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 funnys! Another graduate - yay!

Milewalker - congrats to you too!

I don't think I pledged, so here goes. : runs a week for me from now on, starting today

Hit wrong button! 3 runs a week

Even without running its still hugely impressive milewalker, well done!!

Well done cece!! I was faster yesterday too :)

Good for you for pledging Jnice, it's worked for me so far!

thanks all for the support.
p.s if anyone see's my legs can they send them home to me :o cos the one's i've woken up with this morning don't feel like mine and complained alot on this mornings gentle 4 mile walk.

Race for Life today. did the whole 5K in a slow 43 minutes but didn't walk any of it so feel proud.

First time posting on this. Currently on week 5 have done the first run and found it fine, really worried about the next one 2 lots of 8 mins I think! Then the dreaded 20 min run...any advice from those of you that have already managed it.

Hi eggs - just take it very slow, if you feel it's too much slow right down and catch your breath but try not to stop or walk.

dementedma - well done on R4L!

Welcome eggs - the 20 mins is not as bad as you might fear - you'll amaze yourself, and if you are doing the NHS podcasts, Laura is really super-encouraging (in fact have listened to that podcast even since I graduated when I felt I needed a bit of a helping hand!)

And well done funny, demented and milewalker - all great achievements.

Ran yesterday morning, so Postgrad W2, R1 done. (PW2, R1??). Need to do tomorrow and Thursday to stay on track as weeks start on Friday now for me. DD1's birthday on Saturday and over-indulged a bit on cake (and post-party restorative prosecco!) so need to get back on track foodwise. Wish I could become a bit more ocd about food in some ways...

I have downloaded the app after meeting someone on a training course who managed to start this and get to the 5k in 9 weeks - she started from nothing.

I am not sure if my starting from nothing is even possible - I have never run and I mean never - we stopped doing athletics when I was 11 years old. I'm now 40, 4 stone overweight, and have boobs that I will need to wear 2 normal bras with (36J's) as I've never found a sports bra that supports them properly.

I honestly don't know if this is even possible for me and I'm frankly terrified.

Laurie, if I can do it anyone can!

I weigh around 13 stone and have never done any proper exercise in my life. Started C25K and thought after the first run that I'd never be able to do more than 1 minute at a time.

I got up to running for 30 mins solidly in the end.

I've been really slack, making lots of excuses not to go for the past 6 weeks or so, but today I thought - this is it. I thought I might have to start from scratch again, but gave it a try - I've just got back from doing 2 lots of 15 mins with a 2 minute walk in between.

Thought I might be sick at one point, but Kelly Clarkson spurred me on singing "My Life Would Suck Without You"

Can't equate those sentiments to my DH , so I was thinking that my life would suck without running. I feel so much better with running in my life and I'm not letting it go again!

Sorry that was bit me me me! I'm just so chuffed that I can still do it.

Good luck with it Laurie - you CAN do it and yes, make sure you get your bra and trainers sorted. Other than that you don't need any special equipment, just lots of enthusiasm and some pleasant routes to keep you motivated!

Oh and post here to get loads of support and advice.

x

Eggs, the 20 minute run will be fine. Just take it slowly and keep focused on how you will feel when you finish it. The feeling of elation at the end is brilliant!

Laurie you CAN do it. I found some of the 1 minute runs in week 1 tough going and am now just about to finish week 7, and the last 3 runs have been 25 mins with no walking. I am as far as you can get from a 'natural' runner, but am loving it!

I did r2 w7 yesterday around midday (usually an evening runner) and found it easier than the previous run - the one where I had all the eating too much beforehand issues! Have just ordered myself some new running clothes so that I can look the part too

Am a little worried about the impact of the good weather on my running though, as I think I'll really struggle if it's warm, as I am the super-sweater! However, knowing the NI weather, I don't think it'll be a worry for me for too long!

laurie you can do it! Really, you can.
It is hard at times but so worth it. Lots of us on here are overweight - but the exercise will help.
I have NEVER been a runner but followed the podcasts and went from nothing to completing the 5K Race for Life. Last year I did two R4Ls - 38 and 32 minutes respectively, this year am a bit slower (and fatter) so 43 minutes.

