I wish I knew...: Things I wish I knew before I... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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I wish I knew...

yatesco profile image
yatescoGraduate
19 Replies

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... (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?

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yatesco profile image
yatesco
Graduate
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19 Replies
misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

It's addictive!

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate

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 profile image
SlowstartGraduate

Get a better bra!

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate in reply toSlowstart

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 profile image
JuliejamGraduate

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 profile image
Rignold

That running turns you into a Goddamn sexual tyrannosaurus.

secan profile image
secanGraduate in reply toRignold

Do you mean "extinct"? XD

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Graduate in reply tosecan

Lol that made me laugh out loud :)

Mummytotwo profile image
MummytotwoGraduate in reply toRignold

HAHAHAHAHA!

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Ha ha Rig ! Very true though ! :-D xxx

Mummytotwo profile image
MummytotwoGraduate

When you are sick, REST!

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

givman profile image
givman

yes you are soooo right!!

Ugifer profile image
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 profile image
sparky66Graduate

I wish I had found this forum before week three xxx

yatesco profile image
yatescoGraduate

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 profile image
yatescoGraduate

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 profile image
funschine

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

Zev1963 profile image
Zev1963Graduate

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

yatesco profile image
yatescoGraduate

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

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