Current couch to 5k friends?

[PurpleDaisies]

I’ve done this before but due to getting covid and an injury, I’m having another go to get back into running. Just done my first run (I thought week 4 might be roughly the right place to start) and remembered why I both love and hate running!

Anyone else interested in some motivational chat? I’m guessing lots might start in Jan but I’m trying to get ahead of the game!

Well done @PurpleDaisies!! Seriously impressive. I hope you had a glass of water, a banana and a hot shower: you deserve it!

@PurpleDaisies WOW!! Check you out. Well done, you must be feeling incredible.
Lots of couch to 5k friendly treats, don’t go too wild will you 😆 brilliant. YOU did it!

Thanks for the earphone and phone /jogger tips 😊

Thank you everyone. I can report I had a mini blueberry frangipan cake and a long hot shower. I’d arranged to meet dh in a cafe at the end of the run and he’d bought a card which was nice. The only issue was my feet were absolutely sodden and I hadn’t thought to ask him to bring dry socks and shoes. Rookie error! Couldn’t feel my feet by the time we got home. I’ve decided my finishing treat is going to be some running socks. Rock and roll! No bananas in sight.

I’m planning on getting my next run done on Monday. I haven’t decided whether to repeat the last week of podcasts or use my watch to just time 30minutes.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Belated well done @PurpleDaisies! To finish the final run, and then do an extra 1.5 km after the cool down is brilliant. Reading about how amazing it feels to finish is one of the things keeping me motivated.

I did W7R2 this morning, and ran the furthest so far, 3.49km. I had quite a few moments of feeling that it was really hard work, then at the end found my average pace was a fair bit faster that my last run so I think that explains it feeling hard. I think I need to remember it's not a race and to slow down a bit as I don't want to increase my pace too quickly as don't want to risk further injury.

Well done @RichardMarxisinnocent I think week 7 is a tough step up from previous weeks, at least it has been for me anyway!

I completed w7r3 this morning, and I’m trying not to dread the start of week 8 too much.

I seem to be getting a stitch type pain around about where the back of my bra sits on the right hand side, any ideas what might be causing this? It only seems to have been happening this week.

I’m just back from a 5km run. First one since finishing. I just used my watch to time it and I was surprised how much I enjoyed not having the comments. I definitely paid more attention to the surroundings and it was a gorgeous day here. Very happy me!

Good luck for week 8 @WeAllLikeVindaloo. I didn’t find it as much of a step up as I’d expected. I have no wisdom on your stitch. Hopefully it will just go away.

I’ve had exactly the same with pace @RichardMarxisinnocent, thinking I’ve been crawling along but then realising I’d gone too fast. I’m thinking as we get more experienced at running we’ll know more instinctively how fast to push. Avoiding injury is definitely a good plan!

Thank you all! Good luck for week 8 @WeAllLikeVindaloo. I hope your stitch goes away, not sure what it could be. I plan to do W7R3 on Wednesday, and then probably 2 more 25 min runs before moving to week 8.

Good to know it's not just me who has no idea how fast or slow I am going @PurpleDaisies, I think you're right that with experience we'll get to know how fast to push. Or at least runners I've watched on YouTube seem to, so fingers crossed we will too! It must be odd not having someone telling you how long you've run for and giving encouragement, but glad to hear you enjoyed it.

Just finished W8R3 & feeling very pleased with myself. Two days off now & then (hopefully) the Park Run. I bribed myself out of the door at daybreak with the promise that if it rained too much I was allowed to give up & go home but I ended up entering a zone where I was genuinely surprised when Denise told me I only had 5 minutes left to go. My daughters have made me a Taylor Swift running playlist & I must say I'm absolutely loving it.

Can I join? I am half way through week 4 but have had to stop for a few days as I've a horrible cold. I will and try and start back where I was (week 4 involves two 5 mins run) but might need to skip back a week.

I'm with Denise L but it is annoying that the voice over doesn't pause anything else you're listening too (I tend to listen to podcast). Nothing against Denise but I'd be happy with less chat really!

One question - does anyone have any recommendations for something that will hold a phone and keys? I've a travel bum bag but it's quite bulky. Thank you!

Well done on your run @januarysnowdrop, glad the rain didn't defeat you. Hope Park run goes well. I need some different music to run to. I've been using the same few "running" playlists on amazon music but could do with a change.

Welcome @WobblyLondoner! If you've only had a few days off you might find you're OK to pick up where you left off - I'm only running twice a week so often have 3 days off between runs. But equally there's no harm in stepping back a week if you need to. I can't recommend anything I've used for keys and phone as I'm using a bum bag too, mine is a Nike one I found in a sale, its probably not quite as big as a travel one but still a bit bulky. You can get proper running "belts" which are sort of a slim flat belt like bum bag which would fit phone and keys. I think Decathlon sell them and I've seen some recommended online, I'll try to find the brand.

