Couch Potato to 5km, any other beginners want to join this thread? Grab some running shoes and join in!

[Misdee]

I know there is a mumsnet runners thread but I am a total beginner, and feel a bit overawed on there as they all seem really experienced.

I am going to be following this training programme, running 3x a week, starting next week once my children are back at school. I say running, but in reality i will be starting with a brisk walk, then picking up the pace over the next couple of months.

I have registered interest in Race For life, which is may/june, and will be taking part in the harefield fun run.

Anyone want to join me

omg. I am ill. I have been on a spa day with friends and instead of lying there, I went to the gym to do the day of couch 2 5 that I was due to do!

to sort shuffle: download itunes onto your computer. google podcast couch to 5 k. download podcast. plug in shuffle, it should sync for you

You may have to scroll through the shuffle to find the day that you need as it can present things in a random order. enjoy!

and, ahem, has anyone yet found a podcast alternative that doesn't have shite music? i've not seen one of you say you like his musical taste yet...

not found one yet aitch,. i sort of tune out the music, by the 3rd run in each week i know when to run and walk by the music playing. wich is wierd seeing a si dont pay much attention to it lol.

hopefully my shuffle will be here tomorrow, have found it very hard to get motivated this week without my ipod after i killed it by washing and drying it.

not yet aitch - think we'll all scream with joy when we do. It's not bad actually, when you're 'in the zone' running it is quite good at helping you to 'tune out' and just run run run!

Make your own podcast alternative - theres plenty of freeware/shareware MP3 software out there, so you can cut tracks to 60/90/whatever seconds, then join them together as per the running schedule for the week. Its great to have your own favourite tracks to motivate you on the running, and entertain you on the walking.

let's not, ahem, run before we can walk minum... i can't seem to download anythign but the week nine one...

why don't you do one, minum, and we can all email each other the file? because i've listened to the music and all i can say is that the sooner i get to the stage when i can download 'i'm sorry i haven't a clue' off R4 the better. lol, you know i haven't even put my foot on the road yet, i'll probably HATE it.

I have made MP3 files in the way I described but I can't share them because of the licencing issues on the music, which is very frustrating.

Here is the website I downloaded the cutting software from www.audiotoolsfactory.com/mp3cutter/mp3cutter.htm AFAIK it wont work with downloaded music which has DRM, which prevents you manipulating it, but only with CDs you have ripped yourself.

• i quite like the music

dh makes mine for me each week. he put some excellent dnb tracks on last week, made me run extra fast

I haven't been since last wednesday as my knees have really ached, even when walking they hurt at the moment. This is why I have stopped running in the past.

Anyone got any tips? I have good trainers - try to land on my heels and so on.

i just did my first ever run and am embarrassingly puggled considering you only actually run for about 5 mins online. and yes, that music is strangely soothing isn't it, when you're thinking oh ffs how much LONGER?

online? dunno why my stoopid hands wrote that. i meant altogether. [scunnered]

i hurt my knee this morning. feels a bit 'twisted' and is clicking. used to do it years ago, so am going have to get a knee support.

Aitch, i end up swearing at 'robert' on the ipod, in a 'ffs how much bloody longer do i have to run for'

i think robert is on the lookout for a girlfriend. he's using NLP to hypnotise us into buying a ticket to join us in california by the end of the nine weeks...

Friend has just rung to say she saw me 'running' in the rain last week. I said I hoped she'd seen me on my first repetition cos it's the only one where I have the slightest bit of speed. She said I was actually walking and very obviously COUNTING . She didn't even make any reassuring comments about it being obvious that I would be an athlete soon!
Back to the hidden paths for me...

i noticed that i was covering the same amount of distance on my brisk walk as i was my 'run'...

Don't worry aitch, my 'run' is usually nothing more than a limp jog but you will build up to it! Try running a bit faster (or just stretching your pace a bit further) between alternate lampposts on your running bits!

Sorry to gatecrash this thread from nowhere but I too have been trying to improve my fitness although I started last year.

(Aitch, the distance maybe the same but the calories used will be greater, as more effort is involved)

Today I jogged for 13 mins and walked for 2 and jogged again for 13 mins. and walked at the beginning and end to make up the 5k.I am so pleased with my self. I was truly the couch potato who believed the minute you got out of breath its time to stop!

So tips, praise, praise praise yourself its defintely a positive mental attitude. Its so easy to be negative. Don't do too much too soon but if you are having a good day do an extra 30 seconds and then another 30secs if that is ok. I only intended to do 10 mins now I can do 13 mins I can't go back so it pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Only problem now is I just eaten a donut...

perhaps I'll go and checkout the slimming thread.

my 'run' is more like a powerwalk.

Thanks Shout. It's good to hear from someone who's a bit further along than us!

how long has it taken you to get to 13 mins, shout? what have been the benefits, do you think?

misdee - it maybe like a powerwalk, but, powerwalking is really good exercise and b) at least you are doing something rather than sitting around thinking about it.

Well done to all (including me!) who would of winced at this a few months ago.

Shout - I read that as 'eaten a doubt' at first, I thought you were getting all poetical about self worth and determination.

Aitch - I think most people's lumbering jog only takes them as far as a brisk walk, though I do sprint a bit more on the home stretch.

My knees really do hurt so I am going to my jogging friends house later as her dh is away and we are going to attempt to go on her trampolines. Then I will resume running when I have a knee support. I feel like I want to go, I have that itchy blood irritation but I think I'd better wait for a bandage.

MrsCarrot, do get your knees checked, if it's a gait issue as it was for me, it won't improve by itself- I got some special insole things made for me at weekend, it's been about 9 days since they started hurting, and improving more since I got the insoles- someone also told me the over-pronation (=feet rolling inwards) can be a result of pregnancy.

Thanks - I will. As it happens my GP runs half marathons so I will pay her a visit, she is bound to be generally useful and can check my knee.