The Couch to 5k 2011 - Part 3 : Keep Holding My Hand So We Don’t get Separated!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Yet more space for us to talk about our progress on the Couch to 5K programme, the stuff we wear and the music we listen to! New runners are warmly welcomed - come and give it a whirl, you know you want to! There has been a lot of success on this thread, both in the UK and internationally, moral support is abundant, and there is always a kick up the arse for anyone who needs one!

If we stick together we will enjoy success, I thought song lyrics were appropriate so in the words of Gwen Stefani..

Run, running all the time
Running to the future
With you right by my side
Me, I'm the one you chose
Out of all the people
You wanted me the most

Running, running, as fast as we can
As fast as we can
Do you think you'll make it?
Do you think we'll make it?
We're running, keep holding my hand
It's so we don't get separated

Be, be the one I need
Be the one I trust most
Don't stop inspiring me...

Good luck everyone x

Hello BsshBossh, welcome to the thread. I don't know about bras for bottoms, but I get exactly the same effect with my tummy! There are people at all different stages on this thread, I started in Jan having never run regularly in my life before, I certainly feel a lot fitter for it.

Some of us are about to add the 30 Day Shred to the mix

Oh God mine arrived too after a rubbish run this morning. I've had a face like fizz all day WhoKnows.

Hellloooo and welcome BsshBossh, good to have you here - I started running about March/April I think, was nearly at the end of c25k, then injured my foot, so have gone back to W6. I'd never run in my nelly before, thought it would be impossible given my generous norkage, but I've done it - wish I'd done it years ago.

Aw thanks you lot for your support, I really was rubbish this morning, put Mr Blue Sky on and was thinking of sweaty, followed by The Scissor Sisters for Pistey, but still my lungs felt like the inside of a carpet factory. I tried though well for a bit then I just thought oh bugger this for a game of soldiers.

Hope your wee plane managed to get you there Pistey :)

Linzer think 6 extra kg with airline baggage allowances nowadays might just be the straw that breaks the DH's back do you? Bet you'll be able to pick some up when you get back home. Mind you when I came back with my face tripping me this morning, I tried the Shred warm-up, you know the arm bit. Well. Just well.

All I can say is I'm glad we don't start till September.

Happy running!

PS Linzer I don't like running round our village either, just houses and people you know guffawing loudly passing the time of day. And there's too many hills. Bloody hills.

Meant to say good luck for Saturday Bssh, was so busy wallowing in my bad mood, very bad manners - you can do it - you might need to buy a BearGryllsBra though . My belly wobbles like billyo and my norks are like new born babies heads, so I know what you mean. Come and let us know how you get on.

Thanks for the welcome. I'm going to continue with my powerwalking this week and psyche myself up for W1R1 on Saturday. I already have my route sorted - it's the flat inner path of my local park and there are loads of runners and walkers there each day at all levels so it should be good. Early morning I think I go. Speak soon. In meantime am reading through all three threads since January for motivation and inspiration.

Bear - hope you are feeling a bit happier now, put that one down to experience and try, try again (which is very much how most of mine turn out at the moment). Just got back from mine, it was starting to rain as I left so I started faster than usual, the legs held up but the lungs gave out after about 12 mins. So I walked/ran alternately for about 5 mins, got going again but felt slightly sick, so I stopped completely, chatted to an old man about his dogs for a few minutes and lo and behold, felt rejuvenated enough to manage another 10 mins run. I have always tried to not stop totally, but actually, after that, I think I might be better off stopping for a minute rather than walking for 2. Hmmm. Anyway, it stopped raining, so that's good.

Hope you manage your run tonight Sweaty.

I'm still here too!

I didn't pop in yesterday as we were out on a 'sleepover' following our big night out. I didn't run yesterday either as I ran on Saturday in case I was feeling badly hungover a little tired on Sunday. A good plan it seems. Got lots of compliments so the hard work lovely exercise must be paying off.

I am sure Pisteys plane got her there safely and she'll have a fab time shopping and eating going to art galleries and music recitals.

Welome Bssh. I started running at the end of April and did the Bupa C25K plan swiftly followed by their 10k plan which I have just complete (huge hurrah! Oh the relief...) and I can now run 6 miles. I have never run before. However, before running I completed the 30 Day Shred and another of Jillian's DVDs so my exercise rebirth was actually in late January.

New Shredders in addition to your DVD and weights you'll need you sports bra and trainers which I assume you all have. Jillian recomends a mat if you workout on a hard surface (I do it on the carpet). The other piece of equipment you will need is a tape measure as you'll need to take your measurements before you start. I found my scales didn't move (as I grew muscles at the same time as melting flab) and I would have been disappointed and may have given up. But I had taked my measurements and created a spreadsheet!! and compared them as I changed and boy did they change....

BTW DH does Jillian with me now and he's been an exerciser for 30 years. He says its a good workout.

Bear stick with it you know we all have good runs and bad. I hope the wall to wall lung carpet will leave you soon though.

measurements? EEEEEK.

