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 - thanks for asking. I did week 2 run 1 today in the rain; went well and it was achievable after week 1. I bought myself headphones and phone/iPod holder as I was spending too much time adjusting them. I run on rough ground, in a forest more or less, it's very peaceful but I wonder if it makes a difference... I have to be pretty careful of tree roots etc

Forgot to say well done rowing boat on starting week 8!! And also to answer the question I am with Laura on the nhs choices app

Only fitted in 2 runs last week so repeated the 20 mins continuous run... And did it both times Don't think I have EVER run for 20 mins in my life so I'm incredibly pleased with myself. And for the first time am confident I'm going to get to 30 mins.

Tomorrow I'm actually joining a local running club to do c25kk which I signed up for ages ago. Hopefully it'll keep me motivated.

RJ I havent managed straight through. Had sore knees in about week 3 and a dodgy tum in week 6 (I think) so repeated. I think there were other people who were scared of week 7. I was!

Raggy well done! A forest sounds lovely and had the added benefit of keeping the rain off. I run in a park, with cut grass so no big tufts bits, tried to keep under the trees today but not enough trees to stop me getting drenched. How did you find it?
Knowler well done on the runs. Once you know you can do longer runs the whole thing seems more manageable I think. Where are you running?

Rj, I'm only on week 2 so looking ahead is a big no no (90sec to 30min ha ha ) but the next run doesn't seem so bad so I'm just going to keep going with my week 4-8 blinkers on !

Quick question - do I have to always have the rest day even when I am only running for 90sec? I feel fine today and would like to run??

Hi Rowing, I run either on the path or across cut grass, so always outside. Running on the path is loads easier. I think my course tonight is likely to be on the grass though so will be interesting to see how i get on.

rowing hey that's great progress! Go for it, you're nearly there!
About the rain: I don't wear makeup in everyday situations so can't advise . But I got myself some waterproof or sweat-resistant headphones, there are plenty available, and they've proved reliable. I've managed to stay quite dry recently, but I think I'll have to face heavy rain tomorrow morning.

Raggy where you run does make a big difference: as you've already noticed, tree roots and uneven ground require more concentration. Running on grass noticeably slows me down, I guess because it absorbs some of your energy, but it's probably better for your joints! Even ground makes life easier...

raggy you are supposed to have a break day to give your muscles time to recover, even if you feel fine (I think). If you're not used to exercise pushing too hard too quickly could lead to lasting damage or injury. I suspect there is an extensive FAQ on the NHS Choices web site where the podcasts are?

I guess I need to stop looking ahead and scaring mysekf!

I'm pretty fit in general but I can't run (yet)

Niall,
Hoare you all getting on?
Raggy did you do more than three runs?
Knowler did you do your grassy run?
RJ are you forging ahead?
Glow I didn't realise grass running was slower. I have only run on the Tarmac a tiny bit ages ago and my leg started to hurt at the side. It would probably be better now because my legs seem to be stronger. Funny when you look back at all the aches and twinges at the start. They're just gone now.
I had a bit of a set back this week, didn't manage my week 8 run 2. Not sure exactly why, but I hadn't been sleeping and felt a bit groggy. Just managed 10 minutes. So rubbish. So tonight I did a week 7 run of 25 mins. I didn't even think I would manage that, but it was fine. Funny how the confidence goes. So will do week eight next week - again!
My thighs are getting a bit hooge and they weren't small in the first place. Has anyone had this and it has gone down? Hopeful.

I got predictived!
Niall?
I like 'hoare you'. :0)))

Hi rowing and all!

My race is today! II couldn't sleep past 5am, grumble. My running last week has been back to extra-pathetic, I can't make myself keep going for longer than 15mins and then I walk/run to about 4k... I will finish in 16mins today - not a patch on the 14 I managed in the last two years.... When out running in the mornings recently I've been meeting a young super fit woman running, properly running, the other way and looking super comfortable. I bet she's racing today. Compared to her I'm doing a gentle jog!