Morning all!!!

good to see ALL the c25k-ers going strong! including eggs

Deemented. well done!
Milewalker, fantastic! great time too!
Funny, congratulations.

Yehudiwho- like the way you are planning your runs despite being away - good work! I think a celebration at 4k is a great idea!
cece you've got me thinking about intervals now....
lauriefairycake i started from stratch, some runs were tough (especially the first one of the week) but you progress quite quickly, AND it was so worth it! Completely agree with DoingItFormyself about posting here.
Yay!! Another pledge from Jnice!

B3 completed yesterday, 25mins, going try going back up to 30 this week! come one...me!! grrr!!
having a Mantra really helped make it a good run yesterday - i read about it here
so if you pass a sloooow wobbly jogger saying 'strong, loose, easy' on repetition, that will be me!!

will be looking out for laurie's Week1Run1!

Laurie,

I was the same as you when I started running in January. Had not run for 33 years or so since I was at school. No regular exercise since DD - so 12 years.... Aged 45 and with HH norks. I ran 5k in 37 mins yesterday so it is pssible. Trust in the programme.

thanks for all the lovely flowers and good luck to all those starting out. If I can do it then anyone can! Am going to do a run tonight and am aiming to do 30mins 3 times a week. I'll keep checking in though as it's great to see how everyone's getting on. I now actually really enjoy the achievement of completing a run, esp now it's nice enough to be outside and not in the gym.

Yes, yes. Being outside - even when it's cold or raining is so much better than being in the gym. It feels more energising, and I have seen so many lovely sunsets, misty mornings, frosty nights and bright mornings since I started back in January.

laurie just believe- I'm 49 overweight and thought 'i'd die on weekm one- now jog for 30 mins0- stay on here no more cake is being nice to everyone just now but she cracks the whip when she needs to (and she's always nice to newbies)

Well done on the R4L dementedma!

I agree with others Eggs, take it slow and steady- speed can come later!

LaurieFairyCake I was overweight and had never run before but I did it and you can too. Just get out there and started and you'll see what you can do.

Well done on starting back up DoingItForMyself!

I'm rubbish with heat littledolly so know how you feel!

Well I'm back from my running group and I did 7.66K in 1 hr!!!!!!!!!! . It wasn't non stop, we did a 15 min run, followed by running for 30 seconds to a point and then over the next 5 mins trying to get to it and back 5 times (repeated 3 times) and then 15 min run back to where we started. I definitely feel it but it was nice to run in a group and a lot of the people there have recently done a 10k so good that I can keep up(ish)

Sounds like it went really well cinnamon! it reads like a full on workout. i hope they were welcoming - but i hope we wont lose you, to them!

C1 done. two days in a row. (ahem...wahooooooooooooo!) never done that before, and 30 mins! i'm back to 30 mins! Yay!! i would do a little jump for joy, but too tired to lift my big butt now!

I ran tonight. Did 45 mins round the lanes with some walking. Prob ran for 30 and walked for 15. Walked the 'hills'! I love it, I just love that I can do it now. The first 15 mins running were fine and I didn't even check my watch! Keep it up folks!

Somy pledge has so far not resulted in any runs DH working and 3 DS getting in the way. Realistically tomorrow is a write-off to so I'm putting a plan together to run wed, fri, sun. Fx!

Yay nomorecake! What is c1? Am I being thick ?

We decided we'd give the weeks letters and runs numbers Jnice when we made our pledge so c1 is the first run of the third week since nomorecake made her pledge. To try not to confuse ore and post grad runs. Not sure which letter I'll get lost at, d?

I'm not going anywhere although they're all up for recruiting, some of them are going for runs every day of the week so I can go anytime. I like that I walk out of my door and have started , driving to start point once a week is fine but don't want to do it every run. Nice to know I can keep up even if I was back of the pack! A lot of them were 10k runners and some had done half and full marathons.

I did the w5r3 20 min run last night. Lovely evening, down by the river, fitness had suddenly leaped on. 20 mins was surprisingly easy, hardly even noticed the hills! I know I should name change to something like "never done any sport before" to make this sound like more of an achievement, but I have done v little biking, running and skiing in the last 4 years since the DC came along. Youngest is seven months.