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.

there's a track with the timings on out there somewhere too, so if you have (?)garageband or something along those lines you can splice it with your own playlist (um, i think, didn't look very long at that one!)

this one is much more my kind of thing but it stops at wk 5

Kitty That's fab well done! Can't imagine even getting near there right now. I'm debating nerw running clobber too, I've seen some 3/4 Adidas running tights and t-shirt that i've fallen in love with but am not sure yet, may get them as a reward for completing another few weeks?

Keep going everyone!! For me it's w1r3 on Sat as I'm in work all day tomorrow, and then hopefully week 2 on Monday!

mileniwmffalcon - personally I would say as long as you are not totally out of breath and you are able to progress from week to week then your pace is fine. I was taught that if you could say 6 words (so not a conversation but not on your knees!) then you were going at a good pace.

kittywise - hurrah! congratulations, I am looking forward to the day I can post the same.

Not a big fan of the podcast music but it seems to work for me atm. Keep thinking I should do my own with 80s music but haven't yet got round to it!

I have decided to repeat W3 as doing it outside made me realise I would struggle with 5 minutes straight outside so yesterday morning my DH came home early and I managed to get out for a repeat of W3r1.

mwm - i can't believe you just put "fallen in love" and "running tights" in the same sentence! i for one am clinging to my baggy joggers as though my life depended on it (often literally as they've started falling down ). i have yoga capris that'll do me for when the weather gets hot and i will resist lycra as long as i possibly possibly can!

i was reading on the runners world boards [sad case] that when you're just starting out and horribly unfit the "holding a conversation" pace often just isn't possible, so that's a relief.

come on now who's running today? i can't go out (although i broke into a sneaky trot with the pushchair from time to time in the park this morning) so i need to get my kicks vicariously [very sad case]

I ran today! Just got back from W2R2. I really think the only reason I am carrying on with this is that I get to post on MN about it straight after.

My ebay sports bra/top/thingy (no, not a crop-top) arrived in the post, so I wore it for the first time today. I still have my nice baggy joggers (no idea what I'll do when it gets warm) but I felt much less frumpy than when I ran in a t-shirt. I don't jiggle too much anyway but I hope it'll stop me from getting runner's sag.

Hi there! Can I join in please?! I did post on this thread back in early January but then the computer broke and we have only just got back on line. Torture.

You have all been doing brilliantly. It is amazing how quickly you get better. I am on Week 7 and so doing 25 minute runs at the moment. I was struggling to get to the end of the road before xmas! So I am really chuffed with myself. It would be great to have some running buddies.

Milleniwm Yes indeed I fell in love, but chances are even if I bought them I'd never put my backside on display like that, more likely to hang them in wardrobe and stay in my baggy joggers!!

As for the conversation bit, I was surprised on Wednesday that when dh and I ran I could actually hold a conversation even though when I run solo it doesn't seem as if it would be possible.

DrTrillian Top sounds good, strangely I have 2 vest type tops (with support) that I'm thinking of trading in for a t shirt. I'll be honest I'm really glad I found this board it's great to be able to share progress with everyone

Halster welcome on board, sounds like you're doing fab I'm only coming to the end of week 1 at the moment.

Anyway got to get dh from work and then I'm off for my run this afternoon, W1R3, need to work off all that alcohol consumed last night in a post 6 Nations spell of depression.

See you later

Hi all, I just thought I'd come on here for a bit LOL. Havent read the whole thread.

Am a fair bit overweight and have decided I want to do the Inverness Race For Life whether it be walking jogging or crawling any advice?

Afternoon all. This morning I did W3r2 on the treadmill which felt good and then hopped on the bike for 20minutes. Will do r3 outside I think and then move on to W4.

mamadiva, if you read the OP and download the podcast that is what most of us on here are using, tbh if you are not wanting to run yet you could still use the podcast and instead of doing the runs just walk a little faster however I know there are some on here who are overweight but are managing the programme fine they are just taking it at their own pace i.e. repeating weeks etc until they feel comfortable. The thread can supply inspiration and a kick up the back side but only you can get up off that sofa.

Halster - welcome back! 2 months without internet! I think I would have got divorced

Greetings all. been offline all week as I had a self-imposed MN ban so I could deal with RL without getting distracted !

So, guess what I did on Thursday morning? 3.3 miles in 30 minutes!! . I have to say though I now hate every single pebble, crack, and dent in the footpath I run on, having used the same route (extended) for every run. I am going to start a new route now, and try and introduce some minor slopes hills.

Pennies, sorry you're having a tough time.
Kitty - well done you!
Giddykipper - welcome back!
And welcome to the newbies, and good luck to everyone else - oh and congrats Trillian!!

hey odette, well done you!!!!!!
I am dipping in to the serious runners thread. They are very friendly and have some great advice, but I don't feel worthy. I read in awe as someone casually writes 'I'm going on a 9 mile run tomorrow' etc etc

trillian well done!

mileniwm thanks for the links

welcome newcomers and good luck with your runs

yay odette that's ridiculously fast

i had a really good w4r3 today, i think because i convinced myself that my knee problem was more to do with not warming up enough than the rate i was running at. i've been deliberately trying to go slow, but found that harder work than just relaxing and going at my natural pace, which i did today. luckily my route worked out perfectly, so the bits where i have to cross roads came in walking sections. i still found it really hard work, but in a good way. (did i just write that? ) i felt fantastic when i'd finished, helped by putting a few of my favourite tracks onto my ipod as a prize for my cooldown walk

to newbies, good to have a few new faces on the thread. kitty and odette you will stay with us even though you've graduated?

