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

am just going to check out that podcast. saves me having to go to lidls tomorrow to get a stop watch to time myself.

I did the couch to 5k thing last year. A friend and her family came over for a BBQ at Easter weekend and we left the DC's with the men and went for a run.

We didn't get far and could hear our DH's laughing all the way. They're not laughing now tho' 'cos neither of them can keep up with us.

Honestly - that first outing was embarrassing, we really didn't make more than a few yards without stopping, but it showed us we needed to do something and by July was did Run for Life without stopping. It was (and is) a tremendous feeling.

When you really mean it it's amazing how you can fit in a short run. This pm, we all went swimming. I ran there and DH & DC's met me there with my swimming kit.

Go for it and enjoy. Once you start entering races, there'll be no stopping you.

I love this programme. I did it last year and over about 3 months I went from couch to my 5k - did my first race last June. I repeated a couple of the weeks as I hit my limits, but soon was able to move on. I'm going to restart soon and will find out where in the programme I need to be to get back to fitness. I'm going to do a 10k for diabetes charities this June.

Good luck, it really does work, don't go too fast to start with

yes I'll join in too, I go to the gym and enjoy it but want to do soemthing less expensive that doesn't involve a 20 min car journey. I've tried running before and hated it, so v apprehensive, but will give it a good go.

what I am concerned about is that I am only 7st 10lb, so don't want to lose weight but need toning up from pregnancy. How can I run but not lose weight?

I times it by counting seconds on every other step.
ie right foot, left foot 1, right foot, left foot 2, etc. Does this sound ok? Its not going to be exact but shouldn't be too far off.

timed*

SGK - make sure you eat plenty I guess. You need to consume more calories than you work off. If you don't gain weight easily perhaps you'd need to have build-up shakes (Complan?) to keep your intake up.

Well, I've read all your posts and many more and decided to put if off no longer. I have never exercised, am currently 2 stone overweight and am very nervous about trying to exercise in front of anyone. But I am, really definately am going to do the race for life this year and would love to be confident enough to run / jog it. Me and my 38DD boobs are going to go out tonight once dds are in bed and dh obliviously engrossed on the pc. Please ask how I got on, as that will hopefully stop me chickening out.

Well you lot have inspired me - I have just done my first session on the treadmill. The only problem is my face is now an alarming shade of red and I daren't go out! Does anyone else have this problem and if so any tips to reduce the redness?

Wordgirl - drink more. I googled this a while back and found another website that said I had gone red in the face because I wasn't drinking enough whilst excersising.

Since then I have made sure I drink plenty - not ott cos then you want to pee!

Have found my face doesn't now go red like a flashing nose

oh wow, thanks for that ivy - I've always gone scary red too wordgirl - one of the reasons too embarrased to exercise in front of others - will try water.

I have just been out for a trail run (no pun intended) to see where I am on the scale. I took dd2 aged 9 with me who rode her bike, gave me lots of encouragment as well shouting back "your doing really well mum" bless

We went down the canal that is very near our place.

I did my 3 min warm up walking, and ran for 12 minutes and then rested for 2 mins and turned around and ran back for 10 mins then walked the 4 mins home.

As dd2 had her bike she took the km's and we did 4 1/2 km - took me 34 mins.

Now dd2 has decided we can do it together after school three times a week. The other thing with the bike dd has a computer so she tells me how fast I am running.

Is it too late to join in?

no, not too late yeahbut, i am starting sometime this week after all the kids are back at school.

Wonky have you been out yet? Its still early go on get out there

I didn't go out yesterday as this cold was just too much but went out earlier and did my 20 mins. My stomach muscles are killing me now though, I wonder if that is because I only had DS 4 mths ago and this is the first exercise i've had since then really.

How is everyone else getting on?

Ivykaty, I love the idea of taking my ds2 out with his bike. He is feeling a bit left out at the moment. Can't wait until it gets a bit lighter in the evening.

How was it Wonkywellies? Did you survive?

Wordgirl, My ds and I both suffer from beetroot-face after exercise. From memory, the last time I was fit it only lasted for the first few weeks of huffing and puffing. I'm deffo going to try and drink more whilst exercising as it can only do me good. Also, I try not to have a mad-hot shower afterwards as that just makes it worse.

Kids back at school tomorrow so I'm off to the gym to see what new machines I can fall off.

Happy jogging.