Completely forgot to say I did W7R3 this morning. Thankfully there was no rain, though the air felt quite damp. It was a much easier run than the last one, which I was pleased about. I did have slightly achy thighs for some of it, but I think that was the after effects of walking for over 2 hours on Sunday rather than specifically running related. It certainly didn't affect my running. I plan to do 2 more 25 min runs before moving on to week 8.

@januarysnowdrop smashing it as always! Good luck for park run.

@RichardMarxisinnocent well done! I think I’ve found my “running” music.. it’s pop punk 😆

Also welcome @WobblyLondoner
You can pick phone arm bands up pretty cheap, and as already said flat running belts I’ve seen some in primark recently.

I headed out this afternoon and completed W8R1 in the drizzle. My average pace has improved from last week which I was surprised with. Also that pesky stitch came back towards the end, I think I need to breathe better.

So excited to be nearing the finish line. I just hope that the end of this I feel motivated to carry on!

I went out first thing this morning and crossed W8R1 off the list. Felt BRILLIANT!

Everyone is doing so well! I’ve been out this morning too. It took a while to get into it because I’d accidentally chosen to run up a bloody big hill to start off with but I finally started enjoying it when I got to the top. The weather was lovely. I don’t think I’ve run in actual sunshine before!

This is my third consolidation run where I’ve been aiming to cover 5km without stopping and I was pleased I managed that-especially with the hills. I ended up adding on a longer walk at the end because the weather was so nice, plus a final 1.3km downhill run to finish. Very pleased.

My run music is dance all the way. Danny Howard’s Friday night dance party is my favourite. I’m intrigued by “pop punk”…that’s a new one on me!

Well done all. Great to see so many close to the finish now.

I've got a special Spotify playlist for running. Quite upbeat music, some of it copied from random C25K playlists. I've got Bonnie Tyler on it, as well as St Elmo's Fire, beyonce and some other things that give me a bit of a boost when I'm feeling the burn.

Thanks all. I did the final W4 run on Thursday and felt fine BUT woke up this morning with a really painful knee. I was out last night and must have tweaked it somehow, but now it's killing me. No running today :(

Love a bit of bonnie tyler @BrinksmansEntry. I’m sure I painted a ceiling to one of her albums.
@WobblyLondoner sorry to hear about your knee. Really hope it’s just a rest and recover job.

It’s a recovery weekend for me. Planning a gentle walk later while it’s still sunny. Have a good one everyone.

W8R2 completed this morning at 630… on a Sunday… absolutely unheard of for me 😂

Had a couple of big hills to conquer today, feel great though.

Look after yourself @WobblyLondoner make sure that knee is better before you brave another run.

After a 3 month hiatus back in again, started into Week 6 and have done 2 runs. I’m much slower than before but glad I restarted!

Well done @superoz and @WeAllLikeVindaloo! How's the knee doing, @WobblyLondoner? I managed W9R1&2 earlier this week: Park Run tomorrow and then the final C25K run hopefully on Monday! Thanks for helping to keep me going, everyone.

Thank You @januarysnowdrop! Wow so you will have made the end by next week, you're very nearly there, that's great! I stopped at Week 8 last time, hope I can get to the end.

Hope everyone's doing well. Keep going!

Is it ok if I join??
I was on the other thread but everyone's completed c25k (well done!!) and I got held back with nursery colds/ life.
Back on it for the past week and did w5r3!! Felt like I was going to be sick.. but very pleased with myself.

This thread just won’t stay on my active threads!

I’ve now finished c25k (and I’m still amazed by that!) and am working my way to 10K. I’ve had covid so needed a little break but I was back out today for a 5k run. It was a wise decision to walk up a steep hill before starting so most of it was downhill. I really enjoyed it until I hit a ford and had to paddle. Trainers absolutely full of water was not much fun. This is now the second time that’s happened and I’m considering running in waders next time!

Nice to see you @heywhatswrongwitu. All welcome here. Week 5 run 3 is a long one-well done for getting through it. How was your parkrun @januarysnowdrop? Good on you for getting back on it @superoz and hope the knee is improved @WobblyLondoner. @WeAllLikeVindaloo you must be nearly nearly nearly there now.

@PurpleDaisies
Sadly I’ve been unable to get a run in since my last post on Sunday 🙈 I’ve had a poorly & very clingy toddler taking all of my energy.

I’m hoping to try again tomorrow morning! I feel like the finish line is just right there… but still so far out of reach!
You’ve given me a kick up the backside though so thankyou!!