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've come across this thread a couple of times since January and always thought that I must give it a go, but have always found a reason not to

Well this afternoon I did my first run! I used the Nicole podcast as I thought the music would be better.

I'm 40, size 16 - about 2 stone overweight and a smoker! I managed to do 6 of the 8 runs (just walked the last 2) I felt crap when I got back and thought that maybe running wasn't for me but after a few stretches, a drink and a sit down the endorphins must have kicked in as I felt good and went and downloaded the week 1.2 podcast

Unfortunately I have a niggly tooth at the moment (due at the dentist on Thurs - but for a different tooth - will make an appointment for this one but likely to be a 2 week+ wait ) and the increased blood flow was making it throb. I also felt very self conscious! I know that I'm not one for exercise first thing in the morning (takes me a while to get going) and don't like the idea of running in the dark, so I'm not sure how to get round that one.

Well I just did my sponsored 5k. In fact when I got to the planned end I was feeling fine so kept on going - and managed 6.94K.

Welcome to all the newcomers - seriously, when I started the programme I struggled with week 1, so keep at it! If I can do it anyone can

Hi, I have been reading this thread for a while now and was inspired to start the couch to 5km.
I am now just about to start week 4. Week 3 was hard... I could run the 3 mins, but I found it quite difficult. This week is the 3 and 5 min runs and then next week you build up to a 20 min run at the end.
I just can not believe that i will get to that stage in two weeks now considering I found 3 mins relatively tough.
Does it work like Ullrey says it does? Bascially please reassure me... it seems so unlikely at the moment.
Thank you

Thanks Wuglet - I think I need to hear that some people found week 1 difficult. Running for 1 minute with 90 second walks in between sounds so easy and I felt that if I was having problems doing day 1 then there was no hope for me. I'd like to give it a good bash - I think running would be a good exercise - cheap, can be done (almost) anytime and a good calorie burner as well as being good for my health and fitness.

Cote I don't mean this to sound wierd but I am sooooo delighted that you too are not yet running 5k . I'm finding it hard at the moment and all this talk of amazing 7K + runs was making me feel . I was feeling a bit of a failure. Sorry to hear your knees are buggered tho, and that the kids have had chicken pox. Grim.

Hi newbies, the gradual progress of the 0 - 5K schedules is ace. You get pushed to achieve more than you thought possible in a relatively short space of time but it's not impossible iyswim. Mind you i've been doing the bupa plan not the Ullrey - Bupa sounds a bit more gentle?

Running is great exercise nbee, for all the reasons you listed. I too am 40 (and a bit more) so its good for us more mature women too.

Well done Wuglet Must have been a great feeling to complete your sponsored race
Nbee - I sympathise re dental stuff. I need to go and get one of my teeth checked out but keep putting it off as I am scared of the dentist! I really should go while it's still free. Ikwym about running in the dark -it's the reason why I do mine on a treadmill at the gym (as in the week I can only exercise after dd goes to bed and by the time I've eaten dinner it's pretty late). I also think that paying for a gym gives me extra incentive to exercise iyswim - but running outside is much more interesting and of course free

Claudia - I know what you mean

I'm 39 and was a size 12 before DS (10 months). Since I started running in December, I have lost over a stone and now am slimmer than I was before DD (4.7).

josette - Seriously, we all struggled with weeks 1 & 2 in the beginning. I remember feeling like I would cough up a major organ and die while running the second 2 mins! Now I can run for 25 minutes straight, and I haven't even been following the program all that faithfully. Your resistance will build up very quickly, just get out there and do your runs

Thank you for the pep talk.... I need it.

That's great about the weight loss Cote I'm a 14 (dd is 8 months old) Prior to conceiving her I was a 12/14 and prior to having ds (5 3/4) I was a 10/12. Would happily settle for a true size 12. I don't want to diet as I find I think about food too much when I diet.

ladylush, that is exactly why I am not dieting too, I love food and cooking. I do eat quite healthily, but I can't do without occasional treats without feeling miserable

Righto, week 2 run 1 tonight

Good luck bratnav - you can do it I will be starting my week 2 on weds/thurs, having completed week 1 last night. For some reason I found it harder last night than the previous two runs. Guess I just have to roll with it.

