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.

W3R3 today - just as I get the hang of running 90 seconds they stop them and say that the 3 minute runs are the 'short' runs now.

I tried to rein myself in at the beginning, doing the shuffliest slowest least run-like run I could for the first couple of sessions but I'm not sure if it helped. I find I'm not so much out of breath as my legs hurt, which is odd.

Hello,

So no-one here will recognise me cos I'm new . I hope its not too late to join. I have read the thread and realise most of you are way up ahead of me but I think it probably wont hurt to get used to being at the back anyway .
I am signed up to do the race for life in June, and the nickname couch potato was actually designed especially for me!
I am quite overweight and currently do no exercise.
So, technical problems prevented me from listening to the podcast so I had to improvise. After finding a very secluded spot far far away I walked for 5 mins to warm up. Now in all honesty was a little red faced just after this (though it was a slight hill). I then ran for 1 minute followed by 1 min walk. I did this 5 times, then crawled walked back to the car (approx 15 mins and uphill).
I cant actually decide whether my chest/throat hurt more or less than my wobbly legs, bit of a toss up.
I intend to call that my practice session and start W1R1 on thursday.
Sorry to have gone on so, but even if I have to repeat W1 four times, I intend to complete the whole program.
You are all doing so well, I want to follow your leads,

Welcome Lubbly, I hope you really enjoy it and we look forward to reading about your progress!

I was supposed to start W7 Monday, but was too tired after I did a few hours at work (not usual for me to work mondays), had lunch with a friend, bought a replacement pair of shoes for a wedding in 2 weeks, then picked up DS and went and dossed at above friends house a bit more. Was lovely. Tonight I won't get out as DH is going to have a look at a car for us. We've been without for 9mths now, and it's wearing a bit thin, especially over winter. So after all that superfluous information and in the main poor excuses, I SHALL start W7 on Wed night.

I've just started doing some upper arm toning as well, a few pushups and those things for the triceps where you lean on a chair and do dips. All from trying on a summer dress and noticing in my middle-aged-ness that bingo wings were not far off!

Happy running this week everyone!

Hi, and welcome. Some people are far ahead but certainly nto all of us. I've just finished week 3 and thre are definitely people who have started more recently than that.

Having to report back and knowing that we are watching really helps with the motivation when you don't feel like going out.

Good luck getting your technical problems sorted!

Hello Lubbly, I'm the eternal new starter to couch to 5k.

I'm drifting away again...

Lost the routine last week, now got a bad cough which means I'm sleeping badly which means I'm knackered. I'm going to bed in a minute.

Hopefully a good night's sleep will get me back in the flow.

I just wish I didn't have to go out so late and in the dark. It's really hard to get myself up and out when it's warm inside and it's the end of a tiring day.

Ho hum. Excuses excuses.

Well done the rest of you.

i think mornings aren't an option for you gk - is that right? could you go during the day at all? at lunch time? or go to a gym with a creche if you work part time?

i'm pretty sure if i was trying to get out in the evenings i'd never have made it this far.

or another thought - could you squeeze it in before tea? my plan initially was to go between 5.30 & 6, as soon as dp in from work. i think i could easily run a half marathon if it meant i could escape from my screaming fighting tired and hungry brood at just-before-tea-time

oh and hello lubbly just what we need, another green keen recruit to keep the other new starters on their toes

ididit ididit ididit

20 whole minutes. actually, 20 mins 45 seconds and believe it or not it was easy i went reeeeeally slowly (started at around 12mm, sped up towards the end, average 11mm) and i was less puffed out at the end than i have been on 5min runs @10mm. it was quite hard not to speed up to get past pedestrians (it was scary how slowly i caught them up!) or when real runners appeared (briefly! before fading rapidly into the distance ).

i think it helped that i walked a bit further to get to a more interesting place to run, so i wasn't seeing the same stuff i always do, but the biggest difference was having my own music. i guess it makes sense - even at my most slothful i've always been able to dance into the small hours. it was also good that i had an idea how long the songs were so i knew how i was doing pacewise and how long i had to go.

so for anyone else dreading this run (like i was) you may well surprise yourself. i'm amazed

oh and i went nearly 3km

Yay well done mileniwmffalcon!

