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

Did W1R1 this morning and it was hard but felt so fab at work all day knowing that I'd actually managed to get up for work an hour and a half early and got into the gym.

This will be the fourth time I've started C25K, the furthest I've ever got was week 6, hoping I actually complete it this time!

I'm using the Ease into 5k app on Android. No encouragement, just instructions and I can play my own music. I'm also using RunKeeper to log distances - my hope is to continue extending my runs after completing C25K and it will be nice to see how far I've come.

Well done to everyone who's run today!

Off in five minutes to start my first ever run. Wish me luck!

GOOD LUCK walking runningonthemoon !!!

Good luck walkingonthemoon you will do fab! Report back.

Just dropping in to mark my place, say hello to you all and confess that I have had a second rest day today. Hoping to get out tomorrow, but depends if the bloomin;' courier brings my parcel early or not!

Well done to everyone moving on/just starting!

Well done everyone, especially the new starters!

Thanks for another great thread Sciencegeekmum

I did w3r2 today. I am not using the NHS app run listening to Woman's Hour podcasts or Kermode & Mayo's film review. I find the talking distracts me!

Help!

All psyched up to do my first run this evening. DH has come home and tried to download the podcast onto his itunes thing. However, it doesn't seem to recognise it or something.

How do you download it?

Managed to get to a mum & baby fit class today and 11 week old DS was pretty amazing lying on a mat and checking it all out. Only got fussy right at the end.

Just in from w2r3, it was hard work but I ran all the runs. Rather nervous about week 3- run for THREE MINUTES??!!! That's a step up....

Weigh day tomorrow, lets see what a difference my 4 runs and 1 swim have made this week [smug]

cece did you click the links from the site? That didn't work for me do just search for nhs couch to 5k in iTunes, you should find it.

I am in the itunes store - it wants me to sign up for an apple id - is that right????

Yes, if you don't already have one. I don't know if there is a different way.

didn't want to run today.

me: 'WAhhhhhH DH don't wanna do it!!!!'
DH: 'just get on with it, you did it before, so you can do it again'
and somehow i ended up outside and walking...

so w1r3 done. messy. awkward. strained. didn't push myself enough. but done.

With Aseaandthreestars post ringing in my ears:
'Cake - get your trainers on. You are a runner! Do you hear me? A runner! Off you go!'

Kept repeating, Stuart Pearce face, Stuart Pearce face, Stuart Pearce face!

not sure whether to do w1 again or take a chance and move on to w2??!

Rest day today....but I discovered dh has been for a run. Apparently I have inspired him. If he rocks up with a 6 pack in a few months I will not be able to thank you lot enough!!! Right now i don't feel I need to thank you as he is moaning about te bad shape he is in

W2r2 tomorrow thinking late pm after work. Nice and dark!

bugger I can't get into the itumes store ....

On no cece - can you manage without the podcast? Week 1? That was walk for 5, then alternate run for 60s walk for 90s for 20m then walk for 5.

Don't let the technical hitch get in the way of your goal!

Just weighed in, 1.5 lb lost in a week. I suppose that's healthy since I bf but I have worked so hard I expected a bit more.

The right direction though.

Haha Cake. I just thought I'd pop in before bed (tired beyond words after 6.3k run/walk and an hour of pilates) and saw that the old Stuart Pearce face trick worked. I've been using it for years.

Well done for getting out and running. If you think you can do week one better, then have another go, or go straight to week two and grab it by the throat. I'm going to find the picture and put it on my profile in case encouragement is needed.

Well done to everyone who has run, lost weight and battled iTunes.

Cece you can just follow a basic plan tonight... If its your first time out, brisk walking for half an hour will be great. Then you can try and sort out the podcast afterwards but be pleased that you've made a start

Hello all - this thread moves so quick I can't keep up.
Thanks for the good wishes on my calf. I did W1R3 tonight and despite a slightly pop early on, it felt good. I thought it was going again but I think it may be something to do with the way I run. I'm not sure how to address this really. How do you run properly to minimise damage? I'm certainly not an athlete that's for sure but I did find myself actually starting to enjoy it. I'm not sure I'll be saying that on Wednesday after starting W2 but we'll see. Dh started W2 tonight and he said it wasn't too bad.

Thanks Jnice - just setting off...

Abby, make sure when you run you go heel-toe, not the side or ball of your foot first. This is meant to minimise damage. Also do gentle hamstring stretches before exercising - holding for 8s - but be careful of this when you've already damaged the muscle. Hth.

Thanks for that. I have been doing the stretches daily anyway since I damaged my calf but made a point of doing them before Saturdays and todays runs. My trainers are crap and I know that's not helping, just waiting until payday to get some better ones. I will try and bear in mind what you said. At least it's something else to concentrate on to take my mind off running!!!

It's just occurred to me that by the time the evenings get lighter we will all be so good at running we won't need the cloak of darkness to hide in.

And that's cocoa's random thought for the day. Thought I'd share!

Not only will we be better at running, we will look better too!