New to running!

suomi

I've never been a runner but I started doing Couch To 5K this week and I did my second day yesterday and so far I'm really really enjoying it! I haven't had to take any breaks and yesterday during the 5 minutes of cooldown I kept running and felt like a superhero. :cool: I know five minutes of non stop running isn't exactly amazing but anyway! You're supposed to do three days a week and I was wondering if I'd be doing any damage if I went more often than that? I haven't been sore or stiff from running and I just keep thinking that I'd love to go again every evening! I'm sure there's a reason why you're only supposed to do three days a week and I definitely don't want any injuries or anything, but would it be so bad if I went, say, five times a week so soon after starting?

RayCun

The rest days allow your body to recover and adapt to the new stresses you are placing on it. There's no need to rush through the programme - as with running in general you get further by being consistent than by trying to force faster gains.

There's a thread here of other people who've done/are doing couch to 5k. Have a read...

suomi

Okay, thanks! I wouldn't want to rush through the program, I just thought I could maybe repeat some of the days so in total I'd still do nine weeks. Like I'd do four or five days of each week and then move on to the next week. But I guess I'll just have to be patient and do something else on the other days! Thanks for the link, I'll take a look at that thread.

Clearlier

suomi - it depends upon your background. If you have never played any sports before and are generally inactive then stick closely to the plan. If however you've just finished playing a team sport at an elite level then the plan will be way too easy for you. Assuming you're somewhere in between it'd definitely possible to modify the plan to suit your background. As Ray said though it's consistency that counts. Less is often more and there's quite a lot to be lost by charging on, ignoring your body and getting injured!

suomi

Thanks for the advice, Clearlier. I'm definitely not an elite player or anything but I'm not completely unfit either. Maybe I'll just stick to the program and once I'm more used to running I'll see if I can go more often without doing any damage to my progress!

pah

Im on week 2 now and normally hate running but enjoying this. Doing Mon wed Fri and enjoying it.

OP why not do Mon wed Fri but go up a week in the program each time until you find your level!

hot to trot

Often muscles will adapt to new exercise pretty rapidly and your programme might feel too easy. However , tendons and ligaments take a bit longer to adapt. Many people start to pick up niggles and injuries 2 weeks after a stress in training or racing, as this is about the lag time from these tissues.

Once you get used to regular running you will be able to ramp it up a bit faster. Brisk walking on some of your inbetween days wouldnt do any harm , if you are gagging to get outdoors.
Good luck and keep it going

pah

hot to trot wrote: »

However , tendons and ligaments take a bit longer to adapt. Many people start to pick up niggles and injuries 2 weeks after a stress in training or racing, as this is about the lag time from these tissues.

This has happened to me. End of week two and had sore pain on inside of both knees and pretty painful shin splits especially when on stairs. what's the best thing to do?

I've done some light walking but no running since last Fri when i completed week 2. Tender now but not really painful. I was going to try a week2 run tomorrow or sat and start week 3 Monday or should i do a full week2 again??

suomi

hot to trot wrote: »

Often muscles will adapt to new exercise pretty rapidly and your programme might feel too easy. However , tendons and ligaments take a bit longer to adapt. Many people start to pick up niggles and injuries 2 weeks after a stress in training or racing, as this is about the lag time from these tissues.

Once you get used to regular running you will be able to ramp it up a bit faster. Brisk walking on some of your inbetween days wouldnt do any harm , if you are gagging to get outdoors.
Good luck and keep it going

That's interesting actually as my first week went so well and I was able to run longer than I was supposed to, but the second week was horrible. :eek: My legs were in so much pain, I wanted to keep running but I really struggled as it hurt so much. I was barely going faster than walking speed. I think I'll do Week 2 again so hopefully it'll get easier soon.

RayCun

This thread may be useful

suomi

RayCun wrote: »

This thread may be useful

Thanks! My pains are probably a combination of the fact that I've just started running and also because my runners are awful. Two sizes too big and probably not even meant for running but I can't afford new ones yet, running shoes are so expensive.

pah

Where's the best place to get running shoes? i.e. Professionally measured for size etc?

RayCun

There's a fair amount of discussion of that in the Gear forum.
I always go to Amphibian King. The shop in Ballymount Base 2 Race since it opened.

(see thirstywork, I got the name right! Do I get a prize? )

ThisRegard

Ha ha, you mean there's another shop in that place in Ballymount that sells running shoes ?!?

thirstywork2

RayCun wrote: »

There's a fair amount of discussion of that in the Gear forum.
I always go to Amphibian King. The shop in Ballymount Base 2 Race since it opened.

(see thirstywork, I got the name right! Do I get a prize? )

Im sure I will have a free prize for you next time your instore haha you cheeky git.