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Original poster

Couch potato to 5k - anyone fancy starting?

289 replies

giddykipper · 07/09/2008 08:27

This is what I'm talking about

And there are podcasts for your mp3 player to help.

Anyone feel like a bit of mutual motivation?

OP posts:
kiwibella · 02/10/2008 21:47

hope you got your momentum going GK!

I can now comfortably run the 90 sec slot but am having great difficulty lasting for 3 mins!! I don't think I will ever be able to move on from this week.

Well done Eiffel... enjoy your run tomorrow (Friday)... it will be even easier.

LaTourEiffel · 02/10/2008 22:09

Kiwi, I'm quite looking forward to it, in a kind of self-testing kind of way, as in, will it be OK like yesterday or was that some kind of super energised freak run? Not sure I can quite imagine running for 3 minutes though. I can see myself doing week 3 a couple of times

Here's a 'how long's a piece of string' question for you all - how long before it has a postive effect on weight loss / body shape? I know its having a positive effect on my general fitness already - I keep finding myself running up the stairs and I just feel more um, fluid? and flexible than before. Is anyone else doing this quite overweight or are you all beanies just getting back into shape?

Original poster
giddykipper · 02/10/2008 22:28

I didn't go out , I just couldn't get my head straight. And then I managed to sleep in some peculiar position that meant I have had a painful knee all day. And it's been raining. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I can feel that I have put weight on in the week since I stopped. I must get going again, you'll all leave me behind.

Fingers crossed for a better knee (and mental attitude!) for tomorrow.

OP posts:
BlessThisMess · 03/10/2008 09:14

Eiffel - It hasn't made any difference to my weight yet. I'm not very overweight - only half or one stone (depending where I decide my 'normal' weight should be - completely pre-babies weight? (prob unrealistic) or just where I'm relatively happy) - but no loss yet. Mind you, I'm not exactly cutting down on cakes, biscuits and chocolate!! That's prob got something to do with it .

Giddy - don't worry too much - we all have bad days/weeks. It's stepping out of the front door which is the hardest bit! Maybe you could promise yourself just to go out for a 2 min brisk walk and then come back in again if you want to, but in fact you might find out by the time you're outside you're more in the mood for a run. I certainly wouldn't be doing very well in going out if it wasn't for this 5K which is now only 9 days away!!

And this morning I had my first real failure - was supposed to be doing 2 x 10 mins but had to stop after the first 9 mins and didn't do any more after that - I just had no energy at all . Maybe being in a bad mood didn't help as I had argued with DH just before going out. But OTOH I have been feeling under the weather from time to time and am having blood tests on Monday to see if I have anything sinister going on.

kiwibella · 03/10/2008 09:17

I think I will be doing week 3 for a while... I can't run for 3 minutes and had a peek ahead at week 4 - it's 3 mins then 5 mins (like hell )!!!!!

I'm also not overweight but not a lightweight either. It definately has something to do with the number of biscuits I consume. Have recently squeezed myself into size 12 jeans after baby 18 months ago... my aim is to be able to move without my thighs rubbing together .

Get out there giddy... you will feel amazing once you have done it x x

LaTourEiffel · 03/10/2008 12:57

Just a sneaky post as am at work, I'm due to go out later - will finish work then leg it home, get changed and go out before picking DS up from nursery, if I wait until DH gets home I think I'll have wound down too much and not be able to get going again!

Am very pleased not to be aching today, I thought I would so my double length cool downs must be doing some good

Today's the day Giddy - run with me! (Have you already been? ) I'll be going out at about 4.30 and will send positive thoughts your way!

BTM, crikey, can't believe your run is now only 9 days away, that went so quickly! I'm sure you'll be fine, perhaps a little rest would do you good?

andiem · 03/10/2008 14:10

hi everyone have done 2 runs this week am starting at wk 1 again as I had a break am planning 3rd for subday am
wasn't as bad as I thought and I do feel better for it
have you seen these running clothes

Original poster
giddykipper · 03/10/2008 21:44

Well isn't that peculiar - haven't been out in over a week and I do my best run yet. Decided to do week 2 again and managed it fairly easily (although knees hurting for the first time , perhaps I need new trainers ). Back in the saddle ladies! I think I'll start week 3 on Sunday.

OP posts:
LaTourEiffel · 03/10/2008 22:26

Well done Giddy! The rest obviously did you good! I'm planning on my last week 2 on Sunday and am very about week 3 - although if it rains all day maybe I'll drag it out a bit

I love all the running clothes but hate that they will all just show off the rolls and wobbles - what is it with a lack of fitness clothes for unfit people - we've got to start somewhere!

