Couch to 5K: A healthier year is underway

[ScienceGeekMum]

Through rain and snow and skies of grey
We will keep running the C25K
Though lack of sleep and time do test us
We wil not let excuses best us
For 2012 will be the year
For weight loss, fitness and good cheer
Nine weeks of running isn't that long
So come on ladies, get those running shoes on!

Welcome to all runners, joggers, speed walkers and waddlers! All levels of fitness are welcome here on the Couch to 5k support thread. For more information see the NHS website

Link to the old thread

I am now paralysed with jealousy at the person who saw a porpoise - must have missed that post. And now not sure I can ever bring myself to go out round here again where the most I can hope for is a squirrel.

you can only see a porpoise if your park has a pond so dont let envy get the better of you

Morning all, W2R2 done and can def feel it getting easier

Good luck to everyone going out later, hello to the newbs!

Hi all w2r2 done last night - felt quite good, rest day today and then out again fri night or sat morning. I love the motivation on this thread, congratulations everyone :)

Everyone's doing so well!

I'm just back from W1Run3 after having two rest days. My face is sooo hot when I'm finished. I feel good though!

I'm going to do W2Run1 on Saturday.

run 1 week 3 done - hard but did it - 2 3 minute runs who'dve thought lardy old me could do that- nearly dead but feel really good-

Laura is fab in week 3 - although she pipes in half way through the first 3 min run - you expect her to say soothingly slow down now but No she says that's half way (HALF WAY I sob).
I think i would do anything she says now- maybe in week 9 she says ' now run to 39 high street and collect a package' or maybe in 3 years time you get a phone call from MI5 but its Laura and you just do what they ask , then Spooks turn up.. (must write this down as a first novel idea.....)

I could really do with Laura right now to tell me to get off MN and do some work!

little motivation talk coming up so please skip if you have a weak stomach
I think C25K is genius and the NHS should advertise it more widely, although this thread is the real key- anonymous but supportive.

Any of you who are considering doing it, or struggling -just keep trying - even if you just walk the 30 minutes. I am 48 ,was a stone overweight when I had my son and then put on 2 more. Just considered myself a lardy middle aged woman who wouldnt/couldnt manage any exercise/ couldnt fit it in/would be embarrassed. then just before christmas I downloaded the podcast - did one or two runs and then found this thread. when I went back to work after Xmas I would have probably dropped it as it was difficult to fit in but this thread inspired me and now at week 3 I feel so proud of myself. if someone had told me I'd be able to run for 3 minutes without stopping before Xmas i would have laughed in their face. Thanks to you all for keeping me going. Its not easy - no way easy but its not impossible and despite achey knees and stiff hips I feel fab after running. I hope to keep it up and it'll be one of those things I'll wish I'd done years ago- so dont give up lets keep each other going
and thanks QRgeekmum i love you nearly as much as I love Laura

Can I join you ladies. I need to lose about 1/2 stone and I am very bad at not eating so exercise is my only option. First week of the C25K has now been completed. Body is a bit sore but it wasn't so bad. Looking forward to starting Week 2 tomorrow.

Ah yehudiwho that's a lovely post

And welcome wintergoddess, well done you!

Thanks Topsmart.

I must confess I have run before, even have completed a 10k in a fairly respectable time but have been on the bench due to injury. I wouldn't describe myself as a sporty fit type, but these running programs make it possible to become a runner, they really work - well they worked for me and I love my sofa!

Whoopidoo!! Did W2R2 this morning, no cheating! So chuffed!! My shins didn't hurt after the third run today, but my ankle is painful right now.

Went to my local coastal, woodland park today, lost my sense of direction and landed on the beach, then my battery died (but I had spares). It was glorious, and I saw nature!!!

Saw some seaguls and pigeons (big waw-y), blue tits and robins, (whatever I hear you say), curlews and, wait for it......... snowdrops!!!

Was smiling during my 5 minute warm down walk. Success!!!

yehudiwho - I only nearly saw a porpoise so it doesn't count!

Shoes swapped. W1 r4 tonight x

panadbois I only heard a woodpecker but now you've seen a curlew!!

new 'what signs of spring have we seen' spreadsheet being written now

I saw two ladies doing our thing this morning and so i've come up with a signal. we can very subtlety use our left hand to indicate which run and the right for the week (obviously falls down after week 5 but we'd probably be going too fast by then anyway), very nonchalantly so you'd only know if you knew (if you know what I mean)

Do you think I'm getting a bit carried away with the Laura being a spymaster in disguise thing?

yehudi fantastic motivational thang there, I totally agree. I am probably 10 st overweight and never would have thought I'd be able to do this but I am doing it. My family are all like this

w1r3 done Ma has agreed to have DS for an hour on Sat so I can attempt W2R1. I really don;t want to leave it until Monday.

My, thats a sentence I never thought I would hear myself say - I don't want to leave the running for a day longer than I have to!

Ahh, yehudi I love you too! Like Kew, I am to see these words: I am looking forward to running later today! W2r3 tonight!

And the thread has definitely been a crucial factor in keeping me going, so thanks for joining me. It's funny how I find you lot more motivational than my DH, who is supportive but being a skinny thing doesn't get why it's such a big deal to run (or shuffle) for 90s! But yous lot are fabulous and understand that the small steps (literally!) are big achievements. So well done and thank you

I used 5K runner Jnice which was £0.69 too, I just started it then closed it and went to my iTunes and it plays over the top.

Loving all the love here today!! It's great to have people to share with, my dh is very supportive but other than him I haven't told anyone I'm tryig to lose weight or that I'm running and no one has noticed my 10Kg weight loss!!

Hello all. I'm having some big gaps as I'm doing a chronic pain management course. I'm very worried about these big gaps.

Congratulations to everyone who is keeping going. I need to stand next to you to hope that some of your enthusiasm and tenacity rubs off, but not in a sweaty way.

Yehudi - I saw two big green birds if you'd like to bung them onto your spreadsheet.

This afternoon I did W1R4* just because I was bored! What has happened to me?! I used to be the biggest exercise phobe. it's not that I enjoy it while I'm out (though it's definitely more fun using own music with an app rather than same podcast music).
It's more the smug feeling of pride afterwards.

Anyone else getting killer blisters on back of ankles from running shoes?

*Didn't quite feel ready for W2 just yet

cinnamon - 10 kilos, well done, you must feel great!

Need motivation. It's cold outside