Just done the third session of week 1 - hurray. Will do it one more time before I move up to week two. I've been back 20 minutes, and my face is still burning, even though it was raining on the way home. I'm really into doing this when I drop DS2 at school, as it doesnt hang over me all day, and gets me off to a good start to the day. Wont be so easy when I'm working.

I started running a few years ago and got up to doing 8k - 5 miles - that was my goal - although now I have let it slip and started again on Sunday - did a straight 3k run which I thought was good considering I haven't been for 6 months since moving house.

Best thing to do is get the gym or a book which details interval training - you walk for 90 seconds and then run for a minute and do this for about 20 minutes I would say and then you decrease the amount of time you are walking until you can just run through.

Maybe aim for 1k and then go up 10% each week.

Buying a Nike Plus and an Ipod is a good thing too - you can down load runs and it tells you how far you have gone and how far you have left - I have a Serena Williams thing on mine which is really good - she sort of plays mind games with you to egg you on.

Get a good sports bra and a good pair of trainers too - I have always used Asics or New Balance - New Balance are cheaper but just as good and they are very light whcih is important when you are running - stay away from all the expensive nike ones with the silly shock things in the bottom - you really don;t ned them.

If you want to run indoors Reebok have started doing a really good treadmill tha folds flat - it is about £500 but I have seen them go for far cheaper on Ebay.

And remember to stretch after your run and take a bottle of water.

Good Luck.

Ah,lovely. Been posting on the runners thread but feel that thisi is my spiritual home.

(C&P from runners thread)
(Big Breath) WELL!

ran 2k on sun. Nearly ran it all (and our area is v hilly) and was surprised by how resaonable I felt. Can't say I enjoyed it really, but do feel smug for doing it. Pilates tonight (been doing this for ages), and will try for another 2K later in the week.

You big norkers - I feel your pain. I'm not overweight (BMI is 24 point something) but do have RIDICULOUSnorks (30J!) and find running a bit uncomfortable even in a sports bra. Not to mention embarrassing though easier this time of year in sweatshirts. Will try sport crop top over bra - will support better but give even more of a monoboob effect I'm sure!

Well done to all other new runners.

session 2 done this morning. Legs were feeling sore by the end lol!

I need to buy some trousers that aren't to short or fall down. And i probably need new trainers because mine as quite worn from lots of walking in them.

How do you carry water and run? I also need to carry keys and my mobile because i am running alone and worried i might collapse or something! Also should probably carry my inhalor just in case although i have been ok so far. So how do i carry everything?

Had an apple and drank water since i got back and need to pick DD2 up from pre-school in a little while.

Well done to those keeping going.

Can I join? I've got my new trainers but can't start till my sports bra arrives from figleaves! I am very nervous as I haven't really done any exercise since school days and am overweight with the big norks thing too. But i was diagnosed with asthma just before xmas and am determined to get a bit fitter. Also dd has cerebral palsy and eventually I'd like to raise some money for the special centre she attends. I hope I can do this, at the moment until I get out there I'm not sure if I'll get past a fast walk but we'll see! Also anyone know where you can get proper running leggings etc in a size 22? we went to a sports shop and there was nothing past a size 16 cos fat people aren't allowed to exercise are they?!

hello there everybody - i'd love to join in on this, i'm incredibly unfit at the moment and i think a goal to work towards and a bit of moral support would help me get motivated...i'll make a start this week!

Morning all!

I did my second session of week one at the gym this morning and it was brill!!!!! I can't believe the difference. I forgot my ipod and actually found the gym music much more conducive to getting on with it. My timings may have been a little off but they were close enough and I feel really confident that I'll be able to make some progress now. I was after my first run as I just wanted to die.

Twinkie, excellent advice. A lot of us seem to be doing a form of interval training whether from CoolRunnings.com or from RunnersWorld. I have the treadmill you described and agree that it is probably the best budget one although running on the big gym one today was heaven.

Slouchy, I was a Jcup when I was BF my boys. I feel your pain.

Tortoise, have you got a bumbag or little backpack? I wouldn't go out without my mobile or inhaler. My dh, who has sickeningly run the London Marathon, once went lame 6 miles from home down a deserted lane and had to stagger nearly all the way back before he found a phonebox!

Anyway, should be doing a report so TTFN.

Blimey, it's lunchtime. Must.Do.Work.