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

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone! Have been on a high all day since my run.

I have a question though - when (if at all) do you guys do stretches? I embarked on the NHS podcast expecting to be told to stop and stretch after the 5 min warm up walk but they didn't. Anyone know the current received wisdom?

yehudi week 3 was great. I only did a slow jog but managed the three minutes without any problem - amazed myself as no way could I have done that at Christmas!

Not really been stretching, did go for a swim lunchtime though, does that count?

After w3r1 being really good w3r2 which is EXACTLY THE SAME was horrible. My legs felt like lead and for the first time I don't feel energised afterwards and didn't enjoy it. But I think there are a couple of reasons for this:

Lack of sleep - DD teething...joy
Very busy day at work
I didn't have what on so my earphones kept falling out

I didn't have what on!?

Should be I didn't have a hat on!!

I've still not started, I don't know how to put my sports bra on! . Also need to get some cheapo sports gear from Tesco next week when we get paid.

Thanks for all your kind wishes regarding my niece she was very poorly and we came close to losing her but she is a fiesty little madam and this week she is doing fantastic!

Ah haziedoll that's great news. But you've got enough on your plate without worrying about getting fit too!

Brilliant new Hazie

Uphillbothways I don't stretch, I know others have said they need to but I haven't found I needed too. My dh had a lot of problems with injuries but since he stop his regular stretching he has hardly had any.

That's great news haziedoll!!

I'm loving myfitnesspal, haven't added any friends though just using for calorie tracking.

Uphill, I stretch for a few minutes before I start the 5 min walk and for a few minutes after I am finished. When I don't stretch I am in pain the following day, especially in my calves and thighs.

Just completed week 5 , day one .. I'm really using myself because I need to lose my baby weight but it's ok. Day 3 is a 20 minute run though!!

Hi ladies,
Is it okay if I join this thread? I've just completed W3 R3 and found it to be the toughest one yet. I'm still managing to continually run but gosh I am SLOW! All the other joggers whiz right past me. I am going that slow, that in week 1 I ran round my block twice in the half hour, in the second week I got around 1 and 3/4 times but this week I only managed to run round my block once and a little bit.

This is the stage when I give up on exercise so really need to keep the momentum going, but it is hard especially since I've put on 5lbs since I started the Couch to 5k.

Has anybody started week 4 yet? Is it as big of a leap as I think it is? I'm trying to decide whether to stick to the week 3 programme over the weekend and start week 4 on Monday.

Hello my loyal subjects!

Welcome aboard D, hope you will enjoy it here. Keep pereservering, my fastest was my first run too in terms of pace, but I ached a lot afterwards whereas now I don't ache at all. Also it's not just about the physical health benefits but the mental health benefits as Feral described below. So don't lose heart!

D welcome, I am impressed you have got so far.

Well I am still having technical problems and still failed to download any podcast. BUT have just got back from w1r2. Pushed myself a bit harder and was really puffed by the end but feeling pleased with myself as it only took me 4 runs to get to the end of the big long road I run along. It was 4 and half runs last time.

Hi D, welcome to the thread. It sounds like you're doing fine, don't be too hard on yourself.
Well I am now officially a Week 2-er! It was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be and i actually began to enjoy it. Not bad considering this time last week I was laid on this sofa with ice/hotwater bottle and deep heat with my horrible calf strain.
Well done everyone who is still going. What exactly is the shred? I have heard a few things about it - negative and positive - but don't really know much about it.

Did W2R2 tonight and have a bit of a headache - I think due to low blood sugar and exercising/eating too late (didn't go out till nearly 8). But the run itself was do-able, if not a barrel of laughs. AbbyLou - the Shred is an exercise DVD by Jillian Michaels. You are supposed to do it every day for 3 days, 10 each of 3 progressively harder workouts. I have never done the full 30 but do try to do it regularly. It is fantastic for sculpting your arms and stomach. Well, sculpting is a bit of an overstatement for me, but reducing the floppiness, at least. (Had to give up exercise DVDs when we had the Xmas tree up as no space and I'd have bounced all the needles off, but no excuse now.)

Abbylou- 30 Day Shred is a workout dvd by Jillian Michaels see my post up thread 'Wed 11-Jan-12 01:32:52'

w2r1 done. found it really tough. didn't manage non stop runs for all the 90 secs runs. think i was going too fast. BUT i got out there and did it. will try again on my next run.
strangely, i'm achey again.

oh but i did see some wildlife...a rat...

Morning all,

R2 W4 in the bag. Already getting anxious thinking about next weeks runs.

Still feeling motivated, although overtaken by skinny mums on the run this morning.

Have a good day all

Well done cheese :)

I'm on w2 an am anxious about next week, I think it's probably inevitable that we will be apprehensive before each new week.

I still can't begin to imagine running 5k!

cocoa - I have something similar to these, and they don't fall out! here

I start week 3 tomorrow. It's been easy this week with sunshine to help get me outdoors, I hope it continues!

Has anyone used something other than the podcast that 'trains' you - I.e. tells you what to do and when? I would like an app that works over the top of my playlist.

Thanks!

cheese - well done, don't let the skinny mums deter you! You'll be outrunning them in no time

Did w3r1 last night, bloody hell the last 3 minute stretch nearly finished me off, it was fecking uphill wasn't it! I ran the lot though, although ran may be too strong a word, shuffled probably closer to the truth!

Jnice. I downloaded an app - can't begin to think how to link to it as have only just got my Iphone and still getting to grips with it, but it was one of the first that came up and only cost 69 p. You could choose which songs to play on it but I found setting that up a bit fiddly and I missed some of the prompts as it only says once 'now run', 'now walk' etc. So I like the podcasts because it gives you a bit more warning. But for 69p you can't go wrong really!

Runkeeper is a free app and you can either program your own intervals on it or buy training programmes within it that I believe play over your playlist. However I use it whilst playing the podcast so can't say if the training bit is any good.

nomorecake I think I ran too fast at week one and changed to a old lady shuffle jog in time with the music and it does seriously help- lovely Laura does tell you not to run fast and carefully pace yourself.I was a real Podcast music snob at week one but I think they've chosen the music to help you pace the running- if I run to the beat I find it much easier, and have started to like the music more- constant repetition works as brain washing I think
Well about to set out on r1 wk3 and am very nervous indeed 3minutes running -tis madness that's what it is. 3 weeks ago i doubted I could complete a minute at a time!!!
as official wildlife spreadsheet keeper we have a porpoise, several deer, a woodpecker( heard but not seen) and a RAT. I expect to see several pitbulls at this time of day