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

Just finished r2 w5 and found it pretty tough. I hadn't drunk much water today & wonder if that contributed?? Am dreading the next run as its the 20 minute one....

Good luck to all for fitting runs in over the bank holiday weekend

did W6 R2 and then a general walk/jog/walk thingy the next time I was out.
R for L is on may 20th and still not consistently managing over 20 minutes so don't think I will be ready....

nomorecake welcome back- I have graduated and now can run for 30 minutes - not far and definately not 5k but 30 mins!

saying that havent been out for a week...

littledolly i've done r3w5 twice now and if its any help the only thing i can say is for me i started slower (well alot slower) than i normally go- my thinking was i can speed up if i'm ok but if i burn out at the start that will be me knackered. you'll feel amazing when you've done it. i have no doubt you'll do it.

just been weighed and i've lost another 2lb-its def made a difference making the move from walking to running. dh is going to take another pic of me while i'm in walking/running gear tommorow (as i have a few over the last few months wearing that) so i'll try and get pics somehow on here tommorow if thats ok to do.

Agree with milewalker littledolly, take it slowly and you'll do it!

Well done milewalker on your weight loss! I wish I'd taken more photos as I was losing weight. I hit the 4st loss mark today so quite chuffed :)

Hoping to fit a run in tomorrow, managed to get out for a 20 min run yesterday as dh messed up my plans thurs and fri (forgave him thurs as it wasn't his fault and at least I got out yesterday).

Discovered the other day that my ds1 is quite impressed with me running but that he also has no idea that I've even gone out most evenings, even though he's up!! Bless him, he also told me I can't go in the rain so it's lucky he's not my trainer

did w9 r1 today by mistake really, meant to do w8 r3, but another 2mins seemed nothing. Managed 4.2k and had a good run. My thighs were aching by the end though. Nearly there!

well done to you to cinnamongreyhound on your weight loss. great feeling aint it :o
i'm gonna do w6r1 in the morning so fingers crossed for not heavy rain. i'll report back as to how it goes.

yehudi, I'm still nowhere near running 5k in the 30 minutes, but I'm still plodding along. I reason that I'm not built for speed, still over 18 stone and the slow jog seems to work for me. Of course as I lose weight, I should speed up, shouldn't I?

jchocchip I agree - we are the tortoises who will win the race (well finish at some point after everyone has had a drink and gone home) I am going to start 'eating mindfully ' next week and writing down everything eat to try and shift some flab

I feel a bit stupid as im so late to the thread but i though you vetrans would be handy to know

I am off to the gym later to do w1r2 pathetic eh? I have never been able to run even when i was skinny and fit but am determined to crack it.

I found the first one ok and the minute runs easy so thats a good start.

I may be back with question.

hey "ledkr". WK1 is not pathetic at all. it's where we all started.
I have just done a personal best of 35 minutes!

thanksdemented

I actually did r2 today was a bit worried as my spd seemed to be aching a bit after the first one but i did it anyway and am fine.
I find the music awfull,id rather run to dance music or drum and base but im not sure i could keep count.
Its hard to imagine at this stage that ill ever be able to run any distance though.
I do my run in the gym,then do half an hour of weights.I dont fancy anymore cardio whne ive finished. What do others do?

the music is crap but in the early days it helps to have Laura telling you how long you've got to go and encouraging you on.
Last year when I started the programme I couldn't even do the W1 stuff without struggling yet I ran two 5Ks - one in 38 minutes and one in 32,so it does work.

It has been very hard this year - am too old and too fat - but now I can manage 20 mins plus I have gone back to using my own music playlists and just timing myself.

"Of course as I lose weight, I should speed up, shouldn't I?"

Ha ha! Nope! Not in my experience anyway. When I was at my slimmest (BMI 20.4) I was running miles (20 miles a week on average) but was still slow. And I have ridiculously long legs so should run like a bloody hare! Still stamina is what counts.

don't know about losing tonnage but legs are becoming more toned and have gone down a cup size. Gut is still there but doesn't wobble as much as it used to when I run!

ormIrian Stealth boast about the long legs I have short legs so as ive put weight on I resemble a wrestler I am hoping to lose some weight running I am not very encouraged by dements massive runs with no loss of poundage.Are you eating cake wehn you get back from your run?

Ormirian, slow is a relative term. When I say faster, I mean that making 45 minutes would be cause for celebration! I'm going to do another parkrun as soon as I can fit in a Saturday morning 9am start, maybe at the end of May. I was faster today because I was out fairly early and there were lots of other runners to pace myself againt. Far too hot though and the forecast for Wednesday means I may not run 'cos I would melt...

ledkr lots of cake and way too much alcohol so the lack of weight loss isn't surprising really
however, I am definitely looking slimmer all round and clothes are beginning to feel looser so it IS working.

yay! Said whilst feeling a tad merry from bank holiday daytime drinking

I did it!!!! I managed w5 r3 - 20 minutes of unbroken running. Am so proud of myself & big thanks to everyone on here who told me I could do it. I took it really slowly but seem to have kept a steady pace as I started & finished in more or less the same place. Really feel that I can do this now. Just need to stop eating so much when I get back from a run & my weight watchers successes will be just as good

Hope everyone else managed a run over the bank holiday weekend!

well done littledolly I cant imagine running for that long.

yay littledolly i knew you could do it. i did w6r1 yesterday,it threw me totally, just as i was getting into a rhythm it was time to walk so although i did it i didn't enjoy it as much. w6r2 tommorow-in the pouring rain no doubt (i've seen the forecast) actually looking foward to w6r3 on thursday
i also did 10 miles walking today marathon training and was desperate to start running (i kept to walking though) never thought they'd be words i'd ever utter :o

well done liittledolly. It's great to get that one out of the way isn't it?

Well done littledolly!!!

I have only managed to run twice a week for the last two weeks and the less I do the less I want to do :(. Had ds1's birthday and party and this weekend has been hectic but have started to feel guilty about running and the evenings when I don't are so much more chilled/less rushing around that I'd rather not. I know I feel better afterwards and feel better generally since I started running but I also feel it should be getting easier by now but it is still hard work and only enjoy the 5-20 mins of the 30 mins running. Must get out more regularly again and remember why I am doing this!