Popular Post HarryMonkey Posted January 14, 2014 Popular Post Posted January 14, 2014 I decided over Christmas that, having made some life changing decisions in 2103, I needed to take on a new project in 2014. I've been threatening for a while now to do some running and was chatting to my daughter about it. She suggested the Couch to 5k program. It takes you from being a couch potato (me) to running a 30 minute 5k in 9 structured weeks. I was a bit cynical at first but I had a look on the website ... Get running with Couch to 5K - Live Well - NHS Choices Now bear in mind the last time I did any serious running was when I was at school nearly 40 years ago and it was with no small amount of trepidation that I downloaded the podcasts, put my trainers on and got out there on the 4th of Jan for my first session. It was awesome. I completed the 30 minute session and arrived back at home absolutely buzzing and raring to go on the second session. The podcasts are structured, telling you when to run, when to walk etc with music as well to help and each week builds on the previous week and ramps it up just that little bit. There's a 5k race in Milton Keynes on the 9th of March and that's my target, to complete that. I never thought that at the age of 55 that I would be entering a road race again but I'm really looking forward to it. I just thought I'd start this in case there was anyone else out there who had made a similar decision but was not sure how to go about it. If you are looking to do a bit more exercise e and want something structured with a target to aim for then I can't recommend this highly enough. There's loads of support on the website and in the forum. Is there anyone else doing this? If so, how are you finding it? 10
elsiegee40 Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Well done you! I haven't tried it personally, but having taken up gojng to the gym as I rapidly approach becoming elsiegee50, I can recommend the exercise thing.
HarryMonkey Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 Thanks @elsiegee40 The hardest part was that initial motivation ... getting myself out of the door but now I get frustrated when I can't go out.
ButterflyMoon Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I hike and had been out for a while in the last 18 months with the treatments etc and after effects but am getting back to it now. Had a few good hikes over the New Year trip away and was dead chuffed. I hit the big 60 week after next and am aiming to get back to my drumming in the band!! Well done Harry Monkey!!
witch Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Well done! It sounds like a really good program. Let us know how you get on
Arcath Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Well it must be good if your going to be around in 2103 to make some pretty big decisions! 1
chrisateen Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I dodnt follow the plan but I did take up running a while back to lose weight. Its a great thing to do and like you said when you do it you feel a buzz and sometimes you want to do even more. I can bet that in a few months time you will be doing 10k's then after you will be considerjng doing a marathon. Good luck and most importantly make sure you stick to it
Oaktech Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 My Missus rates it... she's done quite a lot of it (up to the 3k mark) but she's been put off by the weather at the moment.
tmcd35 Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Good call! Think I might give this a go to regain some fitness after I stopped cycling back around September time. Can't seem to get motivated to get back on the bike for some reason. Maybe 9 weeks of this will sort me out?
IrritableTech Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I've heard quite a few people talk about the couch to 5k program - all of them have been positive about it. I downloaded it, but I'm not sure I'm built for running. My wife and I joined the gym in early December and I received a fitbit flex for Christmas. With the fitbit app and the monthly gym direct debit I'm feeling motivated to get active. Last week I even might have started enjoying it...
chrisateen Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I've heard quite a few people talk about the couch to 5k program - all of them have been positive about it. I downloaded it, but I'm not sure I'm built for running. My wife and I joined the gym in early December and I received a fitbit flex for Christmas. With the fitbit app and the monthly gym direct debit I'm feeling motivated to get active. Last week I even might have started enjoying it... You may be surprised. I couldn't run for 2min before but in Oct 2012 I did a Half Marathon. Try taking up running for a while and see what happens even if you only run 5mins a day until you get use to it.
