Couch to 5k...it's not about speed (thread number 3).

[CruCru]

Hi all

Here is the new home for our chat. Hope to see you all soon.

Love

Cru

Sigh. By the end of yesterday I'd already resigned myself to doing another Parkrun because although I bloody hate running while I'm doing it, it must be addictive as I always want to do it again .

But I need to sort out my core strength - my breathing's crap and I get really panicky especially in the first 10 minutes. So I'm going to try doing other stuff at the gym to strengthen my non-existant stomach muscles. Then try another Parkrun in 2 weeks time.

Good luck to everyone doing C25K - it really has changed my life - am still wholly unfit but never ever would have imagined running like a lunatic a few months ago

Dotty! My first ten minutes are hilarious! It's like I've literally forgotten how to run - I stumble around like I'm drunk and absolutely everything hurts plus it is the only part of my route that is in full view of the general public. I thought it would get better but it's actually getting worse! I started strengthening my core to keep my back ok after babies. A 15 minute sit up routine works well- you need a progressive program (couch to six pack doesn't exist sadly)

Love the idea of a Couch to 6 pack programme

OMG someone needs to create a couch to 6 pack programme - I'd pay good money for that..!

I'm going to start doing sit-ups and possibly Shred every other day. aarrgghh...!

Out of interest, I mapped today's run with map my run and another programme (Strava). MMR gave me 4.15km, whereas the other app said 5km (I did start it second). So, a difference but a very small one. I'm not getting any faster

Iggi, that's quite a big difference!

I think that Chameleon posted previously about MapMyRun over-estimating distance (and therefore speed). I now have a Garmin watch, and had to run further to cover apparently the same distance as with MapMyRun . I definitely trust my Garmin watch more than MapMyRun.

Well done to everyone doing ParkRuns , I'm impressed / daunted in equal measure!

Anyone fancy do a 30 day challange to increase core strength?
I've heard of them before, and started a sit-up/burpee one, but never finished it. I've found a selection here. Any takers???

Iggi - Did was that with a phone app? I'm a luddite, and map my routes after I've run from a map, and generally think I've run less distance than the people who have MMR on their phones - The difference was nearly a km???

addicted, they all look horrific , count me in .

Which ones do you like the look of? I'm drawn to the planks one, but I'm sure that any of them would do me pain good .

Jillian has a six week, six pack programme...

Spooky, it was me that said Runaway was too fast to run to. Glad it isn't just me!

Addicted, I am a technoluddite too. I have mapped a run using Google Maps, but it didn't include the footpaths I run on so I ended up approximating. I was thinking about getting an Ordnance Survey map and doing it properly, but wondered if that was rather sad and 1990s. I have a pedometer, but guessed when I entered my step length. However, I did notice yesterday that it gave the same length of run as the treadmill, so maybe I wasn't too far off.

It's all immaterial at this stage as I'm just at the trying to run for longer timewise rather than focusing on distance or speed.

Tomorrow after the school run I will attempt and probably fail to do Week 4 Run 1. It is the one I am most worried about as it jumps from nine minutes to 16 minutes of running including five minute stints. If I don't report in, assume it has finished me off.

addicted I'm in! Will do the sit ups in the hope they help my terrible breathing!

Burpees are EVIL!! That is all

Thanks for the armband recommendation -will check it out next time I am in town.

Hello! I've only just found this thread,

Today is a rest day for me w6 r3 tomorrow - excited and nervous for a full 25mins!! (Especially as it's hilly round me!)

I'm tempted by the black dress one: more variety...
I've bookmarked the page, so thats step one. How long to get to step 2?

One run in 2 weeks now. Walking with the 3 yr old had my breathing going ragged today. I'm going to have to rest longer and stop stuffing my face

Welcome Mummy Go for it: you CAN do it.

Science You'll be fine. You've done the pre work. Just start off slowly, and if your feeling good near the end, speed up a bit.

Thought I might try the 30 day sit up challenge... Just spent 5 mins floundering around in the floor trying to do one with my hands behind my head. Does it still count if you have to throw your hands forward just to get up?!?!

Sorry, fat finger mistake there - one app said 4.15, and the other said 4.0

Just lost a post but short version - I'm doing the 30 day crunch challenge and 30 day beach body challenge - a month until our holiday..!

Hello Comrades, please can I rejoin? I did the first week of C25K in July, but then the arches of my feet collapsed so I had to stop for a while. I now have super dooper expensive trainers and insoles so I went out on W1R1 today. I procrastinated over it all day but once I got out it was enjoyable, even if I did look like a running version of the giant dough man from Ghostbusters.

I set Map My Run to monitor how far I went and when I got home it said I'd run 0.47km So i reinstalled it. Has anybody else had this happen to them? It's distressing!

I wont be able to run until at least Thursday now but I'm looking forward to getting started again.

Mummy have you tried ? It's very achievable and I like the man's upbeat style. (he's probably 60 years old and retired by now, it's an old video but a goodie)

I ran for 20 mins today! W5R3 it was hard obviously but went really well. I nearly cursed Laura when she came on saying you've done 5 mins - I was sure I was at least 8 mins in by then, but the next ten mins went ok and only the last 4 mins were really hard.

Am actually looking forwards to going back to intervals for two days next week - am I kidding myself that it'll be easier than today?

Will look up those30 days challenges now but not sure if I have the motivation tbh.

Ooh where's your holiday dotty? I do the shred but I aim for 3x run, 2x sit ups, 2 x shred, and 2x anything to address the bingo wings weekly. But one thing i've learned is not to be too rigid with myself. I prioritise running.

I like the shred- its fun and fits in. But I got the 6pack one up on you tube and I wasn't impressed. I have always been able to do literally hundreds of sit ups - I'm not fit, it is the shape of my body. But I found JM's 6 pack thing a bit poor. It's too fast for you to engage with the exercise properly so you'll end up not really getting the results. I'll sign up for a month thing. Love a good sign up

science the map my run desktop version works fine. It is very like google maps. Find your start point on the map and then click points along your route. It will follow roads and paved footpaths automatically. If you are off road you can turn it to satellite view and tell it to avoid roads then click points along the footpath. I use it on my one longer run of the week to see how far I got - I'm trying to increase distance 1 run each week. Up to 6.5k so far.

Hello, I've just downloaded the c25k app and today I ordered running shoes and a sports bra!

I can't wait to start.

Sorry have just read thread properly - sorry to hear what you and your family are going through Five I do hope you get some good news soon.

Well done Nightfall! That first 20min solid run is SUCH an achievement.

Still, that's a very impressive list! I hate hate hate exercise DVDs so although the shred etc looks impressive, I just find it dull! I think I'm gonna try a 30 day plank challenge and try and keep up doing some dumbbell stuff to counter bingo wings though… at least I can do them in front of the TV!

W8 R1 this evening. First run in the proper dark, with my new luminous arm band and flashing strap thing that I wore round my ankle. Really enjoyed it again - I'm on a good running streak at the moment . Makes all the ups and downs worth it!

Sparklypants, best of luck! You'll love it most of the time.