Starting couch to 5K tomorrow morning - anyone want to join?

[BlueberryPancakes17]

After faffing about and putting it off for ages I’ve decided I’m starting couch to 5K tomorrow morning.

I find myself 2 years since my daughter was born, about 4 stone overweight and out of breath when I run up the stairs so desperately need to do something to increase my fitness.

Has anyone started the couch to 5K? How did you find it? Anyone fancy joining?

That’s good to know @NyanBinaryJohn I’m about to start week 4 and a bit worried about the increases but hopefully it will be OK. Don’t know about the shoulder but extra mobility/stretches before and after maybe?

Can anyone recommend some decent budget running shoes? Under £50 if possible?

@balancingfigure I got my ASICS for under £50 cos they we're bringing out a new colourway so the 'old' version with the exact same features went on sale. I've had 2 ASICS and prefer them over other brands I've tried so I recommend looking out for sales... I got my gait analysed in a proper running shop etc but the pair they recommended were really uncomfortable (!) I have stuck to buying shoes that say they're suitable for my type of gait tho

@NyanBinaryJohn i would think about what are your arms doing when you run - if they cross your body I would try to focus on having them more like pumping pistons facing forwards. I struggle sometimes with neck / shoulder pain after runs if I run tense or cold or tired. I had to previously untrain my arms crossing across my body. I stretch my shoulder joints out after running now by leaning the arm on a doorframe to stretch the pec bit. There’s some videos on you tube that may help, as it’s worth getting technique right early on if you can. I still struggle with gait and I get lazy with my leg lifting though…

@bailarbailar shoes are so individual to your running style and shape of foot. Definitely get a half to whole size bigger than a Normal shoe to avoid toe nail issues later on. Wiggle are good for returning stuff, sportshoes .com have cheaper last season stuff but can be more expensive to return. If you need wide shoes I run in new balance ladies D width as they are the only ones that fit well! My DH loves his Asics. I also have elastic laces as they flex when my feet expand.

W6R2 done and it felt great. The first three minutes of the second 10 minute run hurt but then it felt good again. It felt faster but strava doesn't agree 😂. However the breathing was steady and I think I've cracked my pace for now. I'm now at the stage where I find two rest days important as the runs get longer. I haven't looked at R3 for this week but I think rest breaks are a thing of the past now.

I've got ASICS trainers, I think they were £52 from sports direct in a nice bright pink. Very comfy and bouncy compared to my old very very comfy ones which were as flat as a pancake.

Well done on the 5ks in the groups. Amazing progress everyone no matter what stage your at.

As an added bonus after weeks of calorie control and running and not losing any weight I seem to have lost 6lb in a week 👍

I’m going out again tomorrow but not much time before work so I’m planning on going short and fast. I want to see how I feel settling into a quicker pace knowing I only need to sustain it for 2k.

W1R2 today - felt really good! I realised I have always just sauntered on the walk sessions previously. But then today I read something about the programme on health unlimited and it seems it is actually important to walk briskly, so I've picked up my walking pace quite a bit. I'm glad I learned that now rather than when I was several weeks in!

W2R1 for me today in the snow some guy deliberately drove fast through a slushy puddle to splash me on my penultimate run but apart from that it was fine! Hoping the snow will have gone by Friday for the next one

some guy deliberately drove fast through a slushy puddle to splash me

What an arsehole!! Well done for carrying on.

I’m supposed to do w5 r2 today. I’m sitting inside looking at the rain hoping it will stop… it’s not going to !! Have to make myself go. I might do the warm up in my house…

Hello fellow c25k-ers, may I join? I started 4 weeks ago and I've been very pleased with my progress. I'm pretty slow though! About 15 years ago I used to regularly do 10ks, then I got injured and completely stopped until last summer when I decided to start the c25k which I never finished but I think I got to week 6 or 7.

I managed to get out today despite the sleet, my right toe was completely numb for most of it until finally my circulation made it down to my foot and I warmed up. Best pace yet 9'14km which is great, I think the cold spurred me on.

I did my 'warmup' in the car today @minipie 😀

Tomorrow is W4R2 for me 🏃

Welcome @Spirini sounds like you're doing well!

I did W1R3 today. I am a bit damp now! But it was good. I'm looking forward to the small step up in week 2.

Well done @Spirini and @ScottishBeth its hard to motivate yourself when it’s cold n wet.

I had a small window whilst waiting for my youngest at her club so i ran/walk 4k but mixed it up for the first time doing some unplanned hill reps. I ran up 100m & down again a random hill 5x I actually quite enjoyed the challenge despite drizzle n wind.

W3R3 completed this morning, in the snow 😆 felt like needles stabbing at my face!
I can’t believe the difference in how much I can do (relatively) comfortably already.

Well done @Fiddledeedeeee!

W2R2 for me this morning in the sleet and wind... was fine except for low flying geese and my hands were v cold (the rest of me a sweaty mess as usual)

W6R3 complete and loved it. Felt easier than the 20 minutes and no jelly legs. Three rest days though to find a break in the snow helped.

Well done to all the new starters, especially everyone battling rain, sleet and snow

Can anyone please recommend a pair of shoes that don’t run the base of your big toe? Sort of where a bunion would be - I don’t have bunions but my trainers run there badly.

Or maybe some cushioned running socks? I don’t know!
thank you

Just did a very windy Parkrun but dodged the heavy rain lucky. I really wasn’t feeling up for it this morning as slept badly & very sore achy joints (thanks menopause..) but I did 20mins of gentle yoga & 10min walk to the start. I started too fast felt sick at 5mins, couldn’t breathe & was feeling deflated that everyone was running past me so i walked for 60secs regrouped & carried on bit slower. I took 2 more 30sec walk breaks and didn’t find any boost of energy but kept going behind this guy. Too my utter surprise I was only 40secs slower than last weeks time 😄so if your feeling crap give it a go, if you need to walk take a quick 30-60sec break but keep going & you may surprise yourself.

@Gardenerboo i run in shoes a size bigger than my normal shoe size plus I have D width wider ones. I either wear knee high compression socks the men’s ones from sports direct fit my wide calves or I really like balgea running socks www.wiggle.co.uk/balega-blister-resist-socks
they are worth the £s as nicely cushioned. I’m a fussy pots for sensory things and like the soft feel of them.

The dreaded W5 r3 done! Thankfully not in the rain. In some ways easier than the intervals as I didn’t have to worry about getting cold in the walks. However my knee did ache a little afterwards which is a bit worrying. Need to get those new trainers!

WellDone @minipie If your knee is achy try stretching or foam rolling all the muscles around it. My thigh muscle / IT band above my knee gets tight and can feel like a sore knee.

Thanks Winter and well done on your Parkrun and hills! I can’t do hills at all (yet…!) they are so tiring.

@minipie I remember years ago when I was running there was this one big hill that I hated. I always walled up it. Then a few months later I felt so good when I was able to run up it! You'll get there! (And I will too.)

No one likes hills 😂but honestly just find a gentle one pick a couple of lampposts or walk a 100m up and then try fast walk up it and back down. Honestly I’m not built for speed at all I’m short & 3st overweight but it really does help your running.

I skipped Thursdays run this week but I think it do better actually running twice a week now rather than 3 times.

I did my usually weekend 5k and got it down to 37 minutes today. I’m aiming to be below 35 minutes by the end of the April.

W2R3 for me today. Will start W3 on Wednesday.
Much better weather today although I started to overheat again... always used to be my problem. Will have to find some running shorts (!) if it continues getting warmer