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 :)

Well I've been, took a short route which ended up as 11 mins running and my foot took it ok but my lungs weren't so happy! Nearly threw up when I got back, how sad that fitness is lost sooooo quickly. Still it's a start and providing my foot isn't screaming at me I will give it another go Weds and see if I can do my old route and stop for a walk and then run some more. Wish me luck!

Good luck to you for sure, if that's a slow start then still pretty impressive!

I had a great session last week, having got to grips with breathing a bit differently was able to do about 1.5K (in three stretches) over a 3k route, which for me is fab. Now got a stinking cold; tried to run a bit on Friday but felt faint and packed it in till I'm back to normal.

Hi cinnamon - great to hear you are back in the saddle! And 11 mins is a lot more than most of us could have managed at the start of the year, so it's not as if all your fitness has been lost.

Ran slowly with a friend who was a bit under the weather early on Saturday (lovely hoar frost) and planning to go out for a short quick one in a bit. Still working on speed.

Exciting to see we nearly have some new graduates - have a good couple of weeks, Meg and shithappens!

Can i join you all please.
Jumped on the scales this morning to find sinch holiday in august i've put over a stone on
So i downloaded the c25k on my phone this morning and have just done my first run i started loosly running at the beginning of the year and really enjoyed it but lost motavation im hoping with this setting it all out for me will help.

When do most people run is their a best time of day to do it.

I ran at 12 today but was wondering if i'd be better in a morning (evening out due to kids clubs lasting up till 8pm)

Also is it best to eat before or after?

Hi Spottymoo -you're very welcome. We are a mix of newish starters and people who have been running for a while. I started in Jan - completely unfit and 3 stone overweight. Am still probably 2 stone overweight, but much fitter. I am feeling jolly pleased with myself, actually, as just back from doing 5k in 28'48 which is my best ever. Yay. You can do it - though I think quite a lot of us find that exercise isn't actually all that great at shifting the pounds, but good for overall wellbeing and looking more toned. Need to address your food to see significant weight loss as well. (I am bad at this and my weight yo-yos, so trying to focus on exercise as a positive change.)

To answer your questions - I run at all times of the day, whenever I can fit it in really. Sometimes early morning, sometimes evening, sometimes during the day if I am working from home. I usually eat afterwards, and never for an hour or two before I run, but some people run fine on a light meal. It's good at this time of year to have routes you can do in the dark (and some reflective gear) so that you can run early or late -makes it easier to fit in. When I was starting out, I often went really quite late - 8.30 or so. So don't rule out evenings necessarily. Good luck!

Hi Spottymoo and everyone else :)

I like running first thing in the morning but not enough to get out of bed early! So I only do it at the weekend usually (though last week I did two early-morning runs because of half term). During the week I go out after dropping DS2 at preschool at noon. I don't like running on a full stomach so always wait to eat afterwards.

Yay! Well done dotty2 that's a great time :)

Welcome spottymoo! I go to a running club once a week either mon or weds which is 6.30-7.30 I then run once or twice in that week in the evening about 8pm and then at the weekend usually late afternoon early evening. I need to have eaten before I go but not too close to having eaten iyswim, which is why early mornings don't work for me. Plus I need to be well hydrated. I think it's something you have to have a bit of a play with!

Hello all - is it ok if I join you?

I have just completed week 3 of the NHS C25K which I am ridiculously proud of

I am beginning to feel a bit nervous already as to how I'll cope with Wk 4 though

I sometimes feel that the mental challenge of making myself believe I really can do this is harder to overcome than physically doing the running. Did anyone else find that? (Not that my legs don't ache too)

Some brilliant achievements on here to inspire me though.

Hi PedallingSquares - good to have you with us. I'm sure you're right that the challenges are as much mental as physical. I remember feeling just a bit silly like I was pretending to be running and wasn't really a proper runner, if you see what I mean. But Laura is good at reassuring you that you should believe in yourself. Well done on getting to this point - and you'll manage W4, don't you worry.

Hi Spottymoo - well done making a start and Pedalling - finishing a week is something to be proud of :)

I just took it slowly and I'm still taking it slowly but really enjoying coming nearly last at parkrun every Saturday :) Not going to really speed up while I still weigh over 18 stone but I am finding it easier and more often 49 minutes than 51 now...

Hi Pedalling. I agree that the mental challenge is just as great as the physical one. Keep at it though - I have just done week 8 run 1 in the rain and enjoyed it - unthinkable a few weeks ago!

2nd run done and felt so much better this time also stretched before hand which I think has helped
I can and will do this..

Welcome PedallingSquares! Loads of it is mental but you have to be positive and you'll get through it all :)

Yay, well done spottymoo!!

Hello everyone. Thanks for the welcome.

MegBusset well done on getting to week 8 and in the rain too.

Well I managed W4R1. The first 3 min run was the worst and after that I got into it a bit.

I am trying to ignore what my head is telling me and listening more to my body and that definitely helped me today. I was thinking I can't do this but I focused on how my legs and breathing felt and just got on with it and it was much better.

Good luck tonight NaiceSpam

i think Shred and running definitely puts you in wine territory

I finished week 9 on Monday, so tonight went for my first 5.1k run, which took 35.28

Can I join too? Been dieting for the last 3 weeks and already lost 6lbs but need to lose more. I try to go walking most days, but in reality I only go 3-4 days a week. So I thought I could do C25k on the evenings of the days I don't walk. ATM it's dark, so no-one will be able to see it's me. Yay! I have ordered some decent trainers so will start when they arrive. Probably next week. I have 1 week to psych myself up!

The one thing that puts me off is hills. Whichever way I go from my home it'll be uphill. Can I just take it really slowly? Else I'll be dead after 30 secs!

Welcome DowtonAbbess! And I don't remember seeing NaiceSpam or CharlotteBrontoSaurus before either?

Well, I went out again and my foot stopped me this time :(. Did 18 mins before it started hurting, pushed it to 20mins and then walked home. It's still throbbing a bit now better take some tablets I think. Was enjoying it until then and my lungs felt much better than on Sunday :)

Hello everyone, and well done cinnamon. I am out again, apparently I have Plantar fasciitis. Or a bloody sore heel to you and me. Bit pissed off really as I can barely walk at the moment never mind run. It seems to be one of those things that may be around for a long time. Poo.

Good luck everyone, Cheerio.

Is that the same as painful heel syndrome UmBongo? If it is I had that when I was 22, was worst in the morning and my go's answer was to give me very strong ibuprofen! Not very helpful! I was 18 1/2st at the time which didn't help but it did get better with time and disappear and I learned to live with it. Not sure about running as the most exercise I did then was walking from the house to the car

Good morning ladies.

Hope you foot is feeling better today.
I have just completed Week 8 Day 3, did 5.4km for the whole podcast. Need to speed up a bit before my first Park Run. Anyway, 3 runs to graduation!

For all those of you that are running today, good luck and have a good one!
For those of you who are having a rest day - I hope you have a good day.
Better go and wake up the rest of the family and get them ready for school/work!

a quick question for cinnamon and the other graduates - what did you do when you finished the programme? I was thinking of sticking to 3x30min weekly runs, and then making one run each fortnight a timed one over my 5k course. what do you reckon?