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

Hi Misdee and everyone, I'm going to try this programme starting tomorrow. I think I'll be on week 1 of the schedule for quite a while though...

Right! I AM going to get back on track tomorrow morning while DD2 is at pre-school.

MrsC I did mean to be poetic but I was to busy thinking about food!

Aitch- I started July last year although I have had loads of gaps were I lost interest and then started again.

I had to get my head around the fact that walking 3 miles is normal, once I got used to it being achievable then it was just following the programme you are all doing.Initially I tried going too fast I couldn't sustain it and then nearly gave up. Although sprinting the last minute home is very good for you.

I think the first 20 mins of exercise are the worst, then your body adjusts and you feel a bit stronger to carry on. I am definetly more positive, I can't control my eating so it helps use up calories and everywhere you read there are articles highlighting the importance of exercise, I am 38 this year and I don't want to wait until I have a heartattack or get diabetes etc and wish I had made an effort.

I do want to encourage you all and don't want to appear smug,I remember saying to someone I'll never be able to run for 5 mins.On day at a time.

I did week 4 run 1 today - went really well, I was so chuffed I could do 5 minutes I do think the chap who designed this program is a genius if he can get me this far.

Its definately gone colder though, hasn't it?

I did week 3 run 1 and it was disappointingly short

A word of caution to you all. I started running last July, and built it up to a gentle half hour run 3 or 4 times a week. At the beginning of December I injured my foot ( by sprinting along the seafront to dodge the waves coming over! ). I woke up the next morning with a very very painful right heel. I have not been able to run on it since - I have tried a few times, and can only manage a couple of minutes at a time. I went to see a physio finally yesterday and have been told I have plantar fasciitis and that I should rest completely for a minimum of 2 months. She told me I over pronated quite badly, despite being told at a running gait analysis in a recommended specialist running shop that I had a neutral gait. I'm inclined to believe the physio, who took a great deal more time watching me walk around. So, please be careful. Don't do too much too soon, and make sure you wear the right running shoes, because I am now a beginner runner who is out indefinately, and it sucks!

celery.

well today i still ache, and am shattered as dd3 kept me awake most of the night. so am skipping today, and cycling tomorrow instead.

i am really struggling atm and getting hacked off with myself. once i am out there and running i do really enjoy it.

Sorry to hear that Celery.

I did manage to get out today so session 1 wk 2 completed! Next time i jog will be thursday(when the forecast is heavy rain ). Not sure how i will manage a run at the weekend yet!

I went out today for day 1 and was stupidly much too warmly dressed. Diff to get the balance in this weather.

To my shame I only managed 15 minutes and the brisk walking to warm up. I hang my head. Is everyone else really sticking to it the whole 20 minutes?

15 mins plus 5min walk to warm up is the 20 mins i think....
I forgot to time it today but made sure i did the jogging section 6 times which i think is how many it says to do.

ah thanks ! I didn't notice it said anything about 6 times. I'll have to read it again

Which week are you on?
I am on week 2 and on the podcasts it says You will then have 6 intervals alternating 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of about 20 minutes.

It's ok i see you have just started week 1.
For week 1 it says

You'll have a brisk five minute walking warm up followed by eight sets of 60 second interval runs. A 90 second recovery will follow each interval and you'll finish up with a 5 minute cool down.
HTH

Oh that's good to remember, beats looking at your watch every 2 seconds. So 8 sets, great, thanks for that.

OMG I have just seen week 9 running for 30 minutes. I don't see it happening but let's stay positive eh?! Are you noticing it getting easier or anything now week 2?

I wasn't able to jog for 2 weeks so found it quite hard going into wk 2 today. I really can't see me getting to the wk 9 30 mins! but you never know!
I am just pleased i didn't give up after the 2 wks off!

I'm really cross that I haven't been since Sat. I went early Sat morning as my last of week 3 but thought I might re-do it on Sun. Then me and dd came down with a sick bug on Sat night and I haven't felt well enough (or really eaten enough) yet to go. I suppose if I go tommorow I can do Friday and Sunday and still manage my 3 this week. Might need to re-do week 3 though now.

Sorry ignore my rambling musings - I needed to work it out in my head!

all aches have gone

and my new (second hand) ipod has arrived and i have figured it out, so am all set to go later on tonight

cant wait

GP has given me some some knee exercises to do. She says that she'll refer me to a phsyio if it doesn't help but in the meantime its fine to keep running.

I was late for my appointment this morning so I ran from home. This is, admittedly, only a ten minute walk but I could not have done that a few weeks ago. Why, I was barely out of breath.

Good news Misdee, hope you have a good run tonight, and MrsC, glad the GP said its OK to keep running.

I went out and did week4 run2 this morning - went very well. Dashed home, got dinner on, basic tidyup, shower etc, and got back out the house by 9.15am which was pretty hectic, but I felt energised by the run. Will do it once more this week, and try week5 on Saturday.

The problem is DS1, we were meant to be doing this together, as he needs to work on his fitness/weight, but he's nowhere near as keen as me. I do think its hard to get him to run after school, and he needs someone to run with at the moment, which makes logistics hard.

I've been on the sofa for the last four days. I've always had a slightly dicky knee but it's so much worse, even with support, that my Dr has banned me from attempting to run for at least three months and has refered me to the physio.

I'm keeping busy with course work on my laptop but I keep looking out the window....it's beautiful down here today, a lovely afternoon for a run.

sorry about knee Judgenutmeg.

I did week 3 run 1 today - not as bad as I feared but don't think I could manage much more. I was thinking 'please stop' at the end of the last run but just made it. Was v. concerned though that my running top was a bit short so when I took my sweatshirt off it kept riding up and displaying my flabby tum to all and sundry.... Ah well, i guess in a few weeks the flabby tum will be firm and toned

just done week two, run 2.5 (gave up during mondays attempt). i am managing about 4/6 90 second runs fully, the other two i am struggling on, so once i can run all 6 intervals at 90secs i will move upto week 3.

i am running about 2miles atm.

i'm so impressed with you all.
sorry to hear that a couple of you are crocked already, though...

i did my second run today, just the first week. it was fine, very blowy and wet up here so actually really pleasant to run in. but am really nervous about the next few weeks... does it just seem much the same as you're gradually getting fitter or do any of you feel like you are dying on your feet?

definitely getting fitter, Aitch, I ran all the way to the surgery today and normally I would have expired at the end of my road. It's quite amazing how each time is a bit easier.

I had a go yesterday. Jogged home from school. It's about a mile. Managed about 2 mins straight when I first set off into the jog, then the old stiff/burning feeling started in the calves and I had to intersperse with jogging/walking. Was doing approx 60 seconds jogging/60 seconds walking. Am going to concentrate on jogging back from school, build on that, and once I'm comfortable with that distance and am making the jogs longer and the walks shorter, then I'll try and extend the distance/time. I'm not worrying about it too much, just taking it as it comes and will persevere and look forward to the improvement.