I aspire to looking good in those fitted and shaped tops

Original poster
giddykipper · 03/10/2008 22:54

I'm about week 3 too Eiffel - can't perceive of running for 3 minutes solidly.

OP posts:
Original poster
giddykipper · 04/10/2008 20:22

I've just bought these

OP posts:
BlessThisMess · 04/10/2008 21:02

Smart shoes, Giddy! I have Mizuno too.

After that crappy run on Friday am, AF arrived on Friday night so maybe that was why I had no energy! I'm planning on going tomorrow but am currently developing a horrid sore throat - hoping and praying it doesn't turn into anything bad - I want to be fit for next Sun!!

LaTourEiffel · 05/10/2008 12:59

BTM - Best cure for a sore throat I've ever found is a salt water gargle - perhaps you could try it to see if you can kill any bugs that may be lurking before it gets a hold? Hope it stays away. Glad you found the reason for your crappy run.

I've got the PIL here today (am hiding in the lounge whilst they take over in the kitchen), can't beat a good bit of MIL's steak pie!! . DS is having a nap so its definitly 'me' time.

Weather seems to be clearing off a bit too so may well manage my third and final run of week 2 this week. It would be lovely if I do as week one ended up being week one at least twice due to other things (life) getting in the way...I've felt a bit more in control this week and DH is being more supportive too. I think that's coz I've actually been going out and not making excuses not to!

LaTourEiffel · 05/10/2008 13:00

Oh, and I went to the pool yesterday with DS and I'm sure my cozzy fitted better round the chest area so maybe a little bit of toning might be going on?! (Am very large so losing some is brilliant!)

BlessThisMess · 05/10/2008 17:27

Just been out for a run. I'm very thankful it went a lot better than that doomed effort on Friday morning. It's amazing how one bad run can really knock the confidence! I really had spent the last 3 days thinking that I wouldn't be able to run the whole 5K and wouldn't even be able to do 15 mins at a time!

Anyway I went over a 5K route, and took DD (7) riding on her bike. I was surprised that it was her being too tired to keep up with me that slowed me down. We ended up doing a 15 minute run, an 8 min walk, a 13 min run (slightly downhill) and a 5 min walk. That's a total of 41 mins for the whole route, which I'm quite pleased about!

I'll do the same route again on Tuesday without DD, and see how well I get on on my own!

LaTourEiffel · 05/10/2008 21:27

Well done BTM and well done your DD!

I did my last run of week three this week, I wasn't feeling very enthusiastic about going out as I'm very tired after a broken nights sleep last night but I guess I didn't do too badly.

I'd lost track of how many runs I had left and was about to quite and go home when he said I only had one run left to do, so just pushed a bit harder. I don't think the 5 min warm down is enough for me though as my calves are very tight tonight.

The theory is that I'll be doing my first run of week three on Tuesday - if I can still walk by then!

I found my chest hurt a bit today - could it have been because it was colder? On the plus side, I'd been getting a little bit of aching in my arches and read about it - turns out I wasn't doing my laces up tight enough and it does seem to have done the trick!

funnypeculiar · 05/10/2008 21:31

Haven't been out at all this week (mad busy at work, plus visiting my granny, who has very late stage cancer ), but just checking in - well done everyone who's still making it out

Original poster
giddykipper · 05/10/2008 21:36

BTM I am so impressed, that's proper running!

Was going to go out again tonight but I ended up eating too late so there's no point going out, I'll just feel ill. I should be able to go out tomorrow, I need to test my new trainies anyway.

OP posts:
BlessThisMess · 05/10/2008 23:11

Hi Eiffel

I've been reading some websites/forums about running, and a sore throat/top of chest pain can result from the cold weather. If possible, try to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. It's hard to sustain when you're puffing like a train, but I gave it a try today and it helped.

kiwibella · 05/10/2008 23:52

well done runners!!

andiem · 06/10/2008 13:36

didn't manage my run over the weekend as it was too wet but am going to do 3rd run tomorrow after nursery drop off on the way back
well done btm proper running

kiwibella · 06/10/2008 21:19

I'm not brave enough to go out in the rain either andiem! I managed to do a week 3 run tonight... even the three minutes (unconvincingly). I'll have another go before I attempt to move on.

How are you feeling Blessthismess?

Original poster
giddykipper · 06/10/2008 21:38

Yay, managed week 3 run 1 (not easy is it Kiwi!)

OP posts:
andiem · 06/10/2008 21:39

well done kiwi and giddy

kiwibella · 06/10/2008 22:49

well done giddy!! how did you do Andiem?

Yes... I can manage the 90 seconds comfortably... not the 3 mins tho .