*waves pom-poms about for mileniwmffalcon. Well done

Welcome Lubbly, we are at all stages here.

GK GET YOUR BUTT BACK HERE NOW. No slacking on this thread young lady. Do you have any of these options
a) get up 40 minutes earlier, that's all it needs for you to get out and back.
b) most council leisure centres have a creche, the only problem being you have to stay in the centre so you would have to be a member of a gym.
c) talk to your DP and get him to understand how important this is to you both to encourage you to go out and let you have the time to do it.

BrownSuga - pushups are fab exercises for targetting a lot of muscle groups but if you are also doing tricep dips you need to add an exercise that hits your biceps, most bicep exercises need a weight but do you know The Plank exercise? It mainly works the core muscles but also should hit the biceps. However you could use things such as tins of beans to do bicep curls. Do you have a bodypump class near you? if you have the time to combine 2 body pump classes with 3 runs a week your body shape will tone up a treat.

madwelshwoman - sorry it's a bit late to answer your question about running on consecutive days, I think it really depends on how fit you are, if you are relatively fit but new at running then your legs could probably take 2 consecutive days at Wk3 if not then I would probably say rest. If you do decide to do 2 consecutive days then don't be disheartened if you struggle more on the second day.

I did W4r2 on Monday and it was very windy! I dropped my pace and just concentrated on my breathing and it went well. Yesterday I hit the gym and did quite an intense 40 minutes on the bike so I am not going to run today I am going to let my legs rest and then bike again tomorrow followed by W4r3 on Friday. I am also going to repeat this week!

sorry for massive post!

Hi Lubblyjubbly-just wanted to let you know that im doing each week twice (you said your doing each run 4 times ) . so im effectively doing each run 6 times.
Im not particularly overweight just unfit and asthmatic. I found run 5 and 6 much more enjoyable and now feel ready to start week 2 tonight . For me it was much more important to get out there and exercise rather than do too much and put myself off. Im really proud that ive stuck to it . Well done for making a start - i really didnt want to go out some nights but felt so pleased after .
And now 4 of my friends are doing the program also !

Can anyone give any tips on breathing ?
When its hard going i never know if i`m to mouth breath nose breath both or what ?
I try to keep it steady but what works for everyone ?
Cheers x

Congrats MF! That 20 minuter sounds much worse than it is, doesn't it? I'm still dreading the 25er though!

Welcome Lubbly - I'm a bit ahead but I did this last year so skipped ahead a bit.

Fakeblonde. I think I normally breathe in through my nose, breathe out through my mouth. If you're struggling to breathe, slow down. Your pace will get better as you run more and improve your stamina.

So, getting to the point! Reporting in - repeated w6r2 today. Actually found it quite easy. Lot less easy today.

Next run Friday. I'm either going to do 30 mins or measure out 4.5k and see how long it takes me.

Not sure what to do for my buggy runs next week. A bit scared of trying to do 25 mins... thinking about working out some longer intervals.

I did W7R2 today, reluctantly, but I did it nonetheless and it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I changed my music from Sir Rawbert of the Quorn to Podrunner which wasn't much to my taste. I need upbeat club anthems, so if anyone can help me with that let me know. Will start a thread in Music as well.

Feel totally knackered though, despite this being the 3rd time I've run 25 mins (although I added about 3 mins on the end to get back to where I started running).

Still can't believe I've made it this far!

