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

So ot has been one week today since I last ran due to this horrible sickness bug.
DP has been laid off at work so got no excuse of looking after DS to not go.
I WILL restart W4 today.
Bit sad I'm a week behind now, no motivation, it has been a bad week!

Hiya everybody, I'm planing on starting next week because it's going to be damn cold I need to get organized. I'll need to go first thing in the morning- can I ask, if you do this, what do you eat before go?

And do you use the Podcasts or can anyone recommend an app?

Thanks

Oh, can I join? I started this last week and did W2r2 at the weekend. Looking at the schedule, I am (sort of) confident about week 3, but already nervous about the 5 min runs in w4 - think that will be a real challenge for me. I am determined to keep it up though. Can I ask a few questions (I am sure I could find most of the answers in the old threads but they are a bit long to plough through!)

1. When do you do your runs? So far I have been doing 2 runs at the weekend and struggling with when to fit in the other one (I have a bit of an extreme job which often involves some work at home in the evening) . I dont think morning before school/work is feasible as we have an early start anyway, and in the evening I dont want to head out until after the DC are in bed (so 8.30ish). Once it gets to that time, I am never quite sure whether to head to the gym and use the treadmill (which involves a drive so obviously takes longer, therefore requiring more motivation) or to just head out the door in the dark and cold. Once I can run more solid blocks, I might be brave enough to head out at lunchtime from work, but not brave enough for that yet (too much risk of seeing people I know!) I appreciate this sort of sounds like excuses but I am just trying to work out a routine that gives me the best chance of keeping with it!

1. I have about 3 stone to lose. Are others in the same position (i.e. with this being about weight loss as well as improving fitness)? If so, did you find this helped and did you change your eating habits too?

1. How do you time your runs? W1 I just used my watch (combined with counting in my head) but watch does not have a second hand so it was a bit hit and miss. This week I have been using a podcast which is good for the timing but I hate a lot of the music. Is there an app that I can use for the timing that still allows me to listen to my own music?

1. Do you measure distance? If so how?

1. At which week did you start feeling like a "runner"?

Thanks!

here's the motivational video again.
Please watch, esp you newbies. It's freaking incredible.

Was very good last night and did actually run, so w4r2 done! was too cold for the treadmill in the gargae to work properly though even under all it's blankets (I put it to bed after every run) and I'm in the (slightly) warmer south west so well done to all you ladies braving the freezing cold conditions.

Wineohwhy
I run when my children are in bed so any time after 7 dh is home so they don't have to be asleep for me to go... but I do hide in my garage on our treadmill!

2 I also have about 3 stone to lose, I am trying Paul Mckeena's think yourself thin I'm not sure how well things are working my weight is going down but veryt slowly (which I suppose is the best way)

1. I down loaded the NHS C25K app from itunes, which has the lovely laura and terrible music on it...

4.not yet (w4)!!

Try the Get Running App for timings and using your own music.

Run first thing, get up & into your running gear - leave the kids to school and go - or go before work, otherwise you won't get around to it.

I start feeling like a runner when I am no longer completely out of breath after a couple of minutes, it's time when I feel I could keep on going - it'll be different for everyone but for me it'll be in Week 5 on the 20 min run.
People who see you run are always impressed, even if you are subjected to light teasing and they get used to seeing you in Gym gear.

A piece of advice for those of you that are starting to do longer runs - be careful to alternate the side of the road you run on - the pavement is always on a slant and if you continually run on the same side it can cause strain on your joints and lead to an injury - if you can and where it's safe try to alternate.

Well done Jnice! We are synced again, I'm out weds again.

I have the 5K runner app but that's on an iPhone I like it but it's not tw same as the nhs podcast and at times the running is shorter so I've been flicking between as I feel like I'm cheating if I do less the the podcast but I do prefer my own music!

Sorry to hear that MetalSian! Hope going for a run will give you a bit of a pick me up.

WineOhWhy I run 6ish in the evening, I prefer the dark! I've lost 13kg since early November by cutting down on portions and not eating loads of junk but running is helping. I have another 14+Kg to go so similar position. See above for qu 3! I have started using run keeper for distance. I felt like a runner after wk 2 really but it's more so each week!

Blimey, I'm away for a few days and you're already 4 pages into a new thread. Well done everyone for keeping on keeping on. I did W4R3 on Sunday on my birthday. Mostly to work off the first piece of cake so I could have a second piece, but still was quite impressed with myself. I notice btw that a large percentage of my posts involve cake which might be why the running is going well and the weight loss isn't going at all. W5R1 to do today!

WineohWhy - am lucky in that I am a FT PhD student, with a bit of freelance work thrown in on top so although I am always busy and juggling, it's very flexible. I either run during the day if am working at home (or the weekend) or about 8pm. I know others feel funny about running in the dark, but I go down lit residential streets and see plenty of other runners/dog walkers/kids hanging out. Re. weight loss - see cake comments above. Have about 1.5 - 2 stone to lose, in an ideal world but it's more about getting to be fit enough for a new form of exercise - previously used to swim and do DVDs, but swimming hard to fit in, and DVDs too often involve an audience. I do the NHS podcast, and don't worry about distance/speed. And finally - I don't yet feel like a runner - think that will come with a longer continuous run.

