UndeadJamieGot started with one of the things I want to do this year and did my first #CouchTo5K run/walk. I’m definitely very unfit as that was quite difficult. 😅
Glad I did it though!
Very chilly this morning and tricky with some icy paths, but got my second #CouchTo5K run done!
Didn’t have any gloves so my hands were frozen by the end. Got some on order now! 😄
3rd run and “Week 1” done! 💪
All of the 3 runs I’ve done so far have been 60 seconds of running with 90 seconds of fast paced walking inbetween. Today felt the easiest for me. Guess I’m ready for the next stage. 🏃♂️
It took a little longer to complete “Week 2” of #CouchTo5K because of life things getting in the way, so those runs were more spread out. I’ve just completed the first run of “Week 3” now though!
Run - 90 seconds
Walk - 90 seconds
Run - 180 seconds
Walk - 180 seconds
Run - 90 seconds
Walk - 90 seconds
Run - 180 seconds
The last run felt the most difficult but honestly didn’t feel that bad. So much so that I was finished a little earlier in regards to distance on my usual route for this run, so I added another 180 second walk followed by another 90 second run at the end.
Feeling good! 💪
Well that felt much harder. Started “Week 4” of #CouchTo5K today!
Run - 3 minutes
Walk - 1.5 minutes
Run - 5 minutes
Walk - 2.5 minutes
Run - 3 minutes
Walk - 1.5 minutes
Run - 5 minutes
Didn’t help that the majority of my last two runs were uphill. 😩
I did it though! 💪
Week 5 Run 2. Hardest run yet but I pushed through and did it! 💪
Run - 8 minutes
Walk - 5 minutes
Run - 8 minutes
Well if that’s not a sign that my running since the start of the year is doing some good, I don’t know what is. 💪
Well, I had my first setback on my #CouchTo5K.
Today was supposed to be Week 5 Run 3, which is a 20 minute run. In the first couple of minutes I felt a lot of tightness and pain in my right calf (cramp maybe), so I slowed down to a walk. I was going to pack it in, but it loosened up again so I pushed on and started over. I had to take a couple of walk breaks in the middle, so I think I’m going to keep trying this session again every 2/3 days until I can nail it.
Still decent today though. Probably did about 18 minutes of running in total, with about 4 minutes of walking, so not all bad. It’s really stepped up a gear this week so just got to keep pushing myself!
20 minutes of constant running complete! I’m very happy with that! 🤩
What to you tend to listen to whilst running?
At the moment, I just have a playlist of music around the 150 BPM mark, however I’ve seen some listen to podcasts? I wonder if that makes it harder to keep to a particular pace, but makes it easier by being distracted when running might feel hard.
Tim Stickland
Niels van Rongen
Michael Lysons@jamie I listen to podcasts. It doesn’t affect my pacing ability as far as I’m aware. Then again, I don’t run to music so I can’t compare!
cricket_bacon"What to you tend to listen to whilst running?"
I have two general types of running playlists: fast, mainly techno-type songs for tempo and speed work and then chill, relaxing music for racking up the Zone 2 mileage.
@cricket_bacon What do you mean by Zone 2 mileage?
Zone 2 = keeping my heart rate within Zone 2.
https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/beginners/a760176/heart-rate-training-the-basics/
@cricket_bacon Thanks! I’ll have a read.
Rob@jamie At the moment I am listening to liquid drum and bass mixes (between 168 and 174 bpm) for this weeks 10k's
I normally listen to podcasts, or nothing except the world around me when I am running my long runs (15+ Km). I don't find it impacts my pace especially, running to the spoken word - I do learn things better if I am listening to a science podcast, for example. I guess I must be a Kinesthetic learner, wish I'd known that when I was younger
I normally listen to podcasts, or nothing except the world around me when I am running my long runs (15+ Km). I don't find it impacts my pace especially, running to the spoken word - I do learn things better if I am listening to a science podcast, for example. I guess I must be a Kinesthetic learner, wish I'd known that when I was younger
@robchapman Yeah I think I’ll give podcasts a go whilst on a run. I don’t think it would affect the pace I run at either.
I’ve done four 25 minutes runs now. Today I tried upping the pace a bit to see if I could extend the distance a bit, but I don’t think I’m ready for that as I ended up going much slower towards the end and overall less distance than previous runs. Oh well, wanted to change it up a bit but it didn’t work out. I’ll keep going at a pace I’m more comfortable at from now on.
