honestly you will be able to do the 20mins, you've worked your way up to it, just try to keep your pace the same throughout & focus on what's in front of you.

Dotty you will do it. Just go slowly! Good luck.

Dotty for me, the first 5-7 mins are the worst, and then everything seems to settle down. So actually the running, stopping, running stopping for me is harder than just keeping going.
Agree with those saying start really slowly. Its easier to go faster when your feeling good near the end than to try and judge how your going to feel later.

Spooky any chance of using the C25K group as a warm up, and then running for 30 solid mins afterwards? It would up the total cardio?

I've recently done a couple of 8km, after not going over 6, and took it really slow (7 mins per km, as opposed to 6.10 or 6.20 when doing 5km), but felt really good at the end, and suspect an extra 2km would have been doable.

Good luck with the 10km - I think the atmosphere may also keep you going.

I did a W3 run today for fun even thpugh it should have been rest day! getting the bug
dotty you are my inspiration you can do it

addicted the plan was to run after the running group but life has got in the way and i am struggling to do that. I ran 7k once with support from my friend which was difficult so not sure where the other 3k is going to come from but as a colleague said today, it is only another couple of miles

I was doing the Bridge to 10k app which i think would work if i had more time but i think i am just going to have to add 1k to each run that i can do.

dotty just take it steady and you will do it try and distract yourself, maybe set yourself a playlist that totals 20 minutes and just run till the music stops?

After not being able to get out for about 10 days, I decided that 1pm in the blazing sun after a breakfast of Pringles and Liquorice Allsorts was the ideal time to go for a run!

W8R2 completed. I decided to take my cross country route which involves a long slow incline at half way. I didn't expect to run as far as I did over the 28 mins so had to finish with a run up the steep hill out of an underpass. My legs were certainly wobbly during the warm down walk!

My speed seems to be consistently 1km in 10 mins.

Dotty - I too never thought I would last the 20 minutes but you WILL. Just keep at a steady pace and it will be over before you know it! I have realised that each song/track on the NHS podcast seems to be about 2.5mins long, so for the 20 mins, "Laura" will pop into your ear at @5mins (2 tracks), half way (another 2), 5 mins to go (another 2) and then with a minute to go (another 1.5). You will feel great finishing that last 60 seconds.

I'm loving having the running bug

Have decided that if I make the 20 minute run on Saturday, I'm going to venture outside the gym and do some of my future weeks' runs OUTSIDE...! Think I need to give it a go as dp and I are going to have a go at a park run in august when (in theory) we'll have got to week 9. I know this will sound silly, but I'm worried about keeping a rhythm going when there are things like crossing roads to tackle so I think I'll just go round and round our very small local park at first..!

Aww and thanks all for the encouragement - I love these threads - often find myself thinking of everyone on here as I'm turning puce on the running machine...!

Oooof. Tonight was difficult. Left it quite late as it was so hot, and I've been out working in the sun all day so am probably quite dehydrated too. My lower leg started hurting at the first run, probably through not doing enough stretching before and after on the first two runs. I had to give up after the fifth run as it was hurting too much.

Lesson learned. Going to have a few days off and then try again next week. Also going to look at some running videos because I'm not convinced I am running correctly.

I am on holiday and contemplating a run tomorrow morning I am scared to stop cos it was so much effort getting to my 5k on Mon night.

Finished the repeat of week 4 last night. now I am looking forward to at last beginning week 5. My dd is not very confident of doing w5 but I think we need to move on.

dotty - dying to know how that 20 min run goes for you!

kernowgal - everyone has bad run days. try again and it will be better!

inkspell will be doing it tomorrow....! Panicking slightly because I will have had 2 rest days due to being out and about tonight and last night, but will get to the gym on Saturday morning and at least will be fully rested and ready to give it a go

Am slightly that although I'm doing tons more exercise than I ever have and am eating less and drinking more water, I don't look waif-like yet... I've lost about half a stone since starting but it doesn't feel enough for all the effort I'm putting in

w9r2 finished here; I'm still red in the face and I finished running 2.5 hours ago! It's going really well for me now, and I'm loving the early morning runs when very few others are out of bed. I'm not sure I'll feel the same about a 6am start in January!

