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

[CruCru]

Would you all like to join me here?

Crappy - how old is DD?
My 5 yr old adores jumping on his bike and coming out with me.
The 3 yr old loves the idea, but not the reality!

I'm guessing yuo don't live near me - grey fog and drizzle here ;(

I love the idea of washing trainers. I've never thought to do it.
I've got a sore throat and am worried I'm coming down with a cold. I'm going to go running this evening as I'm working this weekend, although I am worried that it will make it worse I really hope I don't get ill as that's what has been the trigger for me to stop before.

DD is 3. She'd be fine for the warm up walk and then she would whinge that She was tired/ hungry/ both.
My fingers are crossed for no rain tomorrow.

Genius idea! Going to walk ds the 20min to school (he starts at 12) then run home. Not only does it save time but it's downhill all the way!
Also saves on petrol lol

Did my run last might, 20 minute and 5 minute intervals. Felt good, but this morning my right knee is aching like mad and my throat feels like razor blades! Arghh. Not a happy bunny.
Spidey, your plan, however, soundalike s really good idea. Enjoy your run home.

Not 20, 10 minute interval. Sorry, I'm on my phone.

I just about managed W8R2 today. My hairdresser says that my face looks slimmer - cue more wrinkles then!!

Unfortunately, I forgot to stop map my run so it has recorded a two and a half hour session - my split time for the final K is pretty dreadful as I was showering and at the hairdresser around the corner!

Spidey, yes great idea. I try to do this, it saves time, as well as petrol! I count the walk there as my warm up and skip straight to the running. It does mean I am more likely to be spotted but I don't care about that so much any more.

Wise, maybe ice your knee and take some ibuprofen?

I got scared, I walked ds to school then decided to do a fast walk away from school so I wouldn't be spotted (it's a busy road) I didn't start to run till I was almost home so I made a loop through the estate and through the little park (it's a field with a broken swing) I ran all the way home that way with only one stop for about 30seconds to cross a road map my run says almost 1k. Not counting the half hour of walking before. I'm annoyed at myself I wanted to try to run at least most of the way.
Still it's 1k in one go further than I would've made it a few months ago.

1k sounds better than 1/2 a mile.
I'm really annoyed at myself because I know I can do better.

Well done daft
And spidey well done, too. I got spotted by several people when I started and found it really embarassing at first. However, I only got positive comments and as I ran more, I got more confident, so it doesn't bother me now. As you said, you ran 1k more than you could a couple of months ago, so that's an achievement in its self.
I'm dosed up on voltarol. Not been able to rest my knee as I e been at work. I'll have to wait and see how it feels tomorrow and decide then whether to run or not.

Finished week 3 today doing it with the buggy and DD (husband works silly hours), found it okay. Can't wait to start week 4 but not sure when I'm going to get a chance and don't want to start the week with the buggy. Well done all. I tried running back in the summer but just doing my own thing and gave up so I'm really glad I'm actually enjoying it and looking forward to the next time I can go... (I'm sad).

WiseKneeHair - I was having trouble with me knees and brought some special insoles from boots for my trainers which seem to have done the trick but they were £25!

ChuckNovice - do you have a proper running buggy? Have been thinking of getting one of these.

Spidy - so glad to still see you on here - not been on for a while and was wondering how you were getting on.

I managed w5d3 today on the 2nd attempt. If you had told me that I would manage 20 mins running 3 months ago I would have laughed in your face. Felt amazing. Good luck to all those in the early weeks,

Red cliff I managed to get a 10 year old Mountain Buggy off Ebay for £20 then I got it free as it had a puncture. It's doing the job well though.

Hello everybody, I haven't been on this thread for ages. Nice to 'see' lots of new faces as well as some familiar ones. I've got some catching up reading to do.

Do any of you have any sort of sport drink after a run? I got some free samples of some of the tablet ones that you dissolve in water. They are the electrolyte ones, with no sugar or anything. I found they help as sometimes my legs would get a bit crampy on the nights I'd run, even short distances.

I'm about to start week 8 now. Can't believe how quickly I've improved and how much I'm enjoying it.

I headed uphill on my last run. Hit it a bit too fast and was a bit out of puff but slowed down and kept running. I think the uphill climb lasts about an kilometre or so with a steeper bit for the first few hundred metres.