Thanks for your positive thinking Jelli, I know you're right about good and bad days. Quite glad I'm on a day off tomorrow though. Glad you had a good time, I bet you looked the belle of the ball in that dress!

WhoKnows - thanks, I feel heartened by the fact that someone else has to stop too - I did the first five today, walked for quite a bit, hung around looking at the countryside trying to get my breath back then managed to run for about 8. Something at least. Just want to be able to run non stop for 30 mins, that's all. Not much to ask is it considering I was at 28 not so long ago.

Have you been out yet sweaty or are you not back from work yet?

Thanks for the Shred info, Jelli. I think I have everything I need - well, apart from the weights. Am impressed by your spreadsheet dedication; you've given me an idea.

WhoKnows I've also started feeling slightly sick towards the end of my runs and have had to slow down to a snail's pace, but it's so near the end that it's hardly worth stopping to walk and then restarting (not that I'm running much faster than I would be walking).
Will send the latest book to you tomorrow btw, so I hope it will get to you before your holiday.

Bssh Welcome to the thread. I started the C25k programme in May after avoiding anything resembling exercise for several decades years, and have been amazed to find a) that I actually enjoy running (sometimes) and b) that I can now run for 30 minutes non-stop (I was on the verge of collapse after running for a minute in the first week).

Bear I shall have a browse at Tesco tomorrow, but am more or less resigned to the fact that I'll probably have to spend more on non-purple ones once we're back home. I do like those Argos ones, though...
Completely agree about pesky people you know deliberately going about their daily business when you want to run without onlookers - one of the reasons I go out as early as possible, but they're still about! It's just not on.

Am looking forward to my run-free day tomorrow, although I still won't be able to have a lie-in as DH and I are going out shopping for the day and DB, who is driving us there, wants to leave at 7 am so that he can get a parking space.

Thanks Linzer - I've nearly finished the Bees one, hoping to get it posted on before I go, really enjoying it.

Yoo hoo, hello everyone. I was hoping to find an excuse not to go out tonight, but when I got home from work and read the thread it motivated me to get up and go. I did 2.67 miles in 35 mins, so still way off 5k in 30 mins, but at least I was off the sofa

Welcome Bssh! I was another exercise avoider. Now I love it, even to the point of breaking into a slow jog when we are out hiking.

DS1 has been demonstrating that he has been listening to my endless nagging me by giving me a lecture about making sure that I know who I'm meeting from the internet. I told him what I knew about pistey (including her RL first name), and he said "how do you know it's not really Bob?" I will report back after our meeting

I'm HERE Sweaty !!!! And I can give you a RL kick to finish your dissertation!!

Welcome BsshBossh - I started in January as a complete non runner, completed the programme, then somewhat lost the plot and almost gave up around May. And without these lovelies I would have done We certainly all know how it feels to achieve but we all know what a bad run feels like too! I still don't know that I really am convinced that I am a runner...

Bear - don't try to be too ambitious with your carpets. It is shit and the reason I very nearly quit. I don't want to run outside at the mo, its not good. It was so much better in the winter. So be kinder to yourself!

Jelli - I'm a bit about the measurements! Aaarrrrrrggggghhhhh......

I just have to have purple weights. I tried on Saturday and found weights but they simply weren't purple. DH was like he didn't seem to understand... But I reckon the Argos set will be what I go for. YY to waiting until we are all good to go. My DH reckons he will be doing it too, but he travels for work so much it will be erratic!

Whoknows - have a lovely holiday...When are you going?
Linzer - I can quite see that your current running isn't as pleasant as Your holiday running but good to keep going.

Off to bed now. Seeing Sweaty tomorrow early evening and looking forward to it

Hooray pistey, glad you made it over the Atlantic. Looking forward to tomorrow and proving to DS1 you're not really Bob!

That did make me laugh, but my DC have been exactly the same - we bang on about Internet safety. Well at least they're listening .

See you later - I think it's about 20 mins from here
going to check out the gym. DD is very keen

Waves to everyone x

Can I join? I am DETERMINED to get all lean and whippet-like so I look fab in my wedding dress in a year's time

I've succeeded in my mission to lose weight gradually over the last 6 months + quit smoking so I can move up from pilates + gentle cycling home in the evenings to start running again without destroying my knees or coughing up a lung.

Soooo....today I did my first Couch to 5k session. I was amazed - it wasn't nearly as painful as I expected! And I came back feeling great.

I'm actually looking forward to running again (planning to go out on Thursday morning before work) And now I just have to keep it up...

HI All,

Just a quick hello for now as I need to create dinner before I go out for a run but would rather stay here chatting than do either.

Hello Manatee and welcome to the thread, so pleased your run went well today and good luck with the programme.

Sweaty hope you can recognise Pistey now she's shaved her beard off - what was she thinking? Have a great time meeting up. Are you wearing Team purple so you can recognise each other?

Whoknows have a fab, midgey free holiday.

