Couch to 5K support thread

Back from my holiday and went for my first run last night - was really worried a week off would affect me, but i've still got the running bug. With christmas coming up though my diet is out the window - theres already a continuous supply of cake in work  

Hi Celeste - well done for starting the C25K programme. I started it in May 2011 and in November the same year ran my local half marathon. Unfortunately I've been plagued with a knee injury and haven't been able to run for about 4 months now but I'm keeping everything crossed that I'll be able to start the C25K again next year.

Hi RoadRunner76! Hope your achilles problem isn't anything nasty, glad to hear you managed to beat your knee problem

Hi NF - I doubt very much if the Achillies issue is anything major - when it comes on, it's a very slight soreness - definitely nothing that makes me think something's about to go 'ping'.  It's been almost non existent recently: the only time its come on was when I pushed the limit a bit and went 10k for the first time in over a year the other day and unlike before, it pretty much went away when I went home and had a nice long soak.

The knee issue is almost non existent now, I get the odd 'notification' from it every now and then but nothing major: no stiffness or anything like that.  It was always going to be that knee that would give trouble, as it had been not quite right for many years before I started running.  Perhaps I should've been using a knee support from the very start?  There's been barely a whisper from the other knee - which has never been problematic outside of running either.

Congrats to everyone who's decided to embark upon the C25k, regardless of whether you've just started or are rehabbing after injury.   As the man said 'Keep On Running'.

Hey, I agree with Scott, set yourself little rewards along your journey.

I completed teh C25K back in June 2012 and rewarded myself with a new pair of jeans and some new tshirts as my newly toned up figure meant my existing wardrobe had got loose.  I also promised myself a running watch if I kept the running up for 6 months so in November, I bought myself a Garmin 110.

It is great motivation if you know you'll get a reward at the end or at specific milestones.

Hello all - I've just started C25K as well. Looking forward to getting back into running again without injury and feeling that long missed high

Hi all - I'm on week one of C25K, its good to know i'm not alone  I'm hoping that i stay motivated when i go back to work next week and start 'running' in the evening.

Good luck to everyone else !

Chris: Keep it slow, very slow as your building up the miles. Should be able to hold a conversation with no problems. If that means just above walking pace, so be it. My first efforts at non-stop 5k resulted in 12/13 minute miles (walking pace or someone my age it 15m/m.

Good luck folks, there are a lot of people on here who started with c25k. Worked for me.

Keep the goals small: get out for next run, finish it, finish week... Make a mile, 1.5 mile, 3 miles... Remember that by the time you get to week 8 the first week will seem so easy it's silly. The progress you can make is amazing, enjoy it.

Oh, I run on my own (because I enjoy it). And the rain (makes me feel 'ard)...

Hi

I'm a newbie!

I downloaded c25k about 11 weeks ago.. I got to the end of week 8, then it was christmas... and then I had a cold and felt rubbish.  I went out last night with the intention of doing about 20mins and i failed at 15mins    I'm hoping my next run tomorrow will be better and this is just a 'blip'

Bit of background...

I'm 5ft 2"  35yrs old  and I weighed 18st 1lb at the end of september, I'm now 16st 7lb.   so the weight is coming off  (you are the first people i have confessed my actual weight too!) I've set a personal target to lose 4st so I am getting there.   I feel a bit self consious about running as I have a 'belly'   is there any advise you can give me to help get rid of the belly?   my legs are starting to look quite nice.. well for a fat person anyway..   

I would eventually like to enter a 10k race.. but rather nervous about it cos I'd be the token 'fat' person! 

Thanks for reading!

Hi karen.

Well done on your progress so far. Hardest part was starting and your well on the way to becoming a seasoned runner now . Hopefully the progress you've made so far will spur you on further. Unfortunately (as im sure you're aware) there's no overnight fix for getting rid of the bits on us we dont want other than to keep doing what your doing.

l did read somewhere that if you can manage 4 sessions of exercise a week that is suppossed to work wonders. 3 is great but it's the magic 4th that really does blast away the extra pounds.

As for the self concsious image you have of yourself when you run, l've not used them myself as luckily i've never needed to but what about using them tight fitting under garments a lot of women wear on nights out now?

Dont know what they would be like for running in in terms of how restrictive they are but it's something to consider l guess for a few months until you have a bit more self confidence.

My guess is come the summer you'll be in a nice bikini by then anyway