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

Hi all,
weblette am very impressed with your parkrun time.

I've been post c25k for three weeks now, I think. I'm still running three times a week - keep aiming for four, but never quite seem to manage. I'm now doing most of my runs with DH, sometimes with DD2 in pram and the last couple of weekends we've been out at least once with DD1 on her bike as well. It feels so good to do something this healthy 'en famille', though DD1 did moan and winge for most of Sunday's run. With the kids we go slower and only barely manage 5k including warm up and warm down. We're a (tiny) bit quicker when it's just the two of us, but not much.Fŵddwa

obviouslyoblivlious I love the idea of redoing c25k but instead of walking and running, running and running faster, I think that would be a very cool way to interval train. My big problem is really my breathing, I think. I still can't hold much of a conversation when running. Do the rest of you manage it?

There seem to be loads of us not far from finishing. Do keep going: by way of encouragement I can say that I feel great, sleep loads better, and have dropped 1.5 clothes sizes and lost 5KG since I started. In fact, I reckon that by Easter by BMI may finally be under 26. Sadly, humungous boobs so no sign of shrinking, but you can't have everything I guess.

Am on a business trip this week and really looking forward to be able to run before breakfast tomorrow. The last time I was here (8 weeks ago) I was terrified of having to to run round the busy town in public potentially bumping into lots of fitter work colleagues (I live in the country and usually don't seen anyone much on my runs). Now I don't give a flying fuck. Real progress.

just keeping up to date. Thread keeping dropping off my active convo's!

Hello - I've been lurking (and running) for a while.

A question for you. I got up to W6R2, getting into a steady pattern, 3(ish) times a week. Then I go and get food poisoning. Bleurgh!

The good news is, I've lost a few pounds this week :). The bad news, feeling a bit washed out and not sure whether I can pick up where I left off. How long would you leave it? I'll have had at least a week since the last run. Would you recommend starting Week 6 again?

brummie I had a 2 week break due to illness at wk6 and was able to restart that week without much issue. Give it a go but listen to your bodyZ

3.8 km run and 4.9 km covered in total with walks! Yeah first 30 min run done and actually felt fast (for me!) Actually ran to the next town and back! LOL would never have considered walking it just a couple of months ago - always drive. LOL

It is so encouraging to read about everybody's progress. I have just done W2R3 and will start week 3 on Thursday. I feel so good that I have been able to make it so far. I have tried to run many times - DH is a runner - but always given up because my expectations have been too high. C25k has made me take it really slowly and for once I feel like I might be able to do this running lark!

Does anybody else find the first block of running the hardest? On week 2 the first 90 seconds of running has left me feeling dreadful, really breathless but after recovering the subsequent runs seem much easier and my breathing seems easier.

notsohot - I found the first two weeks the hardest tbh. Even now that I am on week 9 I find I don't really get going till 5 mins into it.

Finally managed to get out for wk5 run 3 - it was great! My poor dog definitely missed the walk breaks :o but I didn't.

notsohot - definitely re. it being hard to get started at the beginning of a run, and then getting into it. I still find now I'm running continuously that it gets easier after the first few minutes. Bit counter-intuitive, but there you are.

Still got sore knee so thinking of going for a lunchtime walk and then an evening swim instead of a run. Am mildly cross to have made it to the end and then got an injury but such is life. Really great to hear of everyone's progress at every stage - keep up the good work...

Hello all, I completed the c25k last night....yea! Feels great to have reached the end of the plan, still can't quite believe that I can run for that long. Although runkeeper told me I had covered 12.45kms in 30 mins! Don't think so somehow

Well done, arabella. Another graduate! Congratulations ! Ahem - yes, I do think some GPS distances are a little on the optimistic side. But one day...

I'm still on W4 and cannot nail the second 5 minute run :( I do 3 min, 5 min, 3 min, 3 min then stop.
What headphones do you all use? I have freakishly small ears and the in-ear ones both hurt and drop out. I bought some over-the-ear ones but they are too big and drop out, too. I cannot run with the enormous dad-headphones I use to listen to music at home. Has anybody got a set they would particularly recommend? I think listening to the podcast might just push me to do it.

BBB - I just use these over the ear ones and they work for me, but I guess it depends on your ear shape etc. I wouldn't have made it through without the podcast, so do try that before you get downhearted!

Bbb yes to the podcast! Just slow right down even to a walking pace (still jogging) - I think it's partly psychological.

