Right, I am starting 'couch potato to 5k' again and I WILL finish

[giddykipper]

I WILL NOT nesh out again like I did last time.

DP has even bought me an iPod Shuffle to run with so that I don't have to lug my big iPod around (oh the inconvenience).

this is what I'm talking about and here's the podcasts I run to.

I'm not starting today though, got about 3 hours sleep last night.

trillian here's an extract from my book about common running mistakes, and here's another article she's written in grauniad about running technique.

lol odette am planning to revert to non-welshified spelling soon, esp since i somewhat rashly joined the oral sex thread without namechanging

lj, cheers or the encouragement! I shall think about investing in some proper gear at some point

brownsugar, poor you. I know how you feel. I had to give the running up last time as I always seemed to be getting one bug after another. Hope you feel better soon.

Mf, glad you found your keys

odette, what bummer (excuse pun. Very well done on getting out at all. That counts as a run, easily. Hope the bug passes soon.

I did wk 6 r2 today. Found it really easy, probably because it was all slightly DOWN HILL, I didn't actually want to stop for the 3 min walk, HOWEVER, the next part, on my way home was ALL SLIGHTLY UP HILL. By the time I'd finished running 10 mins up hill I thought I was going to throw up.
It isn't helped by the fact that I'm pretty sure I've a chest infection. My chest is so clogged up, I've a chronic cough but can't get any mucous up at all. I'm, going to go to the dr's tomorrow.

Blimey Kitty - About 99% of my run is on the flat, with a teeny weeny hill, so you are doing really well!!! Hope your chest clears.

Hi I have been lurking for a while on this thread and have watching your progress. I too have been following the program and have completed W5r3 today. I can't believe how much progress I have made from week one. This proves it really can work.

I am after some advice as I managed to complete my 20 min run today although it was hard. Does this mean I should repeat week 5 until I can do it easily or move onto week 6?

Hmm. ran outdoors for the first time today - I took my trainers to my parents' and ran along the seafront. Much harder than on the treadmill. agonising calves and I got mega pins and needles in my feet, felt as though I was going to fall over as I couldn't feel my feet. Very disppointed. Walked more than I ran and I should have been doing W3 R1. will have to repeat it on the treadmill.

I think I will have to redo weeks outdoors as it is so different. am gutted - I was so pleased with how I had done last week, and pleased i got out of bed early this morning to run.

don't feel down panda, your work on the treadmill is still really good preparation, it's all getting you closer to your goal. not sure how best to manage a mix of treadmill and outdoors, if treadmill's best for you in terms of convenience and lack of hills could you follow the whole plan on the treadmill and then go back a week or two on the road and pick up from there?

did you get proper shoes yet? you might find that would make a big difference, and after all you're in it for the 10k, you're gonna need those shoes

and the fact you found it hard doesn't take away from the fact that you did get up and you did run. and you'll always remember how you felt this time when come the summer you can glide effortlessly along the seafront getting a buzz from the endorphins and the ozone

we all have better days and worse days, don't let it get you down.

thanks mf, that is exactly what I needed to hear.

not bought new shoes yet, I think now I have done 2 weeks I believe I will keep going, so it will be worth the money!

I am not expecting to get to 10k, my friends are doing that, and I, as a complete couch potato, thought 5k might be feasible. Well, I am not going to be beaten so soon!

you've got aaaaages i'll race you to the 10k

believe me, having sunk £85 into running shoes is a damned good incentive to get out and use them if all else fails

Hi mithered, welcome

I think you can repeat if you want, but I also think the idea is that you feel pushed a little at the end of each week.
I found my first 20 min run hard and it should have been, but the runs subsequent to that have been easier because my legs and lungs had already had that work out. Week 6 isn't that much different to week 5 so why don't you give it a go?

Panda, don't feel disappointed, feel good that you're doing something!!!!

Thanks Kitty. I remember reading other people who had got to week 5 and thinking it was amazing they could run 20 minutes.

I will try week 6 and see how I get on. I am really enjoying this and feel like I am achieving something for the first time in a long time.

Well done to everyone who has been posting on this thread btw as you have inspired me

Mithered, I so agree. Having this thread and a podcast to listen to has enabled me to run in a way I haven't for years. After I've run i want to come back and share my experience with everyone here and the encouragement keeps me going.

I need to think of another route so that I'm not running uphill all the way back!!

Morning all.

Pennies - I think someone has already mentioned it but I wear my ipod over my t-shirt but under my jacket so less detangling if I need to take jacket off, plus if you are hydrated properly you shouldn't need to take a water bottle for less than 30mins.

mileniwmffalcon - I skipped Wk1 as it didn't d/l properly onto my ipod.

AmIOdetteOrOdile - hope you feel better soon.

TrillianAstra - sorry this is too late but personally I would probably leave it about 60-90minutes before going out but it does depend on what I've eaten!

BrownSuga - hope you feel better soon.

kittywise - that hill sounds like a killer, my last 3 minute run on Sunday (wk3r3) was uphill and like you felt like throwing up when I reached the top! Also Tesco have got new training clothes in if you want some running ki that's not too expensive.

Mithered - it depends I think why you found in hard. Was it mental? or physical? I think what I would do is repeat W5r3 again and then maybe move on to W6.

PandaG - running outside is very different isn't it? (I run faster outside for some bizarre reason) but both are valid ways to train, could you do 2 runs indoors and 1 outdoor a week?

I have to say both my heart and lungs AND my legs object to running! Does it take anyone else longer to lose the red face than it does to actually do the run in the first place?