Keep going kernowgal, it's taken me months rather than weeks but I really feel I can do it now.

Good luck for tomorrow DottyDot; as for the weight thing, I still haven't lost any (and I'm very overweight) but I console myself that I must be fitter and several people have said I look thinner, so that must be a good thing.

I tried w4r2 yesterday but I had to stop half way because of cramp in my calf I had taken dd swimming yesterday morning and got cramp in the pool so it was probably a bad idea attempting to run.
I'm going to try another W4 run in the morning, then I'm going to a wedding so will undo all my hard work

On the plus side I have lost 10pounds.

I get cramp swimming too! Not had it running yet - probably not going fast enough

that's a fantastic weight loss - congratulations! I'm trying to at least change shape for a wedding I'm going to in September and then our first big holiday abroad in October - would love to look a bit fitter at least - of course will be running 5Ks in 30 minutes by then...

W2R2 done! I've been trying to find time this week & finally ran out of excuses. I can feel myself already wanting to quit & I'm feeling it so hard to stay motivated. Even though it's only half an hour out of my day! It's crazy. But at least posting here helps me stay motivated.
I'm away at the weekend for a boozy foody thing, so contemplating a run tomorrow morning or Sunday evening when I get back. Not sure what is best!

Wk9d1 done tonight! Struggling to get my head round the fact I ran for 30mins! It was raining when I went out, not too heavy, but a nice gentle rain & it kept me lovely and cool. I really enjoyed it

Yay, well done Flashnorman! 30 minutes running is awesome. How far did it take you, do you know?

Coming back in to say I might have answered my own question about the leg pain/running too quickly problem and apparently it's not that uncommon so I'll put what I've learnt here for anyone else with the same. (I buttonholed a physio I know, v handy.)

I don't drive so I've always ridden my bike around and have to do a lot of heavy lifting so I'm muscly for a woman, with pretty strong quads from the bike but weak glutes and hams. I also sit down a lot (computer job) and have an anterior pelvic tilt (big sticky-out bum). So I'm unbalanced already.

Running speed is determined by pace (how many steps) and power (how much force against the ground) so faster runners don't necessarily take more steps but stronger steps. My strong quads are putting too much uncontrolled force into the ground which is why I can't slow down and why my legs hurt -- the muscles that I don't really stress cycling or swimming are being creamed trying to keep up. And the answer is to do loads of bum and hip exercises, apparently, which I wouldn't have guessed cause those aren't hurting.

Anyway, just in case that helps anyone.

tanacot that's really interesting! I sadly have no muscles as I drive to work, sit at a computer all day and then drive home . But I have noticed that my calves are getting much more bumpy and the top of my bottom is firmer (it's big enough to have it's own geographical areas ).

smallbee keep going! I'm so impressed you're doing it and have a baby - my youngest is 10 years old and it's taken me this long to have enough energy to attempt it!

Off to the gym to attempt W5R3 - the 20 minute one - later today. Feeling positive and ready to give it a go...

go Dotty on the 20 min!

interesting on the cycling muscles as the one day I did cycling in between run days was the day where my legs did hurt. cycling is not usually my thing but with hubby and ds training for a 50k race it's an option at the min. I think I might have enough on my plate with the running though!

Well done Flashnorman and everyone else! Good luck today Dotty!

Just back from W6R3 - I ran 22 mins without stopping - v.proud

Beautiful morning here which helps and never met a soul which helps even more - still feel self conscious when I come across people when I am running.

I am using MapMyWalk along with the ZenLabs app as it shows distance as well as time. I am (just) managing the 10 min miles.

Dh and I have signed up for a fun run the first Sunday in August so hoping by then I will be ready for the 5k and not embarrass him (too much!).

Have a lovely sunny day and enjoy your runs

P.s Where is the runner??

Nice1 lovelidl, u should be proud! I'm having a rest today, after yesterday I need it

How did your 20mins go dotty??