Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

kabayiri

vivatifosi wrote: »

Speaking of exercise, has anyone used, or have knowledge of, couch to 5k?
http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/pages/couch-to-5k.aspx

Yeah, I sort of followed it, and my sister did it.

I quite like the walk+run method. I plan to use it for the marathon. For me I will run 8 mins (or maybe 10) and then walk 1 min.

Have a look at Jeff Galloway
http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/run-walk/

He has plenty of followers.

You can start with 1 min run + however mins walk you need.

There are plenty of fairly cheap watches or apps on the phone which will track how long you have been in the run phase; how far to the next walking phase.

It's like a set of mini goals within the run.

silvercar

vivatifosi wrote: »

Speaking of exercise, has anyone used, or have knowledge of, couch to 5k?
http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/pages/couch-to-5k.aspx

Tried and failed.

I found the jump between weeks too hard to manage. That said I got up to about week 5 before abandoning, so I did gain. Just not enough to be able to run properly.

vivatifosi

Thanks kab. I've been doing "light" exercise for just over 18 months and have lost currently, about 1 1/2 stones without dieting. Exercise for me is walking every day, Pilates, occasional Zumba. I have a fit band, but it is an early one and doesn't do intervals. Am thinking of some jogging/running, though not the right build for long distance running, so probably won't even try for more than 5k. Loved sprinting when I was younger.

vivatifosi

silvercar wrote: »

Tried and failed.

I found the jump between weeks too hard to manage. That said I got up to about week 5 before abandoning, so I did gain. Just not enough to be able to run properly.

Thanks for that. We're considering doing the Race for Life this year in memory of MIL. Hence questions.

kabayiri

silvercar wrote: »

Tried and failed.

I found the jump between weeks too hard to manage. That said I got up to about week 5 before abandoning, so I did gain. Just not enough to be able to run properly.

I understand this. I have just looked at the plan.

Running 7 or 8 mins followed by a walking break might be easier.

Which ever program you choose has to work for you.

Was it fatigue in your legs that was the problem or out of breath or something else?

kabayiri

vivatifosi wrote: »

Thanks for that. We're considering doing the Race for Life this year in memory of MIL. Hence questions.

Build up to covering 5K using a combination of walk+run, then try the local parkrun.

There will be people there who take 40-45 mins for the run.

It's a great buzz, and go and have a latte' or something after it to celebrate with a few of those attending.

I waited until I could run 5K non-stop before trying parkrun. I'm not sure I had the right approach.

Race for Life would be a fantastic experience. I've got 11 weeks until my first marathon, being around the NY marathon last autumn was a fantastic atmosphere.

silvercar

kabayiri wrote: »

I understand this. I have just looked at the plan.

Running 7 or 8 mins followed by a walking break might be easier.

Which ever program you choose has to work for you.

Was it fatigue in your legs that was the problem or out of breath or something else?

Complete exhaustion.

I got past the fatigue in my legs after week 3. It was the breathing. Also didn't help that the land isn't flat round here. If I hit an incline when I was meant to be running, I couldn't manage it.

There was also the mental aspect. If I only ran for 3.5 minutes when I was meant to be doing a 4 minute stretch I felt a complete failure. Which was stupid in retrospect, because I still finished the session each time.

vivatifosi

Thanks kab. I was in Disneyworld recently when they had the running events. They do 5k on Thurs, 10k on Fri, 1/2 on Sat and full marathon on Sunday. If you do all four, you get a special medal. I spoke to a few people who had done one or all of the events. It isn't really for serious "time" runners, but those who did it had a blast. While you are slowing and in a walking phase, you can have your photo taken with a Disney character. One of the marathon runners did a brief stop at Expedition Everest to ride the roller coaster. I felt very motivated and wanted in, even at the bottom floor. It was the first place that I heard of couch to 5k too.

Ironically Jeff Galloway is their consultant! So without knowing it, that's where I'd come across it first, you joined the dots.

vivatifosi

Incidentally kab, are you sponsored for the NYM? Can we sponsor you?

kabayiri

silvercar wrote: »

Complete exhaustion.

I got past the fatigue in my legs after week 3. It was the breathing. Also didn't help that the land isn't flat round here. If I hit an incline when I was meant to be running, I couldn't manage it.
...

I'm wary of offering any cardio advice because I'm far from an expert.

Maybe you need a fun cardio routine which lets you move into the different threshold zones. This is exactly what H.I.I.T is, but the one I attended would be a bit too intense.

Reebok step could be an option?