Rawns Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I'm actively going down the gym now. I still have days where I feel I CBA but they've recently replaced their gym kit. All the new stuff has full on in-built in Android tablets, iPod docks etc so the geek in my finds it fun to browse reddit on a cycling machine! If you find you need a distraction, or motivation, while doing your running, I can highly recommend the Zombies! Run! app and the Zombies! 5k! apps. You run and have an audio story along side it. Zombie hordes trigger you to run faster, and you get items at the end of your run to reinforce your home base! It's awesome! Available on Android and iOS: https://www.zombiesrungame.com/
HarryMonkey Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 You may be surprised. I couldn't run for 2min before but in Oct 2012 I did a Half Marathon. Try taking up running for a while and see what happens even if you only run 5mins a day until you get use to it. How long did it take you to get to 'half marathon' stage?
bossman Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Used to go to the gym but found my knees and calves not up to it so decided to take up "Pilates" twice a week, really struggled at first as I'm not the most flexible person on the planet but as the weeks went by I get stronger and more supple, really get a buzz and feelgood factor from it. I also maintain a healthy eating habit during the week, fresh produce always, my only downfall is my sweet tooth but I am working on it and now drink black coffee no sugar and white T just 1 sugar, also keeping my alcohol intake down to a couple of glasses red wine over the weekend and nothing during the week. I did go a little overboard during Christmas n New Year and gained over a stone but since I have gone back to my healthy regime I have lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks hehe!
chrisateen Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 How long did it take you to get to 'half marathon' stage? I wouldnt say I was half marthon stage when I did it. I ran for over a year and a half and managed to go from being able to run for only 5min to doing 12km in under an hour (although losing a lot of weight helped as well). On top of that I did a few 10k and 5k runs in decent times. Then when I got my first job in summer 2012 I didnt train properly for the half marathon so ended up walking for some it but I did it in 2hrs 15min. Had I train properly I should have been able to do it in under 2hrs possibly even in 1hr 50min Recently my left knee has been hurting badly when I run. I thought it might go away if I took a break but it hasn't so I think I might need to go to the doctors. So now I can run at a speed of 9k for about 40 - 60min but any faster than that and my knee starts to give way. Moral of the story is that if I can do it you can do it too
elsiegee40 Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Hark at all us crumblies! I have problems with my left knee, but fortunately a knee support holds it tigether at the gym.
ICTLady Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I've just finished week 2 of the Couch to 5k and am amazed to find myself enjoying it. I even got up at 5.45am yesterday and went for a run/walk. It was beautiful, the stars were out, the streets were quiet, I had my ipod on encouraging me to keep going (shame the C25K music is a bit cheesy) . My aims are (a) be a bit fitter in time for our first family skiing holiday at Easter and (b) be able to do my trousers up again, without having to give up chocolate. Completing C25K before the skiing holiday is the first step for me, but I can see myself keeping up the running at this rate.
tmcd35 Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Thanks again to @HarryMonkey for starting the thread - never heard of C25K before. Downloaded all the podcasts to the iPhone. Going to start in the morning, bright and early 5:30, and see how I get on. As daft as it sounds, my goal is to *feel* fit enough to get back in the saddle when decent cycling weather returns. 9 weeks - I can do that!
HarryMonkey Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 Thanks again to @HarryMonkey for starting the thread - never heard of C25K before. Downloaded all the podcasts to the iPhone. Going to start in the morning, bright and early 5:30, and see how I get on. As daft as it sounds, my goal is to *feel* fit enough to get back in the saddle when decent cycling weather returns. 9 weeks - I can do that! Go for it. Let us know how it goes.
LosOjos Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 I haven't heard of this before either and (surprise surprise, it's January) I'm looking to get fit again. Going to have a proper read tonight and download the podcasts - might even start in the morning!
mavhc Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Pity they have no idea what a podcast is, no rss, zip files? wth.
LosOjos Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Pity they have no idea what a podcast is, no rss, zip files? wth. It is government funded, don't expect too much That said, it's free too!
hawc Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Just listening through all these. I am seriously considering it.
tmcd35 Posted January 15, 2014 Posted January 15, 2014 Well, I now know what's waiting for me in hell - so I can stop wondering about that! My legs hurt from the knees down - that's not normal! Same again Friday? (the music's not so bad).
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