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!

On darn, sat down and didn't do dvd. Oh well, I enjoyed my chocolate :)

Sofa, thanks for the welcome. I actually have to admit that I didn't do my run on Wednesday, it was just too busy a day.

That is an amazing weight loss! I have signed up to slimming world and today was my first proper day of doing it, I hope that exercise and healthy eating will get rid of my extra two stone too.

I will do it tomorrow though, setting me two days back, but also meaning that I will do my three runs actually in the same week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, instead of Friday, Monday, Wednesday.

I hope it stops raining though, it has been so miserable up here.

Onto C25K Week Five Run Two which I did today covering 1.93 Miles

I had intended to do this run outside but that was not meant to be, so I did this run after our earlier outside walk, on the treadmill.

I put my phone on my arm that stopped me looking at it, I couldn't believe how long the eight minute runs were but I did them both...yeah me :) Tired but very happy I did it.

Interested stats on phone Looking at my speed chart I am not running at 4mph like I thought, my fastest speed is 6.09 mph !

Wow, I can run for eight minutes and up to 6 mph :)

Well done Babies - that's brill and great progress.

I'm at my parents for a few days so we went for a run where they are which was a nice change as our usual route getting a bit monotonous.

We really pushed ourselves today so we knew we could run the 5k next week. We did 5 min walk then 35 mins running to cover 5k. Not a great time but the most important thing was we covered the distance. Going to go back to week 7 which is where we should be for the next 2 runs.

I was v v red in the face but was v proud of DS.

5 K in 35 minutes sounds great :)

I am really dreading the 20 minute run, it sounds so endless and difficult, what did you think about it ?

How long have you got to finish training for your race ? Is your son running with you then too ?

So how are FourThousandHoles et al getting on ? Any updates guys ?

Hello, can I join you? Did W1R1 on Saturday! Am shocked at how unfit I am now - I found the last few runs really hard going. Was planning on doing the second run this evening but my legs are still really stiff and achey so I will have to do it tomorrow instead.
Before I was pregnant I was a gym member, I didn't go nearly as often as I should but used to be able to run for 20-25 mins on the treadmill. Didn't do any excersise at all when pregnant, now dd is 6 weeks old I really want to start getting my fitness level back.
Can't rejoin the gym as I won't have time to go often enough to make it worth the money, so I'm running outside - I found it a bit embarrassing really, got overtaken by other runners and got beeped at by a White van man when I was a sweaty mess! Need to find some quieter roads to run along!
What does everyone do now the evenings are darker - do you feel safe running in the dark? dp gets home from work at about 6-6.30 so I can't go out before then.
Will be watching this thread for inspiration, sounds like you are all doing really well, I'd love to think that one day I could run 10k.

Hi babies. I found my first 20 minute run left me with a real buzz! Must admit I was daunted before hand. I found it easier than week 1 which was a bit of a surprise. Yes DS running the race with me. It's on Saturday so only two more runs to go. Going to keep with w7 which is 25 minutes until then. We did the 5k in 40 mins as counted the 5 mins walking. Will prob do that in the race on sat too.

Hazel - we run with head torches in the dark and lots of reflective clothing. We just make sure we dont run anywhere too secluded. You can get live tracking on some phone apps too if your dp wanted to track you.

Don't be put off by other people going faster. It happens to me all the time and to be running 6 weeks after giving birth is impressive! We all have to start somewhere.

I did it !

C25K Week Fiver Run Three with the dreaded 20 minute run to do.

I panicked a bit, tried to calm down a bit and ran my socks off.

I am so tired and happy. If I can run 20 minutes I can (eventually) run 30 minutes ! Yeah me ! Running Rocks.:)

I'm so pleased for you Babies . Told you you'd do it! You're a runner now - no getting away from it.

Do you really think I might be a runner ? Not yet but I will be one day :)

Today I ran Week Six, Run One covering 1.92 miles.

I got a bit confused and thought this was 8/5/8 when it actually was 5/8/5 minutes running.

So clearly I was surprised that the first run seemed quick and the second endless and the third one much quicker than expected, I was hardly out of breath when I finished ! So I did another 2 minute run during the cool down. I did turn the speed down very slightly for the third run and it was immeasurable better, easier and I kind of switched my internal 'are we there yet' button off and just enjoyed the run.

I really enjoyed this run, the first fun one for a while. That is fun whilst doing. I get a blast from having done the run, even if I am exhausted when I finish IYSWIM.

I want to try running outside again. I might try the canal route I found online for Run Three this week...maybe :)

That's great that you enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend running outside. We run along a canal as we live in a fairly steep valley so if we go any other way we tend to come across some big hills.

I did W7R3 yesterday afternoon in the pouring rain - it was fab! I was quite literally steaming when i got home and was doing my stretches in the back garden .

It's our sponsored 5K tomorrow at the national watersports centre. Getting a bit nervous but also looking forward to it. It's a spooky run in the dark so we're getting dressed up in halloween gear.

We did our first 5K race!!!!! I'm absolutely shattered, more so than I would normally be.

We were right at the back and very slow but we weren't the slowest by any stretch. A lot of people were run/walking. We managed to run the whole way and beat our personal best by 10seconds! It was different marking progress by distance covered rather than time. We missed the 4k marker so going 3k to near the finish line was a bit of a killer.

It was a fun atmosphere and a lot of people had really made an effort with halloween costume. We went as ghosts but my favourite was the bloke in his clothes on backwards - very confusing running behind him!

