Back into Couch to 5k for the 10th time, Week 2

[TristanM]

Hi All,

So I’ve restarted Couch to 5k for like the 10th time, I’ve never finished it probably due to lack of motivation and laziness. However I’m back doing it again and I’ve just finished Week 2. I follow the programme and do 3 types of stretches after my running including (excluding today) 15-20 sit-ups and press ups. After today, and even before my run today, my lower legs were in a bit of discomfort. I really don’t know why this is the case as I’ve got to Week 4 before and I can’t remember them hurting this much. I have some good trainers, I think, they’re quite light and I just use sidewalks and roads to run a long. Just wondering how I can get rid of the discomfort in my lower legs please?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome back the forum and well done on getting started .... again.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and includes advice on minimising impact and stretching after every run.

Are your shoes proper running shoes fitted after a gait analysis done at a specialist running shop? If not they may contributing to the issue.

Hydration can make a lot of difference. There is advice on this in the guide.

[TristanM in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Hi Iannoda, thanks for the reply, I read the link you gave me which is really helpful. Of all the times I’ve started Couch to 5K, I had never read that so thanks! I started week 3 today and started off with no pain or discomfort this morning which is great. I’m not sure why last week I was in discomfort but probably just my body changing with the running I am doing. It is important that I am pacing myself which is good and I’m enjoying the weather we have at the moment to run in. I still think I need to get some proper running shoes, although my trainers are ok right now I haven’t been to a professional shop to have a gait analysis done, it’s just finding the time to do it and not sure where I can do that where I live (Guernsey!). Thanks for your help, really enjoying it at the moment.

[JaoJao]

Hi Tristan, I really hope you complete the journey this time, as you clearly enjoy it having attempted it several times before. My advice would be to read the faq blog posts, they are so valuable and will help you reduce injury. I printed them all off and read them over a few days allowing the information to digest. Remember to take your rest days too. Maybe you are doing too much? by adding on the exercises after your run, maybe save them for the rest days? Just a suggestion, anyway enjoy you journey and keep this forum posted.

[TristanM in reply to JaoJao]

Hi JaoJao, you are right I’m probably doing too much. The past two days I have been running that’s all I’ve been doing and I could do the extra stuff on my rest days, I hadn’t thought of that, thank you!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to TristanM]

Tristan, the rest days are part of the C25K programme and are as important as the run days for a new runner.

[TristanM in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Sorry, my post probably came across confusing.. I have totally been strict with my rest days, I was speaking in regards to my past two run days, not two consecutive days. Love my rest days!