Couch to 5K - to infinity and beyond...

[cinnamongreyhound]

A new thread for those of us who started in January 2012 and anyone starting now. Everyone welcome for support, encouragement and occasional arse kicking :)

The podcasts are all about running at a certain number of strides per minute -somewhere between 150 and 165, and alternating intervals of different speeds for different lengths of time for the various programmes. Laura chants away '1,2,3,4' to get you in time, then the idea is that you run in time to the beat of the music. I definitely can't do my normal stride length at 150/minute, let alone 165. But maybe I will be able to in time. I don't know about risk of injury - it doesn't feel as if I'm doing something I shouldn't be doing, but it is Hard. But then maybe that's good!

I don't think I have altered my stride length, it shortens when I go up hills, but otherwise is fairly consistent I think...

Well I survived week 3 run 1 :)

Am impressed by those of you who are focusing on stride, pace etc. I can just about manage to concentrate on getting one foot in front of the other!

meg - that was me, in February - I used to chant in my head 'one more step, one more step...'. Well done on your run - how was the 3 minutes?

jchocchip - perhaps I am just overthinking all this! Intended to run today but had a slightly dodgy stomach this morning due to eating at silly o'clock last night after a meeting, so I went shopping at lunchtime instead! I hardly ever shop for clothes, so it was a nice treat.

We were all there once too MegBusset!!! You're doing great :)

I have some good news :) I have had my cast removed and now have a boot that forces me to walk on my heel so I can walk albeit VERY VERY slowly!! The dr I saw gave me the choice of a cast upto my knee that I couldn't walk on for 4 weeks or this book which I can walk on but I'd have to have an x-ray in two weeks to check everything. As you can imagine it was tough decision!!!!!!! So I'm hobbling around, back to working and I can have a shower! May even have a go at swimming, just to try and maintain some of my fitness. Will just have to hope no-one nicks my boot from the side of the pool!

Good luck with sorting your stride/speed dotty2 :)

Excellent news about your foot - cinnamon. Hope you enjoy your new found freedom(ish)!

I recently decided that as I'm 16 stone I needed to get fit and hope the fat goes too. I have begun the couch to 5k programme but hit a real snag.

It's obvious that over the years my arches have collapsed and I have been repeating week 1 while I try to sort out getting the right shoes and supports.

I have now got stuff that supports my feet and knees and it has made a massive difference. Previously I couldn't run more than a couple of the minutes in the podcast because I ended up limping with sooting pains up my legs. I tried my new supports yesterday and was able to run for most of the time allotted.

Have to say I hate running but feel great once I get home and it's done. I really need to get fit, because there's diabetes and heart disease in Dad's family and I want to do what I can to avoid or minimise the problems if they arise.

That's great news about the supports fofm sounds like you have what you need to carry on with the programme. I'm still 18 stone but now really enjoy my running.

Ran parkrun near my mums today and really pleased to run a pb, it is an easier course, but had the summer finish today so had to run across grass at the end. finished in 47.55 much better than last weeks 53.38, but I did start at the beginning today :)

jchocchip, Yeah, on better 5K time and for starting at the start time :)

FryOneFatManic, Good on you, running is hard when you are heavier. I know as I was well over 17 stone when I started running. I am still fat at 13.5 stone but a lot lighter than I was and I reckon a lot of that is down to running three times a week (when not pregnant) I graduated from C25K in November 2011 and have learnt to love running, though I still spent a lot of my running time thinking WHY am I doing this but it is worth it. I think I might be getting addicted to running.

It might be worth you looking at 'Fore foot running' on google and youtube. It was recommended to me as a heavier lady starting to run as it reduces the pressure on your knees and hips. It worked for me, I have been running for a year and (touch wood) I haven't yet had shin splints or hip pain. I only had a bit of recent knee pain but that was because I had knackered my trainers and improved my gait by losing weight (yeah me) so a new pair of shiny trainers and the pain went.

Update on me, Yesterday I finally got to our local 5k Park Run. I was hoping to get a time around 46/48 minutes, when I finished my sports app said it was around 42 minutes and my official time is...drum roll...39 minutes and 6 seconds !

