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

Sorry for not posting, but took a week off for various reasons. Back now though. Have just done W4R3, but actually think I will repeat W4 as I took the week off. Hope I'm allowed back

Just back from w1r2 and wondering whether I am going to ache all the time for the entire 9 weeks, or will that go eventually? I've been having to come down stairs sideways (and my 2-year-old is now copying me and doing the same!) I did a yoga class on the same day as my first run, which probably didn't help...

I only ached after the first two runs bigbadbarry and since then have been fine, I guess everyone is different.

Grrr. Did W5R2 at lunchtime and had the only run so far I haven't enjoyed. I found the second 8 mins really hard and felt utterly spent when I finished. What was making it worse was thinking with every step 'I'm never going to be able to run for 20mins on Saturday'. And what was even worse was that some horrible bratty teenager cycled up behind me, slapped me on the bum and cycled off laughing to his mate. Yuk, yuk,yuk. (that was near the beginning, so it probably put me in a bad frame of mind for the rest. If only I was fitter I could have run after him and given him a piece of my mind. Perhaps just as well I'm not.)

BTW - well done everyone on all the fantastic weight loss. So inspiring - and also great to hear from people who have a lot to lose but are brave enough to get out there. I should focus on those thoughts and forget my bum-slapping nemesis.

dotty I would have been pissed off too.
What a knob!

dotty I'm on your behalf!

Checking in! week 6 run 2 done two 10 minute runs along the river bank. Dh did his week 2 run 3 too. Hot now! Was cold going out though. Saw the heron flying along and some ducks. And some real runners with flurescent gear said hello :)

Bigbad I also only ached the first week, our bodies are remarkable in how quickly they can get fitter.

Dotty also on your behalf! Must have made you seeth, therefore subconsciously run quicker on the first bit, thereby knackering yourself for the second run, making you think you hadn't done so well and ruining your confidence for the next run. Therefore my diagnosis is that you can run the 20 minutes.

Those teenagers will unfortunately be eyeing up your slender fit arse come summer

Jchoc you and DH are obviously now fully paid up members of the running fraternity if other runners are saying hi!

I looking at the c25k plan and noticed it said to start from the beginning even if you think you can do more - have I read that right?
I want to enter the Race for Life 5K run at the end of May and although I can't run 5K or 30 minutes at the moment I can do about 11 or 12 minutes.
Should I start from week 1 on the plan (which is probably a bit easy for me) or should I forget the plan and build up from where I am now?
Thanks.

VerystressedMum Why don't you start at week 1 and just run faster - it will still be tough and doing intervals (run fast, recover, run fast etc) is the fasted way to get really fit. Your body learns to recover quicker and hence your fitness improves.

I DID IT! Week 5 Run 3 I kicked your ass! It felt great to complete it. I had mild stitchy pain but it never developed into the proper agonising pain that normally forces me to stop. Hooray!

verystressed I would come in at about week 5 and go from there.

woodlands outstanding, congratulations. give yourself a little treat tonight.

i'm still recovering from yesterday. knees a bit sore. I think I need proper leggings now to keep me warm. track bums just aren't cutting it. any reccomendations?

Thanks for the solidarity and encouragement guys. Will be doing the 20 mins on a weekend away somewhere rural and pretty and hopefully free of distracting bum slappers.

Cheese my husband swears by Ronhills tracksters and bought me some for my birthday last weekend. Unfortunately he accidentally bought them in a 10. Someway off that still! So can't testify as to their warmth...

Wow so many of you are racing ahead - so to speak.

and at the slapped bottom!

I have finally manged to get out and finish week 3 tis evening. Did a different route - not as flat as normal and a few slopes/hills. Feeling pleased as not too puffed today although my legs were hurting uphill! Also managed to cover 3.4 km

The bum slap has made me chuckle!

W4R3 finished. May do another run on this week though because of the week off.
It was -1 when I got out of the car to run down to my Nan and Grandads.

And alot of it was downhill but I ran faster to make up for it.

Well done everyone who is out is this cold weather.

Out this eve in dark week 4
my question :
By the.end of week 9,
When I Can run the 5 k
Will I be doing it in half an hour ? surely not .isn't thatva bit bleeding fast .
Bearing in mind I've never run in my life ?

I thought it was 5km or 30 mins of running. I am never going to manage 5km in half and hour! LOL

Dotty2 I'm also for you, think I may have uttered a few expletives! I did the 20 mins so you can!!

VeryStressedMum I'd probably start at week 5, the beginning will probably be too easy. If its too difficult you can always go back further.

Yay!! Well done woodlands!!! It's a great feeling :)

I doubt that I will be covering 5K in the 30 min run by week 9, unless I get dramatically quicker spiderbabymum. I'm doing about 3.5Km at the moment (apart from W5R3 which was only 2.9Km) and the last run I did was 24 mins. Can't speak for you or anyone else on the thread of course!

OMG I did it too! Week 5 run 3 20 min run!
3.53k in 33 minutes!

Really chuffed and was surprised that I wasn't that out of breath, and whilst slightly heavy legs I felt I could have continued! I am

But I do wish someone had slapped my bum on the way round - needed to get some feeling in it! It's so cold it's numb!

Dotty cant believe the cheeky sod slaped your bum!

Im doing W1R2 tomorrow am, and have all the grear out ready so no excuses.

Does any one know how long you run in week 2? As getting apprehesive i wont be able to run longer than a minute!

Also im about 4st overe weight but will be over the moon if i lost say 2.5st (by end of May ideally).

All you week 4,5,6 are giving me hope i can do it too, especially those who have as much as me to lose.

I did this last year, and went from struggling with W1R1 to completing a 5K in 38 minutes, and then another one in 32 minutes (but that one nearly made me throw up!)
It can be done. I will be telling myself this over and over again as I start struggling round this weekend on W1R1......