From Couch to 5k to...who knows? About This Page:

[Tinkerboo]

So today was my first day doing this programme. I watched the London Marathon on TV a couple of weeks ago and yet again felt a mixture of guilt and inspiration - when I was in my early/mid twenties I had vowed that I'd do a marathon before I hit thirty...now I'm approaching 34 and still struggle to run for 60 seconds without feeling like I'm going to explode. I'm not overweight, just chronically unfit cardiovascular-wise.

I thought I would document my progress here, as I know that PassPorters are some of the most supportive people around and will keep me on the right path..! There is an event at the end of June called RunFest Wales, and I'm planning to enter the 5k run...and actually run it, instead of walking like I have with the previous charity 5ks I've done! So here begins the hard work...

Week 1 Day 1
When: Saturday 26th April, 9.45am
Where: Up and down a long private road running alongside our local beach, while DH walked the dog on the beach itself
Weather: Sunny, windy, mild temp
How long: 31 minutes
How far: 3.25km / 2.02 miles
How'd I feel physically?: It's the very first stage of the programme, so after a 5 minute warm up/brisk walk, it alternates 60 seconds running with 90 seconds walking. This sounds so insanely easy that I wasn't too worried, but how wrong I was! Initially each running block (actually a gentle jog - don't want to go crazy at such an early stage, as that's what usually ends up discouraging me from carrying on) made my chest pound and I couldn't wait for the woman to tell me to 'begin walking'! My legs felt fine though. But as it went on, this sort of swapped over and my legs (specifically knees and hamstrings [? the top front part]) were screaming, while my breathing felt a little bit easier. But by the end it all got very hard and I really felt like if it didn't finish soon I would explode.
How'd I feel mentally?: I was very good and didn't look at the phone to see how long was left, I wanted to just shut my brain off and follow the instructions without trying to mentally analyse 'how long is left?', 'will I make it?', 'shall I walk the next bit?' etc. Although it hurt in various ways - pretty intensely by the end - I was really proud of myself for running (jogging!) all of the sections I was meant to. I'd fully expected that along the way I would end up bargaining with myself to allow myself to walk a run section if I was feeling bad. But I didn't give in! So I'm pleased about that and hopeful that it will get easier the more I do. (It will, right? Please tell me that it will..!! )

[Dani S]

Congrats on getting started!! Sounds like you're off to a great start. It will definitely get easier!

I lost A LOT of weight and got in the best shape of my life several years ago right before I got pregnant with my daughter. Unfortunately I have since gone back to my old habits and haven't made the time for exercising. (Definitely a challenge working full time and having a young child!) But I am also at the very beginning of trying to get myself back to being in shape again!

Good luck! Looking forward to hearing about your journey!

[Amy L]

Congratulations on starting and a great first run!! I never did the C25k as it wasn't around when I started running, but I know lots of people who swear by it! That is great that you have a race planned too, as that will give you tons of incentive to keep at it. It will definitely get easier! Not every run will go perfectly (even seasoned marathoners have bad runs), but you are out there doing it which is great! All runners start at the very beginning - right where you are. I remember thinking I would never get past 1 mile and now I have many half marathons behind me and I am signed up to do Dopey in January. There are quite a few of us here on PP who love running and love talking about running even more! Keep us posted please! Good luck and have fun with it!

[Tinkerboo]

Thanks guys - just knowing there are people out there interested in hearing about it will keep me going! [emoji3]

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[Tim Sullivan]

While I never did any programs when I started running, when I think back to how hard running was to me....it has been an amazing journey for me.

Congrats on taking a huge first step, I can't wait to read about your first marathon exploits

Tim

[disney_duke]

Toyah, awesome job! The first couple weeks are the hardest. I think that's why a lot of people get frustrated and quit. But it also tends to be the magical turning point - roughly two weeks in to most start up training programs is when you'll feel a difference in strength and ease in your efforts! So hang in there - you will be rewarded!

C25K gets rave reviews. I didn't have a clue when I started, I just started out slowly. Much, much slower than the c25K has you go, actually! I've read that it's OK if you repeat weeks during the program, so don't feel bad if you do that. Sometimes life gets in the way and you can't keep up with training programs. So just do what you can!

Looking forward to hearing about your progress!! Oh, and the hamstrings are on the back of the thigh. Quad muscles are in the front. (I think!)

