Princess, I wish you all the luck in the world for your new training regime. Even the idea of running 10K terrifies me

How's the running coming along, Pachyderm?

Good luck to all on your goals! You make me wanna run too
A couple of years I managed to jog, when I was using a heart rate monitor so I didn't overexhaust myself. I find it really hard to estimate how long I can go on for and at what pace I should go

I'm already incapacitated serves me right putting off getting some decent running shoes, Ive just managed to take all of the skin off the back of my ankle am limping. I need proper shoes

Princess that's terrible. You obviously do need new shoes. Do you have anywhere local you can go to? I had a terrible time trying to find somewhere decent I could go, and now I've found somewhere even better. The guy who runs the shop is really into getting things right for my feet, and has insisted that I wear proper insoles in my shoes. He's taken out the gel ones in the asics I bought (muttering under his breath about gel the whole time) and put in some really supportive insoles. My shoes are sooo much better now, and I hadn't even realised that there was anything wrong with them!

PhatPhoenix, my running has been coming along fine, at the end of last week I was having a great time and was full of energy, but today I felt really sluggish and lacking in energy. I jogged so slowly. I'm hoping it is just a blip. Maybe I'm just tired, or didn't eat well enough yesterday. I don't know. I'll try again on Wednesday and Friday (incidently both forecast as rainy by the BBC 5-day local weather forecast!)

Definitely get some new shoes, I was amazed at the difference getting some proper running shoes made when I summoned up the courage to go into a running shop!

I will i'm really limping it was a huge blister but then it popped and is a mixture of scab and yukkiness. Its really sore am very cross about it because I'm limping everywhere hopefully it'll get better in a couple of days though.

Princess - lavender oil or tea tree might help that clear up. They're also great diluted in a base oil (anything will do - olive oil, sweet almond, grapeseed...) and massaged on your feet. Anti-fungal, antibacterial and will make you less likely to blister in future!

My running shoes are almost exactly 1 year old so about to buy some more. If you are near a designer/retail outlet, you can often get £100 running shoes for half that! But first time out, you might be best going to a specialist shop for advice.

There's also some great advice on choosing shoes according to your feet/style of running, here:

www.girlsruntoo.co.uk

Anything but proper running shoes just won't hack it and the danger's not just to yer feet but your knee joints, etc! I got some Nike Air Vapors for under £50 and they have suited me great but we're all so different, try on loads and you'll be amazed at the difference when you run!

i read on teh couch to 5k thing that if you were ok say running 2 mins walking however many mins.. that you could go to the next ones eg run 3 mins walk... x mins

i guess ur quite fit so if yo are confortable doing it then why not skip ahead!...

others might not agree... .. i think its more of a guide than rule book..

like wise if you found it a struggle by the 3 session carry on for a few more of the same.. dont go up a level!

lx