Couch to 5k Running - Part Three

Kiwisaver_2

heartbreak_star wrote: »

AND...Week 6, Run 3 DONE. 25 minutes. Admittedly, slowly - 6km/h average - but I FREAKIN' DID IT!

:beer: Slow but sure wins the race! You will be smiling for days.

Welcome and good luck to recent newbies, if you keep at it and commit to doing the program three times a week you really will be amazed at what you can achieve. You can go from zero to hero in a relatively short time. :T

CupOfChai

Hello and welcome to the newbies, and very much what they all said, because last night I jogged (albeit very slowly) for 30 MINUTES! :j

I'm debating whether to attempt a repeat of it tonight and tomorrow, or to leave this week and go back to it next week as I have a bit of a cold and don't really fancy going out. I think I should carry on with tonight and tomorrow so don't let me chicken out you lot, I've started so I'll finish!

Kiwisaver_2

Congratulations CupofChai :T don't put too much pressure on yourself, you have done so well and can choose not to run if you're not feeling well.

I have just done Week 7 Run 2 and feeling like these longer runs have taken their toll this week - I really struggled tonight, my legs were so tired and really didn't want to play along

Brighton_belle

Thanks for the welcome everyone.
I am finding fitting in 3 runs a week a little difficult - Sunday and Tues is easy, but my week structure on Thurs/Fri is much more full. I can't do it today as I am away from home for 24 hrs and tomorrow is a really full on day.
However, motivation is high to really try and squeeze it in tomorrow: what started me off on this was a big significant birthday, but I have just discovered I need an op (keyhole) in the new year and I really do want to be as fit/lose weight before that.
The good news is that after 4 runs, I have lost 3lbs (I was a stone over my max BMI).
Very encouraging.

It is so encouraging seeing those of you I read about starting from nothing earlier in the summer now running 20 mins plus - it really is, so thanks for posting.

CupOfChai

I went out last night as well, so now I am definitely going to go out tonight as that will then be the programme finished!

I'm amazed at what I can do now, it feels like I'm doing proper running, and that I can just get my trainers on and take myself out whenever I feel the need for some exercise, because I can do it! I also don't want to lose the progress I've made and slip back to being less fit again, so I think that will help me keep up going out after I've finished going through the plan.

Last night was a bit easier than the time before again, I'm hoping I keep progressing like that. I wouldn't say to anyone if they're ill they should carry on exercising regardless, but it has actually been making me feel a bit better this time, maybe it's the fresh air and getting the circulation going. I think the most difficult part will be continuing going out and running once I don't have a "project" to work through and finish.

Brighton belle - is there any way you could sort of prioritise your runs? For example, you can't do that today or you have to do it later (or do your run at a different time), because you need to go for a run? I find it's easy to make excuses not to do an extra thing like a new exercise programme because I have other things I need to do, but it helps a lot if I try to think of it as not being an extra, but being a main job that must get done.

Brighton_belle

CupOfChai wrote: »

Brighton belle - is there any way you could sort of prioritise your runs? For example, you can't do that today or you have to do it later (or do your run at a different time), because you need to go for a run? I find it's easy to make excuses not to do an extra thing like a new exercise programme because I have other things I need to do, but it helps a lot if I try to think of it as not being an extra, but being a main job that must get done.

I totally get what you're saying Cof C (and thanks for the support)but in my case I am already prioritising my runs to the exclusion of other stuff.
But at the end of every week I am in a 24 hr caring role for family and a run would wipe me out to much today to do that and tomorrow I do not return home until 5pm after a long day at work straight from travelling early in the morning from the caring time.
So, it is just a reality that these 2 day have very important non negotiable things and my own health is poor so I cannot do everything: a run means I cannot do other things after for a number of hours.
However I am very experienced at juggling my health/energy issues, listening to my body and knowing the difference between when I need to rest and when it is ok to push. The fact I am running at all is fantastic and life has taught me not to beat myself up if I can't do something perfectly, so tomorrow I will run if I can and if I can't I shall have to roll it over to Saturday. If I find I need 8 days to fit in 3 runs sometimes, that is how I will do it

CupOfChai

Ah I see, as you say you just have to listen to yourself and do what you can manage, of course there are some things that really do need to come first over everything! Something's better than nothing after all, as you've found seeing as you're losing weight and getting gradually fitter already, and I'm sure you're allowed to do 3 runs over a couple of extra days instead of rigidly doing each week as Mon-Sun .

Kiwisaver_2

I tried week seven run three and it was an epic fail; I tried to keep going at least until half way but even then had to stop short of the 12.5 minute mark.

A few things were just not right, aside from simply having nothing left in my legs, I had chosen to run around a track in a different area to where I have been running. There were lots of hoodied oiks hanging about, so I felt quite uncomfortable but the final straw was being heckled for the second time by a gobby old couple that were walking their dog. I reached a point where my legs were gone and I just couldn't avoid meeting the mouthy gob!!!!!s again, so decided to call it day.

[Deleted User]

Kiwisaver wrote: »

I tried week seven run three and it was an epic fail; I tried to keep going at least until half way but even then had to stop short of the 12.5 minute mark.

A few things were just not right, aside from simply having nothing left in my legs, I had chosen to run around a track in a different area to where I have been running. There were lots of hoodied oiks hanging about, so I felt quite uncomfortable but the final straw was being heckled for the second time by a gobby old couple that were walking their dog. I reached a point where my legs were gone and I just couldn't avoid meeting the mouthy gob!!!!!s again, so decided to call it day.

Was that last night? I always go first thing in the morning when it's nice and quiet. Dont give up, go at a slower pace if you need to. Remember no pain no gain. Sorry for the oldest cliche in the world but it's true.

Jacky-f

Kiwisaver wrote: »

I tried week seven run three and it was an epic fail; I tried to keep going at least until half way but even then had to stop short of the 12.5 minute mark.

A few things were just not right, aside from simply having nothing left in my legs, I had chosen to run around a track in a different area to where I have been running. There were lots of hoodied oiks hanging about, so I felt quite uncomfortable but the final straw was being heckled for the second time by a gobby old couple that were walking their dog. I reached a point where my legs were gone and I just couldn't avoid meeting the mouthy gob!!!!!s again, so decided to call it day.

Are you having enough rest between runs? Sometimes you have to listen to your body telling you it doesn't want to run today. Maybe go back and repeat week 6 and you'll see how much you've really improved .

I've had a busy week with visitors and too much eating out so just did week 7 run 1 yesterday at the gym, 8 days after finishing week 6. It felt hard at the start and I didn't think I could keep going but I kept reducing the speed and managed to finish the 25 minutes. I plan on running outside tomorrow morning for run 2.