Is anybody therrrrre?

I haven't been running this week - too achey at the beginning then too many big evening meals the last couple of days.
Planning to restart on Mon.

Hope everyone has a good Easter

Not sure whether to report in on this thread or the other one - but did my 5K today as I hurt my arm quite badly last Saturday evening and had to postpone to this weekend. Still, did it in 34:33 and am well chuffed as I only started running 12 weeks ago and I too found those first 1 minute runs excrutiating!

Will be collecting the sponsorship and sending to the just giving page this week.

Well done tabitha For some reason I find the walking harder than the jogging It puts more pressure on my shins.

hiya all
very jealous of all the weightloss stories on here. I've put on weight - some muscle but also more fat cos I eat like a horse now I'm doing more exercise. so am all the more impressed by those of you with willpower
have been avoiding running during the holidays - we've all been ill - but back to it next week - got a 10k race in 2 weeks time that I am going to die doing - no way am i up to that standard yet - gulp

hello, would it be ok if i joined you please? i've been doing the robcasts and just finished wk 2, going to try to do wk 3 run 1 on monday or tues

is there anyone else near the beginning still? i scrolled through and saw people running 7k
wow but [fear]

coupleofkooks - I'm at same stage as you. I start week 3 tomorrow or tuesday.

I'm not doing robcasts though.

hello

I think everyone must have given up

welcome, it does get easier I promise (actually it doesn't get easier it is just the same level of hard for a longer distance!)

oh ladylush that's good, are you going to keep checking in?

wuglet hello, i am trying to work out whether the same level of hard for a longer distance is worse or better

Hey ladies. Feel like haven't been on here for aaages. RL intervened! Was DD's 4th birthday last friday and her party yesterday. So glad is out of the way! Have been doing quite well on the running front. Ran 10.5k last week with BIL who is an experienced runner and did the london marathon last year. My furthest run before that was 8k and I am sure I only managed as was spurred on by him. Have never run with anyone else before and I didn't think i'd like but it definitely kept my mind off how far/little I had run. Did it in 1.05 which i think is quite good but think I would be slower if doing on my own.

So have booked into the Kingston 10k run in June. BIL still trying to convince me to do the Great North Run. Still undecided.

go on rollergirl yo uknow you want to
we could run together
glad to hear you managed to do 10.5 k - gives me a bit of hope I won't totally embarrass myself

welcome all newbies - in dec last year I could only run for a minute without having to stop and gasp for breath, in agony - I was completely unfit in every way,not just running. it is definitely possible. good luck with it all

Hi all I've been doing the robcasts since new year on and off. I've now got to week 7 which I am v pleased about but now having trouble with these longer runs. I need a pep talk! I just can't seem to keep going for that length of time.
Also I am trying to lose weight- unsuccessfully. I usually have to run in the evening after dp gets back. I don't know whether I ought to eat a meal early with the kids or have a snack and then eat later with dp when I get back (which is what I normally end up doing but fear thats hindering weigt loss) I need energy to run further! Thanks for any tips!

coupleofkooks - yes I'll keep checking in Got a bad cold now so hope I can still go tonight or tomorrow.

curlydolly - well done for getting to week 7 Have to say, am dreading week 7 as that's when it seems to suddenly get harder. I'm not an expert on weight loss but I have been told that metabolic rate slows after 8pm so perhaps you could try eating your main meal early with the kids, then having a snack when you get home. I would also like to lose some weight but don't want to diet. Want to just eat sensibly. Am still bf so hopefully will lose some when I stop.

kooks - sorry it was a bit garbled wasn't it.

what I was trying to say is that week 1 is "x" hard. Every other week is also "x" hard but you are doing more....no still not making sense am I?