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

I too find it hard to do without an aim iyswim. Prhaps we should aim for a park run or a 5K race?

Well I went out for an impromptu run with some friends this morning! Not planned but they came across me and told me to join them! Well it is official I am slow! LOL The pace was too fast for me, I like to start slow and build to a crescedo for the last 10 mins. Well they set off at my finishing pace, so I ended up having to walk a bit. as so out of breath!

I have also discovered I cannot run and chat at the same time... they were all chatting away too. Still a long way to go I think.

The worse thing was one of them is only on week2 of C25K and she was faster than we, even though she was walking bits... In my defence she is 13 years younger than me. and probably 4 stone lighter...

I didn't get my gait measured BigTeuchLittleTeuch I went to this website and did as they advised and then bought the appropriate shoe. Perhaps I shouldn't be advising that but my new trainers are great and make a bit difference when I'm running, my feet are very springy!

That's what worries me cece about running with people, that it will make me feel like I'm not very good and then I won't want to go! There is no way I could chat while running, I can get a few words out if needed like when I was asked directions during a run. You can run faster with walking breaks anyway . Dh keeps telling me it will get easier as I get lighter, reckons anyone over 7st is heavy to be a runner! I was 89Kg when I started the C25K and am no 71Kg so I would have thought it should be easier. I'm 31 so not really old (that's what I keep telling myself anyway!) and I walk a lot but it doesn't seem to help with running. My bloody stupid dog doesn't help either, she is still no happy with me running- I flit between feeling guilty and being so annoyed that she's not a normal dog who would love to go for a long run several times a week!

BTLT - welcome. Although I did go to a shop to get my trainers, I didn't go to one that does gait analysis - just went by what felt comfortable. And I do really notice the difference if I run a little way (after the DCs on their bikes, eg) not wearing my running shoes. Maybe you could mailorder a few pairs, try them on and send the ones back that you don't like so much?

Sigh - postgrad running blues. I dunno - am sure there's something in what your DH says, cinnamon - I have a friend who took up running a couple of years ago and is now super-speedy. Am sure it's no coincidence that she's also super-skinny. Don't know exactly what she weighs but I do know that her midwife massaged the figure up by a pound or two when she was pg, so that she wouldn't have to refer her to the consultant! Am 5ft 9 and hovering around 12.5 stone myself, and am 39, so it's no wonder it's a slog, I suppose. Trying to low carb at the moment, and have lost a bit, but while I haven't actually cheated, I do keep self-sabotaging with big portions of things you're only supposed to have in moderation - 85% dark choc being my current weakness. Have eaten 50g of it so far today. Sigh again...

The only way not to do that is to not buy it dotty2!!! I take my hat off to you, I couldn't low carb am just calorie counting with mfp. I don't think being tall is an advantage either, I'm only 5ft 5. I have a friend who has started running because I was and she's slightly taller than me and too light to give blood so I'm guessing she's perfectly designed for it but she's desparately trying to gain weight and is the heaviest she's ever been

I read Susie Orbach On Eating and she suggested keeping lots of the foods you crave in the house as a counter-intuitive way of beating the craving - i.e. if you know there's lots of it always available, there's no need to cram it in like there's no tomorrow. All I can say is - ha! On the plus side, I have beaten the biscuit habit - just need to avoid replacing it with a nut habit.

cece - some friends of mine are doing a 5k in June and I'm planning to join them, but could do with something sooner than that. No park runs near me, unfortunately. Hmm.

Don't lt my experience put you off! My friends are all skinny - think the 8/9 stone mark. I have a good 5 stone on them (if not more)... plus most are still in their 30's whilst I am 45. So not really a surprise that I couldn't keep up. They were great though as they were happy to slow down and keep to my pace - bless them

thanks for the advice and the link - I'll have a look into that asap. Well done Cinnamon on the weight loss! I read a rather uninspiring thread the other day (on the C25K forum) that basically said only start the program if you want to be a 'runner'...not for weight loss or fitness as it would not be enough on its own . I was really perplexed as to how me almost killing myself at least 3 times a week wouldn't be better than sitting on the couch!

How does everyone else fare on the hunegr stakes? I find I am starving on the days I run lumber around outside

cece I am 48 and around 12 stone so finding the running hard. Last year I did the Race for Life 5K in 35 minutes, then had a car accident and did no running until starting C25K in March this year. Am on Week 5 but finding it hard work!

Hey all.

Well today was supposed to be day one. I even told everyone at work as I know they'll ask how it's going so it will make me not give up!

My day kinda went to shit and I wasn't organised. I don't get in from work until 7.15 and I was soooo hungry I had to eat my dinner. I didnt want to waste the evening so went out afterwards. Big mistake!

I could hardly manage walking fast never mind running and I got awful cramps and now feel fat and deflated :(

Just dawned on me that this will be hard to fit into my work routine. Any tips?

Well done everyone else - I hope I make it to wk 5/6!

Just finished w4 r1, and surprisingly don't think I found it as tough as some of the earlier runs! I had been dreading the 5min runs, but they weren't too bad. I slowed my pace a bit & was able to do it all ! Just hope it doesn't kill me next time!

Did wk7 r3 tonight. Didn't really intend to as had hoped to do a shorter run outside to get used to outdoors running, but the weather was awful. Anyway, did it, but it was a struggle and slow. Only covered 2.85k. Next run wk8 r1 and can't quite believe I am on wk 8! Will work on speed next run I think.

