Couch-To-5k Motivational Thread

Hey everyone!
So, i set this up mainly for those in my weight loss challenge, but anyone (runner or run-phobic) can join up for extra motivation to get out there and move!

Here is a link to the website for C25K:
http://www.c25k.com/

Which also has pod casts for Ipods which will tell you when to start and stop jogging/running.
But, you can count in your head if you don't have an ipod, or you can just set small distances.
Perhaps, run to the next letterbox, then walk for two?
Or, run to the next power line if you live in the country like me! lol.

And here is a link to the program... I find its good to print it out and keep it on your wall, then you can put a tick on the runs when you have completed them:
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.s html

I will be running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and plan to begin next Monday (7th July) because i like the "orderly-ness" of starting on a Monday lol.

However, feel free to start which ever day you like!

Everyone needs motivation to work out sometimes :) so lets support each other to reach our goals!
Happy running everyone!

Motivational Tip: Finding a friend to walk/jog/run with can be fun, and helpful.
Although talking while running may be difficult, it gives you someone to talk to while you're walking!
Also, sometimes just having the company is nice.
Or perhaps take a dog!


Since i'm not starting until next Monday, i'm going to try and get into the habit of walking.
So, i'm going to go take my mums spaniel for a walk!
I'm ill at the moment so i think a walk is all i would be up for anyway!

I'll join you. I actually started last thursday, but def need a support group.

I started C25K roughly 2 months ago and am still on week 4.. I'm doing each week for two weeks to take my time with it.  SO, I might not be the most motivational but I do love the program! :)  I run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays with my boyfriend. 

We just discovered a new path that is roughly 1.2 miles around a lake.  It's much more fun to run around this lake than the loop we were doing in our neighborhood.  So, I suggest exploring for new motivation.  If you go to www.mapmyrun.com you can input your city and it will show you where other runners run - this is how we found our new trail :)

I love mapmyrun!   you can do all sorts fo cool things with it from keeping track of your workouts to marking all the potties and water fountains on the way.   (as well as figuring out how far you went!)

I love running.   I go in spurts where I run all of my 3-5 mile a day jog.   I started out a year ago walking 4-5 miles a day to lose weight for a bridesmaid gig ----  graduated from walking to wogging  (1.2 walk/1/2 jog).   Adopted a doggie from my moving away neighbor this winter and made a daily commitment to get her out on the road for the good it would do for her (and me!)   I found at first my mp3 player was helpful in keeping me motivated, but nowadays, I find I do better just listening to my breathing and keeping pace like that.  

( :   I will never win any race ---- but running makes me feel strong, powerful, and happy.   Now if only my knees would stop hurting...... 

Lol I love running too! sadly i've become so unfit in the past 3 months that i can't go very far.
So! I'm doing the C25K to get back into it :)

Glad there are others interested!

I printed out the plan and even LAMINATED it... but I"d already been doing the program for a while and I've totally lost my place. Somehow I started week 4 when I should have been on like Week 3 day 1 haha. But I'd already done week 3 once or twice? How odd. I love it though! Sadly, yesterday I just wasn't feeling it so I quit before I even finished my first 3 minutes of jogging. Then  I ate WAY TOO MUCH. I'm excited to make up for it tomorrow!!!

Thanks for the link. I printed out the schedule. I actually started walk/jog since 2 weeks ago, just I didn't know there is an actual C25K program. I am guessing I am around week 3? I am definitely going to try it tomorrow.

cool, I think I 'll try that.  But I'm gonna do every week 2 times because I don't think I'll be able to do it so quickly.

Hey, I started this a couple of weeks ago but I kind of haven't ran at all this week...oops!  I really do want to keep doing it though.  I think next week I'll start with week 3 (since I already did weeks 1 and 2) - if it doesn't kill me, that is!

Good on ya :)
Carrie, i know, sometimes it's just so difficult to get yourself outside and running! lol.
It's winter here and it's drizzling and icy cold outside so i'm a little hesitant about going out there!
But nope, i better get around to it.
I'll bundle up in warm clothes and Just DO IT lol.

Rejoiceitssusan, wise choice on doing the weeks twice, the slower you ease yourself into a routine, the easier it is to maintain!
Hope you enjoy it :)

Ikahead, let us know how it went!
It's nice having a program sometimes, with set times and everything.

Hayleymajayley, Lol Laminated?! :O Cool!
Does that mean you could write on it with a felt pen and be able to wipe it off?


Quote for the day:
"We are, each of us, angels with only one wing, and we can only fly embracing each other."
– Luciano Decrescenzo

I thought it was rather relavent to this support group!
Together, we can motivate each other and fly to our goals :D

Hey everyone!

