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

[CruCru]

Would you all like to join me here?

Dave

Yes, proper trainers can be £££, but equally, if you can work out how you pronate your feet (google wet paper test), and then do some google searching, you may be able to come up trumps for not toooo much - mine full price were £80.

Running with a buggy is hard core. Take it easy on yourself.

Welcome all new runners. Were delighted to have you all. The more the merrier.

Well I managed w5r3 today in the drizzle. I've finally found a route that's not too hilly, but I did have to walk for about 1 minute in the middle on the one steep bit.
I quite like the achiness I feel now- not painful, but aware that I've taken exercise IYSWIM?
My trainers were from sports direct they said they were running ones and they do for the moment.

Can I join? Never tried running before now. I'm not very fit, but really happy to have finished w3r3 yesterday. Bit nervous about w4r1 next week.

Just done w6r1 and strangely found it tougher than w5r3 despite the total running time being less and having some walking time in between. I think I tried to go a bit too fast and there were so many puddles and wet leaves underfoot that I had to tread carefully.

I'm just running in my usual trainers done up quite tightly. I might suggest proper running trainers as a Xmas present idea; like others, I didn't want to jinx things by getting them too early on!

W6 R1&2 completed this week. I found the first run harder than W5R3.

No more interval runs left for me now! I'm going to have to be brave and tackle some hills soon, that'll open up more routes for me. Especially as distance gets longer, I'm going to end up in circles if I don't go up.

I got some running trainers (had gait analysis done) from an asics outlet. They were £45 reduced down from £90.

May I join you? I've already completed couch to 5k, but after a year of 'running' (mine is more like a very slow jog) and not getting any quicker (it still takes me 55 mins to find 5k) , I've decided to redo c25k, and see if I can give it a bit more umph on the running bits. I start on Monday....

Wibbly, have you seen the c25k+ podcasts? One of them is for building speed, I think. Might be better than re-doing the c25k again.

Welcome to all the new joiners and to everyone who is still running, well done!

I didn't post after my last run last week as it was such a disaster! I was attempting W7R3, so the final 25min run. I was runnin along a busy road and couldn't really hear what Laura was saying, so thought she had said I was half way. When she then told me i was only halfway 7minutes later, I just suddenly thought I couldn't do it! Completely mind over matter. I did finish the session but walked, a lot! However, the positive thing from the session was that I ran down the High Street and along much busier roads than usual, so almost feel as though I have come out of the closet with the running! So, a bad session with regards to running but a good one in terms of confidence in myself!

I wasn't going to run today as have been feeling a bit nauseous last couple of days but had to take dd to school and found myself putting on my running kit. Decided I might as well give it a go and I did it! Final 25min session! Phew! Felt not too bad and it actually helped to see people I knew because it made me keep gong when I was flagging.

Six more runs to go until I finish, apparently!

I've moved onto the podcasts...

bridge was fine - stamina was fine.

speed was hard. It's like w1r1 but instead of walking you run and instead of running you sprint. Felt good to really feel the effort though, i think you can get a bit lazy once you are comfortable.

Well done daft! Nearly there!

Peter, I found the stamina podcast the hardest. I love the speed one! I do it on the treadmill and am now at 8.8kph for the slow intervals and 10.2kph for the fast ones. I sweat buckets and look like this by the end ---> But yes, wibbly, maybe the C25k+ podcasts would be worth a look for you?

Well done to all the runners. I am still taking care of my back and, after a big weekend away, decided to take it easy today so went for a walk instead. Back on it on Friday though. Am looking forward. I finished week 7 before I got injured but think I will need to go back to the week with the 8 minutes runs in it as the long distance in one go might be too much for me at the moment.

I redid w1r1 this morning, and found it quite hard. Will continue at it though

Well I managed w6r1 today. I think it would be ok if it wasn't for all the bloody hills. Think I might move to Norfolk. I hear it's flat.

I also look like this at the end of a run. It's a bit embarrassing when I'm doing the walk at the end and people obviously think that walking makes me look like that!

Well done everyone for all couch to 5k efforts. I did w4r3 yesterday and feel pretty ready for week 5. It will be good to see if 20 minutes works out ok.

Well done all. I can't wait to get further along now, I'm so impatient.

I did week 3r2 today and I'm actually really enjoying. I find maybe the first running bit hard but then after that I get really into it. No buggy today and found a flat bit. I'm limited to when I can go really so will have to do w3r3 on Friday with the buggy again.

