Day 1 week 1

[Tvarley]

Well I managed to do it! 60seconds is definitely enough running time for me, if it was any longer I would of had to stop. I'm actually feeling pretty good although I have blisters already on both heals. Looking forward to my second run on Wednesday!

[Juggyf]

Well done!!!

[Tvarley in reply to Juggyf]

Thank you

[gary_bart]

When I started, 60 seconds of running lasted about half an hour each time. All you need to do is find your "challenge level" and maintain that as long as you need to. You also need to be brave and push on. So you have to live with a contradiction. Don't worry, your good sense will help you decide which way to go, each time a decision comes up.

As regards those blisters, you probably need to try to do something about them, but what you do is up to you. Apparently my preferred method (an old, primitive, rather brutal one) is not just no longer recommended, but dangerous. I tried to get the stuff I needed to torture myself through to rapid blister repair in Germany once, and the pharmacist looked at me with outright horror. For what it's worth (and this is not a recommendation; I'm guessing there's more to the pharmacist's horror than just "big pharma propaganda for expensive plasters") this is how to deal with a blister with a wrong way.

1. Get one of those tiny syringes, some plain elastic sticky plaster and a bottle of merthiolate (it contains enough mercury to kill things)

2. Poke a little hole in an edge of the blister, and gently squeeze out most of the plasma.

3. Suck a bit of merthiolate into the syringe, and then carefully make a new puncture near a different edge, and work the tip in toward the middle, trying not to poke the delicate tissues beneath (ironically enough)

4. If you have a leather belt, bite on this now. If you don't, you might have to take off a shoe and bite on that.

5. First suck up the remaining plasma into your syringe (as far as possible), and then squeeze some of the mixture back in. Some people I've seen (hikers treating OTHER peoples blisters, for what it's worth) will suck the mixture of the mixture back in the syringe.

6. And then fill the blister up enough for one of the holes you've made to start to leak.

7. Remove syringe, and maybe pause to cry a few tears.

8. Gently massage out almost all of the merthiolate plasma left, wipe, and let it throb an dry a bit.

9. Now apply a good strip of that plaster directly to the blister (no cotton wool)

10. The plaster needs to be tight. You're going to be pressing the skin of the blister down onto the raw flesh of the blister, and hoping to stick it there, partly by making sure it can't move at all.

11. After that you can get ready for the walk in which you deliberately bear down on that blister, so that it dries up as "one unit".

Unfortunately about half the time this doesn't work. Your body starts weeping plasma into the void in sympathy, and you go back to square one.

Oh, and all the time you're doing this, obviously you're weeping and wailing inside, but on the outside you're meant to do things like grin and make jokes about toes falling off and so on. It's important to pretend that it's actually quite enjoyable. Because that way you get to laugh at the next poor sucker who tries it.

Maybe expensive blister plasters are an alternative, then?

Anyway, well done for starting! It's hard to get up and do this. If only because of that initial self-consciousness, the time immediately before Week 1 Run 1 is difficult. And as I said, I can still remember 60 seconds feeling like a long, long time to be running. (And Laura Lies about how long that minute is, too! I'm sure of it! )

[Tvarley in reply to gary_bart]

Wow!!!!! I do NOT think I will be doing that to myself. That sounds horrendous and you did that to yourself?

I think I will tape the blisters up and try and invest in some better socks/trainers when money permits.

I am feeling fantastic and I have had so much energy today.

[gary_bart in reply to Tvarley]

I've done it to myself a few times, but I don't really have the knack. The mountain club where I used to live had one guy who was an expert at doing this, and his treatments never ever failed. When you're faced with the prospect of hobbling along on a blister for miles up and down (it's never level in the mountains) the next day, even this treatment seems preferable. And actually when it works, it is.

It was the standard blister treatment in the army, too. Only the army medics just jabbed a big syringe full of merthiolate into the blister, and filled it up as far as I can remember. Basically you would go to the medics once and never again for blisters. It hurt less just to burst them and run on the raw flesh.

But yes, I think probably your best bet is to at least try out the blister plasters. I hope this isn't a hassle that persists for you. It's horrible running with blisters, and what you should be discovering on c25k is that running can be FUN. Blisters are going to get in the way of that, and keep you in that horrible state where running is necessary work one must suffer through in order to achieve some other goal.

Mind you, you don't let little inconveniences like blisters get in your way, do you? Full of energy already? Brilliant! If you're getting some pleasure out of this, you're on the right track.

[davelinks Graduate]

A plaster or Vaseline or compeed on the rubbing points..

[helcl Graduate]

Well done for getting out there. I couldn't even manage 60 seconds when I started and it took me 7 weeks to do week 1, so you are doing great!

[misswobble Graduate]

Vaseline over the blister. Run in socks! Get the right shoes from a running shop as blisters don't need to be an occupational hazard

No need to do anything to the blister other than a dab of Vaseline. If it breaks on its own then put a plaster over it. Hopefully when you have the right shoes and socks you won't get a recurrence. I only get a blister if I don't wear socks. I got a blister on my heel by walking into town minus socks. Lesson learned

Enjoy your runs. Go nice and steady. Slow is fine

[Tvarley in reply to misswobble]

Thank you. The blisters have popped and the 1 on left heal is killing me but I am not going to let that faze me. I would run bare foot if I could but couldn't do that here.

I will invest in some new shoes and running socks when I have the money too nut at the moment I only have thin sock to run in.

[LinaLamont Graduate]

Hi, I'm glad to see your post because I just did Wk1 run 1 yesterday as well and will be off for run 2 tomorrow. I also didn't find it too hard going so I am pleased with myself as I am pretty much the least sporty person I know, at least in my age group... So well done us!!!

Also this is my inaugural post on this forum I've loved reading over everyone's posts, they have been so inspiring and I am actually looking forward to tomorrow's run! Good luck with yours tomorrow Tvarley !

[Tvarley in reply to LinaLamont]

Hi Lina, congratulations on your day 1 week 1 run. Are you looking forward to tomorrow's run? I am going to get up early and do it because my daughter has vertigo and can't ask her to come with me. The blister on my left ankle is killing me but I'm not going to let that faze me. Good luck tomorrow.

[LinaLamont Graduate in reply to Tvarley]

I've just got back from my second run! I was really looking forward to it especially as I had a very vivid dream last night about being able to run 5k already (was most disappointed when I woke up and realised the truth).

I was momentarily put off because it was raining but decided to go out anyway, and I'm so glad I did even though I got some weird looks from passersby. I also panicked at first as I'd started off a bit too fast initially but I slowed myself down enough so that I was able to pace myself comfortably. After that my main worry was that I would slip in the wet grass and mud but I was fine.

How did yours go?!

[Tvarley in reply to LinaLamont]

I'm so pleased you managed to go out.

I just got back. It was raining here too. I also had to do abit of preparation before leaving the house though. The blister on my left heal was killing so I had to put a plaster on, I stuffed the heals of my trainers with teddy bear stuffing so they wouldn't rub during the run. Also wore extra thick winter socks so my heal had extra padding. My feet were far too hot but it all worked a treat.

I am pleased I got out but found it a little harder today. My legs were like led by the end. I am looking forward to my next run though.

[Juggyf]

How have you got on with day 2?

[Tvarley in reply to Juggyf]

Just got in from the run. It went well but the stupid app took about 10minutes to load so I had a bit of an extra warm up.

[ashishkulkarni Graduate]

Well done!