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

[CruCru]

Would you all like to join me here?

Have you seen a doctor?

In the beginning i was in agony after each run (thighs, ankles) but now ok.

Maybe you should get checked out.

I would imagine that by week 7 you should be feeling less aches as your body gets used to the runs.

Cru, you simply must continue posting.
Without gushing too much, you really are an inspiration (punch on the shoulder!).

Disparate - how did you find the 20 min run? See you've just finished week 5. It looms ever closer for me . . .

I'm trying to work out the best time to go for w1r3 today, it seems crazy that in four weeks I'll be running for 20 mins.

Does it matter if I go today or tomorrow for my last run? I went Monday, and Wednesday this week. I want to keep it the same days, but tomorrow I'll be totally child free which is nice

Wizard - how old are your trainers? Have you had a gait analysis?

Well I had a go on the 5to10 W1R1. It's four lots of ten minutes, with 2 minutes walking in between, which is a bit of a killer. I'll probably do it again when I'm back from skiing.

The lady (Suz) doesn't talk much and has a really high pitched voice. One thing I don't like is the music doesn't chamge depending on whether I'm walking or running.

AMillion - it's fine to go tomorrow. You need to do 3 a week so it's okay to have a couple of days off.

So by luck rather than planning I did week 6 day 2 today. (having done week 6 day 3 on Weds). Need to sort of get some structure though so I'll repeat on Monday and do Week 6 day 3 on Weds.

I definitely think I need to do a warm up jog rather than just walk (walk first of course): the second running session always goes much easier, and I think faster, and I could keep on going but tire more quickly in the first run. No idea what that's all about.

Anyway I have been talking to DS1 (10) who is not the world's greatest athlete. He got his cubs athletics plus badge on Thursday night ostensibly for cross country running - but basically he told me he walked most of it. I have been suggesting c25k with him - has anyone got any tips? I think there's a drill sergeant app and a zombie app…anyone tried?

Feeling pretty pleased with myself! After struggling with week 6 runs 1 & 2 this week I've been thinking carefully about run 3. I used jog.fm to beat-match my music to my pace (it has the bpm for loads of music and recommends a bpm for your pace) - the playlist came out a little slow, as my strava's calculated my pace with the walking sections, but it meant I slowed enough to be able to run for the whole 25 mins!

I'm frankly amazed and very proud of myself! Just need to do it again on Tuesday (on the hills this time)

Just popping back onto this thread to say well done to everyone making their way through c25k at the moment! And Cru for graduating! I finished in about september and it was genuinely one of the best things I've ever done. Running 10k happily (most of the time!) now and hoping to work up to a half this year.

I remember absolutely agonising about missing a day or having to repeat runs, but in the long run (pun intended!!) it really doesn't matter - you'll get there however long it takes! I attempted w5r3 about 5 times before finally nailing it!

But yes, gait analysis gait analysis gait analysis! Then check out sportsshoes.com where there is often some really good bargains.

Just done w2r1, not as bad as I thought. I averaged at 5mph which seems really slow, is it because im walking too? and according to my app it'll take me 40 mins to do 5k, it was 55 when I started. So slowly getting better

My ankles hurt today, do you think it could be related? Just when I walk. After ny run yesterday we went for a longish walk and a play at the park. Should I see if I can get a gait analysis done?

Interesting you say that AMillion, I had painful ankles round about weeks 3-4ish (I think). They were fine until I started running then they'd hurt for a while, then ache the next day.

I was about to get a gait analysis but they just stopped hurting.

Because they both hurt in the same place I thought it was less likely to be a an injury and more that I was developing muscles/tendons that I hadn't really used before!

See how it goes.

I'm off for week 7 run 1 in a mo

I did it! I did W7R1 - 25 mins solid. And amazingly the first 20 mins were no big deal! (Last 5 were a bit more of a challenge!)'

I'm just amazed to find that I've actually got this far in only 7 weeks.

Hope everyone else is enjoying the program.

Congrats Indomitable Its a great feeling, isn't it.

Congratulations! That seems so unobtainable to me (doing w2r2 tomorrow)
How do you feel? Are you achy? Did you feel you had enough build up? I'm worried I'll crash and burn!

Ankles are a bit achey! And my calves felt stiff as soon as I slowed to a walk. But nothing major (although tomorrow might be a different story!)

I think the build up was just right. 20 mins last Sunday was hard, and then I really struggled with the shorter ones last week. But Sunday's 25 mins was ok, and today's was positively enjoyable! I hardly believe it myself.

Just keep going. You'll get there!

Managed 30 mins solid running on Monday. Got to 25 and didn't want to stop. Was ACE. Knackered after though and had early night Monday night and yesterday. With my warm up and cool down walks I covered 4.9k…….

DS2 was off school with a cold today so no run. And I think that I now have his lurgy. So maybe no run tomorrow either. Maybe Friday.

Amazing, Mary! Well done!
It seems amazing that we can actually enjoy this!

Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly though, feel better soon.

I know, Indominatable! I feel like I am sticking two fingers up at my teenage goth exercise-refuser self, and even my self-doubting how-can-I-possibly-"run"- self of November. Not to mention the odd PE teacher.

Have just done W1R2 and am feeling major sense of achievement, not because I did the run (it was fine) but because I got up at 6.30am on a weekday morning and went out in the dark to do it. In February. This has been my major barrier to starting all this so now feeling tired but pleased. I work full time so fitting the running into my weekly routine is a big challenge, but think I've finally worked out how to do it.

Still highly sceptical I'm going to be able to run for 30 mins in 8.5 weeks' time however.

I was supposed to do w2r2 yesterday but couldn't be bothered. I'm going to run tonight at about 8, running late at night is my best time. I leave the house at 8, get back around 8.45. It's great

Hi everyone,

I've been a bit absent from here lately as we're also in the process of moving house and I have been struggling to find time to fit the runs in. I have been managing 3or4 days between runs which I have found to be ok, although I'm dreading w5r3 tomorrow!

A quick question about warm up/cool down... The app recommends a 5-min walk at each end and so far I have found this to be sufficient but I wonder if at some point I might feed to add in some stretching as the amount of running I do increases.

Has anyone else felt the need for this?

Hello

No run since Monday, stinking cold. Maybe Sunday.

cheap - I don't stretch during my run session, but after I get home I sometimes stretch out hamstrings etc if I feel the need. But I also do a lot of yoga (4-5 times per week). Yin yoga where you hold positions for a nice long time, is especially nice to do. There are a couple of short, free, yoga for runners videos on you tube that are quite good.