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.

Mornign all

i have now finished W4r1 (take 2) and W4r2 (take 2). Will hopefully get out on either Friday or Saturday for W4r3 before going to W5, which frankly looks scary! I am now HATING the music.

itunes has definitely got the c25K program, just go to the itunes store and seach on ullrey.

mileniwmffalcon - that's great going, I find proper kit does help as you are less likely to get sweaty etc (well you are still going to get sweaty but the material can deal with it). The weather is so nice for running outside atm.

welcome theyearofthecat, all sorts here and congratulations on the weight loss and good luck with your 1/2 marathon goal!

brownsuga - look at you skipping runs! 5.2km in 28minutes is great going, you are not in the final week yet but you are already doing 5K!

DrT - how did your shins cope with W3?

Hi guys, I'm dropping back to try a W3 today (yesterday was rest day) but it depends when the Tesco delivery turns up, will report back later.

TheYearOfTheCat I think there is a general running thread if you find us too slow - we range from 'done the plan and running 5k, thinking about moving up to 8k and 10k' down to 'just starting the plan, think my legs are going ot fall off if I run more than 60 seconds at a time'.

But you're welcome anyway of course! Even if you can do half-marathons!

I'm still here ...

Being a bit slack, really. Haven't been out since Friday evening, but I'm going to try tonight. Been feeling pretty rough, actually - kind furry head. Heard on the news that the tree pollen season has started early so I think it's probably that. Wasn't expecting it so early but at least I only seem to have trouble the first couple of weeks of the hay fever season so I'm off out to get some stuff to snort in a little while and hopefully be better.

Congrats on hitting 5k Brownsuga - it's a great feeling and I hope I get there (again) soon!

Hi guys

Still here but have done no running this week. Ds is fine thanks for asking, still sore with him but healing nicely. Not planning on running this week so will start week 3 on Monday as I have too many commitments this week to fit it in, lot of work meetings that involve long travelling. Hope you are all well and welcome YOTC.

Also had my pack for the Race for Life yesterday which is even more of a motivator for me.

Catch up soon

Hello, can I sneak in please?
I've been lurking for a while, got plenty of inspiration from people on here and took the plunge a few weeks ago. I've worked up to W3R3 which I did yesterday and so far (to my HUGE surprise) I haven't struggled too much. From the sound of it W4R1, which I do tomorrow, will put paid to that

Can I pick your brains on running shoes please? I've just been using some old general purpose Reeboks as I didn't want to fork out for anything until I knew this wasn't a 2-week fad. It isn't (I may be getting quite addicted!) so I need some decent shoes that don't cost too much.

hello feetheart

can't help on the cheap shoes front i'm afraid, mine cost an arm and a leg, but that's cos i went to a specialist running shop that only just opened, so they didn't have any old season stock. also the shop i went to didn't have an enormous range (i.e. nothing sub-£60), you might be luckier and find somewhere that stocks budget ranges and/or reduced old colours/styles.

but the way i saw it was that i was essentially paying for the fitting service - i had treadmill gait analysis and tried every shoe in the shop suitable for my gait on it, so i got a very good ides of which were comfiest for me, with a degree of reassurance that they shouldn't cause any problems/injuries.

now that i know which shoes suit me i can buy my next pair online and save a fair proportion of what i paid for these. when the woman in the shop said they should last 500 miles i just laughed - i imagined i'd never reach that point - but my shoes have done 9 miles this week

(btw have people found fetch yet? you can keep training logs and it gives you charts and graphs if you're sad like me and you like that kind of thing and it tells you when you need new shoes )

if you've got a lot of front you could just go in and get the analysis and walk out without buying any shoes but i couldn't do that. i do think it's worth having it done just the once, if you're a hopeless addict planning to keep going

Hi,

Can i join you ladies as well please?

I've somehow managed to pesuade myself that this is going to be good for getting fit, and not wreck my old joints

If it becomes too much i shall have to decamp to cycling.

What tips do you all have for succeeding?

I have got my shoes, sports bra, t-shirts and leggings, mp3 player and lots of enthusiasm (at the mo-not started yet

I'm also thinking about doing the Race for Life, it's about 12 weeks away so it is something to aim for when i'm cold, wet and knackered.

Hi goblin and feet, welcome.

Top tip that works for me is routine, routine, routine. Don't let anything get in the way of it. That's always been it for me, after about a month, I'm in the routine, and I'm able to carry on to the finish.

And some things to think as you're running to keep you going, "I have enough in the tank to finish", "My legs can do it", "I have the lung power" .....

Happy running!

Well after my disastrous W4R2 on Monday I dropped back to do a W3 run today and it was soooo much nicer. Maybe I have reached my natural limit No, I didn't think I'd be allowed to get away with that.

I think it was better because I let myself run at the pace I wanted to go, because I knew it was going to be quite short, so I actually got out of breath and my legs felt more relaxed. When I try to do slow running I must be making strange shapes (bad quorn!) and so stressing my legs more than I need to.

I'm not sure how that's going to help. I'll try restarting W4 on Friday, if that doesn't work I'll have to invent a week 3 1/2!

Thanks for the welcome all .

I think I may have created an impression that I am much better at this running lark than I really am. As they say, talk is cheap.

I went for a run on the treadmill today, I am on week 2 of the Guardian programme. which involved 24 mins in total; 1 minute running, 1 minute walking alternating. I quite like the dependability of the treadmill, and the fact I can time myself, but since the weather has taken a turn for the better, I really should get out into the fresh air.

