[RayCun]

mapmyrun.com shows routes that other runners have uploaded in different locations

But you don't need to find a 5k route, it'll be a couple of months before you cover that distance. Just find a park where you can run the times. dublin 16 you could run in Marlay Park or, better yet, join this training group that starts next week

[davenewt]

W4D3, done. Halfway. I've stuck to having just one rest day between sessions. As tenreds says, constant doubts. Hardest has been the last week, going from 3-4-5min runs on subsequent days... have found that quite a ramp if I'm honest.

Today I missed the first "slow down" which threw me, and ended up running for what felt like a fortnight. Didn't help that I'd chosen a route that took me uphill early on. Turned out I was running for just 4 mins instead of the planned 3. Amazing how 4 minutes can feel like enough time to write a novel, watch the changing of the seasons, witness the extinction of life on Earth, and still have time for tea and biscuits.

Still waiting for "the moment" to happen where I feel I can run further and ignore the voice in my headphones telling me to slow down and walk. At the moment, she can't interrupt my music soon enough

Still, halfway. That's half more than I thought I'd do. Onwards and, preferably, down-hill-wards (or at least on the flat) from now on!

[Rolomammy]

Thanks tenreds. Your dead right. I started week 3 on Friday and it went very well. Day 2 tonight. I'm looking forward to it already!

[tenreds]

Anyone got any advise about running in their first 5k race,the nerves are starting to get to me thinking of running with all these real runners.Not sure about things like what time I should eat,and what I eat.Then what about doing a little warm up jog or just stretch or both and when just before or half an hour before race .The race is at 7 30 and I normally run in the morning time.The doubts are starting to creep in again

[RayCun]

You'll be grand. The fact that you've run 5k in training will put you ahead of a fair number of people in a lot of road races. Don't eat in the hour before the race, 2 hours if you sometimes suffer from indigestion or stitches. Go for a practice run a couple of days before to see what works for you. A few minutes of very slow and easy jogging about 5/10 minutes before the race start should be enough of a warmup.

[tenreds]

Thanks RayCun,
Well I finished with c25k now as I ran my first race on Wednesday.I went for a practise run on Monday and ended up tripping myself on my shoe lases so nearly never got to starting line but no real harm done to me only to my pride

The race itself,well what can I say but what an experience I just loved it.I started right at the back and at the start found I was going to slow to many people in front for the first k.Then the crowd started to thin out a bit and I found myself passing people with ease.By the 3k mark I was going at a nice and steady pace and just focusing on passing the next person one at time.The last 500 meters the legs started to give and few people passed me near the line.The time I did was under 24 mins so really happy with that and having the family at the finishing line,well I felt so proud.Can't wait for my next race but legs really sore today so I'll take easy for a day or two.

Thanks c25k and goodbye

[girlonfire]

I'm going to start the C25K today. I'm feeling somewhat unfit at the moment, but really looking forward to charting my progress over the coming weeks.
Does anyone have any pointers that might be helpful?

[davenewt]

@girlonfire: quite simply - do it I've been getting through it using the "10k runner" app on the iPhone (don't look shocked - it starts the same as the 5k plan and I'm on week 7 of 8 on the way to 5k).

Take the runs easy - depending on your current level of fitness you may find breathing the hardest (I do) or the strength in your legs going quicker than you'd like, but the plan starts you off easy enough.

If you find any of the sections tough, just slow down a bit (try to ignore the voice in your head telling you "you can't do it" and convincing you to stop and walk early... because you CAN do it, and you'll feel so good with every run you complete.

I try to run every other day, and as soon as I've done a run I make sure to cool down and stretch using this vid...



...and I've kept any aches and pains at bay by sticking to this routine.

Also, share your progress here to help with the motivation (see my couple of posts earlier in this thread - seems so long ago I was only starting and I've just got in from a 20 min run - well, very slow jog! - as I type this).

Most importantly, have fun

[girlonfire]

Thanks a million for the encouragement. I'm feeling great now that I've started. I'll be taking all of your advice on board and thank you for the link. Much appreciated. I'll post back with a progress update :-)

[davenewt]

Originally Posted by me - 8 weeks ago

What the hell, I'm going to throw my runners into the ring on this thread too. Started the C25k thing this week, today was W1D2.

8 weeks later, I finally ran jogged 5k last night. It's possible!

Delighted, obviously, and wanted to tell a few people who might understand (rather than people in the office who won't give a stuff), hence the self-congratulatory post. Please forgive me. Now, who wants cake and beer!?!

Also wanted to prove to anyone else considering it that yes, it is possible to get off your arse and run 5k within 2 months. I know, I didn't really believe anyone else when I was thinking about it either. So to anyone else reading this and thinking about it: just quit reading and start running!

Now, will I start a "training log"? What am I "training" for? It's great to have done 5k but.... now what?

[MrStuffins]

I tried Couch to 5k a few weeks ago and got bad knee pain. Apparently I was wearing the wrong type of shoes.

So I let myself heal up, ordered some proper running shoes and am giving it another go starting tomorrow!

Was enjoying it the first time around although I didn't get too far into the program. Looking forward to getting into it and improving because, right now, 5k is a LONG way off

[Savage Tyrant]

I started the program this evening. Have to say, I really enjoyed it.
I'm 30, 5ft8 and weigh 13st4 right now, down from 13st11 or so a few months ago. (not by outright dieting, but just cutting out chipper/Chinese and not being a glutton)
I was never a distance runner, even in my youth. I did have an 11.1sec 100m time in my late teens and played rugby to a fairly competitive level till 18.
I have been getting more and more embarrassed and pissed off at myself for getting so out of shape and I stumbled on this thread a few days ago. Reading it really has given me some motivation to do something about it.

Tonight's first run went well I thought. I used 2 apps. The C25K for the program and runkeeper just to see what distance I was covering.

Including the 5 min warmup and 5 min cool down and the 20 min program I covered 2.35miles.
Anyone know if that's a decent pace? I felt myself that I was moving ok. I felt the burn on the last run so I think I paced it well.

Really looking forward to the next one.

[RayCun]

Don't worry about your speed, just do the time

[MrStuffins]

So I delayed my return to Couch to 5k til today in order to structure a proper weekly programe.

My God, it was worse than before! I hated every minute of it. It was so tough and the humid heat didn't help at all!

But screw it, it has to be done! Looking forward to progressing (Hopefully I can )

[MrStuffins]

Did Week 1 Day 2 today.

Significantly easier but still pretty terrible. The heat didn't help either!

Even today, I have no idea how I am going to be able for 90 secs next week, but we'll see when it comes