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

Well done ArtyJools!! I was the wrong side of 14 st but have lost almost 4st since November so you can lose weight on C25K but it doesn't burn that many extra calories to lose a lot by itself. I definitely am more muscular but I could just be able to feel it more as I have less flab!!

Wow, there are some fast ladies on here! BarletForAmerica 31mins for 5K in week 7 is amazing!! The fastest I have managed is 5.25K in 36 mins.

I haven't run since Thursday due to a very hectic weekend withds1's birthday on Friday and his party Sunday plus working Saturday. I was going yesterday but I was so tired and didn't want to have to give up. Will go tonight and who knows maybe a few days off will have improved my speed!!!

thought i'd post here of todays omg moment (cos i've told someone else who i won't mention and they were quiet a big bit off :( ) so my news is i did wk5r2 this morning in a straight line thinking i'd turn around at the end and walk the 3.5 miles home so i did that then turned around and w5r3 started on my mp3 player so i thought oh lets just have an extra go and see if i can do 10 mins and i did the whole 20 mins as well so thats w5r2 and w5r3 done today.
i'm gonna do w5r3 again thursday so i'm 100% sure i'm happy with it (i'm well happy today-well was till family member was told)
thanks for letting me share my news-hope now i don't come back from work to find you've all gone big deal cos i'll be :( :( i'm off to work now to bore them all with it :)

Hey milewalker - don't worry, I'm impressed! That's a big step up all at once.

I think the thing is that people who have never run just don't get what an achievement it feels like. I remember my parents were staying when I did my first 25 minutes straight and burst through the front door and was a bit hurt because they were all a bit 'so what' about it. That's what you come on here for, though - to be given praise when you need it, and encouragement when you need that, by people who've been through it...

Hope your legs don't feel it too much tomorrow. I was definitely feeling yesterday's run - which was a big one for me - when getting ready and running up and down stairs this morning.

Downloaded runkeeper. I am going to use it tonight to do a 30m run I think. I am soooo bored of Laura's choice of music

hi all!!
(i'm a c25k grad, got to 40 min runs, then was ill for about 3weeks, then thought i'd start after the rains stops, so thats another 2 weeks. So about 5weeks since i last an properly)

i have probably missed loads on here! has Rusmum graduated? and Dotty?

i went for a run yesterday, managed 8mins break then another 5mins. really bad compared to when i graduated, but have to get back into it!! feel unfit all over again. wondering if i should go back to Laura, or just build up the run myself.
I use Runtastic App at the moment though.

That's great milewalker I would suggest not sharing with them again. No matter what others do or don't think is an achievement it is for you personally and it's sad they can't be supportive. I agree you can always come here for support!

Hi nomorecake, yes rusmum and dotty2 have graduated, well done to you for getting back into it!!

My run went well although I'm sure I believe my times/distance I did do the whole 30mins running :)

milewalker that is bloody amazing. Well done you. Tonight i did W6 R2 - should have been R1 but I seem to have lost that one on my podcast and instead of walking the middle bit, I kept jogging so instead of two 10 min runs with a 3 min walk in the middle, I ran the whole 23! However, like Arty I had terrible shin pain in just my right shin and had to hobble home!

Hi nomorecake - I certainly remember you and your brilliant name. I could borrow it now as have given up carbs and thus cake! Loads of graduates but several of us still sticking around for general encouragement. Hope you find an approach to getting back into it that suits you.

Sorry to hear of mixed progress elsewhere tonight - good news, cinnamon, but hope the shin pain improves demented - though good you kept going...

milewalker I am mightily impressed

Milewalker, well done you! I did W5R1 tonight & it wasn't too bad. Still tough, but I can manage it. Peeked ahead to the other runs this week & can't believe it's 20 mins without walking for R3 - eeekkkk!!

I use an app called Get Running & it just plays over the top of my own music. I def need my own choice of songs so have a few playlists on my iPhone that I alternate.

Couldn't run for more than two weeks. Have gone back to the beginning, taking it very very slowly, and did my first run yesterday. It was nice to hear from Laura again. Really felt it though! Can't wait to get back onto week 7.

I couldn't run earlier in the week, so I re-did wk2 for an extra session and I'll give Wk3 a try on Friday, eek!

