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

I used to really stress about my breathing as I used to feel I was getting out of breath really easily. I googled it and it came up with all different techniques!! I tried some of them but never really felt comfortable.

However, one day it just clicked and breathing whilst running felt completely natural and I never even think about it now

I can't remember exactly when this transformation happened but it was after I had finished the C 25 k programme as I remember in my final 5k run, I was still panicking about it!

I breathe in for 2 steps and push out hard for 2 steps and that seems to work well as long as I keep in the rhythm - anything like coughing or drinking water makes me a bit panicky for a few seconds!

I'm also a clock watcher and don't know what the answer is as not only is running difficult, but also quite boring (especially on the treadmill...). I find the first 15 minutes the most difficult because I can't believe I've still got 6 million miles to go...! Then suddenly it's something like 23 minutes and I can see the end in sight

I think it's safe to say I'm not a natural runner

We have woods behind our back garden and those woods can take me into the grounds of a poshpublic school where I just get on with it and no one ever bothers me or asks me what I'm doing there. It's nice and flat and the few cars there don't travel faster than 10mph so if I'm not on the grass there is plenty of time to see and get out of the way of a passing car.

Woo! I did it. The whole 20mins. But I did it!

That's seriously impressive Edwinia. You must feel so proud of yourself

I had to sack off going out today. Dp has infected everyone with a cold so I now can't breathe through my nose. I feel like killing him, he's always the first to pick up whatever's going around (and the first to pass it on). Thank God he's not working as a school TA any more.
Hopefully I'll be ok to go tomorrow. Last week 2 run.

Edwinias well done!! 20 minutes is a brilliant milestone!

I was supposed to be out with a work friend tonight, drinking large quantities of gin and orange, but he's off sick so instead I'm at home and as it's technically a gym day, will be off later to run 5K. How did that happen..?!

edwinia well done, bet you feel brilliant now

Right, I am hanging up my trainers for a couple of weeks whilst I am in Greece Good running everyone, remember to keep it steady and enjoy.

When I get back, I will have 2 weeks to get back into running before attempting my second 10k race not great timing!!

Have a lovely holiday Spooky!

I found the first 15mins straightforward. Not easy but not hard. I just counted songs. 2 songs =5mins ish.
The last 2mins was a shear mental battle. God knows what I looked like I was practically crawling.
still waiting for my strava data to upload but I think it will give me a good average pace too.

BUT.....my arm is all pins and needly tingly now....my left arm.....I'm burying my head in the sand....

Hi just waddling through, ignore me til next week when I have the chance to run again

Cracking that 20 minute threshold is SUCH an accomplishment. You have crossed a psychological barrier - no turning back now!

Well done Edwinia!

Well done Edwinia .

Don't walk into the light . Do seek medical help if required .

I have to say that it was you that helped me do it. I thought about walking for a bit at about 15mins.

but I told myself I couldn't do that because wasting managed it so it must be doable.

you are my hero

at hero. You're right though, if I can do it, anyone can .

I hope you feel a bit better soon Edwinia.

Edwinias take care - hopefully it's just an over exerted/pulled muscle-type thing? Keep us posted...

Good. God. I had a hard session at the gym tonight. Did another C25K+ app - actually thought it was the same one I did last time which was just a 30 minute run with lovely Laura talking to me, but this was the interval training one. 1 x minute ridiculously fast followed by 1 x minute a lot bit slower, over and over! It made me complete 5K nearly a minute faster than last time (40 minutes...) but bloody hell I suffered!

Kind of enjoyed it though...

edwinia make sure you look after yourself.

dotty did it make you want to vomit?? My hill training sessions do but I tell myself it is good for me

Did W3R1 tonight. Was worried before hand as 3 mins sounded so long but it actually went ok. First 3 mins was really fine, second 3 mins was very very hard but I managed it and am actually looking forwards to the next one!

I am completely amazed by how well it's all going, I know I'm still not going far but still, it's fab!!

Dotty, which app did you use? Do the NHS do an interval one?

Nightfall - well done!!

Spooky yes I really did - in fact told dp on the way out that I thought I was going to throw up at one point, momentarily forgetting she's an emetaphobe and she felt quite ill that I'd said it... . So after all the fast/slow repetitions I slowed to a walk for 3 minutes before starting to run again at a steadier pace! Just needed to recover and am realising that it's OK if I need to slow down for a bit every now and then - I can complete 5K every time now and that's the main thing.

Mommy yes it's the NHS podcasts that they've produced for 'graduates' of C25K Have done 2 so far and I must admit it's been good to have something similar to the 9 week programme to listen to and follow. They're downloadable from this website here

Spooky I cannot, under any circumstances, run up a hill of any kind - honestly don't know how you do it. I tried going up a teeny tiny slope hill on holiday and had to walk it...

dotty I was exactly the same as you whilst doing my C25k and would not run up a hill! Me and my friends started doing a fortnightly hill training session a couple of months ago and I cannot believe the difference it has made in such a short space of time. I no longer fear hills, my stamina is so much better and my 5k time has decreased significantly. I also managed to run up my nemesis of a 1km hill by my house a few weeks ago

I totally get where you are coming from but the rewards are well worth the pain

The basic training is:

Run up the hill for 30 secs, run back down, run up for 60 secs, run back down, run up for 90 secs, run back down, run up for 2 mins, run back down, run up for 90 secs, run back down, run up for 60 secs, run back down, run up for 30 secs, run back down.

That is 1 pyramid and you can run as slowly as you need to (do a warm up jog to start with). We only managed 1 pyramid the first time, then managed 2 the last few times.

The Bolton parkrun has a hill nicknamed 'Cruhilla' and the Burnley parkrun has 5 hills in it (am sure I remember you saying you were in the NW - apologies if I am wrong )

Yes I'm in the North West but thankfully not near enough the Bolton/Burnley runs!! Am in South Manchester and have looked at the one we're going to do - looks nice and flat

So when you say hill... There's a small hill where I am - really not at all a proper hill but I could try that? Really trying to work on my stamina so I can attempt to get nearer to the 30 minute mark. Am really cross with myself for getting so fat over the last couple of years. If I wasn't lugging around all my fat it would be much easier..!!

You just need a hill that would take you 2 minutes to get up You do get funny looks running up and down the same hill but we do ours in a fairly secluded part of a local park rather than on a road

Funny thing was that we all hated hills with a passion before but a couple of weeks ago, we were planning a run and needed to decide between hills or just a 5k normal run and all 3 of us opted for hills it actually becomes enjoyable.

You also still get your distance in as we cover 5k with a 15 minute jog to the hill and then 2 pyramids.

I have nothing but hills and have really struggled to find the least hilly option to do my outdoor running