On the other hand, some of the ladies on my team are doing half marathons, and are regular park runners. Some of them are probably size >XL, and may well run more slowly (hence our team name 'mixed pace'), but I am mentioning this to show you that speed isn't everything, and you can be aa regular and successful runner whatever your size.

A funny thing yesterday: I took my Life in UK test yesterday (long term immigrant here!!) and the question I knew comfortably was about who ran the first 1-minute Mile! I'm doing Chariots of Fire Relay today which takes that event as it's inspiration! BTW we've raised more than £750, feeling very pleased!

Happy running everyone! We can do it!

Hi everyone! Feeling very proud this morning - I've been going a little bit further each time and today I did 5K in 30 mins! Not doing anything clever, just trying to run faster for some parts of the run. It's just built up over the last few weeks.

Good luck for your race today glow You can do it!

Rj The first time I did Cto5K I did all the weeks straight through (but always with a rest day in between!) and it was fine. But just after I finished I hurt my ankle and had to rest up for a few weeks, then start again. The second time through I skipped some of the early runs but repeated the 20 minute runs for a couple of weeks to feel really sure my joints were up to it before I moved on. I run on pavement which is faster but hard on the joints. And now I avoid steep hills - not easy where I live! - for the same reason.

Dontdoit WELL DONE! Enjoy your achievement.

I did the race and we (6 'veteran' ladies) finished the relay in c. 1h31m, official times will be published tomorrow. We're pleased with that, even if we were amongst the last dozen or so to finish (380 teams entered). I did my leg in just over 14minutes which I feel quite chuffed about. I guess you can push harder when you know you will be stopping after the next 4minutes or so. The overall winners did it in well under 50 - unbelievable.

Oh and please ignore everything I spouted about running history in my earlier post. My test question was about the 4minute mile run by Roger Bannister of course, and that has nothing to do with the events that inspired the film Chariots of Fire.

Thanks glow! Really well done in the relay race!!

Hello all. I'm marking my place in preparation for restarting the programme after a break from running. I'll be doing the 10k training program but it's essentially the same as c25k for the first half.

Hi all, I've lurked on this thread for ages and have found the inspiration to build up from couch to a 10k run at the end of January through hearing all your successes. Started the c25k NHS podcasts and have just completed my week 4 run 1 and am feeling so happy with myself I wanted to share with people who would get it, my OH doesn't get running and thinks I'm slightly bonkers to be doing this! Anyway off to collapse now.

Well done, racing glow!

I took a couple of weeks off running as I had a horrible throat virus and felt terrible. I was worried I'd completely lose it, but I'm back doing my slow lumbering 30 mins! The break really knocked my confidence, though, and once I was out of routine I kept really having to push myself to get up and go out. Think I'm a bit more settled in it all again now, which is good, as I wanted to be comfortable in my 30 mins come what may before it got too wintry. Bit worried about my route when it's too dark to run round the local unlit park at 6.30 am.

Well done glow in relay.

I have just completed week 3 and very much looking forward to week 4. I have been brave enough to look ahead and I can't believe by end of next week I'll be running for 20min !!

Yes I did run 2 consecutive days during week 2 but I wouldn't choose to do it again as I notice a real improvement when I've had a rest day whereas when I ran the next day it was exactly the same as the previous run.

I am managing 4 runs per week though even with rest days so hoping to get to 5k/30m a bit sooner than the 9 weeks.

Congratulations to DontDoIt and Glow - both great achievements there, and it's so nice to see!

Welcome also to all the newcomers to the thread, you can definitely do it and should already be proud of yourselves for starting all this. I hope sharing your own successes (and troubles, if you're more like me!) is as helpful and encouraging as it has been for me!

