I wish I knew...

[yatesco]

Things I wish I knew before I started C25K:

(all anecdotal - take at your own risk)

- uncomfortableness/pain is fine as long as it goes away within an hour once you have stopped

- endurance is built by running SLOW enough so you can hold a conversation

- run upright, looking ahead, 3 breathes in, 4 breathes out both through the mouth

- a high cadence makes it much easier to land with your feet under your hips

- you are still too fast - SLOW DOWN

- barefoot running is the best way of improving your form (because it hurts too much to run badly)

- watch over and over and over again: youtube.com/watch?v=zSIDRHU...(Not working as expected?) (but don't expect to be anywhere near that fast or knees that high at first)

- you can do it - you won't believe it, but you can, take it day by day

- TAKE THE DAY OF REST (but don't sit down, do core training strength - planks rock)

- the treadmill is boring, go find a nice park or field and run the same route so you can see your progress

- it gets easier

- you are still too fast - SLOW IT DOWN

What do you wish you had been told?

[misswobble Graduate]

It's addictive!

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Long before I started... that you do not *have* to do any poncy (sorry!) stretching immediately before you set off or straight after you finish. It was Laura starting and finishing with a 5 minute walk that encouraged me. (I do stretch now, just not as part of my run session... very occasionally my body tells me I need to stretch and that is invariably when I've run on a harder surface and skimped the walk bits of the sandwich)

I think (having taken a long time to work up to successfully completing Week 1), an extension of what we all say "Slower!" I started running because I found it too hard to sustain a brisk walk and on rather belated reflection I think one of my problems was *walking* too fast for *me*, not just running too fast. The key thing is keeping moving. I think I'd've appreciated earlier too the suggestion I got elsewhere, to take smaller steps if I was finding it tough going.

Oh and elastic locking laces!

I don't run the same route, would drive me bats.

[Slowstart Graduate]

Get a better bra!

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Slowstart]

I don't think I'd've done it before starting but it was good to learn about big firm support knickers from this forum to stop the uncomfortable tummy wobbles.

[Juliejam Graduate]

The biggest thing I wish I knew when I started running, is that it's as much a mind game as a physical one. Even now I found the first 4 or 5 k. Difficult - my mind telling me all sort of untruths- I am injured, I hurt or I am tired. You are right the answer is to slow down, when you get that second wind, running is easy and glorious. Juicy ju calls it panthering

I just wish I had known how hard starting was, just keep going. Oh and the other thing I wish I had known. We all have bad runs. - mmmmm more mind games

[Rignold]

That running turns you into a Goddamn sexual tyrannosaurus.

[secan Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Do you mean "extinct"? XD

[sparky66 Graduate in reply to secan]

Lol that made me laugh out loud

[Mummytotwo Graduate in reply to Rignold]

HAHAHAHAHA!

[poppypug Graduate]

Ha ha Rig ! Very true though ! xxx

[Mummytotwo Graduate]

When you are sick, REST!

I didn't once and it put me back another 2 weeks.

[givman]

yes you are soooo right!!

[Ugifer]

What I wish I had known?

That we all have bad days! A bad run does not mean you have suddenly lost the ability to run.

[sparky66 Graduate]

I wish I had found this forum before week three xxx

[yatesco Graduate]

I wish I knew that sickness delaying the infamous week 5 day 3 "20 minute" beast by at least a week is fine and that I will be able to complete it when I get better :-(. Sickness - boo.

[yatesco Graduate]

So this post was about the start of a journey - this post: healthunlocked.com/couchto5...  is about the first run after this stage of the journey. 

If I can do it so can you :-).

Here's to the rest of the journey!

[funschine]

Probably to not buy cheap running shoes and struggle with planters fasciitis for months

[Zev1963 Graduate]

That it exists and is most excellent    If I'd know that then I would started it sooner   

[yatesco Graduate]

I wish I had known that the run was simply preparation for the body strengthening and improving on the rest day.