Couch to 5k: whether you're picking up the pace or just starting the race

[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

Wow, milewalker, that's an amazing weight loss!

bigbadbarry, I'd give week 4 another go. Just keep reminding yourself that all you need to do is run for a maximum for 5 minutes each time - that's how I managed my run last night!

After noticing that my £9 trainers have really worn under the ball of my foot and the outside of my heel I have decided to buy myself a new pair of proper trainers! I looked at runnersworld.com for suggested trainers and then went to sportsshoes.com to find what type I needed and found one of those suggested pairs there for £45. I hopefully now have a proper pair of shoes on their way to me, must be a proper runner now!!

I agree, give wk4 a go bigbadbarry, if it's a total disaster you can always go back to wk3 but you probably don't need to.

I am just trying to push myself a bit more at each run wohmum and I'm slowly getting quicker but if you look on line there are quite a few programs for getting faster using interval training, pyramid training and running a combination of shorter but faster runs and then a longer but slower one. I'm just not dedicated enough! I'm happy to be getting out doing exercise 3-4 times a week and feeling better but I am also disappointed if I'm slower so a bit of a contradition really!

Welcome milewalker!

Pulled a muscle in my calf on Monday morning, so am going to have to take a bit of a break. I was thinking I might go back to week one, and build up again from scratch, as I am doing barefoot running as well, maybe it was too much too soon.

So annoying, but don't want to do any permanent damage.

Thanks for all the advice on the breathing. I think being mindful of my breathing when I'm running is what I need to focus on & try to improve things.

Did R1 W3 tonight. Found it tough enough - the 3 minute runs were killers! Managed to do it all though so feeling great now! Am covered in mud up to my knees though as it was pouring earlier! Still, at least it stayed dry while I was out

I found the more I concentrated on breathing the harder it got to breathe while running littledolly. I have to say I thought Laura's suggestion was ridiculous when I was running that week of c25k but I have noticed that once I get into a rhythm I am actually breathing in for 4 steps and out for 4 steps so maybe it's something you do once your body is a bit more used to running?

Thanks cinnamon! Who knew running could be so technical?!?

In an attempt at multi-tasking, I ran to the supermarket this evening (the long, scenic way round). Still quite short - probably about 4k - so tried really hard to push myself and ran all the way up to the front door, then burst into the shop red faced and sweating. People turned and stared. Really. What an idiot I am.

Thanks for the suggestions on speed. I don't go tonight, far too wet and cold for me!
Tomorrow will be week 9 run 2!!

I did my week 1 r2 today and didn't feel like dying as much.

I did get stopped by a weird man on my run, he told me I looked cool and stroked my jumper. I just said thanks and went on my way. Bizarre.

Just checking in . Eye appointment tomorrow. If ok'd back running yay!!

rus good luck with apt!

tribble well done in the run and at strange person stroking your jumper!

Just checking in to say I've done Week 5 Run 1 today!

And it was in the wind and rain!

I wasn't as fast (4.33km done) but I did it and that's the important thing.

Now I just need to avoid thinking about Run 3 until I need to... I aspire to the height that wohman has reached.

tribble, odd people stop me as well. Today it was a chap saying, "Just 5 miles to go." Well done on the run too.

Third run of week 7 done. Doing OK. But now that i am going further I am running out of routes that I can do with dog. I can't run with him on the lead because he trips me up. He's very good at running by my side and I can do short distances on pavements but I can't realy relax just in case he decides to make a dash for the other side of the A38 or something.... I have to run with him or he dodesn't get a walk, my family having done the usual things of promising to walk and feed him every day and then conveniently forgetting Still having a big black dog with me makes my mum happy - she is convinced Soppy-Dog will put off would-be attackers. Anyone else run with dog?

Not managing very fast speeds as yet but I think that is improving. Also avoiding routes with big hills. I just want to get comfortable with running for longer periods before speeding up etc.

i did w3r2 yesterday, was ok-looking foward to doing w4 (still got 1 more run of wk3 to do tommorow). went and had a look around a gym yesterday (never been to one before) cos i'd like to tone up but hit a bit of a prob-the man there siad he'd have me do a mix of cardio and toning, i was gonna go to gym the days i don't run/walk but if your supposed to have a day off inbetween runs surly i wont if i'm doing cardio at the gym.
does that make sense? does anyone know the answer? thanks :)

can i just add that loosing the weight was the easy bit-its keeping it off thats the hard bit

Bugger! Just measured my distance and it's just over 4k which makes me v slow indeed

milewalker - did you explain to the gym man? But I imagine that if you are just doing a gentle warm up on the runner or the rowing machine it would matter too much.

i'm going in to see him again in the next day or so and will tell him again that i run/walk, maybe he thought i'd be giving it up to go to the gym. i'll see what he says then. don't think i could give up my walking/running- i even go out when its pouring down.

milewalker y don't have to do what he says though - do what you think.

Just a quick check in to say hi.

Wow milechecker, very impressive weight loss.

I haven't run since Friday now, due to D&V bug laying me low. On the bright side though it has made me lose 8lbs in 2 days! Not sure whether to go out tonight or maybe leave it till tomorrow...

I run with my dog OrmIrian, she's not keen on running if I let her off the lead she'll run home! I'm the same as you, if I don't take her with me then I have to walk her at another time.

milewalker I would just tell him what you joined the gym for, if you're happier walking/running outside rather than on the treadmill then do that! Unless you specifically ask for someone to help you then you can get on with what you want while you are there ime (which is pretty limited).

For those who have bought proper running shoes have you found them quite tight to start with? Mine arrived today and although I don't think I could have any bigger ones as they would be too long they are very snug and look like there isn't much foot room. Is it just me or is this how they are supposed to be?

cinnamon - they are tight around the instep. It provides a bit of support and will ease with use. But they shouldn't be tight across the toes or put pressure on the front of your toes at all or they will get very uncomfortable.

Yes - re. running shoes, mine actually feel quite roomy around the toes and I think you will end up with bruised toes if they are too tight there. TBH, I would be pretty reluctant to buy online (though I guess you may have no choice depending where you live). I got mine from a small independent sports shop - the only choice as I live in a small town and hate shopping and am too lazy to go to the nearest big city. I tried on 3 - 4 different pairs and there was a radical difference in how comfortable they were. I think it all depends on the shape of your foot - the Nike ones for example just felt horrible on me (though obviously other people swear by them).

OrmIrian - this may be a blindingly obvious thing to say but can you run laps of a shorter route? I did laps of a small park once when I was away and not sure where I could go.

I could dotty - but I get soooo bored When I was running before the thing that kept me motivated was working out new routes on my OS map. But I suspect I will have to so something like that eventually.

The thing with getting them fitted is that once you've done it you can then buy the same ones online next time because you know they are OK.