New Years Resolution couch to 5k thread

[wuglet]

Sorry to the ongoing couch to 5k thread but I am looking for others just starting out (and it looks like there might be quite a few of us on popsycal's thread).

So...anyone starting week 1 this week?

I agree with all of that llareggub.

Re headphones I hate those inner ear ones so have a set that hook over my ears and round the back of my head . . . a bit like these

To avoid running in front of other people (mucho embarrassing) I go out at 6am. Which is absolutely awful for the first few minutes but then great.

To help with the motivation I find the Runkeeper App really helpful as it gives you your interval times so when it gets really tough you know you've only got 2 mins to go until the next break. Either that or I say to myself that I'll run to the end of this song or to the next lampost etc.

And sanfairyann is right, breaking it down into bite-size chunks makes it so much easier and bearable. I run to the next street, then the next, then the next. I have a constant battle with myself when I am running. I will start off with a goal in mind, then battle with myself as to whether I can achieve it. Sometimes I am thinking i'm not going to run that far this time, and then suddenly before I know it, 2mins later the fatigue has passed and I'm fighting fit and feeling the love again. I think just go with it. Your body will tell you when you've had enough.

But also I def couldn't do it without music.

Right.

I've read your comments to DH and he is going to the Apple store tomorrow to get me a new ipod and headphones. I shall report back tomorrow evening. I suspect music and an app would help; I am very motivated by the stopclock in the gym.

I love this thread.

llareggub: Aww, bless your DH! I reckon music will make all the difference y'know. I wouldn't even contemplate going outside without it. It gives you something else to focus on. You just need to make sure you don't run out infront of traffic cos you can't hear!

What a lovely DH you have llareggub! I run with headphones similar to Claudia's, round the neck and in the ear. There is no way I could run without music, my motivation when it gets tough is just to get to the end of the song and so on...

Claudia I am very I have seen nothing on my runs this week due to the driving rain

Hope your leg is sorted soon Rollergirl.

It might even be dry down here when I run tommorrow. That would be a real novelty!

I did 5K! OK, I did it in the gym on the treadmill but, I did it! I felt fine after the 7 minutes run x 3 so decided to carry on until I reached 5k, as I'd reached 4k. What a buzz.

I'm going to venture onto the road on Monday now that I am equipped with my ipod, snazzy new headphones that actually fit my ears and the couch to 5k app. Hurrah!

wow!!!!! well done!

Well done llareggub
I have just done W7R1 - not managing the 2.5 miles it says I should do in 25min but who cares?

How are the rest of you doing?

I've just come back from wk6 run1, but have just looked at the BUPA site and I've done it wrong. I did 3 8 min runs instead of 4. Oh well, will do more next time.

Also I found the last run hard so walked a teeny bit. As usual.

But I feel ACE now.

Wuglet are you following BUPA or Robert thingummy?

No, you did it right, Claudia. I did week 6 run 1 this evening, and it is definitely 8 minutes x 3 with a 2 minute walk. I did it on the treadmill again as it is freezing here again and I'm a wuss.

Wuglet, it takes a me a lot longer than 25 minutes to do 2.5 miles.

Oh right, hurrah, thanks llareggub.

ooo I've just checked my Feb Stats from Runkeeper (nerd emoticon). Apparently I've run just under 55K and burnt almost 5,000 calories.

I am delighted.

This month I'm gonna do more - if I aim for 15K/week (3 x 5k runs) it should be totally doable.

Hi Ladies, I'm back. I had to give up for two weeks after I came down with a succession of colds. I've now completed week 3 and am trembling at the thought of wheezing through 5 whole minutes of tragically slow plodding on Wednesday. Wish me luck.

Hello everyone. I started with the Bupa C25K in the New year to do the Macmillan run at the end of March but then pulled a ligament in my knee so am on week 4 run 3 at the moment.

I'm pretty slow (I think 11 min miles or so if I ran the whole thing which I'm not) but really loving it. Except when the time comes to get off my arse and actually start...

good luck with the return to form,slug, bet you get back to where you were v quickly

how's the ligament now tummytime?

did my 'slow' run today (how come they all take the same amount of time ) and felt full of beans and like I could keep on running -can't have been going fast enough! I'm going to start some speed work on hills soon. bleurgh

Hey everyone, it's amazing how much progress we have all made isn't it? Well done!