BTLT re the hunger - am repeating myself here, so forgive me but the thread is long and you might not have read it all. Yes! Absolutely - lots of us who have graduated didn't lose any weight and that's why - aerobic exercise doesn't burn all that many calories and it's easy to over-compensate food-wise. You might only burn one piece of toast extra in a 30 min run and eat two because you're starving. Am trying low carbing which helps a bit with hunger pangs but am too indisciplined to stick to it strictly enough to actually have lost much weight. (Also seems to make running harder for the first few weeks at least) But I think having some protein if you get back from a run v.hungry might help.

Makinglemonade - it is tough fitting it in if you're out at work all day. Sorry you had a horrible first run. I think if you eat first you have to make it something light and leave a good stretch of time. I went out running at 8.30 last night with a friend who had eaten at 7 and she was fine, but we did take it quite slowly. I had a late afternoon snack or three and my tea when I got in at 9.15pm - see why I can't lose weight?

Keep at it, everyone. Good luck to everyone running today.

Making I find that I do my best runs when I am a little bit hungry. On Saturdays I have toast first thing (well about 9am!) then run at about 1pm. I eat lunch when I get back at about 2.30. Same during the week. I run after work at about 6pm then eat later at about 8.30. I think you do need to prepare for a run and sort of prioritise it otherwise it's very easy to find all the other stuff gets in the way. Good luck with your second run.

Week 6 Run 1 done in the pouring rain this morning! Yuck! But I managed 5.26km (when you include the 5 min warm up/down walks).

I try to have something to eat about 1-2 hours before, but I'm trying to avoid too many carbs as well. According to MFP, I'm not eating enough protein though so I'll need to work on that.

makinglemonade, last night wasn't a failure! You got out and did something, so well done! Not sure where you are in terms of fitness, but perhaps something like a walking programme might be better to start you off. Could you do it in your lunchbreak at work?

Another slow runner here, I went out today and did 5,3k in 45 mins!! According to the next this is a 13 min mile!! How on earth do you speed up, I could prob run quicker but not for anywhere near that length!!! Is it something you need to train for or something that just comes with time?

Re losing weight and running. No you probably won't lose weight. You may well change your shape - slimmer waist and more toned thighs. DH tells me my arse is rounder and less subject to graity already

However I did find that when I was running 20 miles or so a week I did lose quite a bit of weight. I am guessing it was to do with a faster metabolism generally. I certainly wasn't eating less.

Have a read up thread Ifancyanewname we were discussing it yesterday :)

I completed the full 30 mins of my run on Sunday but it was slow. Today it went much better, was faster, total distance was further and I didn't feel quite as close to death! So yay, feel great and more positive about running again :)

Hi everyone, thanks so much for the advice after my disaster day 1!

Well tried again today and it went so much better. I bought some proper running shoes and couldn't wait to use them.

Got home at 7.30 and went straight outside. DH came with me to keep me motivated. I did quite well, it wasn't easy but I did it. I live in the country so it's quite hilly. I did 5 min brisk walking and 1.5 mins running in between and lasted half hour. I'm do unfit so I was chuffed with myself.

I made an omelette when I came back and it was far less than I'd normally eat.

I am determined to succeed at this!

bartlet thanks for the link, this will be very useful for me starting off.

dotty & funny I'm going to get myself into a new eating pattern but felt much better running hungry tonight

Can I ask if you all run every day or what do you do on your relax days?
I'm trying to loose weight as well as get fit so I'm also using my fitness pal and want to be active every day

well done making that's a really good start. I run two or three times a week and on my rest days I rest! Have a reasonably active job and do a fair amount of walking, so never really have a totally sedentary day. BTW I haven't lost any weight running, to do that I need to do WW as well

ooooh look what I have found training programme

Speeding up looks like it is going to mean running 4 times per week

Well done making - great that you feel more positive. You can do it.

When I was doing the programme, I ran 3 times a week so had 4 days off. I tried to swim on one of those, and at least make sure I walked a bit on the others. (Depending what I'm up to, I quite often walk 4 - 5 miles as part of my regular routine.) I didn't do anything like shredding as well, but I know others have been more full-on. Am a bit more lax about it all now, but aim would still generally be swim once, run 2-3 times a week. But perhaps if I want to get faster it will have to be more...

Thanks for those links cece - just skimming them made me feel tired (!), but will look properly when I have a minute.

makinglemonade well done for getting back out there after a not so good start! I am on mfp and although my daily activity is reasonable (I walk a lot but don't count it on there) I do nothing extra other than walk the dog when I am not running, I run with her on running days. I think your body does need some rest plus I don't have the time to do more and can't afford to go to classes regularly and don't have anything like a wii.

That's what I feared cece, from the skim around I had a week or so ago it looks like you need to do one longer run a week and I don't want to spend anymore time than I already do. The first one looks doable but the second one looks hardcore and dh said he thinks it's for more serious runners wanting really fast times. He is still up for devising me a programme so maybe I should let him and then share it here. I just feel I'll have let him down if he does it and I don't see it through!

Are you still around Jnice? How's it going?

still not been Back out. 2 weeks now . Keep putting it off . Blood rain not helping.., grrrrr