Sad to say I've been dealing with a family illness and bereavement over the last couple of weeks, so despite my best intentions the running has rather dropped off. Got back to it yesterday but am actually surprised by how hard it's knocked me - I tried one run while everything was going on and barely managed 20 minutes (just felt too physically whacked by grief I think), but leaving that one aside, in two weeks I've dropped from managing 30 minutes to only managing 24, which is not fantastic. Hoping it bounces back reasonably quickly now though, as not sure I can face doing the whole last few weeks again. Am trying to be reasonably kind to myself, but at the same time I don't want this to be an excuse or reason for losing all my hard-won progress, if that makes sense, so trying also to screw my determination back up and get on with it.

Deineira sorry to hear your sad news and well done in continuing to run. It is exhausting and any normal exercise is probably good. I hope it helps you to feel more normal and a bit more relaxed. Take care of yourself. Big c25k hug from me!

Glow well done on your leg. Are you planning another run with the group or does it wind down for winter?

Dontdoit well done on your big running!

Everyone's doings so well

I tried to get on last night, but there was yet another mumsnet technical problem. Im starting To think it's personal. :0))
I am redoing week 8 after not managing the second run due to falling asleep on my round the park (not really, but not far off). Have just realised this is the last week of my app. It just says 'run 5k!' For next week. Am in shock. I feel my app has abandoned me. It's like being shoved out of a nest onto the payment.

Hi everyone, welcome newcomers, as I keep saying over and over, it's totally do-able take the programme at your pace, repeat days or weeks if you have to but you will get there in the end. And sorry for repeating this bit as well: apart from cycling to work etc, I've beem pretty non-sporty all my life, I've never yet set foot in a gym but this has improved my fitness amazingly. At 40++

Deianeira sorry to hear about your loss, I don't think anyone will blame you for taking a break. Well done on getting back though!

rowing no the race is an annual event and our team, different every year, trains separately we only get together on the actual day. It's amazing how the environment of a race can influence you. I was going second last, most teams were already on their last runner (you have different coloured numbers), with loads and loads overtaking me! I stuck to my stride but seem to have speeded up. Back to normal today.

Ah yes end of app: the first time round I ran with NHS Laura (could not get her to work this time), and kept the final mp3 for months before switching to my own music. But YES you've made it! Nearly...

I think I do a slightly different app to everyone (5k runner) but just completed W7R3 which is 25min run. Felt the additional 5mins from my last run on Tuesday it was horrible... really struggled but kept going. I think because the sun was making me feel so hot today and on Tuesday I ran in the rain and did ok. Dreading the weekend as it goes up to 28min but I only have 3.5 weeks until my charity run so I am not giving up. Slightly worried as I have been having a problem with my right knee mainly when I walk but now I noticed a twinge in my left ankle today. Off to the osteopath for something else today so might ask her to check it. Not entirely sure what the point of this post is really.. maybe just needed to vent and stop beating myself up about struggling today. I keep telling myself that since the middle of August I have gone from struggling to run 1 min to being able to do 25min (3.6km) which is pretty good going. Just wish I had started training a little earlier. Anyway vent over, very impressed with how everyone is doing.

I switched to the Zombies Run app after I finished the programme. I like listening to the story and being sporadically chased by zombies has helped me up my pace a tiny bit!

I've got to the end of season 1 and it recommends you do its race missions before you go on to the next season of stories. There are two each of 5k, 10k and 20K!! Don't think I'll quite manage them as I'm only doing about 3.5k at the minute... I might have a go at the 5k and hope that I can do the others in stages. The trouble with me is I get quite obssessive about following programmes, and if I deviate it puts me off the whole thing. This kind of all or nothingism isn't really a helpful attitude.

weaseleyes what's the zombie run app? Sounds like fun but I couldn't find it in the App Store.

Hi everyone

I JUST RAN 20 MINUTES WITHOUT STOPPING!

I have never done that in my life. The last three minutes I did feel sick but I did it.'
I think that's the biggest jump in the plan - from 8 to 20 minutes. I am so pleased.

Well done everyone else. Stick at it it does work - I am proof!