Hello everyone - I'm glad to see you're still at it Spidey. I've had a few set backs so I have not improved on 8k from September!! I have done 2 x 5k this week - just need to keep it up. Any ideas for sore heels? I feel like one of mine is bruised, but also that it might be coming from a weak ankle? (I am 13 stone mind - for those who have been here a while that's a whole stone less than the middle of the summer!!)

I haven't managed to get out this week properly which is gutting as I should be on my final week now. Ds is ill again and has been off school all week and I had dd throwing up on Tuesday too. I did a really short run back from school whilst dh was with ds which knackered me but I did run my fastest split 1k - although it was still slow :-)

Re: sore heels, I would consider whether it is plantar fasciitis. I have suffered from this and now use inserts which sound the same as Redcliff's. There are also exercises you can do and icing with a frozen bottle of water. The inserts I now use in all my shoes and try to wear fit flops in the summer rather than more traditional, flat soled, flip flops.

Mayvis, it sounds as though you are doing really well. I still struggle with W8 and there is no way I would manage hills! I keep channelling Laura's 'it's not about speed but building stamina. The most important thing is to keep going' as I shuffle along!

Does anyone else find that this thread crashes when they try to read it using the app? It only seems to happen with this thread bizarrely. When using safari, I can't read threads once they get half full as that crashes my old iPad. Luckily, dd has at long last bought her iPad mini that she has been saving up for all year and so I have been using that - it is a dream! Unfortunately, I can only use when she is not around (or when I have confiscated it) ;-)

Daft- I've had the dreaded plantar before. I wondered about that as I hobbled out of bed this morning! It is worse when I havent been on my feet for a while. I've also had displaced heel pads from falling down the stairs but that feels like you're walking directly on the bone and i don't think it's that. I'll seek out the inserts I think. Thank you.

There was a whole exhibition at the London museum of childhood I think of things teachers had confiscated! It sounded really good. I wonder if it's still on as I really want to get to London for the Grayson perry one too.

Hi all.

I am contemplating starting and want to buy the app. Can I ask how you know how far you've gone and when to change from running to waking? Stupid questions I know. How can you time yourself? With a watch? Or do you just run, walk run etc. any advice?

Hi lagoon- not a stupid question!! You don't need to buy an app unless you want to. Google couch to 5 k NHS and listen to one of the podcasts. You'll hear there is a voice over telling you when to start running and when to stop, with helpful interjections like 'you're halfway through'.

You can download from iTunes - I use an old iPod touch. I can't tell how far I've gone til I put it into mapmy run online, but you can get that as an app I think. The distance doesn't matter at all though. Just run and walk when you're told!

Other key things are get good trainers if you can (not always very expensive), I have a decent bra as it makes it loads easier. But mostly trust in the program and get started- it works! Good luck and let us know how you get on

I've watched threads for 3 years añd my need for advice has led me to register! I've started 'running' to encourage my son to run between his coaching sessions and competitions and amazingly I am enjoying it! But, my body is irritating me... Even going downhill hurts. The c25k programming i follow had me slow running for 45 mins today and I did 5k but from 2 to 4 k I had to alternate running and walking. Strangely I could run the last 1km. Sometimes the front of my ankles hurt, sometimes my knees then my calves then my feet go numb. Will things improve?

Welcome Lagoon. stillearning has pretty much said it all. I downloaded the NHS podcasts onto an old mp3 player, and use mapmyrun to see how far I've gone. I don't know what I did for the first few weeks, but by week 5, was doing 4ish km over the whole thing (ie warm up, run bit and cool down) I know several people don't like the cheesy music that comes with it, but I'm obviously not very discerning!

knackeredknees that doesn't sound good. If your doing 45 mins, I'd guess you've been running for a while? I think I'd google some ankle and knee strengthening exercises, and calf stretches. I've had good results with stopping shin splints with toe flexes, and stretching after the cool down walk. I think numb feet is something that should be investigated, as it doesn't sound right.

Addicted, only been running 4 weeks. This is the third session of Runkeepers couch25k programme. I honestly feel if I went slower I would stop! I take little steps and worry mums pushing prams will overtake me! I was hoping my aches were common. I jog until I hurt then walk until it feels better. I think I will persevere slowly, may borrow my son's trainers to see if they help.

I do think knee and ankle strengthening exercises are a fab idea, done some ankle ones and will investigate others. Thanks for your advice, my aim is to do a park run. At the moment I run in the dark as I am so embarrassed at how red I look, need to get fitter so I can run in daylight for a park run!