Sept couch to 5k

[FringeMonkey]

Anyone care to join me on the Couch to 5k? Apparently it takes 9 weeks. I have downloaded the NHS podcasts and now I just have to get going. Eeek!

Hi Babies

I struggled with breathing too in week four as I was a bit phlegmy too. It's an achievement that you still did it in spite of the coughing and phlegm.

You're doing all the hard work now so when you come to increase up to 5 minutes it won't be as bad as you think. Have faith in the programme (as Laura says )

Good luck for Friday but I'm sure you'll be fine.

How are you getting on 4000?

No update since Monday night really :(

I have been put off a bit, I will do a run tomorrow and hopefully get my mojo back. I'll do two more w3 runs on an incline this week and see how that goes, hopefully I'll feel able to attempt w4 (again!) next week.

I really need to do Mon, Wed, Fri to get the three runs in, I have to go to the gym as there is no room here for a treadmill and I'm too scared to run outside. Plus I was already a member anyway. My plan is to get to the point where I can confidently run outside by next spring and then maybe cancel the gym. DD1 is at brownies tomorrow so I can go while she's there, and I should be able to go again on Saturday. A lot depends on dh who is recovering from a long term illness and still has off days when he struggles with our livewire 2yo, and who often works away so I can't get to the gym as there's no one to watch the children while I'm there.

I don't really have a routine so I need to set some days in stone I think. And stop making excuses I had a slight cold for a couple of days and that seems to have completely thrown me off course, ridiculous really.

Hi Guys

Sorry have been lurking watching the thread for a little while.

I have started couch to 5k and should have started w3 r1 this week (Monday), but unfortunately I have been poorly, temperature and heavy cold and just couldn't do it.

I nearly passed out doing just 20mins of Wii step due to this blimmin cold.

I wanted to ask do you think that when I get back out and am looking at Monday now as still poorly and usually run mon, wed, fri will I be able to go straight to w3 r1 or should I revisit w2 due to having 1 week off.

Any guidance greatly received :-)

I had two weeks off with my knee and I started where I left off. So I think you should start week Three and see how you go.

4000 it is hard enough finding time to do this program, when all I have to do is find childcare and walk upstairs ! Finding proper babysitters and driving to the gym must be five times harder.

Today I completed Week Four Run One with 16 minutes of running including two 5 minute runs !

I undertook this run after a big curry tea and covered 1.78 miles !

My legs are doing fine (touch wood) it is keeping my breathing smooth which is the challenge. First run was great, second run fine (considering it was my first 5 minute run !), third run fine but I was starting to get tired. Fourth run I started off fine but struggled breathing wise for the last couple of minutes.

I had better control over my breathing but still breathing hard during the fourth run, that said I am STILL coughing and phlegm filled atm so that might affect my running. I have found that my recovery time is so much better, after each run it is not taking much time at all before I am ready to run again, that must be a good sign ?

My husband told me he was proud of me to, yeah him :) Sod it, I am so proud of myself for completing not one but TWO five minute runs, yeah me !

Looking forward to Week Four Run Two :)

Yay. Well done Babies and you really should be proud of yourself. Once you get to five minutes the next lot of increases don't feel so bad.

Aren't our bodies amazing that they can adapt so quickly to an increase in activity?!! Or is that just me being a bit of a geek? The reduction in recovery time is defo a good sign.

I did W6R1 yesterday - it was a bit of a crap run on a crap day. Was OK physically but my head just wasn't in the right place at all. I'm glad I did it though as it would have been very easy just to bail. DS was a bit upset as I didn't repeat W5R3 the 20 minutes run with him. To be honest I just couldn't face it and W6R1 goes back to a bit of interval training.

Wow, Week Six, the end is within sight. Soon you'll be a C25K graduate :)

Week Four Run Two

Again no problem with my legs I feel that leg wise I could run forever. It is my crap breathing restricting me. First run was great, second run great, third run fine. Fourth run I started off fine but struggled breathing wise for the last couple of minutes again (but a lot better than Week Four Run One)

I am practising deep belly breathes trying to breath in for 3 and out for 3. I wonder if my breathing will ever catch up with my legs IYSWIM.

I did go marginally faster and covered 1.85 miles this time.

Hi, can I join please?

Obviously Ive not started yet, but i will be tomorrow morning. just spending tonight looking round the net for a running program and I fancy this one so I am going to do this. I do however have 2 questions.

1. How often do you run? I was thinking of going out mon, wed and fri morns.
2. when it says walk 5 mins then alternate running for 60 secs and walking for 90 secs for 20mins, does the 20 mins inc the 5 min warm up?

Thanks

Ps I cant download the podcasts so will just be using my own music with the program. I assume this will be ok and Im not missing out on anything exciting?

Sorry another question there.

I usually run Monday, Wednesday and Friday but due to family commitments an injury have been doing different days.

Do cool down walk after the 20 minutes.

i.e. Week one is....
A. 5 mins warm up walk
B. {60 seconds run and 90 second walk} x 8 (Which totals 20 mins)
C. 5 mins cool down walk

Thanks babies

Right then tomorrow will my first day

Babies I struggled too around week 4 then something seemed to click with my breathing. I did the belly breathing for a count of three too. I just could't do four but now can. I still have to keep myself in check and concentrate on it.