“Week 8” is three 28 minutes runs which doesn’t seem much of a difference, but I think I’d end up really pushing in those last 3 minutes so that’s probably the point.
Oh I also got some new running shoes; an early birthday present from my mother-in-law.
Brooks Ghost 17. I wanted them as they make the trainers in wider sizes for people with wider feet like me.
They’re very comfortable and find myself aching less after a run than the shitty ones I picked up years and years ago now.
First time I’ve been able to get out in 9 days, and it was tough after a break I didn’t want to have for various reasons, but I still managed to do 28 minutes this morning. Furthest I’ve done so far. 💪
Wasn’t able to complete my run this morning and I’m quite disappointed with myself. It took another 5 days for me to get out on a run. That’s only 2 runs in a little over 2 weeks. 🤦♂️
It’s amazing whole quickly even a little bit of fitness can fall off. This is a kick up the arse I needed I think to keep going regularly.
Next run will be Monday morning!
It has taken me years to understand that, for me at least, forming habits can take well over 4-6 weeks.
Breaking habits can easily be accomplished within 48 hours.
WTL@jamie Remember that the opposite is also true. Put in some work and the fitness returns. Perhaps not as quickly as we'd like, but it will return.
What's preventing you from running, if you don't mind sharing?
@WTL Yeah exactly. Basically I just need to find the motivation to get off my lazy arse and do it, even if I don’t feel like doing it. Self motivation has always been an issue for me.
@jamie You certainly aren’t alone - putting the shoes on and getting started frequently feels like the hardest part of #running for so many of us. Once I’m out the door, I’m enjoying myself.
Don’t beat yourself up too hard about it. Figure out why you want to run, and remind yourself of that when you’re feeling like skipping it. If you like to share, posting your run results to the #running hashtag will get you support too. Fine folks here.
@WTL Thanks for the positive words. 😊
Kira Mourão@jamie you’re still getting out there which is the important part. Setbacks are not failures and every runner has them!
Benjamin Han@jamie My new New Balance 1080 v14 looks quite like these too (all black)!
Amy Hansford
Ben@TheBreadmonkey Thanks! 😁
Olivia Grace 🌸
Luke@LukeLukeLuke 😂😂 no cake this time.
Vicomte Folmer af HelvedeSounds like you're nailing it!
How did it feel? Any pain or nuisance?
I know from personal experience that is a good idea to remember to listen to the body and overdo the training😊
(Sorry, you weren't asking for advice)
@folfdk No pain or nuisances today, unlike the previous run when I tried the 20 minute run. After the last time when I did have pain, I left it an extra day for recovery I think that really helped.
I also took some advice (Thanks @harrybo!) and made sure I did a few warm-up stretches beforehand so that likely helped as well.
Also, thanks for offering advice and popping it in a CW. I'm always open to advice of others with more experience. 😊
That's awesome!
Progress is also doing the same week twice 😊
That's something I sometimes forget. Simply doing the same training is actually progress. (This is also a comment to myself 😅)
I'm not sure I have that much experience, rebooted my training 9 months ago starting out with 3 runs of 3x400 meters and now I'm running 3 runs of 7-14 km a week.
I do strength training with focus on single leg exercises too. I think that has been good for me personally.
Happy running!
Alex
Andy
BrakeOut Gaming@jamie
Thats a great accomplishment - congrats!
Thats a great accomplishment - congrats!
@brakeoutgaming Thanks mate!
Bryan L. Fordham@jamie that’s still great progress.
Aaron@jamie Gotta listen to that body first and foremost. A day or two setback is better than an injury that resets you back to day 1
@therealahall Yeah 100%! Had that in the back of my mind when I eased off, although I’ve been feeling it today! So will give it at least a few days before attempting again I think.
Harry@jamie Just double checking, are you stretching after your runs? As a rule of thumb I set aside at best 30 mins (at worst, 15 mins) of time for stretching afterwards- really cuts down on soreness, less chances of injury and speeds up recovery
@harrybo Actually haven't been doing any at all tbh. I know not the best idea I've ever had. I'll look into starting it.
@therealahall @jamie Slow, gentle and methodical stretching is very underrated tbh. Easiest way to imagine it is think of your muscles as being like blue tack. That same elasticity idea of pulling it too quick will snap/tear it, but warming it up, moulding/stretching gently and it’ll stretch out nicely.
@harrybo @therealahall Never thought of it like that. Fair point. I’ll give it a go tomorrow. 👍