I was tired before I even set off today and my legs felt lke lead, plus the sun was beating! Managed it all though...feeling slightly more confirdent about next week

Nice to see everyone's progress! Hi nomorecake! I back into it now after my break. I vow not to take so long a break again though. Just went. Back to w7 so done 2 w7 and 1 w 8 run. and have missed it. Loving it again

well done rusmum - welcomee back.

I went to my running group tonight. I am too good for the beginners though and not quite up to speed for the intermediates....had a go but got left behind near the end. Still the faster pace hopefully will help improve my time! LOL

Say that again, BigTeuchLittleTeuch - the sun was beating? Jealous! But it does make it harder to run, doesn't it. Want to be slim enough to run in shorts/cropped leggings before it gets properly warm.

Am feeling mildly chuffed as bought 2 size 12 dresses yesterday. I have never been a 12 - always 14 or more, even when I was a (fat) teenager. Sadly, however, I think it was vanity sizing!

its so nice to see so many familiar names on here.

its really encouraging to see you all still running!

i'm relieved to see i'm not the only one thats had a break.
I wish i had kept checking in here, or at least kept reading - i think i would have got back into it a lot quicker.
even just being back on here for a couple of days has given me a boost.
I managed 3x8min runs yesterday. which is a big improvement already.

well done Dotty! when i run, sometimes i imagine that feeling of trying on and buying clothes in smaller sizes! i admire you for giving up carbs. i just cant do it.
i could probably give up everything except carbs. they are my downfall.

Yehudiwho and cece - where are you upto? or have to graduated?
(forgive me- i haven't had a chance to catch up on the thread yet)

milewalker - that is amazing! i can't do straight 20mins at the moment! good for you! i bet you felt fantastic after. some people don't get it, don't worry about them, as Dotty said, we do!

Didn't get out today as dh was home very late grr . Will definitely go tomorrow but means I will have to go before I go out tomorrow evening so not ideal! Hope everyone else's running is going to plan :)

did wk 8 r2 tonight. It was hard work. I did run too fast at the start though at 8kph for 13 mins and then had to slow down. Did 4km though, so not bad for a Thursday

real quick update- just to say i did w5r3 again today, just to be sure i was happy with it (and it wasn't a one off/fluke :o ) and it felt great, i thought to myself milewalker we'll make a runner out of you yet :o i even gave myself a little clap (after making sure i was alone) so w6r1 on sunday.

not sure what i'm gonna do with regards to w7r3 yet as thats supposed to happen the day before my 18 mile charity walk and i've got a charity marathon walk 6 weeks after that so will have to make sure i get the walking miles in as well as running i'll be sad when all my training for the marathon is over but relived as i can work more on running. maybe i'll run a marathon next year :o

Now that I've started running for longer I'm going to treat myself to a new mp3 player....I was just looking on amazon and there are all sorts of gadgets! What do you guys use when you run? Are those armband things any good or are they irritating?

I use my iphone Ifancyanewname so no help really but I bought and armband for it from eBay for £2.49 and it's fab! Sorry I can't find it now to link to it but they make them for different phones so perhaps for mp3 players too.

Well done milewalker, quite a lot of us found w6r1 one of the hardest runs as we were expecting it to be easy and it wasn't! Don't want it to knock your confidence :)

Well I guess I've graduated! But it doesn't feel all that amazing atm. Run was so hard last night. I guess I will have to stick to 30 mins for a while longer until it gets a bit easier. Couldn't get the GPS to work on RunKeeper on Tuesday and have downloaded MapMyRun but being a bit thick about how it works. Is it supposed to tell you have you've gone from the GPS? Think I'll stick to Laura for a while - atm I need all the encouragement I need and she is so pleased with me

And we are pleased with you too OrmIrian - well done! Hope you find a way forward that works for you. I really, really wish that Laura would do some podcasts for graduates, and would happily pay for them. Still trying to find a satisfactory app and plan myself. But that's for another day - enjoy

Popping back to say a belated thanks to all for your advice for my 'first' 20 min run at w5r3 - did it! felt awful the next run but carried on and have just started w7. Not enjoying the music as much, tempted to try another app to time my run but listen to my own music at the same time - suggestions anyone?

Ifancy I bought an armband too but couldn't get on with it, constantly slipping down my arm, so bought a bumbag type thing, much more comfortable.