[Tinkerboo]

Ha ha, thanks - my high school biology/anatomy has long deserted me...though to be honest they are ALL aching now anyway! [emoji37]

I am really looking forward to the magical point where it all clicks into place and stops feeling like I'm flogging myself to death. I guess it's like learning to drive - you think you'll never be able to coordinate all those actions and then one day you just do it without realising.

Session 2 will be after work tomorrow as the weather is bad after then and I am still very much a fair weather jogger! [emoji299]

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[pixeedusty]

You are so brave!!!
Lol, even though I walk about 4 times a week, 3 miles each time.... I HATE trying to run!!! haha.
I have printed out the C25K schedule NUMEROUS times, and attempted 1-2 days, SEVERAL times. I never make it past that. Maybe if I had some program like it sounds you have, with someone TALKING me through it... it would work better.
Or, if I posted on here like you have, that kind of gives you an accountability aspect that will definitely keep you motivated!
I, too, always have said I wanted to run a Disney marathon. So far, not even close.
Good LUCK!!! And there are DEFINITELY great motivators & runners here to help you out!

[Tinkerboo]

The app I have is called C25K Free, but I think there are a few out there. It's by Zen Labs, they do a whole bunch of them for different distances. It's good because you can still play your music, she just talks over it. I need to have someone actually telling me what to do because if I had to time each bit myself and take a bit of paper with the instructions I would probably lose track of which bit I was up to! The less faff the better... [emoji1]

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[Tinkerboo]

Also, you are the third person to have specifically used the word 'brave', so I have to live up to that now..! [emoji106]

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[kadterp]

You totally got this!! The point is you are doing it!!

[minemoz1]

Congrats! You can do it!

I started the C25K last summer and got to week 5 before health problems made me stop. If you haven't yet, make sure you get great running shoes. I made the mistake of not having them and I ruined my shins and knees. It took me a few weeks to recover.

[Tinkerboo]

Week 1 Day 2
When: Tuesday 29th April, 6.15pm
Where: Up and down the private road by the beach again (on my own this time)
Weather: Sunny and warm...Spring at last! About 16 C/60 F
How long: 33 minutes
How far: 3.20km / 1.99 miles
How'd I feel physically?: Actually not too bad! The same pattern of run/walk as last time, but I took it really easy (perhaps too easy?), doing little bouncy steps instead of proper strides and probably looking like the most ridiculous excuse for a runner anyone has ever seen, but it worked! Breathing did get a bit heavy as it went on but there was none of the ohmygodmychestisabouttoexplode red-faced desperation of W1D1. My legs didn't ache quite as much either (I stretched beforehand this time) except for my shins. SHINS! I do have proper New Balance running shoes with all the appropriate arch support etc (I have really high arches and narrow feet...shoe shopping is always a nightmare) so I don't really know what was going on there.
How'd I feel mentally?: I was apprehensive that it was going to be as hard as the last time, but hallelujah - it was so much better! I'm guessing that this isn't the result of a miraculous transformation but rather the facts that a) I stretched before starting, b) I ate something beforehand (a banana ) and c) instead of trying to run at a runner's pace straight away, I literally did the jogger's shuffle...by which I mean a gentle bounce from one foot to the other, only just clearing the floor (but not walking - both feet WERE off the ground at the same time!). Baby steps and all that. It meant I covered slightly less distance in the same timeframe, but I was so pleased with how much better I felt that I don't mind, and I'm feeling very encouraged for future sessions.

[disney_duke]

The little shuffle is actually more recommended than longer strides. Easier on the body and less chance of injury. In particular, pulled hamstrings. (my enemy) So you're doing the right thing with shorter strides! The hard part is making the turnover rate faster with those short strides. Because I'm taller, I feel like Fred Flinstone "driving" his little car when I take short strides. But I'm getting better at it.

Shins. I don't know what to tell you about that one as I don't have that issue. Hopefully someone else can help you out there. You have been to a proper running shoe store for a gait analysis? They should recommend the proper shoe for you based on your foot type, and ideally it should help out with things like shin pain.

Keep up the hard work!!

[Tinkerboo]

Thanks d_d :-) I got my shoes quite a long time ago, but they have seen very little action so are virtually in the same condition as they were when they came out of the box! It was a running shop that I got them from, but only a little one and there was no opportunity for gait analysis. I don't know if there is anything like that round here to be honest. But with my arches being so high I know that I do walk more on the outside of my feet (over pronate, or under? Can't remember!) and that's what we based the decision on. I might try and save up for a new pair and find out if there is a better shop somewhere a bit further afield.

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