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

Done it! Week 4 run 1, that is. The last run was slow, probably barely over walking pace, but it was uphill so it was as much as I could do. Very sweaty afterwards, but i did it!

remembers that most people are doing far more than this and scuttles off to shower

Ah well done ScienceRocks.

I've just done my first run (apart from ParkRun) without Laura. I only set the MMR to start when I actually started running and it said I did 4km in 33 minutes. Think it's time to do the Stepping Stone programme.

Good work PrivateBenjamin and Nightfall! Yep, I remember looking forward to the intervals - yes, I think thy are a bit easier, I covered more distance in the first interval after the 20 minute one than I did during 20 solid minutes of running.

Just popping by to say well done to everyone still here and the newbies for getting started. I also don't always get that much exercise done. Bit I have a priority and I don't get too bothered if I can't fit it all in. I am v lucky as I work from home so I've just done 5k+ speed podcast and whipped off my running gear and sitting here in my pj's

Also I got done advice from my friend who's DH is a prison pt instructor. I'll be back later with details but it is good news for us less than speedy runners!

We're off to Turkey exactly 5 weeks today for our first ever hotel holiday abroad . All inclusive too so whatever good I do over the next month will no doubt be unravelled by 6 days holiday...!

Managed day 1 of the crunch challenge yesterday. Out with work tonight so won't be able to get to the gym but should be there tomorrow - keeping running...

dotty have fun. Turkish food is delicious and fairly healthy I think.

Well done to all stepping stoners.

I just did run 2 of week 7. It was meh, really meh. Gismo kept me up all night so in hindsight it was probably a crap idea to go. I just wanted to get rid of the yell reverberating around my head. I succeeded in that respect but had to stop twice for about 30 seconds.

Ow! My legs!

dotty hope you are going to a different Turkish hotel than my sister went to

still I am intrigued. ..spill the beans

Well done on the runs everyone including those doing the stepping stones. Have decided to scale back running and incorporate other exercise at least once a week. The plan is to do 1x5-7k run and one 10k+ run each week and then something like a body pump class and yoga class if DH's work doesn't interfere am just conscious that whilst I enjoy running, I don't enjoy it that much and can see myself getting bored if I carry on just running at the expense of other exercise.

Spooky that's spooky 'cos I've decided the same thing too. A friend at work has designed a workout for me to get my fitness up so I'm going to do that as an alternate to running as I feel the same way - I want to improve at it but it's not my favourite thing in the world...!

Still yes please for top tips for us less than speedy runners!

More crunches for me tonight then back to the gym tomorrow for a run I think...

Oh I am going to disappoint! Not earth shattering - I just had to get back to work earlier! Basically he is adamant that if you want to lose fat you should run slower and for a longer duration. Meaning speed and distance are not as important if your aim is to loose weight. He says if you go shorter distances and faster your body panics and holds onto all its reserves (a bit like starvation dieting). I am not sure where that leads interval training but I think maybe that improves fitness. So I'm doing a bit of each.

I went back to yoga last week after about a month off. It made me realise that running can be quite hard on your body - or at least can lead you to ignore the impact/ stop listening.

Errr I don't want to mention it but we are getting way off topic. I love this thread but wonder if we're diverting it for people in the throes of c25k? Should we start another - although cant think what it would actually be!

Dotty I have Turkish relatives- love the food too.

Funny you should say about running slow and long. We decided to repeat W1R1 but as fast as possible yesterday. Phew! It was hard! Still going to do a long run as well though.

If I needed proof of C25K working....when I was running fast, my Lycra capris were falling down, I had to hang on to them!

Yes, I think we should have a new thread called 'C25K graduates try lots of random things' .

love the alternative thread title! Good idea - I was coming on to moan about the fact that planks are impossible but it's not very C25K at all... But I also love the support this thread has given so will try to stick to topic...

science what's with the legs?

Stillearnin, they were just screaming at me because of the leap from nine to 16 minutes of running! Much better today, just the usual fizzy hips and slightly aching calves. Might do a jillian today or a Pilates or yoga DVD for a bit of a stretch.

I definitely think that yoga is an excellent supplement to running as the stretching is so great for the leg muscles.

I am not sure about the thread as I feel us graduates have a lot of experience to feedback/reassure newbies and also our subsequent achievements show where C25k can lead you.

I agree spooky, please don't leave us! We need reassuring that we will get through it, and you experts can give us advice when we have problems and might otherwise give up.

Please stay. I'll make

I had heard that intervals were good for fat burning because it causes muscle confusion causing your body to continue burning fat even after you stop.

I'm about to go out to attempt W8r2. I'm not looking forward to it. I've had 4 days rest....been camping with Guides....got evacuated from the campsite...had 3hrs sleep needed to catch up on sleep yesterday.

My muscles still hurt from carrying 8 man tents for 20mins....my upper body has certainly had a workout.

This is going to be a tough one....

I like all the chat about other exercising that everyone is doing, and will be much more tempted to try something else because of it.

W3 finished today. Dreading W4 on Thursday! Hope your legs recover Science.

I was always told that, when in the gym, lighter weights and more reps burnt more fat than heavier weights and only a few reps. So the longer slow running makes sense. Not sure my short and slow running is doing the job yet!

So, does anyone actually eat a piece of fruit when they finish?!

Daftmaul, I eat fruit and have some water when I finish. Laura tells me to, so I must :-) My legs are much better today, thanks. By tomorrow they will be fully recovered and then I will destroy them again :-/

Can't believe I typed loose not lose. This has never happened before- apologies!

Do you know, I don't like to get bogged down in the sciencey stuff. The biggest result of all this is the improvement to my mental health. Absolutely nothing beats exercise for my anxiety/ easily overwhelmed ness or general happiness.

Edwinias what had you done to get kicked off site? (thinks back to our outrageous behaviour on church camps )

Just back. That was tough one but quite a fast pace which probably explains it. I was soooo close to stopping a couple of times.

as for the camping. We did nothing. There was a security alert at the hotel so we were moved so police could use search dogs and thermal imaging without us getting in the way - don't think they wanted 500 stray thermal dots confusing them . We didn't know what or where it was happening tho so all pretty scary so even when we were bedded down at 2:30am in the hospitality suite we didn't get much sleep.

appologies for the daily mail link www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2764632/Hotel-manager-stabbed-Alton-Towers-mugged-outside-charity-ball.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Blimey, that sounds scary EdwiniasRevenge.

I'm happy to have another thread but I'd quite like to stay here too. I think I'll try the Stepping Stone podcast tomorrow, see whether or not it is terrifying.

I'm thinking of doing the ParkRun near me in London but, unlike the Isle of Wight one, it seems to be pretty much all 20/30/40 year old men who are very fast. So I might be the last to finish. Not that it matters that much. Hmmm.

Stillearnin, that's a really good point about mental health. Something that makes me feel good, doesn't take very long or cost much (trainers aside) and doesn't involve chocolate or alcohol, is definitely worth doing!
Well I had my first failure today, couldn't complete my first follow-on podcast (the stamina one) started off with ten minutes at quite a fast pace and thought next step was to slow down - but no, Laura demanded I " step things up a bit" and I rebelled! My shins were hurting, feet felt like lead and I hated their music too. I still did a thirty min run, but at my normal, slow pace.

Iggi - that isn't failing- you still ran.