Odette that is seriously good running. Well done to everyone.
I have got my wk6 r3 today - 25 minutes which am a bit scared about. However I weighed myself today and am putting weight ON which is a bummer. Probably because I am due back to work tomorrow after mat leave so am comfort eating. I know I won't get time to snack at work so if I keep up the running I should get the half stone back off
Will let you know how I get on later

Mithered sorry to hear about the weight gain but you do have to remember muscle weighs more then fat. So it could be you bodys just becoming more toned. Well done on the W6 I myself am still on W5 and was hoping to try R3 today. What with tough day at work friday finished off with a long bike ride with dd. Swimming, shopping and 3mile (mostly steep hills) walk yesterday with dd, my leg are a bit tiered. So think I'll stick to a walk today instead.
Kitty excellent work but please do stay with us it would be great to hear where your running will take you. Plus soon their will be others to join you.

Odette Well done on the run, fab!

Well I managed to finish w1 yesterday so am feeling rather virtuous, a small victory compared to what some of you have achieved but am hoping to start week 2 tomorrow!! Right off to the park with the kids.

Madwelshwoman well done remember we all had to start at week one before we got to where we are now. Enjoy the good feel it gets better ever time you move to a new week.
Really must get dd and dog out for a walk and off mumsnet.

kittywise ? I love the idea of an audiobook ? what I would like to do is download some Radio 4 programmes or similar to give me stuff to think about whilst I run so when me and Rawbert of the Quorn have reached our goal I?ll be doing that.

Madwelshwoman ? I too have been eyeing running tights and have realised I am now coveting them. Who?d have ever thought?!

LJLOB ? I try and say ?Supercalorfragilisticexpialidocious? when testing how I?m doing but it usually ends up with me getting half way through it and ending with ?F*&^?.

halster ? welcome back. I?m amazed that you a) coped at all without the internet, and b) have been able to keep on running without this thread ? it gives me the motivation I?m so often lacking.

mamadiva ? welcome. My advice is have a listen to the variety of podcasts available (there are a variety of links on the thread) and choose one that you like the most, because otherwise it will begin to grate on you. You can do it!

Odette ? that is amazing! It?s taking me 8 mins to run a mile so we?re running at a similar pace, I think but I am still quite a bit short of your stamina levels!

MWF ? really glad you seem to have the knee problem sorted.

lexcat ? I?m looking forward to how your W5R3 goes, it is still my bete noir.

Today I decided that me and W5R3 just ain?t gonna happen so I went out on a new route and tackled W6R1. The first 5 mins were tough (WTF?) but the 8 min stretch was a doddle and I could have gone on for much longer. Bit gutted that I didn?t because I decided to take what I thought was a short cut home for the final 5 mins, but it turned out to be all uphill, through woods and I ended up ankle deep in mud, scratched by brambles and more than a little bit lost. So the last bit was quite stop and start, but never mind. But the run was brilliant fun and I?m glad to have got back into it today, and the added excitement of getting lost made it all the more entertaining!

Pennies don't worry don't see myself been able to manage W5 R3 but will have a try. Beyond a 10 min run I'll hit hills so far have done one hill each run then double back on myself so I don't have to do to many hills. Starting to get a bit bored of alwayes going down the road and running the same part 2to 3 times each time I go out. Thinking of going up the road but do hit a hill just as 5min warm-up is finish. Then to do 20mins would mean 2 more hill after about a mile it gets a little flatter.

Pennies - I very nearly didn't cope without the internet. My delight at collecting the fixed computer on Friday quickly turned to panic and despair when BT said we couldn't get back on Broadband yet. After pleading with them with tears welling in my eyes and sobs catching in my throat they thankfully sorted it. I might have tipped over the edge if they hadn't. AND I have had to listen to week 5 of the podcast for going on 4 weeks as I couldn't download anything else on to my shuffle. Thank god it was one of the better ones.

Odette - those times are fast! I am only managing 10 min miles (is this actually just fast walking she ponders...?)

Madwelshwoman - you are doing really well. You will be surprised at how quickly your fitness improves. I have just managed 30 minutes ('cos at 25 minutes I felt I could keep going - so I did.) I keep having to pinch myself - I was SO unfit before I started the programme.

Shall do W8 R1 on Tuesday hopefully.

hey pennies 8 min per mile is good. I went out for a run today and it was crap. I was exhausted and only managed 2.5 miles.
But saying that I have walked nearly 12 miles over the downs these last 2 days, either carrying a toddler on my back or pushing 2 toddlers in a double buggy (mad woman)

I reckon I do 10 min miles, sloth-like!!! I'll have to try and speed up.

I think I will need to consolidate on the 3 mile runs for a while until I get stronger.

wow 8 min miles are fantastic! I feel pleased at my 10min miles

Right, am going to do W1R2 again tonight, when my dinner has gone down. Then if that goes OK I'll move onto W2 next week.

You're all doing so well.

Been out, felt I could give it a bit more every time he told me to walk, so I think I will move on to W2.

Excellent progress everyone. Glad to see you here GK, keep going!

I can write off W5, and commence W6 tomorrow. I've not been doing it regularly the past two weeks, but this morning managed to do W5R3. The whole way I just kept saying, mentally, you have enough in your legs, your lungs are fit enough. It seemed to work. It was a jog, but faster than walking, and a slight decline/incline in the last 5 mins. I stretched it to 21mins, so I'm chuffed.

I did feel very tired though, I was supposed to be concentrating on something important this afternoon and I just wanted a nap!