Couch to 5km - part II (as amazingly our other thread is nearly full!!)

[Furball]

Sorry to hi-jack your thread misdee but thought we needed a fresh thread as fan-bloody-tasticly we have nearly reached the limit on the other one.

Thanks to Rawb for his podcasts who deffo for me has made it easy and the huge support of others here.

Here is the link incase anyone new would like to join us.

[spamm]

Hello All - Hope you do not mind if I join you.

I am an eternal couch potato and have never been fit in my life. But I have made a very serious decision that I am not prepared to enter my 40s like this (I have a few years yet, but better to start early).

I have lots of weight to lose, but that is not my only motivation. I actually want to be able to go for a run with my husband and for him not to look at me in amusement at my complete lack of stamina.

I have the right gear and last night I went out for the first time - leaving ds at home with my dh, who could not believe it! Not that he is wrong - I have never stuck to an exercise regime, so who could blame him.

It was blardy hard work and I only ran for short periods of time, but I stretched properly bfore and after, and I can walk today - whoohoo! And I went further than I thought I would - basically probably about 1 mile, I suppose, but without stopping, either walking or running slowly.

BUT I know I will need help and motivation and advice, from people who understands how hard this is, not my dh who was in the Army for 22 years and was proud he could still outrun the 18 year olds when he left. So here I am.

I will download the podcasts this evening - thank you very much, just what I need to give me an idea of what I should be aiming for, but any advice for a complete novice is very very welcome.

[Wheelybug]

welcome spamm ! Good luck - Don't let your DH put you off. I don't my DH really thought I would stick with it as I'm a serial gym joiner and leaver but this programme seems different. I think its the fact that it only takes 30 mins 3 times a week so it doesn't take over your spare time. Eg. this morning I have 3.5 spare hours without dd. I went into Kingston shopping for 1 hour to get some pressies for people, have done a 25 minute run and still time to MN (haven't had a shower yet though so need to dash in a mo !).

Also, the podcast helps because it structures it. I had been planning on running from the time dd started pre-school in september but didn't know how to start. I think if I'd just gone out to run, I would have collapsed after about 5 mins and not done it again. This programme builds you up slowly and in manageable chunks. Even if you have to repeats ome of the weeks you know you are progressing.

I can't believe that in January, when I started each week was a real struggle and now at the end of March (when I've had a 3 week break) I am running 3 miles.

Another good motivator is signing up for Race for life if there's one near you. Its for women and not necessarily serious runners so it doesn't even matter if you don't run it all. A lot of us are doing it and for me its definitely keeping me going (and got me going again after a break)

You can do it - and we (and Rawb) can help . Gawd think I have been brainwashed....

[Wheelybug]

Well done Minum and Furball - Furball was that your 25 minuter ? Yeee hawww

[Furball]

wheely- not only was it a 25 minuter - it was my last one! start 28 mins tomorrow. Don't think it will be a problem, but will see.

spamn - welcome to our little clan, the podcasts are little miracles, you'll be surprised how easy it can be.

[Furball]

also love announcing - 'I run about 8-9 miles a week', you can see shock in people faces as they can see I'm a flabby size 16.

[debbiewebweb]

Wow your doing really well furball. I seem to have one good run then one bad and I've got all out of a routine with kids/dh illness and easter etc. But I must get back at it - I still haven't managed a 25 minutes yet but I'm hoping once I do I'll start to believe I can run, and that I can do the 5km - I've got 6 weeks to go!!

[LadyJogsAlot]

keep going girls!
i'll be back out next week when i am back home hurrah!

i miss running, how strange

WELCOME SPAMM!

[bramblebooks]

Hi Spamm!

Can I have a swearbox on the treadmill please? Went for a 5k this morning and really did not want to be there (it was raining outside, so couldn't go along the canal). Oy vay, my internal monologue was blue!! Made it though. Once I got to 2k it wasn't quite such hard work!

Why is it so difficult some days and so much better on others?!

[MrsJohnCusack]

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I JUST RAN FOR 20 MINUTES

but I did. Oh yes. 20 freaking minutes (week 5 run 3)

I am BESIDE myself with excitement. I also passed an audition to play in the professional orchestra - heard yesterday - and my lovely brother and nieces arrived from the UK yesterday, first time I've seen them in 18 months. so, all in all, a TOP week. Hurrah!