I did the last of my interval runs yesterday - eek! I've really struggled with the last two runs mentally as I almost feel like I've gone backwards after the 20 minute one last week. What it has shown me though is how much I've progressed.

I've only got 4 more runs until the spooky 5K I'm doing on the 29th. I'm trying not to think about it too much. Me and DS are dressing up as ghosts

Notveryiventive - welcome and well done for getting started. I'm not sure you can use your own music with the NHS pod cast but you can programme other apps like runkeeper, mapmyruns etc to do the same runs as the NHS C25K and use your own music. I must admit I've learned to love Laura as she's so encouraging - It's like having a personal trainer (without the cost).

I suspect the NHS didn't have much choice of music once they'd got rid of all the music with reference to drink, drugs and sex ;-)

Thanks Sofa :)

I did Week Four Run Three today (1.85 miles again), so I can go back to Mon/Wed/Thurs runs.

Today's run seemed to go better, especially with my breathing. Not always smooth but getting better :)

On to Week Five with DH on Wednesday...gulp.

Hello everybody,

may I join you please? I only just started,so am nowhere near as far as most of you.

I did my second run yesterday (Week 1) and thought it was actually harder than the first one. But it was pouring down like crazy and it was really cold, so I think that made the breathing worse. I felt great when I got out of my hot shower though. Next run will be tomorrow morning.

Welcome GravityDefier, look forward to hearing about your next run :)

Thank you Babieseverywhere, none of my friends is doing it so some online support will hopefully be great

Next run is tomorrow morning. I just hope it warms up a bit, only 7 degrees outside today. I got some proper sport trousers but my arms were freezing last time. I wore a shirt and a hoodie. What are you all wearing?

Hi GravityDefier the more the merrier. The time flies so soon you'll be where we are.

Glad your run went well Babies. Week 5 really ups the length of the runs quite quickly - but you've already done the hard work to prepare for it.

Well I did 25 minutes today!! There was a nice surprise at the end which I rather enjoyed . I'm not counting the bit where I had to run on the spot while DS had a wee as a break. Every blinkin' time he does it.

It was really cold so I'm going to get myself some fetching running tights and will force myself to wear them in public.

Sofa, Good grief, 25 minutes of running , well done :)

So what was the nice surprise at the end ?

When you'd run for 24 minutes Laura said if you were feeling OK to increase the pace for the last minute.

So DS and I did proper running for a minute (rather than the jogging which we've been doing). Twas rather invigorating.

Think I'm going to have to accelerate the last three weeks of running so we can make the 5k run we're booked on to on the 29th. We'll see how we get on........

Yeah for the full on run :)

All the best with your 5K. I hope to do one, one day but I'm very nervous about people seeing me attempt to run. [hblush]

Anyway Week Five Run One

I covered 1.86 miles. I just found this run tough.

I kept looking at the time (mistake) and getting disheartened as it was barely 2/3/4 minutes in.

Breathing was OK and I did do all three five minute runs. I just didn't enjoy the running much, that said I was tired before I started. But still got a nice positive feeling when I finished.

Not looking forward to Run Two, which will be Saturday as we are off out on a date with DH on Friday ;)

Just wanted to say hi to you all and that youve all really inspired me....... I have never been a runner, cant even run for a bus, but have so far managed 4 runs. I have no idea how far ive run but just gone at a comfortable pace for about 20-25 mins each time. Thats a jog/walk.......

I would really love to lose a stone and a half, drop a dress size ( or 2) and tone up........ By christmas?? just over 9 weeks to go....... a stone and a half might be too ambitious by then but Id like to be well on my way.......

Would you mind if I join you....? How do you measure your run distances? I dont have an iphone just an ipod. I am also going to start 30 day shred...... what warm up/ cool down stuff do you do?

GravityDefier maybe we can 'run' together?

Welcome veraw, I run on a treadmill so that keeps track of distance. I did try a heart rate monitor last night but the figures it came out with seem a bit crazy, so having a rethink.

Well done for doing it even though you're tired Babies. Good luck with running with a hang over on Saturday! I've done it once. I just drank loads of water all day.

Welcome Veraw. Have you downloaded the couch 2 5K podcasts from itunes? I've lost just over 2 stone in 10weeks but that's with exercise and radically modifying my diet to cut out all carbs.

I started shred at the same time as the running but decided to focus on the running. I used to shred after the run while I was still warm. I do the 5minute brisk warm up in the C25K as warm up. There are some runners stretches on runners world for after the cool down walk.

I doubt I'll be hung over. The more proper food I eat and the more I exercise, the less beer is attractive. Well, ONE nice beer but not loads IYSWIM. I kinda look at stuff and say is it worth the calories, does it taste nice enough and in most cases the answer is no.

That said I'm cross my aerobic class was cancelled tonight again, so I'm off to buy a small bar of dark chocolate and I'll be eating after doing a kettlebell dvd but I wanted the social element of going out to exercise with people and to talk to them, grrr.

My legs are a little achey after my hour walk earlier today but it was nice to get outside in the brisk air.