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?

I can't believe I've finished Week 3....I'm strangely looking forward to Monday to see if I can do 5 minutes!

To Keepon, have you seen anyone about your foot? Maybe it could be easily fixed with insoles or something similar (hoping).

coolpatterngirl I was the same after week 3.
Week 4 is actually ok, because you do a 3 minute run first you're nice and warmed up for the 5 and Laura tells you when you're halfway through. When she says 2 1/2 minutes it actually doesn't feel like you've been going that long. Then she gives you a 60 second reminder and that spurs you on to finish the 5 minutes.

I've done the first run in week 5 and I'm due to do the second today.

Sorry to hear that Stopfaffing I hope that there is something that you can do to speed up recovery.**

I'm not sure about alternatives. How about a yoga or Pilates DVD or YouTube workout that won't take up as much space? I've done part of the 30 day Shred before and it's pretty hard on your joints - a lot of bouncing around. I haven't looked but I wonder if something like Amazon Prime do fitness workouts so that you could try a few before committing.

Managed to go out again today. Did 25mins but had a couple of 30sec walks up the hilly bits. Still didn't feel great but I am going to keep going with W7 until I can crack this 25mins. I forgot to stop my Garmin though when I'd finished and got in the car so it looked quite impressive when my summary showed a 30mph sprint finish down the dual carriageway!

Can I join? I did this a few years ago and ran a half marathon after a year. Was training for marathon when I got pregnant, ran for the first trimester but got terrible spd so stopped and I've been pretty sedentary since! DD nearly two and I'm finally losing baby weight so got started again tonight- w1d1 done, found it ok and really enjoyed it. My job is fairly active so I expect to start finding it harder week 3/4 (that's when I did last time!). I'm a good bit heavier than I was last time round so am hoping it will go ok.

Evening all!
I did w2r1 today. Although I was slightly dreading it as thought I would struggle it was surprisingly good! My knee twinged a bit on the second stint I carried on and it went away.
I took a slightly longer route than I intended so on top of the 31 min run/walk I had an extra 15 min walk. I didn't mind though as it was a nice day!

May I join you? Planning to start tomorrow, I've never run before, but after many years have some time to myself. I live in a hilly area though, so hope that doesn't spoil my plans! Also wondering what to wear at thistime of year? Feet, legs and bra sorted, but what about tops?

Hi Smart
I sympathise re the hills! So hard to find a decent stretch of flat round here (w Yorkshire) and it makes a difference.
I've been wearing sports bra, vest, running t shirt and thin jacket with pockets. I had thin jogging bottoms on but found I was a bit too cold so wore thicker today and just right.
Ideally I'd like one of those extra long hoodies (that cover your bum) and some sort of running leggings (eek Lycra? !). I think you can get running jumpers/jackets so have a pocket and not too thick, but I've yet to investigate.
Good luck for tomo!

My local area is hilly also. Definitely doesn't help. I wear a running t -shirt with a fitted running jumper/zip up top over it. Keeps me warm enough and dries quickly.

My next run is w5r3 but I haven't been to the gym since friday and I think I might have lost the momentum so I think I might do w5r2 again first (I'll keep putting that 20 min one off as long as I can!)

I'm going to the gym after work today so I'll see how it goes, I might be brave and at least attempt it.

Did it! Feeling fab now! Managed to find a route that was up for the 5 min walk and along the top of a hill for the rest, went to far before turning round and had an extra long walk at the end. My dog enjoyed it to, she normally stops to investigate lots of things,but was v focused and didn't stop once!

Well done smart! We are at roughly the same stage so- I did w1r2 this morning. Stupidly went at 6am without drinking anything so I was very thirsty but managed! Aiming to go again Thursday.

Hi all, just found this thread. I'm on week 5, did run 1 today. Really liking the programme; my aim is to complete it then to do regular Park Runs. I am also now doing Karate twice a week! Makes a change from in December, when I was doing no exercise at all. Not lost much weight as I was hoping, but I feel better. Need to work on my diet more to lose more!

I am so fed up with wet, muddy, hilly lanes. And now it's blowing a gale and hailing as well. I just can't bring myself to go out in this. Oh for a nice flat route and mild, dry weather :-(

Feel your pain jelly. I did w2r2 today and finished before getting back to my car. Cue a massive clap of thunder and a hailstorm, followed by snow. I did three extra runs on the way back to the car just cos it was freezing (and I felt able- progress?!)

W5r1 done! I haven't been well this week and probably shouldn't have run but I'm still alive!

W1 finished here. It was so cold this morning- nearly turned back after leaving house but kept going and ended up having to loop around my final portion as I went faster than before to warm up!

Week 6 run 2 done. The second ten minutes hurt. I think the next step is 25 minutes.

Posted before I meant to...

Keep going everyone!

Well done everyone!
I've got to say I'm starting to feel a bit intimidated by the leaps in timing- 10 mins to 25 mins

Booz, it is still gradual, then small breaks and then joining them up, if that makes sense.
I slowed my pace a lot when I did the 20 minutes. And made sure it was on a flat.
Don't panic.
I need to find good paced times to listen to. What does everyone listen to, if anything?

*tunes, not times.

I've just looked and week 6/7 onwards is 25/30 minutes with no walking
Now I'm slightly worrying.

Stellar- I did the programme originally several year ago, I was really worried about moving on to the longer runs but it was actually ok. I went really slowly but just focused on getting through it. And once I could do 30mins comfortably I worked on increasing my speed. I ran my first 10k only a few weeks after finishing the programme, and did it in 63mins which wasn't terrible for a complete beginner. And I did a half marathon 3 months after that so I really grew to love running. I'm embarrassed I've let myself get back to the point where running 90secs is a challenge.

I'm living in a much more hilly area now than before. I can't avoid them. Lots of long slow inclines interspersed with shorter steep ones, it will certainly make things more difficult!

To be fair, though it's only 3x pw, I have found that it gets easier. I think I need to increase my walking pace on warm up though as the first and second runs are the hardest!
Good to hear you found it easy enough to progress Rince. I really hope I can make it to the end and biggest ambition is to do ParkRun.
For music I just put my phone on shuffle. I find the pace of the music doesn't make much difference, I just like that I have something to focus on. Last week I didn't have music but have found it better to have it on quietly.
Yesterday I listened to a lot of Killers, before that it was Coldplay. DH swears by dance music to spur him on but I'm not a huge fan at the best of times!

rinceoir good to have some one at the same ish stage! I've name changed but just started this week!

W1r2 done, I found it a bit tougher, maybe because it was so, cold 3deg compared to 14deg when I ran on tues.

Big drawback though, when I get back I feel overexcited buzzing, then relaxed and I cba to do anything else for the rest of the day!

Fresh I'm similar- I have a pedometer app and once it hits 10k steps I do practically nothing!