Couch to 5k - it's not about speed (thread number 4)

[CruCru]

Would you all like to join me here?

I'm with cheerful! Just finishing the runs is achievement enough for me! I'll worry about speed later.

I just did w4r1. It was ok until the last 30 seconds of the last run (also uphill). Like Cru, I'm ok until she mentions the final 30 seconds. Then it's killer.

W3r1 done :)

Hey all - did w1r1 today! I'm in NZ and it was still stinking hot when I did the run at 5.30pm, but we've got a great walkway/cycle path a five minute walk from my house (handy) so I did the walk warm up and then got to do the running along the flat.

I was most scared of people laughing and pointing at me (I'm 38 - do we ever grow out of that???) but of course nobody paid me any attention.

Went well, but leg muscles a bit sore so just had a hot bath and off to bed now. Aiming to be able to do 5k by end of March . . .

Ah well doneWhowould!

No one should laugh or point, people really aren't very interested in what others do. Having said that, I do wear sunglasses when I run so I don't have to make eye contact (last summer I had to run past a vocal building site).

Also - don't you just feel AWESOME now?

Well done Whowould - I don't think we do ever grow out of the self consciousness. Learn to manage it, maybe, but it feels so ingrained!

I found my legs ached loads after the first few runs (esp calves!) but that settled quickly.

Very envious of your flat land - it's super hilly here!

Well done Purple!

DisparateHouseMice those speeds are FAST! slowing down to 6min/km is NOT SLOW. Please don't worry about that. Getting to sub 6min/km (which I've only managed a handful of times) and mapmyrun tells me I'm in the fastest 25% of runners.

I think the steps that you are led through mean that you never think you can do the next step up, but the buildup means your fit enough, and it is just your brain that needs training that you can do it. The really big step is w5r2 to w5r3 for mental fitness.

I graduated ages ago, but still have runs where I can't get through the whole 5km without a walking break, but equally I've run 9km without stopping. So, I have good runs and bad runs (but they are all better than sitting on the couch) but the first 5mins are always really hard work.

The first 5 mins? That's surprising...and encouraging.

Now to just crack those 5 mins

I do feel a bit awesome actually! Legs a bit achy today, but looking forward to doing day 2 tomorrow or Saturday.

I may go shopping at lunchtime tomorrow and get some better running shorts and a top. I've got a lot of adidas trainers in an array of bright colours that up to now i've worn mainly because i like the colours. They seem to be pretty good running shoes, but i am going to hold off a while before going to get fitted for a proper pair suitable for me.

Cheerful the first 5 mins are hard for everyone. It's because you're body has to call on its energy quickly to get going. Seriously, everybody finds it hard. That's why c25k is quite difficult to begin with. But having done it, I would say the first few weeks are really important - it gets you into the habit, builds your confidence that you can do it, gives you progress every week, and importantly protects you from injury. Talking of which I am going to try out my knee today (I'm scared about that) - just a quick trot and absolutely force myself to stop as I won't feel it til later. It's cold today so well done to anyone who gets out there!

Oh, I meant c25k can be hard at first because you don't really get going before you stop. There's a point where you go from continuous 18 mins back to 2 lots of 10 mins (or something similar) - its a killer!!

Yep. One one of the older threads, someone came up with the biological reason for the first 5 mins being hardest. Something to do with using up energy "floating round" your blood, and having to move to stored energy. Once your in that energy generating mechinism, things get easier (I think it uses less oxygen??!!) - or at least it doesn't get harder.

So while you need the short runs to build up the fitness, you aren't getting the benifit of the more efficient energy production mechinism.

And yes, I think week 6 is the hardest - longer run w5r3 (which everyone dreads), and then back to 3 shorter rund w6r1 and w6r2, iirc.

Still hope your knee stands up to the run.

Yes that's what I was blathering on about. Just got back. Tried to be good but got into the podcast and may have got carried away (thought a stats podcast would slow me down!) time will tell

W8R1 done! Was okay but towards the end my ankle started hurting. Bit tired now.

W1R2 just done! I finish work early on Fridays to pick DD1 up from school. It's school holidays here still and she's in holiday club and i was at work when it occurred to me that she was in there till 5 anyway, so i could just finish early and get a run in before picking her up.

I am so novice at all this - first problem was it was 25 degrees and so way too hot and sunny. Second problem was that i thought it would be a good idea to drive to the flat area and then when i got there I realised that my snazzy new running gear I'd just bought didn't have any pockets so nowhere for car keys. I ended up looping them around my iphone armband so not a very comfortable run, but hey! I did it! and I do not feel as puffed at the end either as i did on run 1.

Does anyone else find themselves getting a bit sanctimonious with themselves about fitness? I bought a multipack of magnums to stick in the freezer and had been intending to have one at the end of my run, but then i saw on the app that i'd used 197 calories and thought bugger it - i'll just have water. (Will blow it all tonight with a few wines and pizza though)

Ah well done whowould.

Well, I am on a sort of diet. I bought a Fitbit and am now a bit obsessed with it. I write in everything I eat so that discourages me from snacking. I am allowed wine but only on a night out and I'm not eating cake or chocolate or bread.

Thankfully I've found a pair of ski trousers that fit but I really want to lose my doughy gut.

What is a fitbit cru?

Off for W4 R2 .
Not been out since Monday and have lost confidence somewhat.

I am now armed with 40 mins of music curtesy of my youngest non technophobe son !

Right, i'm off.

disparate how was it? Please tell me you went, and it was ace?

A Fitbit is a sort of bangle (well mine is - I have a Flex). It tells you how many steps you've done (meant to be at least 10,000 a day), how many k you've walked or ran that day, what your calorie outgo is, how many minutes you've been active for.

It's easy to hit my targets when I'm running but today all I've done is sit in a car, pack and unpack. So I'm only up to 7.7k steps and about 3 minutes active (meant to be at least 30).

I did w2r3 last night, it was very cold! Needed to get out and do it though as I haven't been able to since Sun, we had some snow which made the pavements a bit icy. I'm too much of a wuss to run if there is a chance I might slip! Not quite the same conditions as you whowould, looking forward to being able to run when its light and a little warmer, though 25 degrees does sound like hard work.

25 degrees sounds like hard work!

It was a toasty 8C here, chilly on the ears but good for running.

I just did W4R2 too, disparate. I found the first 2 runs easier than last time, but as soon as I started the 3rd it was hard going, and I had to walk 30s before the end of the 4th. I think it was because I hadn't eaten enough this afternoon. I feel a bit shakey still now.

For those of you that have done week 5, how was the sudden progress to a 20 minute run? I know i probably shouldn't be looking ahead and panicking but it seems to far fetched to suddenly to 20 mins!

Did it !
Was a real pleasure. Can't believe that 5min run is truely doable.

I think the music helped. Kind of makes the time pass.

Sunday will be w4 last run.

My DH said tonight at dinner with friends that he's proud of me for doing this.
Fair made me well up.

What's everyone's playlists?
I need inspiration.
Much to my chagrin my music lasted 31 mins and had radio silence for last few minutes walk.

Night night lovely ladies.

Well done Disparate! What went wrong with your DS's play list then t only last 31 minutes?

I've just made a running playlist, but it consists mainly of late 80s early 90s indie cos i never really moved on!