Couch to 5k Running

dizziblonde

Can't move now! Luckily only have a mountain of SATs papers to tackle from the chair!

beccam

dizziblonde wrote: »

After falling off the running wagon (but keeping up with the gym stuff) I'm trying to get back on. I physically can't do the 60 second runs yet - 4 seems to be my complete wall where that's concerned so my new cunning plan is to keep to the week1 timings, but do 30 seconds and a longer recovery, then 45 seconds and then up to 60 seconds - managed to do the intervals relatively comfortably today (despite the horrific heat) and covered 2k in all, and then hammered out 20 mins (nearly 6k) on the bike afterwards. Longest I've ever been on the treadmill walking before was like 18 minutes so going up to the 30, with the runs (well I jog slower than most people walk but I walk slowly anyway - I've got the natural activity levels of a sloth) is um... stiffening up nicely now! Considering 2 months ago I had no base fitness level at all and could walk on a treadmill for 3 minutes and use an exercise bike for 5 minutes on the lowest resistance possible... and could have benefitted from an ambulance on standby just at doing THAT! I think I was on a much lower starting point than most people who start up C25K. Yes, I was so unfit it took me 10 minutes to get my breath back after climbing the stairs, and at 19stone there's a lot of me to lug around - plus I've got an appalling sense of balance so find running and walking in a straight line incredibly difficult to start with.

Hi everyone, I'm new to this thread.....downloaded couch to 5K a few weeks back after reading about it here and so far have only managed to get out a few times to TRY and run!!

I'm very overweight though less so than a year ago as I've lost just over 4 1/2 stone, so now I need to up my exercise to help kep up the weightloss, diet alone is not enough!

I can walk for miles not a problem but have never in my life been able to run (at school during cros country I used to hide behind a tree and wait for everyone to come back round again!:o)

First time doing C25K I managed 4 of the run sections then walked the rest, 2nd time I managed 4 then missed a couple then managed 2 more towards the end, 3rd time I managed all the run sections though did think I might collapse at the end!! i also found the first time I was sooooooo stiff I couldn't walk the next day but the last time I was OK.

My problem is just getting the time/motivation to do it, I don't like to go round the park when its going to be busy as I'm embarrassed incase anyone sees me so end up leaving it til late in the evening but then lose the motivation as I'm tired then!

Will be keeping an eye on this thread now to see how everyone else does...I don't ever think I'll be a 'runner' as I'm just too unfit (smoking doesn't help either ) but I do like the feeling of just being able to do something.

shimmershelly

I'm still trying but not advancing very fast...I have the first 6 weeks on my ipod and sometimes it goes onto the wrong week and I've run for ages before I realise that I've moved up a week. I then try and do that week again and find it really hard.
I'm stuck somewhere in the middle of week 2 and three but I've been at it for about 5 weeks. My calf muscles still hurt too much to do longer runs yet, even though I've worked on my technique and have good shoes now. It desn't help with how hot it's been the last couple of days either though.
I just find running really hard, I've been cycling too to get my fitness up and I'm going great guns at that, it's just running is a real struggle for me.
Must stick with it though...things can only get better!

juno

Crap_with_money.com wrote: »

PS Juno - how was the wedding? I'm being bridesmaid at my bro's wedding in July - and that's my main driving motivation!!

Wedding was amazing! We had lovely weather for it. I cried a teeny bit during the ceremony. It all went really smoothly and there were no big disasters

dizziblonde

Haven't run in a couple of days (was going to today but was on my feet all day so they're killing me - I've got messed uply high arches anyway so they usually do) but I did notice one thing today - normally if the kids are walking anywhere in a line and I have to go from the back to the front (after closing gates or crossing roads or anything) I thunk along to the front of the line and then wheeze for 10 minutes getting my breath back - today... I almost ran up and down the line several times! That was quite a scary thing.

Crap_with_money.com

looking good Juno!! - Did you have a nice day? I'm beginning to reign myself to the idea that I'm gonna need some suck me in pants under my dress - which is not ideal when it's in Mexico! :rolleyes:

Well done Dizzi!! Finding every day a wee bit easier has to be the biggest bonus of all!! :T

No running for me so far this week - 2.5 hours of Salsa last night though - so at least it's still exercise! :rolleyes:

xx

dizziblonde

Today - 45ish second runs instead of 30second ones - keeping to the week 1 timetable but just shortened runs since I was hitting a wall I couldn't get over after 4 of the 1 minute sets. Figure trying to go for the full 30 minutes overall with just shorter runs is still looking like the way to go to try to get me onto week 1 gradually. I have no stability at all in my feet - I run like the geriatric village drunk - incredibly slowly (I can actually walk at the speed I have the treadmill set on for running it's such a slow shuffle) and all over the place.

juno

Have we all given up or something? I can just imagine Drea moaning that it's "too hot!"

I went for a short run today and my legs decided to sprint the last 100m :eek:

ginvzt

Hi everyone, is someone still doing this? I need some company and keep up my motivation!

I saw the thread from when it started, but never been brave enough to start and join you. But, I got an iPod on Tuesday, downloaded the podcasts and did the Week 1 day 1 yesterday!

I did it in the gym. Went to another council gym we can use with our membership and was amazed how up-to-date it was and how empty (there we 4 people in total!!!!). I am overweight, and I do need to lose weight, but most of all I need to get fit.

I have to confess, that I have never been able to run, not even as a child (never been able to finish the lap at school), so it is a big deal for me to reach the final point. So, yesterday was the start. It went better than I expected, I managed to do all the podcast as instructed, walking at 6km/h and running at 8.5-9km/h. What others are doing - what is a reasonable speed? I was red by the end of it, and had a bad headache afterwards, which almost shifted by the morning. Don't have much of the pain, just starting to feel my legs.

But - I feel that I would like to do it again today!!!!! I am glad and I am proud of myself being able to complete all 60 sec runs yesterday. Hope I can keep up with it all!

jessicamb

I'm still going but not a 9km/hr

Kind of gave up on the podcasts too and listen to my own music now - but consistently running 25-30 minutes every few days. Just need to work on the pace now. Stick with it as its worth it in the end.