I ran for the first time in a week last night. It was a lovely night and I really enjoyed it (perhaps more because I had been stuck in all day looking after a poorly, clingy DS). Had a bit of a twinge in my ankle but it wasn't painful and I did 5k in my usual time. I actually felt like I could have run further (not like the time before) but I didn't want to push my luck. But yet again my calves and muscle on my right leg were really tight and sore again when I got home. I managed to make it much better with lots of stretching though. And have continued stretching intermittently throughout today. I am hoping that I can continue running and manage the strain with stretches as having a week off almost killed me!

Lovely weather for running this week on the South Coast. Hope those with injuries are doing ok, just take it easy. And well done to everyone, looks like we are all making good progress

It was gorgeous Monday so decided to go up for a slow 3 miles on the South Downs. I under-estimated the mud though and slid my way there and back It was good though, the views were great and it's so peaceful.

I did 5 miles along the promenade today and couldn't believe how much easier it's got. My stamina has improved massively and although it takes me a while to get into my stride, once I am I feel like I could just keep going.

Here's hoping the weather stays dry.

Doyouthinktheysaurus where abouts are you? I used to live in Brighton and loved running along the seafront - most invigorating.

It's 2pm here and I've just done 5.5ks on a HOTish 30 degree day with a bit of a cold. My legs went all funny and I felt faint. God am so weedy. Still it feels great to have done it - I didn't run very much or very fast which was a little disappointing but this cold is making me feeble.

I am sitting here with sweat trickling down my back - off now to shower mmmmmmmmm, luvverly.

Not far from brighton Claudia, nearer Worthing.

We used to live in Brighton but moved out a bit when ds1 was a baby and living in a one bedroom flat lost it's appeal

You are right about running along the seafront, it is lovely.

Well done on your run, it's hard running in the heat I'm sure. I guess I might find out one day...

The ligament is much better now thanks Sanfairyann and I have the stretches/ exercises if it feels a bit sore again.

Now given I'm still only on W5 of the programme and not yet running a whole 5k, would I be completely insane to sign up for the Oxfortd town and gown run in May? Is it reasonably traightforward to up the distance once you've started? I just want to make sure I have some races to focus on...

whew it gets harder doesn't it?
I am suffering a bit this week - legs staying achey and calves tight.
Was supposed to do R2W7 on Wed but put it off until yesterday. Actually running was OK but am paying for it today!
Am v tempted to seek out a sports masseur....

Tummytime - how long is the run?

Sorry should have said - 10k

Thanks doyouthinktheysaurus, I was looking at the DM on line and saw Zoe Ball jogging along Brighton seafront. I imagine you can bearly move there, these days, full of slebs running off the babyweight .

Wuglet it does indeed get harder. I thought it would get easier. Surely that happens sometime.

Go for it tummytime. Great idea to have a focus, and 10k is doable by the end of May, surely?!

Well I have finished week 7.
I had to have 2 days in between each run and I ache (bum and calves especially!).

Think I may have got to my limit - am toying with sticking with week 7 for another week. Although I suppose another 3 minutes won't make that much difference...

Tummytime - it will be something to aim for won't it even if you have to walk some of it?

How is everyone else doing - seems to have got a bit quiet in here!

I managed 7 miles on Saturday, off-road and a bit hilly and into a freezing wind first half which went quite well, but today managed to pull a muscle kneeling down on the floor

I went for a run anyway and did a 3.5 mile plod along the seafront which actually felt harder than saturday's run.

I much prefer running off road, I love it up on the Downs. I am going to try and run part of a very hilly route I used to cycle tommorrow. No idea if I will manage it but it's such a lovely route I hope I'll enjoy it anyway.

I can honestly say I think generally it is getting easier now. Running seems to be more comfortable than it was, it seems easier to get into a ryhthm.

I hope it gets easier for everyone else soon.