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

Hello everyone and congratulations to all the graduates I've missed.

Went out on my own last night and did 5k in about an hour so slower than when I did the parkrun. Dh had ran about a mile uphill on Wednesday night in ordinary shoes to catch a bus when his car broke down, so he didn't want to come out! I think zombies would speed me up, but maybe give me nightmares so don't think I'll risk it just yet!

I have lost 11lbs since the start of January - I have been calorie counting using MPF. Mostly I see the calories I burn through exercise as a means to help me stick to my diet while adding a few treats otherwise I struggle on a low calorie diet - I'm too fond of a glass of wine. I also love running - love how quick you can burn calories and really, really enjoy it once I've been running for 20 minutes and my speed increases and I am really pushing myself - I'm usually left on a high for a few hours after that. BTW I am not a sporty person at all!

Re-did wk6r1 last night after 6 days off with a D&V bug. Was tough! I can't believe how much difference a few extra days off makes. But I did it and am looking forward to run 2.

Thank you all for the feedback. I downloaded an app called endomondo, it's free on blackberry and it's brilliant. Have just done W1 R2 .

After the first run on Weds all I've done is eat a that rate I was going to put on weight with running! So I've gone back to MFP so I can be sure I'm not over eating. Doing this mainly for fitness, but also really want to tone my body...and ideally lose another 5lb's! My main concern is my tummy sigh...

W8R2 done, it was a tough one, R1 was an easier run.
I did go further today but my stats dont show that as the GPS didn't kick in until I was part way along the railway!!!
Hoping to get R3 done on Sunday.....

Keep up the good work everyone :)

Completed 25 mins!!!! So w7 here we come!!!

Well done mama, many and ru!

going out now for r2w7 having not been ,.....again.......for a fortnight - curses bad willpower. but time is now not then and at least I think I can do it . plus its beautiful out there and that wildlife speadsheet from thread one is gathering dust

welcome to all the new runners - keep it up you will love it - you wont know me as am so crap at keeping to 3 runs a week that the thread disappears from my active threads all the time - c25k in about a year for yehudi- yes I know I started on 28th December and am only on week7 but I can
run 25mins (with a wheeze and a sweat)

Haven't had a flat tummy since I was 18 mamasunshine, so don't remember it but occasionally dream of it!

Hope having a tough one doesn't knock your confidence manymomentsofmadness. I find it hard but dh always does his best to cheer me up. Also hate when the gps doesn't work properly, I'm always trying to beat myself :)

Well done rusmum!! Hope you get on well with w7.

Glad you got back out yehudiwho, there have been so many times when I have not wanted to go but I worry if I don't go that time I may never again!!

Hi everyone,

Please may I join? I started couch to 5 k this week and have done week 1, day 1&2. I'm also doing slimming world.

Has anyone got a good app they use for IPhone? Thanks.

Hi all

I need some advice - currently running in a very cheap pair of running shoes, no support really but when I bought them I was anticipating 3x 20 min runs a week - now I am working towards 10k!!
However my ankles and shins are hurting, is it my trainers? And what pair do you recommend or is this pain normal for my length of runs now?

xx

I went and feel much better- 2.5 miles in 25mins (how do you make run keeper do it in Km??) beautiful today down by the river

bubbles Could be a number of things. Cheap trainers aren't necessarily bad trainers. Could be you run on the same side of the pavement and the angle of the pavement causes strain. Could be that the hard surface of pavements means you need more cushioning on your shoes or you should try running on grass. Do you over pronate, if you do, do you wear the appropriate trainers? You may also need Orthopedic support in your general footwear (I have to wear orthopedic support in all my shoes otherwise my feet and knees get very sore when I run).

yehudiwho go to settings, then distance unit and change it there.

cheeseandbiscuits welcome and I (as a lot of us) used the nhs podcast, I know use the runkeeper app which tells you how far and fast you have gone at 5 minute intervals.

Sorry bubbles1510 I have no idea! I have trainers that were £9 from sports direct and I was looking longinly at John Bishops trainers watching him running on Thursday night for sport relief!

I knew one of you young ones would know how to get km ~(although miles are more understandable for me )

bubbles I too have no idea about shoes or injuries- i'm still wearing old trainers but keep meaning to go to running shop to get my gait analysed (and if my dp says 'dont bother it just needs oiling' again ~I'll oil him) so maybe do that
cinnamon are you the new queenrunninggeekmum?

35 minutes first thing this morning through thick mist - quite odd but interesting to be out in it. Am supposed to be low carbing but had a precautionary oatcake before I went - felt terrible all yesterday but fine today. Maybe running+no/low carbs might finally shift some weight. My weight's fluctuated quite a lot over the years, but I've always been overweight and not been below 12st since I was 18. Maybe I'll get my 11st something and cinnamon will get her flat tummy...We can dream. Great to hear of everyone's progress - new and old - keep it up!

Does the 25 mons get easier? Managed it once last night but was my 4 th attempt!

rusmum not exactly easier- but because you know you've done it once you keep going and it does seem to go by quicker - dp says that's stamina ...

rusmum - yay!!!! well done on the 25mins. Good for you, for sticking with it!!!
seriously, good work!

??????lol

Oops worries sweaty faces didn't appear!

Thanks for the welcome! I have downloaded the NHS pdcast so I am ready and raring to do W1D3 tomorrow. DH laughed at me when I told him I wanted running headphones for my birthday

W1R3 done this morning gosh it's hard towards the end! I was very bad with food last night, ended up eating a small portion of Chinese, some chocolate and a bit of alcohol put it all into MFP and ended up being 1000 calories over!!! Needless to say I've learnt my lesson!

cheeseandbiscuits hi, we're both at the same point, I'm hoping I'll find it a bit more enjoyable once I get back the first 2 weeks?! I'm planing on running every other day, rather than 3 days a week.

Well done rusmum!

well done mama it rreally does get amazingly easier - I would never have expected to be able to run for 5 minutes let alone 25 when I was where you are. just keep a positive attitude

Don't think I deserve that title yehudiwho!!

Yes it will rusmum, I am consistently beating my distance in 30 mins and find I'm not so totally exhausted when Im getting to the end. Keep going!

You'll just have to prove him wrong cheeseandbiscuits!! My dh has been nothing but supportive of my weight loss and running so I'm very lucky.

Is your mfp name the same as here Mamasunshine? I'll add you if you like, I've been on it for a couple of months now and I can honestly say it has changed how I think about food. If I feel something is a waste of my calories I don't eat it, so only eating what I really want/need but still enjoying food. Have lost 11Kg since joining mfp and 20.5Kg total. The running really does get easier!!