I did W3r3 yesterday outside and as already said managed to badly time it so the last 3 minutes were uphill - arggghhh. but made it
suppose to be doing W4r1 tomorrow but have to work so not sure if I will be able to squeeze it in, hopefully if DS sleeps thru tonight I will have enough energy to go out after getting back from work tomorrow.

Hello may I join you?

Found this thread by accident the other day, I've been a want-to-be runner for ages but always seem to give up too easily as I never got the timings right. Plus it hit me the other day that I'm either working or looking after the kids so I want something for me for a change so this is it.

Anyway have downloaded the podcasts for the Quorn fella and went for my first W1 run this morning and I did it!!! Not sure about the part where he says you should be starting to feel the effects and not be out of breath as I was bloody knackered by then.

Anyway my plan is to run Mon, Wed and Sat at the moment and see how we go

Welcome MadWelshWoman, I've only recently started so don't get intimidated by all these people who can run for 20 minutes without stopping - 20 minutes more-walking-than-running is hard for me too.

Thanks Libras - I did leave it over an hour after eating and it was fine (hadn't eaten masses anyway)

PhD viva today - W2R1 tomorrow. Scary!

Welcome abroad to any newbie.
Help I'm feeling low, I really need to turn a bad run into a postive.
The weather is wonderful the spring is here and I couldn't wait to get out. Did my warm up then started running which normally is easy been at the start and the one I enjoy the most. Not today, then just when I started to get into it a man out walking in a hat spooked my dog and I had to stop to explain she's harmless just a little scared. Carried on running but couldn't get back into it. Worst was when I started running dowm hill and not enjoying it at all(normally great after you have just ran up the hill, that when I gave up and had a brisk walk home. Which I did enjoy till I meet and man with the hat thinking my dog was going to bite and waved his stick at her making her more nerves .

Poor you lexcat. I find I have to be relaxed about my running or else I can't get into it properly and it sounds as if the man made you tense and anxious so no wonder you had a hard time.

The positive is though that you went out and you did most of it didn't you? in any case gong out and getting that exercise would have contributed enormously to your running plan. I bet that the next run will be fine

hello madwelshwoman, well done on your first run

sorry you had a bad run lexcat, hope the next one's better.

welcome madwelshwoman, feels great to get out doesn't it

w4r1 today, i was a bit nervous about the step up from 3 to 5 minutes but it wasn't as bad as i expected, but still pretty tough come the end. i put my last 5 minutes into mapmyrun to get an idea of the pace i was doing and very surprised it was a respectable 11min/mile. not that i could keep it up for a whole mile of course!

there was a minute of so at the start of my last 5 minutes when i was really in the zone (pmsl!), it had a hypnotic feeling was fab

i'm still doing my long warmup and running on grass wherever possible and my knees have been right as rain hurray

Hi
Im new to this and did wk 1 r 2 last night. My NEW trainers rubbed me on r1 , so had to wear dds crappy ones instead , but still did it and am REALLY proud .
I will be doing each week over 2 weeks instead of 1 as am quite unfit.
Some great support on here x

yay santababi, i think getting out for the second run (when you know what's in store) is possibly harder than the first one (when you're all enthusiastic about starting). where did your shoes rub? m&s do a range of technical running socks at good prices, i love mine.

are you planning to spread the 3 sessions over 2 weeks or do each week twice over? i think (may be wrong!) you do need to go out 3x week to maintain the improvements you're making each session.

hello all, and welcome Santababi!

lexcat, hope you are feeling a bit better about your run, and that the next one is much better.

well, I managed a proper week 3 today, but a ta slower speed that I had been running last week - thought it was better to finish than to quit part way through. I think when I run on the road I am going to have to go back a couple of weeks from where I am on the treadmill. Still pleased with myself for getting to the gym and waiting to be let in at 7am this morning though!

happy running everyone.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone, still quite enthused about going out for my second run tomorrow. I'm feeling much more positive about it all than I did before when I tried and I think it's because I now have someone telling me when to change pace etc rather than just guess. Going to have to dig out my running jacket that dp bought me last year that has only been worn once for tomorrow. Luckily already have some good Nike Air trainers that dp also bought me at the same time as the jacket.

Have a good day all

Hi
Thanks for lovely welcme.
im planning on doing each week over 2 weeks (so 6 runs in total ). My new trainers rubbed me high up on the back of my heels-shouldnt really have gone out for 30 min jog first time i should have worn them in !.

I needed my inhaler a bit last night but not too bad-its nice doing it with someone-my 13 year old daughter comes with me and seems to really enjoy it-hope thats ok ?

I`ve been really down for various reasons recently and this run has honestly lifted my mood-great stuff ! x

Pah, not feeling well. And the kids are still playing conveyer belt with the treadmill as DH hasn't cleared the space for it to go yet (Iam not moving his crap. I am NOT)

I think I might start with your plan santababi. Have looked again at race for life and the ones here are 14 June or 12 July. Am aiming for 12 July but haven't signed up yet as I always feel I couldn't raise enough sponser money (only have family to ask and it makes me a bit asking)

hope I feel better tomorrow so I can get to the beach.

santababi, so glad the run has lifted your spirits, it's excellent for that sort of thing

Ria hope you feel better soon

pnada, I always start off very slowly, I figure it is better to just keep moving!!!
Well I have cheated a bit this week. For the first run I did the second run and today was supposed to be run 2 but I decided to push myself and do the 25 min run 3. It wasn't too bad at all. I'm amazed as I still feel really clogged up in my chest.
I gave myself a pat once I'd finished and feel really good now.
I would never in a million years have believed 4 weeks ago that I would be running these times now. This programme really does work!