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.

falcon - that post from you is music to my ears. I can't wait for the day when all those lovely endorphins kick in and I'm pounding away!

i hope I lose a dress size too. I'm a 14 at the moment, should be a 12.

I'm resting the shins until Saturday and I will take it slowly then but I am not giving up, not when I get such inspiration from all you lovely runners.

Meerkat - good to have you here!

I am a semi beginner - have done RFL for the past few years and always seem to start doing some training and give up. Do manage to run an amount of the RFL but end up walking more than I would like.

First week has gone really well . Was actually quite excited about going running this morning.

Am going to try and fit in a run over the weekend, but DH is away and running with DS (5) and DD (3) isn't going to work. With just DS it probably would, although he would probably beat me .

I am a semi beginner - have done RFL for the past few years and always seem to start doing some training and give up. Do manage to run an amount of the RFL but end up walking more than I would like.

First week has gone really well . Was actually quite excited about going running this morning.

Am going to try and fit in a run over the weekend, but DH is away and running with DS (5) and DD (3) isn't going to work. With just DS it probably would, although he would probably beat me .

W7 r3 today - & it was lovely, really enjoyed & felt very comfortable all the way (doubtless the next run will be hideous!)

Hello & welcome ComparetheMeerkat - you will cruise your Run for Life if you stick with the programme!

Vulgar - I have suffered with shin splints on and off for many years & the things I have found helpful (not much because shoes & surfaces are the main ones!) - make sure your warm up walk is at least 5 mins, I used to stretch before running but then read that this can make shin splints worse so now I don't & I think it's a bit better, I also try and concentrate on keeping my legs aligned properly as I've noticed that they start when I get tired & my style slips (it was always twisty moves in aerobics that set them off before). I have found that hills are not good for my shins - although I am going to reintroduce them as my running is getting better & see what happens. Hope you can find a way to manage it, though - as I know how v painful it is!

Thank you Batgirl - good to hear tips from a fellow shin split sufferer. I warm up for the 5 minutes on the podcast. I may try extending this to 10. Interesting what you say about stretching and gait. I will stop the stretches and concentrate on what my legs are doing. I bought some Ibruleve (sp?) gel today so hopefully all twinges will have gone when i go out tomorrow.

Good to hear that you enjoyed W7.

I've now done 4 runs at week 1, and think I'm ready to graduate to week 2 tomorrow which doesn't look an enormously big leap up. Moving on to week 3 looks a bit daunting though - 3 minutes of running without stopping? Eek! .

vulgar - when i first started i got twinges in my knees, enough that i stopped running for a week or so. when i started back i did a longer warmup (do you run first thing? if so your muscles are starting from cold and really need a longer warmup) and mobilised all my joints before setting out, as well as a doing a couple of running specific warmups (swinging leg from knee-to-chest back to fully extended behind, 20 times each side, and lying face down kicking feet to bum for 2 mins). since then i've had no problems at all, so mine looks down to insufficient warmup. (i still do the mobilisation/specific warmups but have gone back to 5 minutes walking without any ill effects)

long run today, worked out my song times wrong so didn't do the 50mins i'd planned, 45 instead. which is the same time as my last long run, but i went quicker/further, 4+ miles/pushing 7k i was really pleased as i felt i paced myself well, a bit hot but not horribly out of breath, 10:20ish mm.

Hello all - did my first w3 run yesterday - i have been dreading that one since week one but you know it was ok! I think it is actually harder when your stopping and starting. During the 3 min run i just kept ficussing on how good the 3 min walk is going to be . ALso the fact it was only 2 reps that inc that long 3 min run seeemed to mak it all the more mnageable - i dare not look at week 4

Am going to do first W2 run tomorrow morning (well later on today I suppose) while DD is at pre-school.

Weather forecast seems to suggest I will be running in the rain...

Well done Nappy! Glad it was easier than you thought.

Meerkat. i'm off out in an hour or so. I'll probably be in the rain too! I'll think of you.

Falcon - thanks for the tips. I will try the exercises -they sound good. and I'm going to do a 10 minute warm up too.