Yay, some more people right at the beginning like me!
Well, last night did my W1R3. I havent mananged to stick to the every other day thing but still did 3 in a week.
To be honest I couldn't have done the second one when I should have as I had only just stiffened up.
Last night was quite easy. I have found I was trying to run too fast and with big long strides (how I used to be able to run lol).
Last night I slowed it right down and it was much easier.
I intend to do same run 1 more time befoew moving up to W2.
Serious question though, and possibly TMI.
Last night I was at the end of my period so put a clean pad Just incase.....OMFG. It managed to change itself into a 2" thick steel cable and wedge itself between my arse cheeks like a masochistic g string.
I now have what looks like nappy rash up the crack of my arse.
So pads out of the window for running or am I missing something?
What do you do? miss a few days, tampons? or put on old pants and hope for the best?
lubbly x currently walking like John wayne despite finding run easy

Welcome goblinvalley and feetheart, no run since last post but just wanted to add to Brownsugas great tips about tips to suceed,
along with routine I would say get your other half involved, make sure he knows how important it is to you that you are able to get 35 minutes 3 times a week to do this.
Also there is no reason you can't cycle and run , but 12 weeks is more than enough time to get ready for a 5K.
As for shoes, you need to get to a specialist run shop so they can assess your gait. If you can't then Asics are great running shoes and not too expensive (compared with the rest!)

lubbly - interesting question! Personally I would use tampons! Have you got any sudocreme lying around for your nappy rash!

Lubbly that sounds a little uncomfortable . Have you tried wings?

W8R2 last night. It was a lovely, balmy evening, I only needed 2 layers and no more gloves and hat, yay! I didn't start well, I found it a slog for the first 5mins and couldn't really get into it, so I stopped quickly, took a deep breath, then carried on. It may have been that it is VERY light now when I run, and it is a VERY busy route, and I'm feeling a little self concious. Plus I was getting neck strain peering into the lovely shops along the route. After my stop I loosened up and got into it. I've mapped my run, and it's telling me I did 5.7km including warmup/down. My nike doohickey is saying I ran 5.5km so I need to get it calibrated.

Happy running for those going out today.

Did W4R1 this morning and boy do I feel it now! It is definitely a big step up from W3 but I did it and I'm feeling tired but smug this afternoon It may be a slow stagger to pick up DD from school later.

Ooh I'm so excited.

I'm just about to put the download on my mp3 player and i am just about ready for the off - well, tomorrow afternoon

I can't believe how excited i am. Possibly 'cos i don't yet know how tired i will be.

What kind of strectching should i do? The podcast says about a 5min brisk walk but is this the warmup/warm down or do i need to stretch aswell?

All help is much appreciated.

gv: ime warming up thoroughly is important, but stretching beforehand isn't. i was running in the freezing cold first thing in the morning without enough warmup and my knees began complaining. but if you're going in the afternoon you should be loosened up from general moving around in the day, so the 5 minute brisk walk should be enough.

there's a page of after run stretches i've always done so can't tell how much difference they make, will find the link in a sec.

here

Thanks for the link. I shall be definately doing these.

I'm hoping that i shall be alright with my hip, have slight hypermobility which gives me an almost constant ache.

Hopefully regular exercise and weight loss will help this.

Can I ask what a Nike Doohickey is?

I have lots of technology questions, perhaps some of you ladies can help me out.

If you are doing running / walking combinations, how do you time yourself? Do you wear a stop watch, can you programme it to beep at intervals?

BrownSuga said something about podcasts. How do you keep earphones in when you run?

Do you use GPS type thingies to work out how far you have run? If so, what sort?

What about route planning? I have a map and a ruler, but it is pretty stoneage. Are there any websites to plan running routes?

I have a birthday approaching, and I am thinking of asking for some running gadgets, hence all the questions.

Final question; What is your favourite running gadget?

Does anyone else actually enjoy running in heavy rain or is it just me!!

Have had a couple of months off running due to DS being in hospital for most of february so am going back to CP25K to ease me back in.

i reckon finding your pace is the hardest bit of all this trillian - maybe that's why proper runners say the first x miles is the worst, as it takes a while to settle down into it, to find something sustainable but comfortable. i tend to start at what feels like a comfortable pace, then go through my mental checklist - relax feet and shoulders, chest forward, arms back, knees bent, and there's a trick for leaning forward from your ankles - imagine someone's trying to touch you inbetween the shoulder blades and you don't want them to. once i've gone through all those i usually have to slow myself down again and start the checklist again. lol, still, passes the time

lubbly your run sounds a bit eek! can't help on that front as i'm a mooncup kinda gal (which i highly recommend to all and sundry btw).

yay for warm evenings suga i'm so relieved to have ditched all my spare stuff except when i step out for the warmup and wish i'd brought gloves!

yotc: i think we all use the podcasts for timings. i have in-ear headphones so they stay put by themselves. distances we use a variety of sites of the mapmyrun variety. if you're thinking of building up to races i think you might enjoy fetch that also has a route planner as well as keeping track of race times, training and anything else you might ever want to keep track of you can import info straight from a garmin too, if that's the kind of gadget you had in mind. i'd sneakily quite like one to have a go at geocaching but dp has eyes on an iphone which does the gps thing and tbh i'd rather wait a while until they're smaller and cheaper and i can see if i'd really benefit from having one.

lol nappyaddict i've been really lucky with the weather so far - a little snow but no rain i can recall. did you start with the c25k in the first place then? did you ever go further or were you happy at 5k?

The most I did was 10k

cooooool