I'd definitely recommend a 5K race and might see what else I can do before christmas.

Big congratulations on completing your first 5k race :) Another congratulations on beating your personal record :) What was your time ? There will be no stopping you now !

Sounds like a lovely atmosphere with the dressing up etc and how interesting that lots of people walk it. Sorry a marker went missing that must of been so hard to stomach. Pleasant surprise when you got to the end mind ;)

Mmm, maybe I'll have a go when I get fitter. I just don't want to be so slow, that they are packing up before I get to the finishing line but if some people walk, I could do that i.e. walk some, run some.

I have not run for a couple of days due to wingy nonsleeping baby and half term and I both miss it and feel very tired. I might have a quick run on treadmill this afternoon but just a lope not a C25K set run.

Just finished free run on treadmill covering 3.53 miles over 60 minutes ! Too much walking and not enough running but good enough for me :) My first 5K Run (ish)

Well done Babies. That's more than 5K so 10/10 for endurance!

I've done a run tonight but the clocks going back has really put a dampener on things as it's really dark so early. I've had to start running on the main road rather than the canal. My poor hips are suffering from the change in surface .

I went back to week 1 today with my usual jogging pace in the recovery parts and running faster in the minute running parts - it nearly killed me!! I think I'd stopped pushing myself on the longer runs. I felt like I did when I first started which may actually be no bad thing........

What made me laugh is how conditioned I've become to Laura's voice. After the 4th minute of running faster I thought I'd just jog through the next one but as soon as Laura told me to run I couldn't resist!!

Thanks I still think my time is terrible but pleased I did it.

I LOL hearing how you are so conditioned to Laura's voice :) Running against your will !

I was wondering whether I should restart C25K and try and improve my speed or finish off the course to do a super slow running over 30 minutes ?

I'm going to go back to week 7 of C25K and take it slower. I've really knackered my hips again. Think it was a combo of speed and surface.

Managed to get in to see the osteopath tomorrow which should help. Think I might have been getting ahead of myself . I'm going to go for slow and sustainable as I think it will serve me better in the long run

Sorry to hear about your hips, Sofa Hope your medical appointment is helpful and running gets easier again :(

Today I did C25K Week Six Run Two, then carried on running to do 3.12 miles in 49 mins and 17 seconds. Overall 3.44 miles in 55 mins including cool down. :)

So my time for 5k/3.12 miles was 52 minutes (last free run minus cool down) and is now 49 mins and 17 seconds.

But I am still walking the first 5 minutes as a warm up and several breaks of 3 minutes and 2 minutes in-between running. So time is probably made up of 15 mins walking and 35 Running. Not bad considering I could barely run 60 seconds just a couple of months ago !

My sentiments exactly! I couldn't run for a minute without feeling like I was going to die 8 weeks ago.

I've been to the osteopath and feeling less painful. I have to rest it til Saturday but will take it relatively easy.

Interesting reading here as my friend & I have just started this & we're both big & unfit. Our week 9 will start boxing day so really we're just aiming to Stick at this & weight watchers until Christmas for now. I'm enjoying it so far but only been out twice! I'm really pleased for you & hope we can do as well as you. We haven't got the podcasts yet, just read the instructions & set timers on our phones (her 90sec me 60) & did it that way but need better system.

Welcome Liz :) Love to hear how your runs go.

Sofa, Hope the rest has helped your hips ? Are you running tomorrow ?

As for me I have completed Week Six with a 2.2 mile Run three.

I didn't expect to complete this 25 minute run, I had very little sleep last night and started tired and forgot to put on my fan, which keeps me cool whilst running on my treadmill. But I did it, tiny yeah. :)

Only a tiny yeah, as I kept touching the front balance bar of the treadmill for a few seconds here and there, as my tiredness was affecting my balance. So I don't feel I did this run properly, but my husband says I'm being silly and I did do it. Either way, as all three of next week runs are 25 minute runs., I'll have plenty of practice at doing 25 minute runs in Week Seven :)

PS. I had almost forgotten about my breathing, I no longer have to really work at keeping it controlled and stop me losing it. Somehow over the last few runs, breathing has magically got easier. Yeah breathing :)

Hi Liz I'd definitely recommend the NHS podcasts as they're very motivational. Let us know how you get on. You'll see from the posts on here that you'll have good and bad runs - you just have to go with it.

Babies well done for just doing it even though you'd had little sleep. The main thing is you got moving! I like you find my breathing's OK now until I push myself then I have to start concentrating again.

DS and I went in the woods for our run yesterday which has really quite a steep climb. I had to walk part of it but DS managed to keep going. I did better than I did the last time I attempted it 4 weeks ago. Weirdly my hips hurt yesterday but this morning after my run are fine.

I'm off to zumba this morning - never been before. Hope it goes OK as been up a lot in the night with DS2 (2) throwing up and I drank far too much beer last night.

Zumba was fab

It was an hour and a half session but the running paid off! Was't out of breath but sweated buckets. Had an unfortunate incident with my hot pants when I bent over. It broke the seal with my skin and I had what felt like litres of sweat running down my leg. Mmmmm attractive.

Hello everyone. we did w1 r3 this morning & we found it harder than on friday night. friend thinks cos of the cold foggy air. Dh has decided to do it too, he has been out & decided to start with week 2 as he is fitter than us. he was knackered!

We have now got the podcasts on the computer but need to move them onto my phone & find its headphones