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Original poster

Couch to 5k

41 replies

lovecake · 29/04/2015 13:17

I have started couch to 5k and I am finding it really hard. I am repeating week 1for a
second week as I cannot contemplate 90 seconds of running. I do manage to complete each running section in week one (8 lots of 60seconds) but I find it really difficult.
My question is (1) will it get easier? (2) should I wait till I find it easier to move to week 2 or do I just go for it?

OP posts:

AliaMairns · 20/05/2015 17:27

Going to go for my first run of week two tonight! That's if my legs let me, they have been tight for three days have been stretching but to no avail

Tinwe · 20/05/2015 20:32

Hope it went well avail. I just did W2R2 with a sore knee and achey muscles. Was so worried about injuring myself so took it very easy and I'm glad I made it round

I think the constant stiffness gets better with more frequent exercising alongside stretching. I remember being very stiff when I started C25k last time. I was particularly despondent when I was so stiff it interfered with an ahem intimate moment of celebrating my newly toned body with DH ?? (I considered quitting at that point! LOL). After a few weeks and with stretching it passed. I introduced Pilates alongside C25K last time and I think that helped keep me supple.

GlowWine · 20/05/2015 22:30

Tinwe I'm in week 2 as well, second time round. And still aching. I've done the 3 and I think I may do a 4th before moving on to week 3 at the weekend. I am restarting after a 6 month break form running, before that I had been running (just the 5k though) for about 3 years, got to it with C25K. First time used the MP3 podcasts with Laura, this time another app that doesn't have all the extra encouragement that you get from Laura, but I can play my own music. Tried the NHS app but the volume seemed too low and not audible over my (not very loud) music playing from spotify? What am I doing wrong? Android phone.

I remember the first time I started C25K, was after being a total non-sporty person all my life. My hips ached for weeks and weeks I have to say, I'd obviously never used them 'that way' despite walking a lot and cycling to work. This time it's just my leg muscles aching, but it's getting better....

Tinwe · 21/05/2015 07:48

Well done for getting back to it, we can be run buddies Glo! It's always good to compare and share moans with someone at about the same stage.

I was so pleased last time I completed the C25k because of the way it transformed my body and health I was convinced I'd found the way forward forever but then winter came and my mum became sick and passed away and we had to deal with her estate and I didn't run for about 18 months putting on more weight than I started with before the last cycle. I think my metabolism has slowed down, may be age related, but if I get the results I had last time I hope that this time it will stick!

Tinwe · 21/05/2015 07:49

No idea about the NHS app, sorry. I'm using map my run from last time. Works well for me

Tinwe · 21/05/2015 07:52

Having said that I pressed something wrong yesterday as I took a call in the middle of cool down and have accidentally marked that I've completed W2R3. I have the option of re running all week 2 or moving onto week 3...

AliaMairns · 21/05/2015 09:14

Well done everyone!

Having spoken to my brother who is training as a sports therapist, he tells me I should be running heel to toe. Then as I'm starting my run, NHS Laura says the same! Having only ever shuffled along on the balls of my feet before, this took a lot of getting used to - still not there yet and found last night very difficult but pleased I did it. Also when stretching, I found I could touch my toes for the first time ever in a long time. All this stretching must be doing some good!

Afraid I'm not sure about the NHS either GlowWine mine fades out the music when Laura talks

GlowWine · 21/05/2015 12:59

Tinwe does MMR actually make you re-run? Is there no other way of marking / unmarking individual days? Leave the first two days to play and complete through without running? I'm currently using 'c25k free' and it's up to me which day I play, means I need to keep track of my days/weeks tough. I keep my phone in my pocket so it doesn't track my distance, I have a separate running watch I use for that. Quite primitive really :-), I got the watch 2 years ago, well before I got the smartphone....

Yes the WINTER. First winter I ran through. including in ice and snow and freezing temps. Second winter I had a bad back that I needed to rest, so no running between Nov and Feb. When I picked it up I restarted in 10min intervals with walking and it worked well. Last winter I abandoned ship in late October and have just picked up again (a stone heavier and totally out of practice...)

AliaMairns well done, it's great when you can see improvements isn't it. Mine was when I realised that a hill I have to cycle over on my journey to work no longer left me breathless

Tinwe · 21/05/2015 23:48

Glow - sorry, my error. I AM using Map My Run to record my time/distance but the app which talks me through it is "Get running". I'm not 100% sure it would make me redo all 3 runs from week 2 but if I press "yes" to "re-run week 2" I think I might not have a choice to go back to week 3 if it DOES try to make me do the whole week of week 2. Hope that makes sense!

Tinwe · 21/05/2015 23:52

Just read the rest of your post, sorry -I can't let the app run through either as it makes you take at least a days break between runs. I would dearly love an app that a) lets you play your own music b)lets you work your way through the plan at your own pace c) measures distance and speed and records them all. Anyone know of one that does? I agree, it's quite complicated starting everything simultaneously

GlowWine · 22/05/2015 08:10

Here I am, another W2R3 under my belt. I promise to move on to w3 on Sunday

tinwe as I said my experience with apps is minimal, yours sounds pretty sophisticated. 'c25k free' fits the bill for me, and the NHS choices one seems not to work properly for me. When I start c25k free, it tries to get location information so I guess it would track something ? But really, and I'm sure you know this, at this point we really should not be worrying about speed or distance... I got my running watch a few years back when I had been doing my 30mins running for several months and realised that I was going further every time, and I got curious how much I was doing... I don't really want to wear my phone on my arm so I'll stick with it. And today I 'ran' less than 3k in 20min. When I get back to it my running pace I'm perfectly capable in doing 5k in 30mins but that is several months away still...

I read a good book called 'no need for speed' can't quite recall that author (John something?) he's a marathon runner and talks about the achievement of running and completing the distance and not get hung up about speed. It's out of print I got it from the library

Tinwe · 22/05/2015 08:16

Well done on another run Glo - you're right of course and I don't really note the speed as it doesn't mean much when I'm walking such big chunks now anyway. I like to compare my runs though to see if I've done further or whether there were more inclines etc if I found it harder than the last run. I also like to see how many calories it reckons I've used- that's a good motivator for me

GlowWine · 24/05/2015 08:25

So that's week 3 started. Phew the first 3min spell was hard, but ended just at the right moment . Not helped by my route having a slight uphill bit just then. But it's great how well the programme is designed, just the right amount of increase to make it achievable.

I'm not sure the calories are much of a motivator for me, I started running a year after I lost and kept off the 2 extra stone I'd been carrying since teenage... (I probably hadn't but that's how it always seemed to me! Size 16 forever). But in the course of 5 years, and despite fairly consistent running, they have now crept back on. So I'm under no illusion of what I will achieve, the proper weight loss will come by watching my diet a bit better again.

Howdidthathappen1 · 24/05/2015 16:47

Stupid question alert!! I've been investigating the c5k apps. Do you need one of those arm band phone holder things to carry and hear the voice telling you when to run / walk?

GlowWine · 27/05/2015 19:50

howdid well I carry my phone in my (zippered) back pocket and have headphones. The arm strap you need if you want to use your phone's GPS/location function to track your actual trajectory, assuming you app records that. And I suppose you would hear it speak to you as well.

AliaMairns · 28/05/2015 20:16

Oof I lost this thread! Just completed w2r3. I thought when starting this that my struggle would be chest / breath, but its infact my feet :( managed to get past strained hamstrings but I think I need proper trainers!

Will rtft back now but hope everyone is doing well

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