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Original poster

New Years Resolution couch to 5k thread

553 replies

wuglet · 04/01/2010 21:04

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?

OP posts:
CoupleofKooks · 12/04/2010 21:15

well i know what i want you to mean wuglet
i will wait and see

ladylush hope you feel better
i was well up for a run tonight but ds1 having some problems getting to sleep atm so had to stay and try to help
felt frustrated but hopefully will get out tomorrow

curlydolly · 13/04/2010 20:15

thanks ladylush I should maybe try eating earlier. I haven't really lost any weight since I started which is disappointing - I an size 14 and have just under a stone to go (my dd3 is 18mths). I want to get back to a size 12 and would be happy with that as i have never been any smaller than that! blinkin spare tyre won't budge! My shins are also hurting which means I am wary about running too often.

CoupleofKooks · 13/04/2010 20:39

have just done wk 3 run 1 of rob
it was fine, i felt good and not tired - i find fewer intervals is less mentally daunting than say wk 1 where you know you have to do 8
this way, once you have done one 3 minute run, you're half finished
i am still worried about future weeks, and not convinced i will stay motivated to progress
i am pretty pleased with what i have done so far though - i mainly wanted to get out and be exercising 3 days a week and i have managed that, so i'm happy

ladylush · 14/04/2010 21:28

curlydolly - I'm a size 14 as well and like you, would like to get back to being a size 12.
coupleofkooks - I did the first run of week 3 yesterday as well. I always find the first half daunting and then it seems to get easier. Agree that its easier when there's less repetitions.

CoupleofKooks · 15/04/2010 16:50

i'm planning to do wk3 r 2 later
just have to fit it round dses and bedtime and stuff

CoupleofKooks · 17/04/2010 08:38

i did wk3 r 2
i watched the times very carefully, as i thought they were off from the first time i did it
rob says it's a run / walk of about 18 mins, but it's only 15 - the shortest yet
i think he is counting a 2nd 3 min walk after the run, but of course there isn't one, because you go straight into the cool down

sorry, this is really petty, but i just noticed it! i think this is partly why week 3 is so easy - it's 5 mins shorter than week 2

ladylush · 17/04/2010 12:10

I'm doing the cool running couch to 5k and I always round it up to 20 mins (usually running the last extra 2-3 mins). I know you're not supposed to but I always think it's a shame not to take the opportunity. Should have done session 2 on thurs but didn't. Going today and will go Monday which will be 3 times in 7 days - just about!

CoupleofKooks · 17/04/2010 20:34

i should be going again tomorrow
yes i think you have a good plan there, i may try to do the extra when i go out (bet i wooss out on the day though - i only keep up with the programme at all because there's a man in my ear telling me what to do!)

ladylush · 17/04/2010 21:49

I found today's session miles easier than the last. No shin or knee pain and felt like I could have run for another 10 mins. Maybe it was because it was so hot today and my muscles were nice and warm?!!

CoupleofKooks · 18/04/2010 14:18

oh well conversely i have done something to my calf / ankle from today's little run! but i think i was wearing stupid shoes in the morning (i have a lot of foot problems) and my knee was already complaining a bit when i went out

but i've finished wk3, and enjoyed it - today was too hot, though, i usually go in the evening but today went at 1 pm

ladylush · 18/04/2010 15:21

Well done for running in this heat - I couldn't have done it. Hope your aches and pains go soon.

sarah293 · 20/04/2010 07:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CoupleofKooks · 20/04/2010 09:12

hi riven, just go as fast or slow as you feel comfortable
when you are established with running you could concentrate on improving time, but at first the thing is just to trot along at a speed you can manage - to be running at all is the thing

ladylush · 20/04/2010 11:55

Welcome Riven I am slow. I run about 8km/h and brisk walk is 6.8km/h. I have heard that you still get a good work out jogging slowly.

I did my final week 3 run yesterday. It was ok. Still hard to believe I will run 5k in 4 weeks time but dh said it is well within us all to be able to run this distance.

Will probably do week 4 run 1 on Thursday as dh out on wednesday night.

