New runners - anyone following the BUPA 5k plan?

No, but I was at exactly this time last year. How are you finding it?

Ok but I feel a bit of a cheat only doing about half an hour in the gym and then getting in the shower or in the pool but I want to follow it without pushing myself any further (which I have been tempted to do on occasion). I still find running hard, not sure if I should when I'm only doing 1/2 mins at a time ?

I'm on week 3. At the end of last week I had to run/walk a mile. I did have to stop in between but I did it in 11.2 minutes.

That's excellent - way faster than my first attempts (think I was about 14 minutes and I was dead chuffed ?) It does feel like hard work but you'll be amazed at how quickly you progress. The 10k programme is a great follow on and will get you running for about an hour. If you never even progress beyond that level you'll be fit forever. Just don't train for a marathon - it takes the joy out of running a little bit ?

I have a 10k plan that I followed the last time I was training, Ruthann helped me with it but to start it you have to be able to run 3k and i'm nowhere near there yet.

I'm losing weight aswell, it's a bit slow which can be frustrating but I guess a loss of 12lb in January isn't bad overall, it's the just 1lb a week after the initial high loss that's infuriating.

are you still losing weight? I miss wine lol!

I'm having real difficulty shifting an extra stone. I know that I don't need to lose any more weight so it's purely aesthetic. Problem is that dieting and long distance running aren't that easy so I'm having to be content with 1lb off every couple of weeks.

12lb in January is ace - are you buying all the lycra you can get hold of? ?

God no, i'm still in loose t-shirt and loose bottoms, I tried a tight top I used to wear but I have a spare tyre in the middle lol!

What do you do about eating dinner when you run in the evenings? I tried eating at about 5.30/5.45 last Tues. but I went to the gym at 7.30 and was still getting a stitch but if I wait until I get home it's a bit late to be eating isn't it?

I work from home a lot so I tend to nip out at 5ish for an hour or so during the week and then eat around 6:30-7 so it's not a major problem for me. Only thing I could suggest is having a lighter dinner/small portion and then having a snack when you get home from the gym.

Hi

I want to start running but am very concerned as I am 6 stone overweight (at least) and have a bad back and am very unfit. Can I start the bupa 5km or should i ease myself into something gentler to start with and then adapt? Any advice would be grateful

BGB - I followed your progress last year (from my armchair) and have decided now you have done it so can I. Two weeks in I have lost 4 lbs, just from cutting portion sizes and moving a bit more than usual. Have joined the gym just need to get going on that now, and it should all come together. Thank you for being such an inspriation (not just to me I am sure)

DB xx

DanniB, it's fantastic that you're wanting to start something and have already managed to lose just by cutting down portions. I don't feel able to advise on the exercise but is there someone at the gym you can speak to about putting you on a programme?

MrsJess, I'm not a natural runner either, my legs go round in circles lol! But for me it's the best exercise to reduce my wobbly bits so i'm going to have to stick with it. I'm no expert but 35 mins for 5km sounds pretty good.

I really need to get moving and the plan looks quite manageable at the start. I just have a few questions.

Do you think it's better to do it alone? Both MrW and I would like to get fit and it would be good to egg each other on but I think we'd run at different levels and then it would be better to do it at your own pace.

If we were to do it together it would mean taking the baby so one of us would have to push him in the buggy - do you think that's a really stupid idea as it's not really encouraging a natural running technique?

I think we'd have to do it one after the other if it wouldn't work with the baby.

I started it a couple of weeks ago, with some very new running trainers. My right foot started hurting a lot, probably because of the new shape of the shoe. when I went back to the shop they suggested I ease myself into it by doing more walking for longer periods of time before attempting the running - hope that helps DanniB? I am planning to try again in a few weeks once my feet are more sorted.

That said, I don't think running is for everyone, it may not be for me!

I'd do it separately, there might be the temptation to push yourself too hard to keep up with MrW or vice versa. MrSun is fitter than I am or at least he can run faster. I wouldn't want to train with him.

I wouldn't train together. I tried to run alongside Mrs Greenback when she ran a 10k but I felt like I was pushing her too hard.

You're a far nicer husband than MrSun, he didn't even attempt to stay with me. My dad started to panic when I wasn't back just after MrSun and started telling him off for leaving me behind ?

LOML and I do one or two training runs a week together. He puts in more miles than I do, but I'm naturally slightly faster. In races we start together, do more or less the first half together, then finish at our own pace.

Thank you, alone it is. Willl work out logistics with MrW tonight. I should be able to find half an hour but will have to work timings around bath and bedtime for the baby (I need to do bedtime as I'm BF) and dinner.

I'm really glad you posted this Sunset21 as it's kicked started me into doing something. Am slightly worried as I appear to have bad knees (have had injections in the before and my mum suffers from the same thing), so will see how it goes tonight.