Anyone seen Odette recently or is she on the Marathon runners threads now!

pennies if you're onto wk 7 it's just straight runs is that right? in which case why don't you just use your own music? you can make up a playlist to the right length, or just time yourself on your watch.

blondie i agree with sparkly if you're really out of breath you need to slow down. i think i mostly breathe through my mouth, or at least i did the last time i noticed

mwm sorry i missed your question - did you do the 2 runs in a row? i have to say i've noticed a dramatic improvement when i take a longer break between sessions, but i reckon if you take it easy 2 days in a row should be manageable and better than messing up your whole schedule.

cheers for pompoms girls, i haven't come down from my high yet

Can I just say, I meant - a lot less WINDY today - not easy.

Obviously can't form sentences today ...

Well done, Pennies! I'm just going to start listening to my own music now I don't need Rawb to tell me to start and stop. I've got a couple of club compilation albums that I listen to while I'm running. Although sometimes I find something like Killers works really well. You could try working out a route of a set distance instead of timing.

Well done everyone on your progess.

Did the 20min run over a week ago then did W6 R1 where I forget my inhaler. Tried to get dd to run with me at the weekend but she wouldn't. So did some 20 second sprints in the garden then jogged up and down a few times till I get my breath back. Did that about 10X (harder then it sounds).

By the afternoon one of my heels was killing, had been slighly sore after 20 min run and just got worst. Great I've got plantar fascitis and the best way for it to get better is keep off my feet. I haven't given up, I did do a 15 min jog with 15 second sprints on my rebouner (mini exercise trampoline) on Monday (almost no inpact on their). Also ordered Davina's DVD last week came today so did the the first bit of that today. Had to stop when heel started to feel sore.

Could be a week plus before I'm back on track as had to walk and stand for at less 2 hour yesterday (school trip) and the next 2 days can't see me getting much rest time. Will try and do my own things at home so I'm still working on my fitness and hope to be running again very some in the mean time will still be checking in to see everyones progess.

Hi guys

MF Well done you! Hopefully I won't be too long joining you.

Libras Thanks for the reply but fate outdone me this week as my little girl is still off sick with a chest infection. I can't run now until Saturday so new plan is to run one more wkR3 on Saturday and then begin w3 next week.

Pennies Lexcat Sounds like you're doing really well

Brownsuga How did w7?

Giddykipper Stay with us, come on don't slip away now!!! If I can do it anyone can!

Sparklyprincess How are you getting on so far?

Well night night got to do some prep for work tomorrow then crash in bed.

I've got to do W4R1 today and I'm scared...

Hi all,
I managed to start W7R1 last night. It was super windy, so I planned the run with the wind behind me on the home stretch to push me along, yeah! I found it a bit difficult with no timings until half way through and then a minute left. I'd like to hear a 5min, half way, then 20min call I think. By the last minute, I was very glad it was over.

Having said that, I may do R2 on Friday, them move onto W8R2 on the following Monday. I think it should be doable, but I'll see. I've been VERY tired lately and I thought it might be the exercise, but maybe it isn't.

Enjoy W4 DrT, you'll love it!

I think W4 is a huge step up, I did W4r3 this morning and was dying at the end of it still, and so am going to repeat the week. Saying that DtT you will be ok and you will get to the end I think this is the week that you start to realise that doing 20/30 mins non stop is a goal within your grasp.
What I felt really helped is that if you have a watch on you for the last 5 minute run change your mp3 to a song that gives you energy it really helps.

Hello - may I join you? I have been reading the thread & thinking about plucking up the courage to introduce myself - I have just done W5R2 & think I might need some support for the next one!!

Hi Batgirl and welcome! Well done getting up to W5, that's brilliant.

How have you found it so far?

Aaargh haven't been out for a week now.

Libra I just don't have any other time to go out. DP leaves for work at 6:15am, which means I would have to get up at 5:30am to run in the morning. Just can't do that, sorry. I work full time. Back from work, cook tea, eat tea, DS into bed, I can only run when my food has gone down. If I run before we eat, then I have to wait until DP is home at 6:45pm, which would mean we don't eat until 7:30pm. A bit late for the kids to eat.