W5R1 done. My teachers at school were right 'Rebecca doesn't read the question properly'
I thought it was 3 mins then 5 mins etc, so I set off on my first 3 minute run only to find it was a 5 minute one!

It's amazing what mind over matter can do.

Laura got me through it though, she's amazing. Good luck all and wrap up warm, it's cold out there!

May I join you? Scared . I have tried before but only got to the end of week 2. I'm waiting for my new running trainers to arrive (had shin splints) and then I'll begin.

Any tips for avoiding shin splints? I feel they are caused by my weight, I'm not vastly heavy at 10 stone 5'6" but I have a very small frame (tiny wrists) and carry a lot of weight on my thighs.

Well done W5ers I'm off out now.

With shin problems I always make sure I do extra stretches which really get to them. One is to stand with feet shoulder width apart, turn your toes to point inward slightly and bend forward as if to touch your toes - vary the angle until you start to feel it in your shins.

Welcome pseud. Try going a bit slower to avoid shin splints. My jog is the same speed as only marginally faster than my walk.

rebecca

I'm back from my very first run: I believe you say W1R1?! It was a challenge but not impossible, which is just right I suppose, and I feel good! I have never felt good after a run before in my entire life.
And even better, DD3 had a fabulous time in the gym crèche even though she has never been left with people she doesn't know before :)

Pseudo - I find that there's a lot less stress on my calves and ankles if I do as Laura says on the C25K and make sure to put my heel down first, then roll onto the toe. Also I try to keep my feet close to the ground rather than springing along and I run on grass to absorb some of the impact for at least part of my run. So far it seems to be keeping the injuries at bay, touch wood.

Well done and welcome aboard BigBadBarry!!

W5R1 was fine, if a little chilly at the start! While it's not easy, it's certainly not as hard as I was worried it would be.

Ladies, to the tune of Row, row, row your boat please sing along with me.

:)

Run, run, run tonight,
I will run tonight,
down the street and round the block
I will run tonight

huff, huff, huff and puff
I will huff and puff
but it gets easier and there'll be

much less huff and puff

miles, miles, miles and miles
we'll run miles and miles
altogether on the thread
we'll run miles and miles

pat, pat on the back
you all deserve one too
give yourself a pat on the back
for doing this for you.

I am back into it again.

Just completed W4R2 (Possibly saying it is R1 again though because of the week gap).
Thought I would die after having a week off but found it better than the last run and this time I had to run around near home so lots more hills!

Very happy.
Was ready to never start again and am glad I pushed myself.

Will see how the next run goes as to whether I add another W4 in for the missed week but hopefully will be bounding onto W5 soon.

Well done everyone who has run in this bleddy cold weather!

I'm singing 100years

Week 5 Run 3 I kicked your ass. Week 6, bring it on.

Whoopee! the 20 minute run was really truly OK.

All you lovely newbies, get going! By week 5 it feels really good except when you're aching from overambitious shredding

Turning I haven't even started Shredding again yet because I don't want that ache to put me off running.
Maybe I should get my bum in gear and start both.

well done metalsian, it's hard to get back in the swing when you've been off.
a
outstanding turnitaround, it's all possible now. 30 mins seems doable doesn't it? congrats

sorry for the strange "a"

Hi folksjust did week 4 brilliant for me the hardest partis all to do with finding the time and actually doing
It .what I mean is making that leap in saying yes I M going to do this is today .
After that its all pretty straight forward really
Things I do that help;
Don't think about it too much just do it
My trainers 30 quid online from m&m direct .fine.
Use my ancient leggings
Wear rain trousers when its cold
And tip.of the day : training clothes : quick blast in tumble drier before I venture out ....always gets them on me faster and no going back after that
Oh Wooly hat
Imagine doing the sane run in the summer and think how great its gonna be
Stay strong !

Hi folksjust did week 4 brilliant for me the hardest partis all to do with finding the time and actually doing
It .what I mean is making that leap in saying yes I M going to do this is today .
After that its all pretty straight forward really
Things I do that help;
Don't think about it too much just do it
My trainers 30 quid online from m&m direct .fine.
Use my ancient leggings
Wear rain trousers when its cold
And tip.of the day : training clothes : quick blast in tumble drier before I venture out ....always gets them on me faster and no going back after that
Oh Wooly hat
Imagine doing the sane run in the summer and think how great its gonna be
Stay strong !

Yay. W2r2 done and dusted feeling good. Oh an it was further than the other day and a bit more undulating so felt a tad harder in parts. Of course 2 of my run bits were on uphill sections(just long slow drags as opposed to hills)

Keep on singing.

W2R1 done, it seemed ok, bloody freezing but beautiful along the canal. No wildlife as such but I did happen upon a large Alsation who looked embarrassed to be caught doing what he was doing. Having said that, I think it's cats that can feel embarrassment, not dogs....I wonder how they measured that during the study.......?