[Furball]

well done mrs JC - it's a fab feeling isn't it? I then found the next run which I think is 1 x 5 1 x 8 and 1 x 5 really hard. bizarre!

[LilRedWG]

Ladies, am I allowed to rejoin please? I've done week one twice and not carried on due to my SPD playing up.

I really am determined to do this but am finding it hard to deal with emotionally (depression is bad at the moment so I need to exercise) as some weeks I just physically cannot run and feel a such failure. Do you think it'd be okay if I just walked on the bad weeks?

[EffiePerine]

Could I join? I'd really like to start running again (well, lurching along for 20 mins max is what I am aspiring to) but am finding it really hard to start... where do you find the time? I WOH 4 days a week and DH is really busy with work atm (he's freelance) so I look after DS for most of the weekend - any spare time is usually spent doing laundry (bah) or housework...

[Furball]

just done 28 minutes......
my face is like this

[Furball]

yes everyone welcome!

lilredwg - walking better than sitting...

[LilRedWG]

Well done Furball!!!!!

Thanks ... I will start soon and let you know how I do.

[Furball]

lilredwg - have you seen this thread although we are struggling for a date atm

[LilRedWG]

As I've got to 'know' you a little bit on here I may be brave enough, as long as you are all gentle with me.

[EffiePerine]

Oddly enough, have just been asked by DH about buying trainers in prep for getting fit (if you knew my DH you would realise how strange this is). Must be something in the air. At least I now have someone to compete against

[spamm]

Hello all. Thank you very much for the welcome.

I went for my first wk 1 podcast shuffle run this evening and it was hard, but not impossible. I managed to do everything he said, and it was great.

I got home, crawled upstairs and jumped into ds' bath as he got out, which was nice. And I do not feel too bad at all. The important bit will probably be whether I can walk in the morning.

Wheely - I'm not ready to sign up for a Race for LIfe yet - I do not want to frighten myself before I get started - but I am keen to stick to this. It would be great to say to people "I run 6-8 miles a week", I am looking forward to when I get there!

Am planning to go out on Saturday afternoon, when dh gets back from his hobby.

But how do I know I am ready to go to Week 2 - I am sort of wondering whether I should do week 1 twice, while I get used to it. I am very overweight and the last thing I want to do is injur my knees or something like that and then it's all gone wrong. Any advice?

[EffiePerine]

Which plan are you following Spamm? I found one on the Runners Worls website that looks doable. Their tip is to stop or slow down if you feel uncomfortable - you should be able to talk and shouldn't be in pain.

[EffiePerine]

first run on Sat for me. DH has been busy ordering trainers and running gear .

[LadyJogsAlot]

well done mrs jc

[bramblebooks]

hello to newbies!

Spamm, go at the pace that suits you. I repeated a few of the weeks - especially the one that ended in a 20 min run. It's good psychologically to know that you are calling the shots - some days you just get psyched and know that it's time to move onto the next week's training.

When I started this a year ago I couldn't even do week 1. Today I ran 6k and am soooooo proud of myself (kernackered!). The calorie count on my heart monitor watch wasn't half bad either - waiting for the weight to come off, but I think it may go on as muscle. That's no bad thing, as muscle burns cals faster than fat

New trainers are a good motivator (I had my gait analysed as my foot twists over, so I've got some trainers that compensate for that) - I'm going to get some special socks from the local running shop. I killed my last pair by putting them into the tumbledrier! I couldn't believe the salesman last year, he told me 'you'll be doing 10 miles a week soon' - and so will we all.

[bramblebooks]

Mrs Cusack, what's your instrument? I am a pianist (I teach piano when I'm not teaching dyslexic children). I find my grand piano fab to lean against to stretch out my calves! I'm also learning cello and violin. I play bass. No plans for viola or viol as yet.

[spamm]

Effie - I am trying out the podcasts - as that seems like the simplest form of advice for me - like having a running mate.

I will do my first 3 and see how I feel. If I feel that I need to repeat them, then I will.

Hopefully the weather will hold out so I can go out tomorrow afternoon, and I am looking forward to the the time change - I hate having to rush home and get out before it starts to get dark. I can only go out in the evenings during the week, as dh leaves for work early in the mornings, and I work full time.