Just a quickie from me too tonight gang. Hello Manatee and welcome, really pleased your run went well. Onwards and upwards! Don't forget to download some Team songs :)

Oh jings sah help mah boab WhoKnows, forgot it was Midgie Season in my homeland, hope the sun shines for you and you go roamin' in the gloamin'.

Jelli I would rather stay chatting too but am planning on another run in the morning so am heading to bed. Let's hope it's a bit better than Monday's attempt. Hope your run went well tonight :)

Thanks Bob, er Pistey, hopefully carpet lung will be ok tomorrow. Have a great time tonight with George. at DS1 and his internet safety rules sweaty, good to know he's been paying attention!

Night all.

I'm back, on MN but sadly not back from my run (thanks though Bear)- I didn't go ! DH was tied up in a meeting so he didn't get back in time as it was dark and I was waiting for him, pity he couldn't have rung sooner (grumble grumble). I did manage to do my No More Trouble Zones DVD while he drove home though so not all bad. We shall have to get up early tomorrow and run instead. It seems like a good idea now but when the alarm clock goes off tomorrow? We'll wait and see......

I'm back from meeting the lovely Bob pistey! Who is as smashing in RL as she is on here. So pleased we could meet up, but now I want to meet ALL of you!

We compared toe nail colours to check we had the right person

We were very restrained and only had one glass of each.

Welcome Manatee, and have a good run tomorrow Jelli!

Glad the meet-up went well, sweaty and Pistey - sounds like you had a lovely time checking out each other's toenails.

Just back from what will probably be my penultimate run in the UK. I was really tempted to stay in bed and didn't feel like it was going to be a good run so didn't push myself too hard, but it wasn't too bad in the end - it took the usual 31.5 minutes.

We had a good day out shopping yesterday and I had a look at the weights in Tesco, but resisted. DH took one look at the set I was eyeing up and said "12 kg? No way!" but as I probably wouldn't even be able to pick up 3 kg weights, I wasn't tempted. Still like the Argos ones, though.

Must go as DD2 and DS have just got up and are desperate for breakfast, but good luck to everyone running today and welcome Manatee.

Sorry if this is something loads of people have asked already, but is anyone using a iPhone app for their runs? Is it worth it? At the moment I have a round the neck stopwatch thing and my iPod Shuffle, but would have to get one of those armband things if I wanted to use my iPhone + app.

Hi Manatee - I did the couch to 5k using the podcasts on an ipod shuffle, so no need for a stopwatch (didn't have an Iphone back then). By the time I finished I did have an Iphone so I started using an app called Runkeeper, which you set up your run on and a voice tells you how far you've got every 5 minutes (or whatever you set it to) and logs the distance using GPS, you can listen to your own music on it at the same time. I bought an armband cheap from Amazon. I don't find it very comfy on bare skin, because you have to put it on quite tightly to stop it slipping, have to wear long sleeves with it.

Manatee I used the NHS C25k podcasts on my iPod (which I have in one of those armband holders) and then switched to the Nike app when I finished C25k (I had to buy a shoe pouch for the sensor as I don't have Nike shoes), which lets you do a run by either time or distance, tells you when you've run 1 km/5 min (I think; I always do a distance workout) and you can listen to your own music. I started off by putting the iPod in a pocket in my trousers but it kept pulling the earphones out so I switched to the armband, which I don't notice most of the time.

Pistey - glad you got there safely and enjoyed meeting Sweaty - am laughing at the though of you peering at each others toenails in a swanky NY bar!

Well, a good run for me tonight, set off quite slowly on a route I haven't done for a while, got the uphill bit out of the way very very slowly, then speeded up to my usual very slowly and just carried on for the whole 25 mins at the same pace, never once felt like slowing down or stopping, in fact did a couple of minutes much faster at the end and reached 30 minutes comfortably. I'm feeling pretty chuffed as I said at the beginning of last week I was aiming for 4 runs in the following fortnight and I have managed 5 with 4 days still to go. Must go out again on Friday to round the week off.

Manatee I didn't use any podcasts. I just used an old iPod Nano and a stopwatch, then when my programme started on distance I just plotted a route on this to the distance required before I went running. Now I time my route and plot the route to see my speed etc.

We did get up and run this morning and it was a lovely morning to do it as the sun was shining and all was quiet, I even enjoyed myself which was fab. My time was a bit slow but in my usual bracket so that's fine as my legs and glutes were a little achey from Jillians lunges that I've been enduring doing.

Sweaty and Pistey so glad the toenail inspection meet up went well. We'll have to plan a UK meet up somehow, somewhere.......

Linzer after all this hunting around I bet you find some near home when you get back .

Happy running one and all.

Sweaty - it was brilliant to meet up with you last night - you are absolutely lovely and I'm so glad we managed it! Yes... We really did check out Team Purples shades!!! But ssssssssqqqqquuuuueeeeeeeeaaaallll I've had a New York pedicure since then!! Well, what colour did I go for?!! You've got it... purple. But not just any purple.... This is OPI