Hello- can I join?
I did (or attempted to do) w4r2 this morning. I found it really tough and had to walk some - I use a treadmill so it's hard to just get slower and I end up walking. I hadn't run since last Friday as I was away for a few days and probably drank and ate too much (which I'm sure didn't help!) Do you think should repeat this run? Or just keep going? What does everyone else do?

crappyday Yep, is me too! I go bright red very quickly so I also get funny looks during the walking bits. Today, as I ran past a man he told me to "Keep at it - nearly there!" I was too embarrassed to tell him I was only 5 minutes in as I clearly looked like I'd been slogging for ages...

I've finished week 6 now so I'm on the home run.

Greener - I'd probably repeat the run, I think the next run is the same anyway? I've always told myself on every run that if I don't complete it, then I have to repeat it until I do it fully.

Well I made a massive mistake today. I'm trying to find flatter routes, so decided to try a circular footpath that I know.
First bit was ok, then I ran through what was basically an ankle deep stream, then a quagmire consisting mostly of cow poo!
Then the woodland bit had lots of trees down so it was like an obstacle course over & under and around the fallen trees.
Won't go that way again!

Anyone know- will I ruin my trainers if I put them in the washing machine?

Can I join, please?
I did c35k last year and then a 5 to 10k program. Then I stopped , putting all the weight I had lost back on.
I've restarted using a slightly quicker training regime. I'm on week 5 now and am finally feeling like a runner again. Hoping to do the 5k in about 2 weeks.
The difference between last time and this time, for me, is that I know I can do it as ive done it before.
Good luck everyone.

Crappy sounds like an ace run.
My trainers have been through the machine.
I put them in an old pillowcase (one each), and on a gentle spin cycle - it will sound horrendous for most of the cycle.
They dry slowly - ie just put them somewhere warm and drafty, not ontop of the radiator.

Just checking in as I've finished wk1 and feeling very proud of myself as I haven't cheated at all and stopped running before the lady told me too. Plus I have been going out regardless of weather early before children are up.
Long way to go before it is a proper habit and I can do a park run but feeling really positive about it.

Think i'll save up for trainers after next Christmas. .. if I stick at i'lleast treat myself to decent ones

Hello, I'm back.
Not been here for a little while, not really been running for a little while. A combination of colds, Ds with an ear infection and my depression knocking me down for a while.

I'm trying to pull myself back up and decided to run today, I was going to repeat w3r3 because I was struggling with it last time. Got myself ready, got myself psyched up and the app wouldn't work. I almost got changed and gave up but decided to just go out anyway and run however I felt like it.
Basically I timed myself with music and lampposts, walked for one song (3:45) ran for one song (3:58) walked for one song (3:20) then ran for another song and as it finished thought I could go further so pushed myself onwards ended up doing 6-7mins which is more than double what I've run before (it was a bit downhill but I'm still counting it) then I walked for about a minute and thought "it's maybe a 5min walk home I still have a little energy left so I ran home maybe 3min up quite a steep hill and because I noticed one of the neighbours watching it was a sprint finish!
Because I didn't cool down ive done some stretches.
I'm wondering if I shou just run to my own timetable in future and run as far as I want to without waiting for Laura to tell me to stop.
I did about 18min running all together whereas Laura would've had me doing maybe 9?

Well done Spidey for getting out again and not bailing when the app wouldn't work. That is such a step forward, mentally.

Personally, I would continue with Laura because I know I would get to the point where I would be more likely to stop/walk when the going gets tough and the longer, nonstop runs start. Have you got something that can map your route and speed. I use Map my Walk which is free and tells me my split times for each km completed. I find it quite a good addition to Laura.

Hi Dave, well done. Lots of us have invested in more kit - shoes or running clothes once we got going.

Welcome, WiseKneeHair. Sounds as though you have made a great start back.

Crappy, I put trainers in the washing machine. I don't bother with a pillow case though and I dry them in newspaper on the radiator. However, if I had a really expensive pair of trainers I might be more gentle with them. I was just thinking today that I am lucky in a way to run in a city, leaf mulch or dog poo tends to be the worst things I have to go through!

Greener, I would probably attempt the run again, unless it is repeated in the next session? I'll bet you will crack it next time.

I managed to complete W8R1 today. It actually felt better that the 25 minute runs last week, or at least no worse! The most difficult point is still the second quarter when Laura says I should be getting into my stride! I find my mind focusing on how long I have left to run, so need to get better at zoning that out and thinking about other things!

Oh, and talking of people making comments as you run ... I had two gentlemen sitting on the park bench (with their cans of Special Brew) say 'mornin darlin. You're doing well today'

Made me laugh

Thanks for the advice- my trainers are now looking (and smelling!) like new again after a gentle wash in the machine. It's annoying- the weather is beautiful today & I can't go running as I have DD all day.