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 :)

Thanks cinnamon. I think I started from a reasonably fit point - cycled, walked and swam quite a bit, particularly with the DC. I also only needed to tone not lose weight. I have just got fitter, more toned and stamina has increased a lot.
And well done on your times - they are great!

Hi everyone - I finished c25k in November and have been running 30mins pretty regularly (twice a week, very occasionally three times) since. On Saturday I was doing my usual route, at about 20 mins in I stopped to let some traffic past at a junction and just couldn't run any more. I feel so disappointed in myself - has this happened to anyone else? Did you run normally the next time?

I think we've all had bad runs lalalonglegs!! Running has a lot to do with your mental state. I find that my hydration has a lot to do with it too. Make sure next time you go out is soon at that you go out with a positive attitude and you'll have a great run!!

Firstly well done on the 20 mins scarlettsalt!! I don't know how it works but it does! A lot of us found w6r1 very hard, after the 20 mins I think we all felt it should be easier but it wasn't. After w6 its all constant running so don't get used to the walking bits. Hope it goes well.

Oh right, thank you for the heads up on that! Eeeeek! See though, this is why threads like this are so great, you can get this kind of advice about all aspects from people who have already been there.

I started running last yr with Rosemary Conley race 4 life and also inspired by run fat bitch run book/blog. Managed to do the race in 30 mins 11 secs - faster than pre children 15 years ago and carrying 2 stone more in weight so - now weather is improving - back out past two weeks and today completed 5k without stopping in 30 mins! Life in the old dog/far bitch yet. Aiming for sub 30 in next 5k race - might try parkruns? If I can find any? So pleased I plucked up courage to try again. ... Really helped past few weeks too with fallout of my husband's affair!

Hi Chops, yup, I'm back in the UK! I think the not sleeping on the plane has worked in my favour because I'm dead tired by 9pm and wide awake by 6am at the moment, which given that the clocks move at the end of this month will get me sleeping and waking up just when I want to in BST.

I found some not terribly suitable trainers to run in this morning, as I didn't want another running day to go by without going out. I made some good habits in China (c25king and intermittent fasting) and I'm really hoping to keep them going now that I'm home. So that's w5r1 done! The good news is that the 5 day rest seems to have helped my sore knee. It didn't bother me on my run today. It was also much nicer to run through the park instead of around a boring running track. I'm planning to go to the running shop today though so that I can get myself some decent runners.

happy shopping, ezza! What's with the star trek name?

well done cinnamon on getting third!

Running with dt1 isn't very easy, he shoots off, then wants to stop by about 2kms! I may go out again in a bit, it's such a lovely day outside.

scarletsalt , I think i ran 5k at the end of week 5, and sort of dropped the plan after that. I didn't want to go back to walking again. I've been trying to do 2 x 30 min a week, and one 5k since. Hopefully build up from there.

Quick wave to everyone - great to see how you're all doing!

I've gone 'off piste' a bit - did Week 6 and found it incredibly easy so have loaded up iPhone with 40mins of tunes - 5 min warm-up walk, 30 mins run, 5 min warm down - tried it today and it fine, 6k worth in total. I think I'll do a couple of weeks of running like this then move on towards 10k.

I'm really enjoying the running and can finally see why my dh is so passionate about it. Ultimate goal is the Edinburgh marathon next year but will try for a few 5/10ks on the way.

Oh and I've now lost nearly 2 stone!

The two things that have really helped me

• I did it last year before getting injured so I know I can do it
• Losing a bit of weight makes it easier on everything, joints to lungs

Good luck :)

Welcome debtherat, well done for returning and sorry to hear about your husband. That's a big part of running for me, the mental space. Google parkrun and you will find where they are.

Hope you had a successful shopping trip NurseEzzzaChapel :)

I think the 20mins is to give you the confidence and the rest is to help you get a bit quicker before you try running for longer periods maybe. We've all done different things and I think that's the great thing about the plan it's a guide and we can all come together and share our experiences whatever they may be!

Maybe enter a 10K race for life weblette, if there's on near you? Or a half marathon before going for the full one. Still not signed up for the half near me yet but think I will!

Thanks Chops. I went to get my gait analysed and the guy said that most people overpronate so benefit from stability shoes (which I already knew because I've been doing a lot of reading) but it turns out I'm a neutral runner, no overpronation! I felt a bit special finding that out . Also quite glad because there are a lot more shoes to choose from as a neutral runner. I didn't fancy any of the ones they had in the running shop so came home and had a look online. I decided to go for these in the end. I hope they come before my 20 minute run on Friday!

The name is because for the last few weeks I was in China I had the complete Original Series box set to keep me company. A friend once called me Nurse Chapel when I gave her my reaction to the JJ Abrams Star Trek film. Turns out it's just as appropriate when I'm watching the series too!

Ezza, I see - You had me humming the theme tune as I was cooking in the kitchen! Used to love Star Trek. Love the shoes.

I want to work on building up speed a bit, and so did 3 kms yesterday in 1km bursts flat out with couple of minutes walking to recover between each one. I think speed is slowly coming. I might check out the beyond 5k podcasts, anyone tried them?

Rest day today, but it's a glorious sunny day, so I think I will take my bike out round windsor great park - lovely 16km circuit.