It's raining here -bleh.
I love rain and i love walking/running in the rain, but i'm sick so getting chilled isn't a good idea!
However i was thinking about simply doing it in my room!
Jogging on the spot, then marching for a breather, then jogging again.
For the time that it sets out.
Plus i think i'm going to go drag the exercise bike into my room (have to make some space first!) and have a workout session in there since there isn't much room in the lounge.

I did it !!! Well I did not run the whole time, but I did the week 3 program. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. I feel so energized right now, and I ran 3 hours ago. Anyway, it took me 48 min including the warm up to get to 5K. I am definitely going to do this again on Friday. Thanks for the challenge.

restless_girl - sorry to hear that you are sick. Hope you get better soon. Oh, and I loved that qoute.

me too -- get well soon, restless!

I had a great jog this morning.  I love running in the semi-dark, cool pre-day time hours.  ( :    It is so peaceful.    4 miles doesn;t seem like a lot to me anymore either, but I have maxed out my area as far as just going in one, huge circle.  To add distance now, I will have to either run a second loop somewhere else when done with the normal route or jog in circles, I guess. 

Hang in there.  it DOES get easier!   ( :

Jog on with your bad selves!

Olivia77- what do you put for your knees? Mine hurts a little too, though not so bad as last week. I put Hong Hua You on mine, it sort of works, but there is still slight pain.

Everyone else, keep at it. One step at a time, or should I say one walk/jog at a time. You will feel so accomplished. It is so exhilarating.

I just started this a week ago and i'm so excited there's a group!!! I thought it would be a total pain, but the gradual start to the program made it bearable.  By the second time  I ran it hurt less and I was way less sore the next day!  Any suggestions on where to run??  My dad's telling me to go to the track because it's rubberized and he thinks it'd be better on my knees.  Other people say the beach in the sand but that sounds a little tough for me. I'm currently enjoying the roads in my neighborhood. 

 

Keep at it and good luck everyone!! <33

lkahead --   currently?  nothing.  I just know I need to do something.....  I want to find an OT or someone like that to show me how I can strengthen the muscles around my knee and upper leg to maybe allow me to stabilize myself better.  I supinate i.e. walk on the outsides of my feet and thus run that way too meaning I am torquing my knee out when I run ----  kneecaps only go front to back, not side to side like mine is forced to do. 

I even saw an orthopedist -- problem is he was so young, he could have been Doogie Howser and he totally blew my pain and worries off with something like ibuprofen and ice.  DUH, dude  ---- I am only 31, would like to avoid surgery.....  

To everyone that is interested in runner resources, someone pass me a link to www.runnersworld.com for resources and info.

For knee pain, she said wearing a knee cap might help stablilized the knee as I run. So, I might get one to try.

I found a link on exercises to strengthen the knee as well

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285--11555-2-1-2, 00.html

Hopefully it helps as well.

Happy 4th everyone, and keep at it.

Thesuperbex, i would say run where ever you feel the most comfortable and is the most convienient for you!
Having to drive to a track to run might become annoying.
If you are enjoying running on your local roads then do that :)

Sand is meant to be easier on the joints, but it is a LOT hard and more exhausting because the ground is constantly moving.

A track might be better on your joints but i don't know how much of a difference it would be...
You could always try googling it and weigh up the pro's and con's.

Happy running everyone!
I'm still in bed and not sure i want to admit i'm even awake.
Despite it being 1:17 pm.
SERIOUS laziness problems.
I even have the exercycle in my room now!... but it just feels like its this huge daunting black machine in the corner.
*kicks self in the butt* get to work girl!


EDIT- phew, just finished working out!... 3 hours later.
But don't worry, i wasn't exercising the WHOLE time.
I did the C25k run in my room (jogging on the spot and marching on the spot) and then did this 30 minute mix of 5 minutes of biking, then 5 minutes of jogging or sit ups and squats and stuff like that), then i cleaned my room!
I had shifted my bed around to give me more floor space but the "feng-SH-Way" was all wrong, and i kept waking up in the middle of the night panicking about where i was Sooooo.... It's now back to what it was to begin with! lol.
But since i was moving stuff around, i decided to vaccuum and scrub the floors and tidy up a bit :)
... And now i have to go move the stuff in the hallway because i just remembered i left a bunch of stuff in there! oops.
Catch you all later!

I must say I have forgotten how good it feels to run outdoor instead of indoor. The only problem I have is keeping track of the time that I had to switch between walk and jog. I kept running over the switch time. In the treadmill, it was slightly easier to keep track of time. Maybe I will give it a try again on week 5 or 6 schedule when there isn't as much variation in time.

Have a great weekend everyone, and keep at it.

yay for a clean room and workout, restless and you too, lkahead --  step it up a notch if you can, you go girl!!!   ( :

I just run until I can't anymore and start again a block later.  not super scientific.  =P  (blush)

OH and thanks for the knee workout link ---  I was doing some of them but it gave me some good ideas for getting stronger.  YOU ROCK, lka!