Spongerider · 20/04/2010 16:37

Hello - I'm doing the 20 minute run tonight on week 5 Couch2 5K and I'm bricking it! We're doing it along the canal - it's the flattest route we can find. Seems everyone on here is doing well - I just need to break that psychological barrier of having no walking breaks. I've got new trainer socks to wear though - surely they'll help!

CoupleofKooks · 20/04/2010 21:13

i did wk4 r1 of robcast - my knees and shins were not too sure about it, but the rest of me found it fine
it's so clever the way it builds up slowly, i've enjoyed it a lot
just praying my dodgy feet are not going to mean that part of me gives way soon

CoupleofKooks · 20/04/2010 21:15

sponge i am presuming there are different versions of couch 2 5k as there is no way i'll be running 20 mins without stopping next week! this week i am doing runs of 3 and 5 mins (x 2), with walking intervals in between

Spongerider · 21/04/2010 11:22

CoupleofKooks - I'm doing the Cool Running one - www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
(sorry don't know how to make pretty links). On this programme we did the 3/5 minute runs last week. We did need to repeat some of week 4 as we slacked off over Easter, and to be honest the jump in running 3 to 5 minutes is fairly tough.

Have you got some decent running shoes Kooks? I've felt the correct support has really helped me stay injury free.

Anyway, we did the 20 minutes last night and I survived! I slowed to walk only for a few seconds so I could breathe enough to drink some water but kept going (at a snail's pace). I'm going to give my legs a rest until Friday now, but if I can do it, anyone can!

ladylush · 21/04/2010 13:12

spongerider I'm doing cool running as well. Did you find it hard going from week 4 to week 5? I'm on week 4 now.

Spongerider · 21/04/2010 15:29

ladylush I found the jump between w5 d1 (5 mins x3) and the later week 5 steps (8 min x2, and 20 min) quite tough, so we repeated the 5 minute x 3 part a few times to include an uphill part. I think this stopped us from having to walk at all on the 20 minute run (and also having a very level run) which would have felt discouraging. Good luck - you can do it!

ladylush · 22/04/2010 15:44

Thanks spongerider - I hope I'll be able to do it.

azazello · 22/04/2010 15:58

Hello all. I've been doing the Bupa couch to 5k (have theoretically finished) and on a good day I can run 2+ miles easily! I actually managed to run very nearly 3 on Monday so will push for that.

I've signed up to do a 10k in the middle of May and hopefully will be able to run most of it - i'm aiming for one walk break. I think the amazing thing though is that I really really enjoy it.

BTW, I had never run anywhere before and started in January when DS was 3 months and DD 2.7.

ladylush · 23/04/2010 10:06

Hi azazello - that's encouraging to hear. Last night I felt like I was going backwards as I struggled with the 5 min runs even though before I started C-5k I could run 15 mins Think it was just a bad night. Happens sometimes I guess. On a positive note, I did at least manage it Still, find it hard to believe I will be able to run for 30 mins non-stop at some point in the near future.

CoupleofKooks · 30/04/2010 07:46

i dropped off the thread for a week, because the horror of realising this week WAS the 20 minute week, scared me off
i am doing the robcasts which also follow the cool running programme
having only run 5 mins for the first time last week, i couldn't believe i was expected to do 20 mins this time
however i now accept this is the awful truth

i did wk5 run1 last night and took it VERY easy, found it no problem (should probably have put more effort in)
but i am mentally balking at the 20 min run which hopefully i will try on monday - i feel ok about the 8 min runs, i think i can do that

i just bought some asics, spongerider - i've got a big problem with overpronation so i now have trainers to correct that, plus orthotics, which seems to have stabilised me a lot
i feel good while i am running! can't quite believe it! it's helped me with stress a lot over the past month, plus the weight i have been trying to lose since ds2 was born, is coming off a lot easier now

CoupleofKooks · 30/04/2010 07:48

ladylush i find i have a random bad day and it's just due to tiredness or hormones or whatever
i have told myself if i can't keep up with this week i will just do each run for a week, as before, eg i'll do the 5 min runs for 1 week, before progressing to 8 mins

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