Anyone for Strength and Flex ?

[DeliaItaly]

I've just downloaded the videos for strength and flex. Anyone had a go yet? Are you meant to do them all at once? One at a time? Instructions as to how to use them are a bit user un-friendly, or else it might just be me

[jenniej Graduate]

Yes, I do S&F regularly - I do week 5 twice a week plus attend an exercise class that includes similar exercises.

There are 5 podcasts and the program covers 5 weeks. you do each podcast 3 times starting with Week1 and ideally on a different day from your runs. Its explained in detail on the podcasts.

Its also worth checking out the videos of Laura doing the exercises esp ones that you may not be familiar with. That said I found Laura's description really helpful and better than the instructor of an exercise class I go to - I could feel my muscles working harder on S&F.

The program is probably designed with people less fit than us so you'll find the first couple of weeks very straightforward. Do try & do it outside as I think it makes a difference especially for the pull-up exercises which are hard to replicate at home.

Plus side - I definitely felt my upper body strengthening. Also I have weak knees but I persisted with the squats and I think its helped me stay injury free while running.

The down side is that once you know the exercises the length of time the descriptions go on is a bit off-putting and boring so I jump ahead with the exercises. But: having podcasts on my ipod makes me do the program, so I've stuck with it longer than anything similar in books or online.

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to jenniej]

Cheers Jenniej, I shall certainly have a go

[piggyland1 Graduate]

I plan to start the S&F tonight, and do them every mon/tue/thu/sat, so the same as you, just with Monday added and I would love to do it "together" with you!! I started it a couple of weeks ago but I gave up as I had no motivation, so doing it with you would really help me!! What do you say?

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Hi Platypus, haven't started yet but yes I do intend to asap. thing is I don't want to do it outside -- I run outdoors, but i don't feel like stretching and flexing in public. Yes we can do this together although I guess I'll have to catch up xox

[con-brio Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Let me know when you're ready to start Delia and I'll join in. I, too, would prefer not to do it outdoors. Only problem is the lack of a decent door frame or similar to replace the railings pull-up exercise. I'll have to invent something for that, or just use a tree or something when running outdoors.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

I haven't been able to answer as for some reason my response kept disappearing !

Anyway, have you started? I haven't yet and am just running outdoors 3x a week on the c25+ graduate podcasts. Yes I do want to do this with you!

[con-brio Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Haven't started yet. We need to synchronise our watches.

See fuller response to Platypus below...

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Dear Platypus, I hope you don't think I'm rude. I have been trying to answer but my comment keeps getting deleted!

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Gosh! It worked! Have you started yet?

[con-brio Graduate]

Big problems with this site today!

Here goes for the second time...

Stats:

c25k Week 5 Run 3this coming Friday 15th

GMT+1 (Lazio, Italy)

S&F not yet

Swimming twice a week

Week starting Mach 16th fine by me

We should use the specific blog: strengthandflex.healthunloc...

Used by very few people so we won't get lost.

Yes, keep the thread going by using "Reply to this".

[piggyland1 Graduate]

Hope this works! Yeah I'm happy to start S&F on Saturday

Stats:

C25k - W3R1 (W3R2 on Friday!)

GMT+0 (England)

S&F not yet

I'm not doing any other sports because I'm lazy hehe

I'm really excited for this! And yes I struggled with figuring out what to do for a pull up bar, I ended up using the banister when I did it a couple of weeks ago haha!

[con-brio Graduate]

Am starting tonight (Sat. 16th). Got the pull-up thing sorted: a broom handle lying across two chairs, with me lying on the floor underneath and lifting myself up while keeping heels on ground. If I find it too hard to start with, I'll bend my knees and lift myself from the hips up only.

[con-brio Graduate in reply to con-brio]

Have started... see my post on S&F blog.

strengthandflex.healthunloc...

[vikicats Graduate]

I'm going to give it a go too. I'll see you all on the strength and flex blog!

Viki