I am so pleased with myself, I nearly gave up running within sight of the finish line but my DH (who had already finished the run and had come back onto the course to escort me to the end) really encouraged me to keep running !

It was especiually surprising as when everyone ran off at the start really fast leaving me trotting along at my slow pace. I was at the back on my own for the first 15 minutes or so but half way through the course some people start walking whilst I trotted past them at my consistent yet slow pace. I am a tortoise not a hare ! So rather than last place as I expect I was in front of 10 people ! Not that it really matters, as I am there to run against myself not the other runners.

Thanks for the comments and advice. I'm going to re-start week 1 tomorrow morning and see how it goes this week.

wow babies, I'm really impressed by your 39 mins 6! well done :) I'm a bit the same, like to keep a steady pace rather than puffing myself out at the beginning.

fofm take it steady and post how you get on tomorrow :)

Hi everyone - great run time, babies. I haven't run since middle of last week and had a very indulgent weekend away with too much booze and cake (though I did climb a biggish hill in the midst of it). Back to it today. That's the plan.

Did week 3 run 2 yesterday. Almost enjoyed the 3 mins of running, my stamina is definitely improving. ignoring the fact that next week I have to run even longer!

Glad you've got some support FryOneFatManic, I was 14 1/2 st when I started and couldn't really say I enjoyed running. I was really enjoying my running and since breaking my foot 2 and a bit weeks ago am missing it like mad!!

Well done on that time Babieseverywhere! Have registered with parkrun but haven't got around to it yet.

Don't think about what's coming up just focus on doing the run you're on and you will get through the next one MegBusset. Like the almost enjoyed

Swam yesterday, ran today. Oh dear. Have just started the low carb boot camp and have no energy. Every step was a struggle but plodded round and will trust things will improve. Have low carbed before and found the same then but have fallen off the wagon lately so guess my body has got used to burning carbs again.

Okay, two runs along now, but unfortunately the knee supports won't fit round my legs!! Despite being adjustable, the straps are way too short. So I've been using tight bandages instead, which has helped a lot.

Can't say I enjoy the running, the best bit is definitely the brisk walk after completing the running and the feeling of I did it once I get home.

I have renewed admiration for those of you ahead of me.

Actually I can't really keep a good track of my weight while doing this, I don't have scales. I'll check when at my Mum's house.

Well done FryOneFatManic! I think a lot of us felt that way to begin with, I did not enjoy running for a long time! I recommended takin measurements to see changes there too. There are several people on my mfp thread who go to boots once a week and pay 50p to weigh themselves.

Hope you've got a bit more energy now dotty2, I'm quite anti low carb diets but if its worked for you in the past hope you get back in the swing soon :)

I started the couch to 5k last year and I am still running now. I am beginning to think I may need to invest in a treadmill though because running on concrete is bothering my hips once in a while.

Week 3 run 3 done. Got some nice new running shoes (Nike Lunarfly) as my cheap old ones were falling apart. I tried on some of those 'barefoot' running shoes in the shop (Sketchers) and they felt very strange, does anyone use them?

I really fancy the barefoot trainers, maybe if I get down to my target weight in the next year or so, I might try and save up for a pair. But I reckon they would be hard to run in if I was still carrying too much weight.

What did you think of them, were they easy to run in ?

I didn't actually run in them (just walked briskly from one end of the sports shop to the other) but they felt very odd. I have to run with an orthotic insert in one shoe so the balance felt a bit off, which is why I went for a more conventional running shoe. I'm sure once you get used to them they're great - they were incredibly light.

Well here I was about to start week 9 (at last!!!) and my hip is playing up :( Not sure what I've done really, it occasionally aches while I run, but is better afterwards, but recently its just 'gone' and even on walking. I did a 4 mile walk last friday and its just HURT since :(

So no running for me til it behaves... :(

Keep going everyone!

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all you fabuuulous people for inspiring me to do this.

Just done the first run with DH and 2 of the DC. Feels really good to get going on this. Thanks guys!!