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

Well done wasting.

my last run (which was my graduation :) ) I did 4.6km in 44mins which was the whole session. I ran for 33 mins instead of 30 cos my next goal is 5km total. Hope to acheive that by the end of the week.

Then I think I'll start to do what you do and just track my run...it'll bring my average time down...no walking ;). I might also put my own playlist together and add a song for each subsequent run till I hit 5km (reminds self not to add a 7minute killer like American pie...). I think I'm currently only running about 3.5km in 30mins so have quite a way to go...

Congratulations on graduating Edwinia .

I need to investigate some new running routes now - I've really enjoyed changing my route a bit lately, and think I was getting a bit bored with the same route all of the time.

I really like your music plan Edwinia , I think that's a great idea.

Thank you everyone for your comments, think I will just go on to week 4 and keep moving on. Edwina yes it's the 3 minute run, I can do it without stopping I just didn't feel confident and then panicked about moving up to 4 mins!

When I was doing the 90sec run I said there was no way I could run any further. No way I could run 3min. But I did.

I said that EVERY week until the end.

My first run each week I always went out super slow to make sure I completed it.
Each week I would set myself a goal I would be happy with. I Would say to DP " I'll be happy if I do the first 3 runs; ecstatic if I do them all". At least I felt was moving on. I'd just repeat the new run until I cracked it. Every time I was ecstatic. For me the battle became mental round week 4/5. And because I had succeeded every previous run my faith in the programme grew. My trust in my body grew. And I could use that faith and trust to fight the mental battle.

Good luck. Set yourself a goal from the next run and try that one until you succeed instead of repeating the one you can do. Let us know how you go.

Lily I agree with them all - you need to trust in the program. I've had a right set back health wise. Blacked out and now I'm a bit lopsided. So today is my first run for over 2 weeks! Think I'll do the stamina podcast because that's my favourite.

Edwinias cannot believe you've graduated already!! Well done. I like the idea of running in a cap and gown - or a cape would be nice.

I vote for a cape .

Stillearnin, are you ok? That sounds scary.
I ran for 5k yesterday, and today have my first sore back - though I think the discomfort of sleeping with my toddler might have something to do with it!

I think I'm ok thanks - it took a whole year for me to feel balanced again left to right side last time this happened. You can't see anything physically but I definitely feel it - the neurologist told me its common. Apparently you should talk to people who have had a stroke on their good side as they cannot perceive the other side. I did 6k this morning - defo could not have gone much further, but I'm glad I got back on it!

Wk5 r3 for me this morning 20mins but didn't make it. Walked for about 3 minutes in the middle so bit disappointed saying that ran further on my normal lap before I stopped so probably about 10 mins. Will try again Tuesday. Also had my ds13 with me who kept giving my running tips and trying to make me go faster which didn't help.

Struggling to keep up with this thread at the moment! I am reading it every day but just don't have time to post.

Love all the stories of the newbies and those getting to the dreaded w5r3 plus the graduates aswell.

I completed my third official 10k this morning in 1 hour 10 it was so hard as 4 minutes faster than previous races but ran with a friend who dragged me round

Am easing off now and just going to do runs for enjoyment for a bit (it was not enjoyable at all today!!)

Lovetoski, you are at around the point I had a stumble too, and mine also involved running with someone else. Just move on. I did, although I was really nervous about it, and it was fine.

Stillearning, that sounds so scary. But what a long run, well done!

I did week 7 run 2 today. They are starting to blur a bit now, because they are all long runs. Today's was 25 minutes, and I did it outside because I would have killed my husband and children had I stayed in the house a moment longer although a lot of it was downhill. I tried to work out how long it was on mapmyrun, but I run on some paths which it won't let me map on. I think it might have been around the 4k mark. I might try the next run on the treadmill to see if I am running faster, before I step up to 28 mins.

For anyone who is just starting out, I really can't believe I have got this far. The first runs knackered me, and I am so unathletic that I didn't expect to stick at it. But I have trusted the programme and I have surprised myself. I never would have thought that I would be able to run for five minutes, let alone 25! I haven't lost much weight, but I am fitter and feel so much stronger. I even have more energy! Stick at it, and trust the programme and your body. You CAN do it.

steps off soap box

Hi everyone can I join you? I've just finished week 4 which I've loved so far and had to stop myself from going out on rest days even! However starting week 5 and knowing about the long run on day 3 is freaking me a little I'm sure it'll be fine and more mind over matter but would be good to have your support too. Having read through the thread you're all very encouraging

hi mylife - week 5 r3 is the 20 mins is it? I think until that point it is 8min runs with a tiny walk in between. So 20 minute straight is just linking these together. You may even find it easier as you hit your stride at around 10 mins. Go for it!

I went to Aldi today and I bought...a long sleeve top and a short sleeve 'compression' top. Both seem nice on. I need leggings (as mine are falling down as are all my trousers at the moment -attractive especially as I wear big pants!)

I've bought a new car but can't collect it till Tuesday so bodged the old one together with ducttape and going to force the poor thing to take me to do my run tomorrow, it's only got to survive till Tuesday afternoon.
I'm not sure whether to move on to week 2 or do one more run of week 1, ive only done week 1 properly finished twice but last time felt quite confident with it so not sure whether to move on or do another week 1 which will mean I've done week 1 five or six times (couldn't do it the first few but nailed it now) is it a big jump from week 1 to week 2?

Hi MySpidey I'm back on W1 due to time out with wrecked ankle. But am not massively daunted by W2 - I was seriously dreading it last time but it was much easier than I thought. I'm a only bit over weight but DEEPLY DEEPLY unfit; if I can do it, I'm sure you can!! Give it a bash.

The lesson learnt today is that running in the pissing down rain has one advantage; it disguises the sweat that sluices off me

The first time I managed to fight through week1 run1 it was raining and at least no one could see me cry lol

Chameleon, was it you that bought a Nike Impossibly Light Running Jacket? Do you love it? I might have ordered one in the Nike sale ...

Loving the support on here really Spurs me on thank you everyone! I treated myself to a new pair of trainers and long sleeve Dri fit top and have just completed w4d1 after hanging onto w3d3 for 3 sessions! And I did it, feels great. Hopefully can keep it up. It was pouring but felt lovely.

Science there should be a little box on the right hand side of mapmyrun(assuming your on a computer) with options in. One of the boxes is "auto follow roads" if you paths are between points you can identify on the map, you can link them up without a road between.

Spidey and green card I just carried on even if I didn't feel particularly great...so long as I did what I was asked I moved into the next level...fear I may be repeating levels from now though..we'll see..and thanks stipulation let's see what happens....

Stupid question alert! If I'm running with headphones and its training I won't get electrocuted will I?

Raining not training!

Arghh and stillearnin not stipulation!!! Damn predictive!

Yes I agree, only repeat a run if you have not managed to complete it. If you have done it but struggled, move on to the next one. I struggled with all of them (!) but only repeated when I couldn't complete one. The whole point of the program is to improve and you can't do that if you don't move on. Although, re-running a failed session is improving, in my book!

Hope to run tomorrow in the rain with my headphones - you will only be electrocuted if you are attached to a mains socket when you run! You will need to keep your phone/iPod/MP3 player dry though. I think headphones shouldn't be too affected by rain?

science I use map my run and when I go cross country I uncheck the 'autofollow roads' box. It's in the tools panel directly under where it tells you how far you've gone on your route (which if you have no idea what we're on about may be set not to show but it is quite easy to bring up). I have it on satellite and by zooming in I can actually see the footpath I take.