The Couch to 5k 2011 Thread continued : Let's Keep on Running :0)

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

More space for us to talk about our progress on the C25K programme, the highs, the lows, the hills, the rain, our pelvic floors and our choice of running music!

All are welcome on this international thread, stay with us and enjoy success

< Piste passes out celebratory glasses of wine to all runners >

Everyone got one?
Cheers!!!!

slutty - seven miles??!

Is anyone else making a note of their resting heart rate?

I am feeling v v gratified to see that my average resting heart rate has dropped from about 68bpm (four weeks ago) to about 57bpm. Haven't noticed any outer body changes, but it's nice to see stuff happening on the inside.

I have some way to go to beat DH though, who frequently has a resting heart rate of 38ish. In fact the other day he hit his all time record of 36. He's super-smug about it.

Wow - is he very chilled and laid back? I watched something on TV a while ago about free dives, who can slow their heartbeat right down - amazing!

Well I got out today for 45 mins - about the same pace as last weekend despite my week off. Been so hungry since. Pizza cooking as I type. My heartbeat has dropped too since I started, from about 80bpm to around 60bpm. I've lost nearly 3 stone since the start of February too. Still the same to go. I'm going to do the race for life next weekend too. Still slowly but I'm more bothered by the proof I'm healthier than the fact I'm so slow. It gets better all the time!

molly, that's brilliant, well done!

I've just ordered an exercise ball to try to get my non-existent tummy muscles into shape for the summer. My legs are looking quite toned now, but I have a horrible squishy belly.

I had a failed attempt at this last year after injuring my knee in about week 3 but have decided to start again now I am feeling braver.

I am using Robert Ullrey's podcast and went out just now and rather embarrassingly could only manage 6 out of 8 60 sec runs I feel, and look like a tomato but onwards and upwards!

Soon I will look like this

Welcome Wilts! Onwards and upwards as you say!

Thanks Slutty!

I am wondering if it would be going a bit too far to wear some sort of head/hairband- I have recently had my hair cut and it is too short to tie up but drove me bonkers flapping round my face. That said, I am hardly the height of fashion in cropped tracksuit bottoms and one of Dh's running tops so it is unlikely to make me look much worse

My hair starts off doing that too! But very quickly I'm pouring with sweat which sticks it to my head. Attractive look. Must start something for my abs too. My stomach is frankly terrifying. I tried the shred (once) but my pelvic floor will not consider jumping jacks so I'm looking at alternatives.

Did W4R1- I found it quite hard and a bit of a step up from W3 to be honest. But on the plus side, I did it, and I didn't stop. 2 x 5 mins . Thank God for Barbra Streisand by Duck Sauce which came on to keep me going at the crucial moment.

Well, more success this time, I managed my full half hour, took off an a different route and headed into town instead of out to the next village. Phew.

I wear a fleece headband, not so much to keep my hair off my face, it is long enough to go in a ponytail, but to cover my ears because I get earache very easily when out on windy days. Not so much in this weather, but back in Jan when I started it was a real problem. I take it off and wrap it round my wrist if I get too hot. I think my two aborted runs last week might have been partly due to the fact that I forgot to tie my hair back and once I took the headband off it was all in my face and really annoying.

Spawnchorus - I've been checking resting heartrate too, mine has always been on the high side, have got it down from 83 to about 73 during this programme, I really need to lose some weight as well though, haven't been making as much effort with diet as I have with exercise.

Well I did my run around London on Saturday, was actually the start of W3, I remember running an thinking that it was awfully long for 90 secs then checked the phone to see it was a 3 minute run!!! Still can't see how on earth I'm going to cope with the longer runs as I was knackered after it.

Supposed to have gone out today but....dh changed my alarm while I slept as he wanted a cuddle as he hadn't seen me for a few days even though I said I wanted to go out this morning so by the time the alarm went it was too late. Tomorrow now, but I'm still angry at him for doing that, I'm not being unreasonable am I to think he shouldn't have done that without my permission am I????

slutty's'bra - an honour indeed to think of you running round CP in my bra ,and I like the sound of your workplace if there's involved - are you an Anne Hathaway type on Fashion Avenue then?

Hello to everyone else, I am very jealous of you all out there running , although I had a go on a treadmill today and my foot wasn't as sore - I was shrieking, 'get me off, make it stop!' a lot though.

Where's Pistey and supersal gone?

Had a very exciting and windy W4R2. There was no one else about in the park, probably due to the gale force winds whih had blown over several trees. Had tu run through the middle of the park, rather than the tree-lined paths. I'm really enjoying the five minute runs. Feel like I could go quite a bit further. [athlete emotion].

spawnchorus yes the 8 mins were hard but good practice. I was definately at about 80% capacity doing the 8 minutes...

I couldn't really contemplate jumping to 20 mins, I'd have said I wouldn't be able to do it. However the total beauty of the genuis training is that you CAN do it! Honestly its the best feeling I had such a grin for the last few mins.

And then happily thats the peak for a while, and it drops to 5 mins, 8 mins, 5 mins for runs the next week, then 10 mins, 10 mins

Its the week AFTER that it goes back up again, 25 min run!

eek. Good luck!

W4R1 done, was a hard one today but yay I did it! 5 mins does seam a long time, but I'm sure by next week I'll be used to it [hopeful emoticon].

Well done spawnchorus and rowrowrowyourboat. Personally I found nothing as hard as my first 5 minutes. After that the challenges were tough but not as painful. It's dd2's 1st birthday today and it's a lovely morning. Got the day off and have a cake to bake but after that going to the park to do a 45 minute run with dh and dd2. Never imagined when she was born that a year later I'd be getting fit and feel so good.

Well done spawnchorus and rowrow :)

Just got back from W4R3. Wasn't easy, but not as bad as the first run this week.

I don't even want to think about W5R1 on Thursday.

Bear - maybe they have done a runner (slutty picks herself off the floor, such is the hilarity). You can tell it's early here can't you. Glad to see you managed to have a little go on the treadmill.

Well done everyone! Happy birthday to molly's dd!

Kate - just take one at a time.

I'm off for what looks like a damp and fogy jaunt.

sluttys - bwahahahaha , or maybe they are poorly and have the runs - rubbish joke, I need to get out more. Went on flipping treadmill again today, managed to run this time without holding on for dear life. Absolutely no way is it as fun as running outside, but it will have to do for now, foot is aching and covered in ibuleve gel. Damp and foggy doesn't sound great, hope you had a good run though.

Molly's DD - Happy 1st Birthday!

Kate you will be fine, you will be back here telling us all about it - you can do it!

Where's Calamity gone? And dubaipieeye?

W1R2 completed today, I went with a friend which I found better.

BearGryllsBra - your poor foot

Well done Wilts!

Another poor sorely foot here, also covered in ibuprofen gel, miss stepped in the second 5 mins yesterday I thought it would be better but this morning but no such luck. I'm going to have to postpone tomorrow's run I think.

All I can think of now is my friends suggestion for a running song - Stupid Girl by Garbage, she's not a runner .

Yorkshire and sybil have disappeared too...

It was hotter than I thought this morning. Quite muggy. I was out for about 50 mins, and have just mapped the run and it was 6k. My legs were still sore from the weekend so it was no fun.

Did W4R2 last night to a fabulous 80s playlist (god I'm old).

How much do you all spend on trainers? My DH thinks I should have my gait analysed and spend upwards of £80, which seems a bit excessive.

I spent about £80 after gait analysis. Even though I'm fat I've never had an injury, so might be worth it. I went to SweatShop.