Couch to 5k.......... or just sit in bed with a cuppa

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Not sure if this is the right place, but I couldn't find an exercise topic.

I've found it really hard to juggle everything recently and exercise has been the last priority. I've been feeling really sluggish so have decided to do the couch to 5k podcasts from NHS choices.

I did the race for life last year and ran for about half of it, though was a rather unflattering shade of beetroot by the end of it, I would love to be able to run the whole thing this year.

Just struggling to motivate myself. Last night I was raring to go and has plans to leap out of bed this morning and sprint like a pro. However, I'm still in PJs mumsnetting and I can't seem to motivate myself to get dressed and start jogging.

What if I look a complete fool and people point and laugh?
What if it hurts?
What if I give up?

Anyone got any words of wisdom/motivation/want to join me in the couch to 5K?

[Pleaseputyourshoeson]

Just do it! Walk a little, jog a little, walk a little jog a little. Stretch stretch stretch. Do it again the next day, do it again the next day. Little by little more jogging, less walking. No one will point and laugh. No one is that interested - I don't mean that in a nasty way but the dog walkers are walking their dogs, the runners are busy running their own run focussing on their own goals. People are too busy to watch the unfit getting fit. And much more to be proud of trying to get fit than doing nothing and getting fat. If you give up, you give up. But your news years goal should be 'balance'. Not all or nothing. Do a bit, and keep doing a bit. Build it into your weekly schedule/routine. Choose two/three slots ie straight after school drop off or before the school run whatever works for you and stick to it. Even if you are just brisk walking it beats doing NOTHING. I've signed myself for a half marathon like a nutter. I can't run 10K yet! But I've set the goal and am going to raise the money so I'm going to have to apply myself to the challenge. And at the end of the day the most that matters is that I give my best shot at it. I hope I get fit enough to run all of it, I want to surprise myself with what I can achieve if I set my mind to it. In short, feel the fear and do it anyway. You've got nothing to loose - except some inches! :-) Good luck!

[allthegoodnamesweretaken]

Thanks shoes I did it! It wasn't actually that bad. 60 seconds isn't really a long time to run at all. And you have 90 seconds of walking in between each 60 sec run so it was very manageable. I'm feeling very proud.

Just hope I keep it up!

[Pleaseputyourshoeson]

Well done you. Just stick to it and don't go too fast too quick that way you won't put yourself off. Now make sure you pick a time to keep it up and stay true to it. And I bet you didn't find a whole load of people staring right?
You've done the worst bit, which is getting out there for the first time. Make sure you stretch so you don't get super stiff.
Good luck! I'm dreading my own return to exercise as I've been ill most of christmas so it feels like going back to square one but you've got to start somewhere and whatever small amount you do is more than you did yesterday so with little steps eventually you get somewhere. You can't eat a whole elephant in one go, but small bites little and often and before you know it....well you've broken the back of it and you've come further than you thought you would. Here's to a healthy 2013.

[greyvix]

I'm doing this too. It was OK during the holiday but I have been rubbish since going back to work this week. You have inspired me to get out this evening, but not quite yet!