C25k get your encouragement here.

[StripyHorse]

As the last thread has been going so well, with graduates aplenty, here's a new thread for encouragement. Everyone is welcome!

Cavagirl I bought these ones but tbh I could have bought any of about 10 similar offerings on amazon. They’re pretty good, though they did lose connection on a run the other day when it was raining and I had my phone in my leggings pocket. If you want in ear ones I’d suggest looking for ones that look quite small, DH has some that I initially thought I’d borrow but turns out they were too big for my ears!

I keep my phone either in pocket on the side of leggings (iuga ones from amazon), or in a very sexy bumbag thingy that DH got given as a work freebie.

Misandry nooo! I am hoping I will grow to love running, otherwise I know I won’t keep it up once the c25k finishes.

@Jibberoo don't know if you use a Fitbit or app to track your run but most can be set to buzz or tell you every km or set period of time.
When I finished C25K I set mine to buzz every 5 minutes so I had an idea of where I was.

I don't worry now as I go a set route and know I have to run to the end point but it helped me in the early days.

I agree the time prompts are too far apart at that stage.

You've inspired me to try some music for my run tomorrow (unless DS is coming in which case we'll chat i.e. he'll talk and I'll gasp a few replies 🤣).
Will have to select my tunes carefully, I fear if I listened to trance I'd head out ridiculously fast and stray too far into the heart attack zone. Maybe it's just what I need to speed up a bit, planning to work on my pace although can't work out best way to go about it. Currently averaging 7.4 mins / km, which is an improvement on the 8.2 average a month ago!

@schoolcook I didn't know that I will definitely try it.
@LakeFlyPie I asked my son to do a run with me once - unfortunately my "run" was his fast walk and he was laughing so hard I sent him home. Little toad doesn't know how to jog, when he was running during summer I had to cycle to keep him company (he's only 11 so can't let him go by himself). My little dog is my trusty companion but he's rubbish at small talk.

Jibberoo - I was amazed how encouraging my DC were and that they didn't mock my pace, they did ask if that was my 'running' the 1st time they came out with me but have been very sweet and encouraging (although DS2 seems to have given up on us now). DS1 (12) comments that we're definitely going faster every run (even though Strava seems to think the pace is pretty static!).
I would like to run with DDog, we do have a running lead with belt but he's a bit of a dick and I fear he'll just run in front of me and trip me up or try and stop and sniff the bushes every 2 minutes. Maybe in the spring when it's a bit lighter (he's black and difficult to see in the dark) and I'm a bit more of a confident runner.

lakeflypie I run with a dick of a dog on a belted lead, he has done the whole program with me and 9 weeks later we are getting to the point where he understands slow and isn't constantly trying to pull me along faster. I think he finds me very annoying as my run is just a slight toddling walk for him and his long legs and endless muscles.
If you have a big dog one thing that has helped make it more realistic for me to run with him is to make sure it isn't his first walk of the day, he goes out with a dog walker for 1.5 hours in the morning and then I run with him in the evening. The few times i've tried to take him in the morning i've spent most of the run shouting at him to stop pulling me

Dogs definitely need training to run with people (or as slow as even fast people). My dog was in a gentle trot when I was flat out... even as an old boy!

Just done Wk 3 Run 1. When I looked at timings my reaction was 'X minutes running, OUTRAGEOUS.'

No Jo Whiley due to technical issues. Felt exposed lol. Didn't realise it was raining until I left home. Started too quick and had mild heart attack. Got into it after that focusing on breath. Someone was having a bonfire which always gets into my chest. Cold hands trying to look at Fit Bit. Accidentally pressed pause on last run, had to estimate. Seemed quite a short week, must check did it properly. Overall enjoyed the challenge of a longer run, at least my lungs loved it. Legs slightly seized up when back due to walk back in cold. Thermal running leggings and fingerless gloves needed.

Ps I think I run like an old lady with piles, that's what I thought today.

Ah well done @User258544 I'll be joining you on W3 later this week!
Bit scared about 3 mins!! Thanks a lot for your report that makes me feel like it might be doable if painful!

@Cavagirl I got an arm strap for my phone. Only tried once and did not take phone out of case so felt too heavy. Will try again. I think I got it on Wowcher for 6 quid. Decathlon probably do them.

Ah great! My phone seems a bit too large for my arm(???) but if it's cheap I might try it.
Thanks so much schoolcook and minipie for your recommendations too, really appreciated. I'm now being indecisive on amazon

Hi, can I join in.

I started C25k in March doing laps of the garden. Then got hooked on joe wicks.