I tried a bit of progression training again tonight - 2km at about 6m30 per km, then 2km at just under 6 mins per km, 1 km at 5 mins and then a final km at 5.30km. Trying to build up to a parkrun PB of about 26 mins.

I haven't tried the other podcasts, though I have downloaded them. In fact I have stopped using my iPod altogether for running.

Ha ha! I get the theme tune in my head all the time.

Just back from W5R2, so that's me half way through the couch to 5k! It's definitely easier to keep going with the nice view running through the park. After a bit of googling I found that there's a park run every Saturday morning in that same park, so that's something to aim for once I'm fit enough to run for 5k.

My new running shoes haven't arrived yet. Hope they come soon. Yesterday, a friend was wearing a jumper and scarf combo that were the same colour as the shoes I've ordered and I had to smile to myself that the first thing I thought of was my running shoes. I'm finding I'm really looking forward to my runs which I'm finding very surprising. The only point in the week I don't like the idea of running is about 3 minutes into each one! That always seems to pass though.

I really enjoyed my running music today so I thought I'd post my playlist:

Music - John Miles (Warm up walk)
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor (Run)
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - (Run)
Listen To Your Heart - Roxette (Walk)
Ballroom Blitz - Sweet (Run)
The Final Countdown - Europe (Run)
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher - Jackie Wilson (Walk)
Feeling Good - Nina Simone (Cool down walk)

that sounds really good pennygallops.

I like the idea in theory of running in peace and quiet but in reality, listening to my own panting would drive me nuts!

I have the Eye of the Tiger on my running playlist I like the idea of the final countdown too, might pinch that one! I got bored of the playlist I made pretty quickly. I have playlists for fav songs for each year, so tend to use those quite a bit. All my long runs have been to Alicia Keys, The Element of Freedom. I love that album, and for some reason it keeps me going.

Had a great run today, did one I have been wanting to do for a while - ran round Swinley forest. Lots of up and downs, and a mixture of tarmac and offroad. Did 5.8 kms in 51 minutes. Not very fast at all, but it was like a rollercoaster in parts, and deep mud in others, so I really enjoyed it.

oh and isn't the c25k 9 weeks, so 27 runs? So week 5r2, would be 17/27, so well over halfway!

Soundslike good plans Chopstheduck and PennyGallops! Sorry having a problem with myspace bar!

Week 5 r 2 is run 14 as each week is 3 so wk1=3, wk2=6, w3=9, wk4=12 plus 2 more for the 2 of wk 5 :)

No reason you can'tdo the park run before you finish NurseEzzzaChapel
Love your shoes!! The first threeminsare still thehardest for me!!

Oh I was working it out all wrong! I thought w4r2 was halfway

Been for my little midweek run with DS - he's keener than me. He led the interval training tonight - well it's our version of interval training.
I have to say my thighs are really beginning to feel more toned!

Well done everyone on the running, whatever your stage. We are all runners.

I like the sound of your forest run chopstheduck.

Week 6 run 1 for me tonight, it was fine. I wonder if the programme works in a pshycological way because tonight was much easier than the 20 mins I did on saturday, and any time I felt a bit tired I just told myself that I ran for much longer than this the other day. The only problem was that the only available treadmill was right in front of the weights machines so I kept accidentally making eye contact with burly blokes pushing weights and it really put me off!

It is amazing really, in january the thought of running for 8 minutes would have brought me out in a rash, but today I didnt think anything of it! I remember the week where you had to run for 4 minutes and I was really worried about it! Its unbelievable isnt it?

My next run is the last run on the programme with any walking - shiiiiiiiiiiit!

Well done scarlet, I know what you mean ... I still can't believe I can run and run now for an hour. It is also very addictive - be warned!
Happy running everyone!

Eeek, just realised how close the the end of the thread we are! New thread here

Well done scarletsalt, it really is unbelievable! I agree with pennygallops, I love it and it is very addictive :)

I agree that this program is addictive. I keep finding I'm disappointed when it's not a running day!

cinnamongreyhound, you're right of course, I don't have to wait until I finish the program to do the park run, I'm just a bit scared of other people seeing me running. I had a look on the website and I reckon at the speed I'm going I'll come in last, which isn't the end of the world, but if I did come in last I'd rather it was only by a couple of minutes, not half an hour because I had to walk the last 2k! I did register and get my barcode though. I think I'll do my next 4 runs along the course and see how far through it I can get and maybe join in the next park run after I finish week 6. Maybe.

Thanks for the new thread too. I'll come and join you all on it soon.

i'm based in kildare and am on week 8 of my couch to 5k program. Does anyone know of a 5k I can do in the kildare area.

annkildare, it looks like the nearest park run to you is in Dublin, but if you repost on the latest couch to 5K thread someone on there might know of another one.

hello
can I join you? I have downloaded the NHS C25K podcast and entered the Race For Life in July as my goal.

My problem is that I am LAZY, I find it really hard to get out of the door unless I have a buddy... If I do motivate myself to run alone, I don't push myself and stop and walk... Went for a run yesterday with my buddy and we had a fantastic run as we encourage each other.. but my buddy is away next week for Easter, and I don't want to lose the momentum.

How do you wonderful motivated ladies manage to get out of the door without excuses, and then run??