Running in the sun sounds nice Jnice!!!!!

Glad you're ds was well enough for you to get out ObviouslyOblivious, my dog is really not impressed by 30 mins running but she's getting better I think.

BrummieSeagull I had a week off with a bug and the first run back after my break was really hard but I wasn't really well enough. Give run 2 a go again and see how you get on.

I agree with cece and dotty2, notsohot, the first few minutes are hardest and then I find I get into a rhythum.

Well done arabellacaterpillar!!! I love it when run keeper does that not, my 5 min warm up walk last weekend was at 0.33sec/km

Mine are the ones that came with my iphone so no advice really bigbadbarry, try and push through the 3 mins by saying to yourself I can get to that lampost/tree/house and then move to the next furthest object.

Well done Arabella!! Some great running going on folks, keep it up!!

Unfortunately even with just 1 run to go it'll be a while til I graduate. The ankle injury I picked up at the weekend is at best tendonitis, at worst a stress fracture - I'll nip up to get an X-ray tomorrow. Either way, I'll be off for at least a month and will have to build it back up slowly :( So so so frustrating :(

In a sense it's good this has happened though as the physio said I need to seriously work on several mechanical and muscular things with my feet and legs to really run well, otherwise I'll be picking up injury after injury. Once the ankle's healed I'll start on some targetted conditional stuff to be in tip top shape.

Sorry to hear that weblette :(

Forgot to say I managed 4.75Km last night so only 250m away from the 5k :)

Sympathies weblette, I split my calf muscle last week in Jan and have only just got back to running and have had to start at the very beginning - it is frustrating. I have tendinopathy in one achilles tendon and have had a stress fracture of the foot many years ago (tendinopathy is significantly more painful but stress fracture niggles). If it is stress fracture what worked on me (suggested by physio) was pool walking building up to pool running.

Thanks Cinnamon and Kew. I saw you'd had a tough time of it Kew, good to hear you're recovered!

I think what's pissed me off even more than anything else tonight is 'd'h's comment 'Give it a rest with the limping'. Riiiight faking a swollen red ankle is so easy! Ha, why didn't I think of it sooner!!

Just don't think he has any concept of how important this has been for me. I've never ever managed to complete an exercise plan, yet he's a v fit runner. I know some of you have amazingly supportive husbands, just feeling mine needs to step up to the plate a bit more

weblette - sorry to hear about the injury - you were doing sooo well as well!

Hope you get good news from the x ray.

W6 r 2 done!

Been out this evening to do Wk8 r2. It's getting easier and each time I think I'm running faster, yet I always finish at the same spot!

My knees ache when I'm finished, and for the following day. They just feel better in time to do the next run. I wonder if I need some support or something?

Brummie

I'm stuck on week 8

I had a dreadful busy week ....house hunting etc so couldnt run .

Then I got food poisoning too on monday ..just drained ....think It will be another week off until i feel normal again .

Incidentally im gonna just recommence on the start of week 8 and perhaps just run 25 mins the first few times to see how I go ? Cause the music in week 7 is NoT good .

HAS anyone ELSE experienced POST RUN FATIGUE .???

I finished week 8 run1 .... and the i had to take a week off

I then took it slowly but did the week 8 run again . .....was surprised I could do it ...BUT a few hours after I was SSSSSSOOOOOOOO wrecked ...I had to go to bed for 2 hours .......
You know that feeling when you have the flu and you feel like uve been hit by a bus ....but I Had no flu symptoms .

Any solutions ???? Im sure its just either dehydration or not eating drinking After a run ...but FGS ....Im just a beginner . surely not.
THANKS

Hey rusmum we are at the same stage, did wk6 r2 this morning (am 10 hrs ahead in time so we might have done it at the same time iyswim,!) bracing for the next long run with no interval.....brrr

spiderbabymum- i think i know what you mean about the fatigue. I had to take a 4 day break since the last run, and had 2 really early nights. Also was really busy and active last week. No advice though!

Thanks for the congrats, and well done arabellacatapillar Congratulations!

Went for my first post plan run. it started well, but didn't go well. i ran out of steam at 18mins. i shouldn't have changed my music, route and app.
also i realised (half way through) that i am ridiculously sloooooow. 5k will take me nearly 50 mins.
argh. just argh.

going to go back to old route, music and app and try 32min run, and see how far i get. tomorrow...