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

[CruCru]

Would you all like to join me here?

I went to RunnersNeed for a gait analysis - they get you to run on a treadmill and film your feet so they can tell what sort of shoes you need.

lagoon I highly recommend flexing and pulling up as much as you can your feet a couple of times a day if you think you had shin splints. If your feeling brave, you can move onto putting your heals on the edge of a step, and flexing/pulling up your toes as well (same action, just weight baring). Sorted my shin splints, and they haven't returned.

I think you need to run twice a week to get any semblance of fitness increase rather than decrease. What would happen if you ran day 1, then had 2 rest days, so finishing a week every 9 days?

Thanks. Will try and start again on Monday when my legs better. 3 runs in 9 days might work.

Just finished w3r3 and made the mistake of looking at w4r1 in advance.

It looks haaaard! That seems like a lot of running!

Trust the program, Cheerful it really is amazing, and if you've managed week3, your ready for w4.

Lagoon start the toes thing now. Its amazing really hurt initially

W8R3 done! It was awesome but towards the end it utterly poured and silly me I hadn't brought my running jacket.

Great stuff Cru. I ain't getting out there today. There are 50mph winds (allegedly) and it has been hailing on and off all morning.

Friday it is.

Yep, had a bit of hail too; I was glad of my enormous sunglasses.

Hello everyone I've not been on this thread for a while, I recognise some of you and there are a few new names too. I wanted to say that the programme really does work, it's almost a year since I started the c25k and I'm doing my first race in six weeks and it's a 10k one. I love running now and have never looked back. Though it still takes me 34 mins at least to do 5k.

Hi Kaster - fantastic news. I'm a bit laid up but will be working to a 10k soon I hope.

Cru - sorry I have only just been able to get on the laptop! I have only done some from this site. There are some for runners and you can see them on this page

But this is my favourite if you are feeling soppy

sorry I meant you can see the running ones on this page

Well done Cru - does that mean you've finished the programme?

Just done W2R1 - i accidentally paused it some time on my last run, and think i must have done 2 1/2 mins before i realised so feeling a bit more smug than i should probably!

No - I'm going to do W9R1 on Friday so I should finish next week.

Oh - my app only has 8 weeks. better check on that!

I'm trying to decide what to do when I'm finished. I need a goal or I get bored.

I may start adding 2 minutes every week until I'm running for an hour. I've just seen a poster up for a fun run in Victoria Park on 22 March. Perhaps I'll enter.

Hello. I'm doing a slightly different couch to 5k run in conjunction with our local council/wellbeing group. Today was W2D1 and we had to run for 2 mins / walk for 1 min x 8. I managed to do it, just, but instead of a high I have been in floods of tears because of my internal negative voice berating me and telling me to give up. Has anyone else had this? And, if so, do you know a way to overcome it please? It didn't help that I didn't have any music to drown me out.
TIA

Well you CAN do it Nowshow - so you need to start telling yourself that. And your one sounds more difficult than mine (I've just done W2R1 and it was run for 90 seconds, walk for 2 mins x 6.)

Having music should definitely help you - in fact working full time with two small DDs, my runs are one of the few times i get to myself to listen to my music so I've really been enjoying that side of it. It was W1R3 when I really started enjoying it and getting a 'high' after running. (Must be those endorphins coming naturally for once!)

Are you doing it in a big group? Maybe you'd feel better starting C25K on your own and setting your own pace and going when you want rather than an arranged thing. I'm not sure I would enjoy a group session as much TBH.

Hi mojo. Do you get out on your own between the group runs? We do get runs like that - absolutely. I have been doing 4 milers, sometimes 5 and I sometimes think - what's the point of this? I will never be a lean runner, I am too old etc!!

On the c25k I think 3 mins running is a milestone. And if you can get out in between group runs that will give you more opportunity for the feel good factor with the group meet to make sure you keep at it.

The thing to remember is that you defo will not do this if you stop training. Keep at it- you will hit your stride, honestly

Hi Noshow. That is a lot t of running for week 2 - 16 minutes. I would think that was a real achievement. You can do this, soon you will just feel awesome whenever you run.

W9R1 done. I did a different route (from DS's nursery) and had to walk for about a minute up a hill but carried on running for a minute longer at the end so it was okay.

One thing I have noticed about this different route - there are a lot of tall, thin, blonde women runners. And they are all much faster than me.

Ugh, I'm just back from W5R2 and I can sympathise with Mojo.

I was supposed to run for 8 mins twice, and didn't manage all of either. I just can't keep going beyond about 6-7 minutes.

I'm supposed to do 20 mins on Sunday. We're going to drive somewhere flat specifically.

Come and run next time I'm out Cru. I'm neither blond or slim. I am female! I also very much doubt I'm faster than you - I'm usually the one being overtaken!

Noshow I also agree its a quick progression. How often are you running?

Thank you for all your replies and support. I went out twice after my first meeting with the group. And I'm intending to go Saturday night and Tuesday night of this week. I've done C25K many moons ago with the lovely NHS Laura in my ear...I'm tempted to go back to that. I'm not far off 18 stone and only 5'2 and it's hard to heave this lump along. And then I just blame myself for being in this predicament in the first place. I'm not intending to have a pity party though... I Have to deal with it and I shall get fitter, stronger and lighter, but maybe using slower increments. I'll see how my homework goes and will give it another blast on Friday, but I shall keep my car keys on me in case I want to go home before the end of the training, rather than the trainer locking it away in his van.

Well done to everyone else who is doing c25k. I shall read this thread from the beginning now to see the highs and lows and pick up dome tips. keep it going! :)

NoShow what would happen if you did Laura as your homework, and then the group as a hard run, before going back to Laura as homework? Or if the group if moving too fast would your homework leave you further and further behind? How long is the group running for? If 9 weeks, the steps later on may be smaller? If less than 9 weeks, I'd go back to Laura. Well done getting your trainers back on.

Hello, I'm a newbie

I've just done W3R3 and have the fear over W4. However I done C25k a couple of years ago, so I trust the plan and know that I can do it, I just need to dig in and believe in myself.

I do all my running on the treadmill at home as the thought of being seen in public in Lycra is just too much. Hopefully by the time the weather is better and the days are longer I'll feel better about myself and I'll get outside.

I find these threads are great for morale and support, so thank you for being here ??