Week 2 Day 2

CogitoErgoSum2

Hi everyone!

First post ever on the board. UK based, last week I've started the NHS Couch to 5K programme, done all first week and tomorrow W2 D2, as yesterday did my first W2 run. Pretty cool so far...

I run on treadmill at the gym because I like to be in control of the pace and also keep an eye on HR. What's your pace and does it change for you depending on the time of the day you train?

If I run in the evening/late afternoon it's so much easier compared to the 6.30am-pre-work slot! First day I managed fast paced walk at 5mph and run at 8mph, but that was out of enthusiasm and lack of foresight, I suppose. I have since settled for a fast paced walk at 4mph and run at 6mph.

Looking forward to finding others on this program, very much in need of training buddies... when it comes to physical activity consistency and motivation are most certainly not my strong points!!

likitisplit

Great job starting and congratulations on getting to week two!

6 mph seems fast to me - but I was always really slow: about 3 mph through most of C25k. Just know that you should be able to slow down a lot if you find week 3 or 4 to be challenging.

A lot of runners find afternoon runs faster, so you are not alone in that.

CogitoErgoSum2

Thank you for the encouragement! I have done my second training of week two and it all went well, same pace... today and tomorrow rest.

I must admit I feel quite anxious about being able to progress to week 3 and 4, but I suppose I can take it one step at a time?

Did you manage to complete the full program already? What was the most challenging and the most rewarding bit of it with hindsight?

likitisplit

I completed the program in February. I currently run about three days a week (15 miles total) and plan to run my first 10k on Saturday.

Day One was my hardest day. Getting out there as a fat girl in front of the world with everything jiggling and moving was mortifying. Especially since I KNEW I could never be a runner and was SURE I would have to quit at some point. My goal was getting through as much of the program as I could. I wanted to at least be able to walk a 5k again.

The hardest part of running in general is pacing yourself. You have to learn to run at a nice, easy pace - many of my MFP friends are C25k graduates, others have been running for many years and the advice is constantly to give yourself enough time and training to achieve your goals. You need to slow down when you're doing something new, when the weather heats up, when you move to a treadmill, after taking off for a week, etc., etc.. There's a time to go hard and/or long, but that's not until you've built up a decent base of at least 10 miles a week.

I was a self-taught race walker before having kids and had read that the difference in walking and running is that you have one foot on the ground when you walk. You can walk faster than a slow run (and I proved that in a few 5ks). When I started C25k, my goal was to run as slowly as I was walking the intervals to condition my body to the new movements and that's what I attribute to my success.

I'm one of those lucky people who just enjoy the run (after the first 10 minutes - those are hard for everybody). I fall into the "zone" pretty easily. I also love what running has done for my body.

The progression is always a bit scary. It is challenging, but the pixies who built the program know what they are doing. My advice: stop looking ahead. You'll be able to complete each day as it comes if you make sure you slow down to where you KNOW you can get through it and have confidence in yourself.

CogitoErgoSum2

"I was a self-taught race walker before having kids and had read that the difference in walking and running is that you have one foot on the ground when you walk. You can walk faster than a slow run (and I proved that in a few 5ks). When I started C25k, my goal was to run as slowly as I was walking the intervals to condition my body to the new movements and that's what I attribute to my success. "

That's incredibly useful and I would have never thought that myself, thank you. I will try and put it into practice at my next run, tomorrow morning. I tend to be quite mindful of what my body does - borderline obsessively self-conscious! - so the idea of applying control and exploration to my training session feels highly motivating for me.

I have had so many 'first days' in the past, that this time it did not feel too shaming, but I most definitely understand what you have shared. Good luck for Saturday, wow, 10K! Great work!