I'm new here. Looking for between-runs fitness ideas!

[ninky3]

Hello all! I'm new to this C25k and completed my W1 today. Trying to get my fitness levels up but have heard running every day is a no-no.

Any good ideas for complementary workouts between runs?

Thanks!

[helenjjohnson]

Well done!

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to helenjjohnson]

Thanks Helen. Positive vibes right back at you!

[Hidden]

Welcome ninky3 and well done for completing your first run.

Yes, you definitely need to keep your rest days run free, but there’s a number of exercises you can do on your rest days that compliment C25k. Walking is an obvious one, as is cycling if you have a bike, both of them great ways to enjoy your daily outdoor exercise at the moment. Two others are Pilates and Yoga. If you haven’t done either before you can find classes online. Pilates is great for strengthening your core muscles and Yoga the best for stretching out the muscles the day after a run. Google ‘Yoga with Adriene’ for free YouTube workouts - she’s a big favourite over on the Strength and Flex forum, which also has lots of other suggestions for rest day exercise, so worth taking a look.

Happy running 😊🏃‍♀️

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Delly-dot for this juicy info-packed reply! I will check out Yoga with Adriene as it's always good to mix things up. During vacations (and now lockdown) I use the Down Dog app which I highly recommend. You can set your own time, level, focus area and music, making for a great personalised practice!

Thanks for pointing me to Strength and Flex; have never heard of it. Being new to c25k, this forum thing is a whole new world to me, but am looking forward to making some discoveries!

Stay safe and have a great week ahead Delly (as great as possible in these strange times).

N

[kirsty69jo Graduate]

I’ve been doing P.E with Joe Wicks. It’s for the whole family and quite a good overall workout. Walks. Cycling if you have a bike. And there are loads of online videos for strength training using body weight or household items, assuming you don’t have any gym equipment? Good luck.

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to kirsty69jo]

Oh fab! I thought his PE classes were just for the little people, so it's good to know it's for us too! I have some dumbbells and resistance bands that could do with some dusting off, so will make that happen this week.

Thanks for the encouragement. As an absolute non-runner who found week 1 challenging (yes that bad) I appreciate your positivity very much!

N

[kirsty69jo Graduate in reply to ninky3]

Well, they are but not. If you put the effort in it’s a good workout. So far I have been Spider-Man, a kangaroo, a bunny to name a few.

Enjoy your running. I’m day 1 of week 2 today.

[pippkins Graduate]

There is a strength and flex NHS online plan that many folks on C25K do in conjunction with their running. I don't follow that plan as I already have my own one at my gym.

Now that gyms have been closed, I am improvising at home on my rest days.

Whilst running, you tend to work your lower body and part of your core (bum, thigh, tummy) so I concentrate on working my upper body and arms at home.

I use my stairs to do reverse dips, the floor to do planks and press ups, the underneath of the sofa to trap my feet while I do sit-up crunches, then there are Burpees and squats.

I had the foresight last year to invest in dumbbells and kettle bells so I have been using them to do thrusters, Russian twists, simple presses and overhead lifts as well as kettle bell swings and goblet squats. You can improvise by filling those large plastic milk bottles with water in order to have something weighty to work with, or use cans of beans if you are just starting out!

I stick the telly on in the background, then train for up to an hour. I need to open the windows as I get very hot within a few minutes, hehe!!

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to pippkins]

Woop woop go pippkins!! That is amazing!

I felt energised just reading about your improv workouts! Thanks for these 'House HIIT' tips hehe, will give them a go this week!

[pippkins Graduate in reply to ninky3]

Hehe just take it easy, don't overdo it at first. Have fun!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes links to the NHS Strngth and Flex programme.

Enjoy your journey.

[ninky3 Graduate]

Thanks Admin for the link! I did read through this last night, and whilst the S&F programme might not be the right fit for me, I found the FAQ super helpful and informative so cheers for that!

[shsoga Graduate]

fitnessblender.com has some really good workouts. You can filter on difficulty, duration, what equipment (or none) you want to use, low impact, what part of your body you want to focus on etc. I've done many of them, over the last few weeks and before, and found them pretty good

[ninky3 Graduate]

This is great thank you! I've been doing some of the home full body workouts via YouTube which really put me through my paces, but to be able personalise a workout is a real bonus. Will give fitnessblender a whirl and see how I get on. It's not like I don't have the time.

Thanks again for the share. Wishing you a positive and fruitful week ahead!

[mayberunner Graduate]

Peloton has fitness classes of all sorts and due to COVID 19 they have extended their free trial period to 90 days! They have all types of classes - yoga, strength, cardio, dance, outdoor and indoor options, even stretching sessions. I’ve been enjoying those!

Also, you’re already using YouTube but I have recently done the Barre3 workouts on there and really enjoyed them. There are only 3 but they’re low impact while getting your heart rate up and really working you, especially your legs (important for running!). Lots of modifications/options within the workout

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to mayberunner]

As I live and breathe...Peloton and free in the same sentence! This is a great find to share with us all so thank you! <3

Yes, I've been doing these Natacha Oceane home workouts which are pretty good; no equipment, no noise and very little talking. She just gets on with it.

I don't know if I'm ready for Barre3 yet, but maybe I'll just go for it this week. Will let you know how I get on!

Happy run/rest day!

[Sazzles9 Graduate]

Well done for finishing W1, if you are working from home. Try PE with Joe on u tube at 9am everyday.

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to Sazzles9]

Thanks Sazzles! Hope your running journey is going well. It's a bright day out today woohoo!

Yes member kirsty69jo also recommended his classes as being good for overall fitness so it's on the list!

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to Sazzles9]

Ok so i did this morning's PE lesson. A fun, playful start to the day!

Thanks again for the share <3

[Sazzles9 Graduate in reply to ninky3]

I love it, do it on the days I don’t run.

[Speedy60 Graduate]

Welcome and well done. 👏👏👏

Everyone has said all the things I would suggest in these times, just keep doing something. 👍

[ninky3 Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

Nom nom nom, sorry I mean THANK YOU!