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

Wk3, run 2 done last night. I had a headache and didn't want to go, but I thought I'd do the 5min warm up and see how I felt - and it cured my headache (that and the nurofen!). Not lost any weight either, but I see this phase as building up to being able to run long enough and often enough to have an impact on my weight. (Might be something to do with the cake too. I'm a student and working in the library a lot at the mo, and can't resist the £1.95 offer in the uni library cafe for tea and cake, when tea alone is £1.15...)

Cant believe how well everone is doing! Keep up the good work ladies. W3R2 completed today. Think i might need to up my pace as im doing a slow jog but im quite hefty so its a lot of work to move me

Well done to everyone running today! Cheering you on from my day off.

W3R2 also complete today.

Much better than the first run.

Well done everyone. We will all be super fit in no time!

Just back from W3R2, ran the last 3 minutes and felt amazing, I could well get a little bit addicted to this running malarky

Still aching afterwards but not for as long.

Good luck for your next run all and weblette, I have spoken to the relevant peeps about a webchat with Laura, fingers crossed but no promises.

You're all doing great and it's great to hear you enjoying the weeks I've got ahead of me!

Just completed last run of week 1, so happy with myself. Trying to diet to as I've got a couple of stone to loose but diet did not go well today. DS1 is poorly and I had to cheer him up with pancakes, unfortunately I couldn't resist them myself.

I think I will just about manage the 90 second runs coming up, but don't think I'll ever manage the 5 minute ones. Will try though.

As someone already said, it's going to be awesome being able to run in summer when weather is lovely.

Thanks Rebecca

Also got W3R2 out of the way, vvv hard though, think for two reasons.

1 - yesterday did some work with a chum who's a personal trainer. For various reasons, most to do with wonky feet, my balance is appalling so she gives me strength exercises to do. My abs now feel shredded!

2 - Period just starting. Since having had #4 they're incredibly heavy so I feel lead legs whatever I do, never mind running. Anyone else get this?

Still, it's done! Next one will be difficult as I'm usually in the throes of bad period pains a couple of days in :(

Great running today folks by all of you who've been out, good luck to tomorrow's runners

Just back from w3r3 - now a third of the way through the programme, hurrah!

Bit disappointed at my overall pace though, have not improved at all this week. Tried really hard in the first 3 minute run to up my pace, managed to break the 7min/km barrier, but knackered myself so went slower subsequently and overall did about the same as previous runs.

Really don't think I can do the 5 minute runs in w4... At least not straight away. Need to try and stay positive though!

Thinking of entering for the 3 mile Sports Relief run that is closest to me.
Which is around 5k.

It is on the 25th March and is taking place all over the country.
So if you want something to spur you on to complete the c25k then have a look.

By the time I finish c25k it will only be 2/3ish weeks until the sports relief run.

Kew hope your calf heals soon. I did mine in my first week but it's ok now. I had to take it easy for a week or so.
I did W3R1 today and it wasn't half as bad as I had expected. I actually enjoyed it. The 3 mins didn't feel too long.

Went out with wonky knees. Stuck with week 1 though (run 7) knees pained but I completed it. 2.3 miles

Was thinking of a race for life MetalSian which is 5K but no one to do it with.

It might help with cramps Weblette, I find the times mine are worse is when I sit and relax. I'm feel crap during my period but also get very short tempered, hoping running will help even my mood?

Took ds2 to the clinic to be weighed today and the hv noticed I'd lost weight . She also did the c25k a while ago and said it really works and she felt great when she got to the 30 min run!

W3R1 complete :) Very proud of myself going out in this weather today.
I also got soaked by a snow plough

qrgeekmum I am due to week 4 run 1 tomorrow and am too very nervous - my knee is very creaky and twinges randomly-but a week ago I never thought I would do 3minutes and we did didnt we - there seems to be a warm up run and then it'll be just pushing through til we die trying.
we can do it - we know we can

When is Race for Life Cinnamon?
I thought ti was alot later in the year?

I was only thinking of the Sports Relief one as ti would force me to keep going and raise money for a good cause.

Eeek!!! I signed up for the race for life in Watford!!!!

Oooo get you Vajazzler!

Thanks Yehudi, I needed that! Someone said earlier in the thread how 5 minutes seems a psychological barrier somehow. But you're right, at the start 90s seemed huge but last night's run I thought they were easy!

Hi all I've slipped a bit I had a 2 day break instead of 1 But tonight I start W3 please tell me it won't be too bad! Well done to all of you who have reached w4 (and onwards!)

Does the music get better this week ?

Ooh I've just got back from my wk3r1, dorisiswaiting, and it wasn't as awful as I'd feared! I even sped up on the second of the three minute runs.

I think the psychological barrier is my biggest hurdle, I find myself thinking "there's no way I can do it, there's NO WAY I can do it!" and I must not think like that! Does anyone else do this?

Doris - I think the music might be worse - it includes banjo music!?!

Did Wk3 R2 today. I almost stopped which is a first. I felt that I was barely lifting my feet ad just shuffling around.

Omg, just done w4r1...my lungs were fine, my legs don't think they are still there?

Just finished W3R1 - first 3 min run started at the bottom of a hill - bad planning on my part and it nearly killed me! Still I kept going and hit the downhill for the last 3 mins - much more pleasant! Lost 3Lbs too which I very pleased about. I feel a spring wardrobe reward coming on if I get to 9 weeks!

Can I join you? Just done W1R2-almost certain I will need to repeat the week, but maybe that's just because it was pouring with rain and quite unpleasant ! Will do run 3 on Sunday and see how I feel-was very nervous as have had knee problems my whole life, since teens, but 20 years on finally found a physio who works and seems to be going OK. When i say i have never ran before, i really have literally never ran before-even running after DD in the park-always been too painful. Everyone on here is doing so well, though, keep it up-you're inspiring me.

My first post on this thread - I didn't want to embarrass myself in case I bailed in week 2!

Have just done W3R1 and was surprised how much of a step up I found it. 3 mins is a long time, or so my lungs tell me!

I'm really enjoying it tho - I'm just trying not to frighten myself by looking too many weeks ahead.

Ugh, today was the hardest thing I've ever done (W4R1). DD was up all bleedin' night and I've had two days off the running so I had to get out there, despite being knackered.

It was horrible.

But once I've done W4R2 then I'm over half way through and I think I might have to give myself a reward.