Now I’ve got a running machine and tried a run there, but don’t seem to be able to run on it. So today I braved the outside and possibly getting spotted shuffling along.

I’ve completed w1 and should have gone to w2 but felt a bit worried on my first actual run in public. 60 secs of running still feels hard. It’s much harder outside than in the running machine.

I’m determined to do this. 10 years ago and pre DC I did 10k runs and was fit. Now 60 secs is hard and I taste blood.

I need to do w2 next time I think. My headphones were cutting out so I couldn’t always hear Jo. She’s much better than Sarah for motivation, only because I keep thinking Sarah wouldn’t actually run!

Hi guys, checking in for the first time in a while. Love Jo Whiley - I've now switched to Laura for a change but I miss Jo. Sanjeev crashed on me which was rude of him!

I've been doing it on and off since April, still not quite graduated but as long as I'm still running sometimes it's better than nothing.

I have got to week 7 but haven’t been running for a week since it’s been freezing!
What winter running gear do you all have?

Well done @DobbyTheHouseElk !
I know what you mean about running in public, 2 things keep me going:

1. no one really gives a shit about you, they are too busy with their own lives
2. I quite enjoy running past people and thinking, if they notice me, they'll imagine I'm a runner and I'm just "out for a run" as opposed to clinging on for the remaining 30s of the interval before I get to walk again.... they'll never know 🤣

Planning to do the last run of week 9 today and actually looking forward to it (complete madness) even though I managed 5km on my last run i'm going with the mentality of the goal is still 30 minutes then we will see how I feel about carrying on. Its bloody hot today though I need to get some running shorts or 3/4 leggings I am much more equipt for the current British weather than I am for the African summer.

Hi all!

Dobby it’s amazing how fast the fitness comes back, I’m on week 5 (eek) and I no longer cough up my guts after the end of the session even with 5 minute runs now. In my case I have never been fit or run before so you’re ahead of me!!

superoz I wear a thin fleece zip up jacket over a long sleeve base layer which does quite well, it’s a bit chilly on the warm up walk (I run a bit of it to warm up) but fine once I get going. I do see people with jackets tied round their waist but I haven’t got hot enough to do that yet!

Cavagirl yes! They will never know! If I look exhausted and sweaty they’ll probably think I’ve just done 8k.... right?? (This doesn’t work so well when I am doing laps of the park and pass the same people over and over, but let’s ignore that...)

Deepintheforest I’m so envious of your summer. It’s baltic here.

I don’t have special running clothes. I have a old pair of trainers, not used since I used to run. They seem ok.

Leggings and a long sleeve top. Gillet for my phone and headphones to dangle out of .

It’s been cold so I haven’t got overly warm, but when I got home I was a bit sweaty.

I don’t cough or anything, maybe I’m doing it wrong. I have been exercising regularly, cycling and walking but I do anything to avoid running. DH is a runner, he does 20 miles twice a week.

I do feel a bit dizzy when I go into the walking sections, but I wonder if that’s real or a panic attack trying to stop me.

I am overweight. But this year I’m in better shape due to lockdown exercise so I feel ok trying this. So far no one I know has seen me. Only random dog walkers. Where I go it’s fairly quiet, but very open.

I need to do my next run tomorrow, but I’m working so will have to wait til Thursday unless I go in the afternoon when it’s getting dark and have the DC with me.

What music does everyone use? I signed up to Apple Music, but it was cutting out lots.

With regards to the cold I'm still going out in 3/4 lengths a vest and long sleeve fingerless gloves (sexay) and I'm still sweaty as hell when I am done.

Not sure how much longer this strategy will work but surely it will be spring soon

The dreaded week 5 run 3 done and you know what, it was fine. I’ll do it again at least once - and maybe once on hills - just for the consolidation. But it was fine. Incredible! AND on my warm down walk a very fit man-in-Lycra type who was cycling past actually CHECKED ME OUT !!! That literally never happens, I am just a very average middle aged lady wearing saggy black cotton leggings and a very old lightweight waterproof jacket with half the buttons missing.

Love it @Misandrylovescompany

Well done Misandry! I’m hitting that one later this week... erk.

@minipie it really is fine - she tells you every five minutes so just treat it like four runs of five minutes and the longest you have to wait for her to speak is five mins which feels very doable as long as you pace yourself well, keep it slow and all that.

I am sneakily marking a place, I need to do this. Started a couple of years ago, then life,work, second baby etc got in the way. I need to buy some new trainers as even my feet are fatter since the children!

Welcome @NurseP ! I need to upgrade my trainers too. It helped so much when I moved on from my ancient Skechers.