Couch to 5 K Its not about Speed (5!)

[addictedtosugar]

So, we seem to have filled up the 4th thread. Anyone want to join me here?

Hi Helenajustina and welcome!

When you get to the end of week 1 it will prompt you to sign up, which then immediately unlocks the other weeks.

Fantastic, thank you Bram, I currently exercise 4 hours a week so not totally unfit but all my classes stop over the summer and I thought I'd give this a go. Inspired by some friends who couldn't run for a minute 6 months ago, but have just done their first 10k!

I loathe running as am rubbish at it not good at trying things I might not be good at but am trying to think positive and embrace the challenge...

I'm glad you're bak in action Bramshott.

And welcome Helena. I didn't think I'd like running at all but I tried the NHS podcast and was surprised how addictive it is. Even after a bad day I still wanted to come back for more. Hope you like it too.

I have w7r1 tomorrow...

How long before people saw results in terms of fitness/weight loss/toning up?

Dismal About where you are now, when the runs were constant, was when I started shifting the lb's even tho I've put it all back on now a year later However, I'm still smaller than I was before I started, even if my weight has crept back up damm chocolate

Helena My NHS podcast from, I think, the i-tunes store allowed me to get all of the sessions in one go? Work won't let me access i-tunes to check tho!

Thanks addicted, that would make sense, I suppose and will beige me extra resolve to try to keep going this morning....

Morning all.

W7 completed yesterday and the last two runs were actually better, still knackering but I managed them slightly easier then the first one. I'm taking a break for a couple of days before I start week 8 for two reasons: I can't stand to run in the heat and temperatures are going to be around 30 degrees here and I have a slight twinge in my lower back (unrelated to running) so need to rest that for a bit.

Well done everyone, I love hearing about everyone's progress

I think you should make your resolve a more vibrant colour, dismal!

I suppose we must be fitter by default, but I see no sign of weight loss or tonedness yet. I expet I'll have to stop over-eating for that, though!

Wk7 r3 today, and it was quite hellish. Nothing different, other than it was pretty hot, even at 6.30 am. Nothing felt right, though, and I seemed to be lumbering clumsily even more than usual. About two minutes in, I almost went sod it and gave up, but forced myself to carry on. Luckily I finished it, or I'd have been furious with myself. Hopefully it was just a crappy run day, and I'll be back on form for the start of wk 8 on Friday.

Well, fuck me, that was a struggle!!

It's funny you should say that weasel, I am far from beige today: wearing a quite lurid pink running vest top thing: look like giant neon balloon

But I did it....!

Well done to everyone else, it's great to hear how others people are doing, gives me hope

Wow, everyone has been doing great the past week! After my really horrid W6R2 last Monday I had a very hectic week so didn't run at all. By Sunday I was feeling really rubbish and my eating habits had slipped again to eating junk. So forced myself to get out Sunday evening and did W6R1 again to ease back into it. So pleased I did as felt better immediately! Then faced W6R2 this morning and all was good. So hot already but that suits me! I will tackle W6R3 on Friday morning all being well.

Hi McButton and everyone.
Yes it's hot, I'd recommend moving your runs as far into the early morning or late evening a possible, I also found that running under trees makes an amazing difference to the temperature (ie its cooler). Sorry no doubt you all know this already. I'll shut up now, please let it be less than 17 tomorrow at 6am!

Well my W8R1 yesterday morning was not fun either. Not just the first 10 or last 5 minutes, nor in the middle. All the way through I felt like stopping. Which is a shame as I was so elated about how well my 'hilly' run went on Friday. All that said, I managed 4.5 km in 29 minutes (ran a bit too much because I did not hear properly my Podcast prompt for 1 minute remaining)

But I must say apart from minimal stiffness when I get up out of bed I don't seem to feel any after effects now, my legs seem to have got used to it. I get occasional twinge in my ankles or knees when running, then I just need to concentrate on properly placing my feet etc and so far it's always gone away.

About the weightloss or whatever: You will be fitter and eventually more toned (maybe), but the weightloss is not a given. I have to admit that I put ON a stone in the last year or two despite running, just because I was so tired of fighting the carbs. I lost 2 stone in 2010, started running the summr of 2011, not so much because I needed to lose the weight but because I wanted the exercise (never exercised or been in a gym all my life). Kept it up until last autumn. In that time it was my eating habits that affected my weight, not the amount of running I did. So despite me running again the last couple of months I am losing and regaining the same 2kg at the moment... I am fitter but still flabby...

Many people fall into the overcompensating error - a 30 min run is only about 300-400 cals which is easily eaten back in a chocolate bar or a soft drink and a couple of biscuits (because of course you deserve it after all that exertion...)

Did week 6, run 1 today. Was a bit hot but managed it. I even wore my new running stuff rather than holey leggings and DH's Tshirt,

I'm letting myself down a bit at the mo by eating a lot of crap though. Must get back to eating healthily.

I tried to run at lunchtime. Anything even approaching a slope was walked up. It was as HARD word.

Remember to drink enough in this heat.

Ran for 30 mins today but good grief it was hot. Even in Scotland.

Hello everyone. I was on another C25k thread but that seems to have died so I hope it's ok to join this one.
I am currently on week 5, I've been running for longer but had a calf injury which put me back a couple of weeks.
I'm running with my Ds who's 9 but he's on school residential this week so I'm on my own. I've
decided to run early in the morning because of the heat and I'm doing each run in week 5 at least twice!
Love hearing about everyone else's progress, especially those of you that are further on. It's very inspiring!

Good morning all . I tried and failed wk7 r3 on Monday ( stinky hangover and knackered ) so I am going to give it another go today . Wish me luck please . I might need it .

GOOD luck to everyone else who is out and running today .

Good luck Howlong and hello bathgirl! My DCs keep asking to come running with me but I haven't let them yet - I don't want to be shown up! Luckily I mostly run when they are at school.

A rest day running wise for me today. I will be in a lab wishing I was vegetating in the garden.....!

Hello bathgirl! I defaulted here too. Glad your leg's still on the mend.

Good luck Howlong! I dragged myself out this morning so you can do too . I can report that it felt much better than Monday.

W6r1 completed this morning. It was hot hot hot but I love running in the sunshine. I overtook a jogger today ? ok, so he might have been a little lot older than me but nevertheless I felt pleased.
My run didn't register on my c25k app so I'll going to do that one again. I dont mind as I quite liked the 5/8/5 minute runs.

Started this on Sunday with DH. I've run on and off for years, did the London Marathon last year but hurt my knee last May. No improvement after physio,acupuncture, nothing major seen on xray or MRI. I found that running doesn't make it worse so we are giving it a go!

Did W1 R2 today but it has not logged on the app! Will I have to do it again to progress to week 2?

Argghhh I ran the app through again while having a shower and it has just replaced my R1...

Well I did it . I did slow down the last five minutes but I didn't give up and walk so that is a win . Thank you for the luck ,it worked .

wk 8 next which is ridiculous!

I did week 7 run 3 last night, really pleased. It was hard, mainly because it was the fourth consecutive day I had run - but not too hard, despite the heat. Onto week 8 tomorrow, 28 minutes. Once I get to 30 minutes I am going to work on speed and get up to a decent 5K speed. Then Parkrun on a Saturday, I noticed that my daughter's athletics club seems to have a load of parents who run while their kids are training - all sorts of possibilities seem to be opening up.
Good luck everyone.

Ran the first run of week 3 ( for the third time!) at 6a.m this morning and it was quite hot then so glad I didn't leave it later.
No running till Friday now, Ds is back so I will probably run in the evening.
Well done to everyone running the longer distances, particularly in this heat.