Couch to 5k: thighs a-slapping, boobs a-flapping, bellies a-swinging but we're winning!

[QueenRunningGeekMum]

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

Ok I'm going out soon. Do I brave the snow or wuss out and run on the treadmill at the gym? I have never done even 20 mins on a treadmill...

onhand well done! Feels great doesn't it?

yes cinnamon, this morning I only logged 4.1kms so I need to work it up to 5kms.

Hello All
I have just completed run one of week 2. Anyone else at this point? Anyone else doing couch25k who is rather overweight. I'm 14 and a half stone and worry that I'm going to pound my knees to a pulp. Can anyone say anything cheering on that front?

Montague we are twins! I do w2r2 tomorrow and am 14.5 stone. Won't be by the

Altshift and montague im doing W2R1 on wed so just behind you and im 14st 1lb so almost the same, im also hoping to be much thinner by the end of this.

Montague, Altshift girders W2R1 for me tomorrow morning. I only need to lose an inch (whatever that is - say half a stone?) I just want to get back into the clothes in my wardrobe. Am scared of tomorrow though because I already seem to have buggered my knees; they've been hurting ever since W1R3, yesterday morning.

need a boost kick up the arse I did wk4 r3 last tuesday and due to snow, work and procrastination havent been since. dyou reckon I should do wk 4 again (as punishment) or do wk 5 tomorrow?

montague just to say whilst I have lapsed this week I am 13 stone and at week 2 worried about my knees but they improved no end as i went on so dont worry

Ouch. Two bad runs in a row. My legs felt like lead on Friday and today despitevtwobrest days

Came home to find DH had run a bath, lt candles and was cooking dinner by way of encouraging me so not all bad...

Hope everyone's well. I honestly think I'd have given up during today's run if it weren't for this forum; I kept thinking I can't check in and say that I didn't complete the session so THANK YOU ALL

Oops

Just checking in to say w4r2 done. Covered 3.9 km.

I am a bit worried that I need to go a bit faster. So worried about being able to 'pace myself' and actually finish the runs that I have been quite steady. Today I realised I had only really puffed and huffed on the last bit of the 2nd five min run. The rest I managed quite easily.

Is that good or bad? Should I be gasping for breath at the end of each run or aiming to just get through it and finish in reasonable confort.

Yehudi get going with week 5!

Well done all the runners today! I'm on second rest day but did an hour's walk instead

yes miss qrgeekmum will run tomorrow

Checking in for W5R2. To tired to add anything else x

Cece I am no expert but I am would be inclined to follow Laura's instructions and keep your pace steady. I think learning to pace yourself so you complete the runs without being exhausted is part of the process- well done I say for doing so well!

I did W3R2 today in the snow and it felt good!

:)

Cece learning to pace yourself will come with experience. For now I would try to start off slowly and see what you have left towards the end - any extra energy can be used to run hard for the last 2 mins, finishing strong is a good thing to aim for. After you've finished the C25K programme, to quicken my pace I would work intervals into my runs (once a week), they aren't as enjoyable as just running but they work.

W5 R1 done!

I like the fact that it's different each time this week (I might not say the same on wednesday!)

Does anybody else find some of the music completely off the beat with your run, somewhere in the mid section taday I got really anoyed that the beat was totally mistimed with my pace...

< backs into corner and hides>

I've just done week 5 race 1 too. I am actually quite looking forward to having a crack at the 20 minute run at the end of this week just to see if I can do it!

Dropped by to say hello and we'll done to any snow runners today. I'm still nursing a cold and my asthma is pants so I haven't run for 8 days however i am holding the bug at bay without antibiotics so I am really hoping being slightly fitter is helping and it is motivating me to get back out there when I can.

Ok checking in, just finished week 1 run3, it's totally scorching over here so am struggling in the heat so pleased I did all the runs. Keep going everyone! For the first time in my life I'm actually looking forward to exercise and starting week 2!

doris - there is a song in week 5 that throws me, it says something about "inside i'm amaaaz-zing".
unfortunately its in each run in week5. But I tried to see it as an aditional challenge- to keep my rhthym to that song.

completed week 5 today.
I was looking forward to it all day, which is weird because normally I dread it all day. Then, I decided what I would say, or think about, if I started to struggle, and then finally headed out.
great run. I was really focussed, and my head was just in a good place.
I didnt get ridiculously out if breath. started to feel it around 15mins, so concentrating on my arms rather than my legs, and then last 2 mins I picked up the pace!!
20 mins. I cant quite believe it.
in the beginning I was quite sceptical that the plan would get me fit enough to do 5k/30mins running. but is does actually seem to be working!! along with the great support on this thread!
my speed and distance are both really low, I think my distance was only 3.1km. I read, up thread, most of you guys are getting closer to 4km.
oh well. i' work on that later.

Yehudiwho I'm for moving forward so go and do week 5, go with a positive mind that you will complete it and if you don't try again next time.

Cece covering 3.9Km seems pretty quick to me anyway. I agree with others you don't want to wear yourself out especially with longer runs coming up but only you know how you feel and of you're not pushing yourself then up the pace a bit. I am not totally dying by then end and have big chunks when I feel very comfortable but I also have points where I have to talk myself through or I'd stop and at times my legs feel like lead so I know I couldn't go faster (especially when there's a slight incline hill).

My fellow w2s, Madein, Montague, girders and bigbad - i'm going out to brave w2r2.

It had better be easier....