I'm not looking forward to today's run tho. i haven't been running since last Wednesday as I've had a cold/sore throat but I can't wriggle out of it any more! I've gotta go today!

checking in after a while Did week 6 run one yesterday and will repeat that one for a week or so until I'm ready to move through week 6 completely.

Can't believe that I did a 10k a year ago - this is what happens when you get a bit poorly and get out of practice!

onwards and upwards. Just waiting for the rain to stop hammering down so much.

Did my run .

Rain was raining and wind was blowing which is why I hope it felt worse than week 1.

Don't feel too worn out though

I'm back too Meerkat.

It's horrible running against the wind isn't it? But like you i don't feel too bad.

Going to start W4 on wednesday.

I hope it doesn't bother me too much when winter comes round again. I'm hoping that i'll be so high on endorphins that I won't notice the weather.

Bramble - good you're back. If you can run straight into w6, you must still be fit!

i must be a real oddity cos i love running in the rain, it keeps me lovely and cool and it's all dramatic and stuff, makes me feel alive

okay have come to the conclusion that posting every run in this thread is more for my benefit than anyone else's so i'm going to sprint (lol!) off to the running thread now, but i will stick my head around the door every now and again to find out how you're all getting on - keep each other on your toes now

i agree i love running in the rain to - i have enjoyed it less running in fine warm weather.

oh dear w2r1 was hard . Although I han't checked the actual plan and was relying on Raaawwwwb to tell me what to do, so I assumed that there were 8 reps, and there were only 6 . But there were slightly steeper slopes proper big hills in tonight's run, so the fact that I only managed half of the fifth 90 seconds run doesn't really count . Huge respect to everyone who has learned to love hills But to make up for it, I did an extra 60 seconds run at the end, even though Raaawwwb said to slow down and chill out (or something).

I reckon on the flat, 90 seconds isn't actually that long, although I'm going to plan to do an extra week 2 I think. I'm determined to not give up, so am going to take it slowly.

Week 2 music seems to be slightly faster, which is more comfortable to run to - I found week 1 stuff really slow initially.

No rain thankfully, as I didn't relish arriving back at the leisure centre where I'd abandoned DD2 to her class all soggy as well as red-faced and sweaty. What kind of jacket do you all wear in the rain then? I did look on some of the sites linked on Running World, but the jackets all look quite pricey. Do I need a specialist cagoule, or would a bog-standard one do?

oh, am going to try the excercises as well, as my legs are a bit achey, and the stretches I've been doing after don't seem to be helping much

i don't wear a jacket any more, i'd get to hot. i just run in a tshirt although if it's really wet i add a little cotton hoody for the warmup walk. so if you feel you need something to see you through the early stages a cheapy one should do you fine (plus maybe a peaked cap to keep the rain out of your eyes).

Well i didnt get out last nigth as the slight rain turned into complete honking down and its pretty much the same today. Am gutted . Hair appt tonight so wont get there tonight either so it will be tomorrow night which is a whole 4 days since my last run - just hope my stamina has stayed.

I forced myself out this morning, as I have been away and haven't managed to run for a few days.

Anyway; guess what! My first run was for 5 minutes!!! Yippee!! (Not he 2nd and 3rd though) But I was really pleased.

Ran again today (I know, no resting day) but I think I am better doing that than not running for days. Was all right again and nicer running in the sun than the wind and rain.

Will go again on Thursday .

Not looking forward to week 3 though - the thought of 3 minutes running at once is not good.

Started W4 today. Man, it was hard! But I feel really pleased with myself for doing it even tho I ache a lot!

I've been putting "deep freeze" gel on my shin splints and it helps a lot. I can't bear the idea of giving up now . . .

Raaawwwbbb was playing quite a lot of ROCK music on the podcast towards the end. If I'd had the energy I would have played air guitar whilst running.

Nappy - I'm sure your stamina will stay. After all we all have good days and bad days running.

I'm currently being very lazy. I think I might kick my butt and get out tomorrow.

Well also catch up with thread then. Hope you are all well.

Have just done W2 R3 . And decided to try doing 3 minutes at the end instead of 90 seconds and I was fine .

Am (tentatively) looking forward to starting W3 on Sunday.

Hi everyone, I'm just preparing myself to start running and need to down load the podcast, can any one tell me how to do this? I am useless at downloading things onto my mp3 player...