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

O arse... Sorry, I'm on the iPhone and it's all a bit fiddly! Yes I had a gorgeous v dark purple and DD went for a weird teenage blue called Teal the Cows Come Home.... I love all the OPI names, DD had a manicure too but I chew my nails so not gonna happen and I read the varnish names. Very entertaining. There was an OPI purple called Lincoln Park After Dark that was vairy nice....

Running you ask?! Well v sadly Sweaty and I aren't going to manage to go together as that would have been fun and a real hoot although I would have been miles behind BUT I ran yesterday in our hotel gym for 30 mins (only managed just over 2 miles) and will go tomorrow morning.

We leave New York tomorrow and are going to Cape Cod, but we are coming back. When we get back DD and I are going to run round the reservoir thingy in Central Park, carpets permitting. Sweaty - how far do you think that route is? I can't imagine it is very long fingers crossed

Sorry - my current OPI shade is Merry Midnight! You all need to know that

Lots of happy running news which is great. I'll probably bring balance to the thread when I have a crap run tomorrow

Manatee - I used a iPhone app Cto 5K it's green. It was good. You just added in your own playlist. It certainly worked well. If I can get on a pooter I will do a linky but that won't be immediate. Sorry.

Bedtime for me now. Night all x

Total newbie signing in again.

Did W1R2 this morning - a bit slow to start, with my bum and calves going 'What, not again???' at me, but by the end I was merrily sprinting my 60 second runs. Came back stinky but ever so slightly smug

After the first run I bought a cheap stopwatch from the local (miraculously, considering I'm in South London, unrioted-in) sports shop and have found that works just fine for timing the intervals.

I'm still not sure I've got the kit completely right though, as my norks have got bigger in the last few years. I'm no longer a teeny-tiny A cup that can get away with running in a M&S support vest, but I'm not sure where to start in buying a proper sports bra or three. Any tips?

Well done on the run Manatee; that smug feeling afterwards is great, isn't it?

Re sports bras, Shock Absorbers are supposed to be good - I have this one (although probably could get away without one as I've somehow shrunk from a C/D to an A post-DC. It's also great for storing your keys, iPod, etc. during your run.

Pistey Sounds like you're having a wonderful time. Purple pedicures, Cape Cod, running round Central Park and of course meeting sweaty - what more could you want?

Jelli Glad to hear you enjoyed your run; I'm hoping mine will start to get a litle more enjoyable when I'm back home, where I might actually see some sunshine.

WhoKnows Well done on your run too and on sticking to your goal. I'm quite annoyed as my last-but-one run wouldn't upload to Nike so it looks like I've done fewer runs than I have, although I'm hoping that I'm still on track.

Decided yesterday to map my run on Mapmyrun.com (where else?) yesterday just to check that I really am running 5 k, and it looks like I'm running more like 4.5 k - so I'm further than I thought from breaking through the 30 minute barrier. I'll map my route for tomorrow's run beforehand so that I can calibrate the Nike app afterwards and check whether I really am 500 m short.

I'm off to Cape Cod now and am leaving town..... We do pass like ships in the night on that Friday. We get back in the evening so safe journey x

Manatee - the technical term is Post Running Smug Phase and enjoy
YY Linzer to Shock Absorber, but tbh I don't have too much to shock

Linzer, weird that the distances could be so out? I forgot my arm thing for my iPhone so had to stuff it in my BGB. Did make me

Waves to Team Purple....
Anyone seen Bear after her Wed run? Hope she didn't get lost in the woods like Sweaty did?!!! Someone dispatch the Team Purple Search & Rescue helicopter! Quick!!

Pistey! Oh my. Oh my. Oh mine!

Me wanty!

Sorry everyone, was momentarily waylaid by talk of nail varnish and felt all faint. Have googled Teal The Cows Come Home and that one is vair pretty too, I love the names too Pistey, they make me arf - have got Lincoln Park After Dark, tis very nice on. Buy it. Enjoy Cape Cod, and your run when you get back, keep us posted on Central Park :)

Think it would have been very funny to see you and sweaty comparing toenails, so please you had a good time and Bob didn't turn up with an axe.

Back to running - I was rubbish - again - on Wednesday. Was so disappointed in myself. Spent a nice ten minutes hanging on the farm gate watching the corn grow, and a giant hare loup about with my face tripping me. Will try again tomorrow maybe.

Ooh well done Manatee, you'll find it a breeze after power walking. I probably run slower than you power walk. You need a BGB - I normally stick everything in my bra, as everyone on this thread will tell you, it's how my name evolved. Am no help at all am I?

Linzer well done on your run, and safe journey home back to the sunshine - hope you manage to get your manicured hands on some purple weights.

Well done on your runs too WhoKnows and Jelli!

Have just spotted Pistey's comment about me getting lost in the woods and Team Purple headed up by Merry Midnight (that would be a great porn name ) coming to look for me. I did go AWOL because I was ashamed of myself for a couple of days. Am back though, nails at the ready!

Happy running everyone!

What is a Bear Grylls Bra? Is that the nork support equivalent of those utility jackets that huntin'-shootin-and-fishin' people wear, with 1,000,007 little pockets all over them?

And if such a thing exists, where can I get one?

, yep that's the one! I stick my iPod, keys, phone and inhaler down there. Tis the Bear Grylls of Bras ?. It's not purple though.

Hello girls

just a quick one from me - I have borrowed my neighbour's laptop so am able to post quickly. I am very impressed to hear Tales of the City in NY NY. It sounds fabulous. Wish I could join you girls.

Linzer, sorry the distance is not as far as you thought. I think many of us are off 5k in 30 m.

I have the shred - hurray - but won't be builder free until end of Sept. I am thrilled you are prepared to wait but please don't fee you have to. You could roadtest it for me and then I join in once I know I am not going to die.

There was so much more that I wanted to say. Hang on a sec and I'll post this and be back.

I do keep my keys in the support vest top thingy I currently use for running, where they make a christmassy sort of jingle as I wheeze and flail along. Are you telling me though that there are Special Bras With Pockets out there?

Manatee, welcome, don't think we have spoken yet, good to have you on board. I am too in S London, near Brockwell Park, which is a scene of torture at the moment. WHereabouts are you? As for bras, I got mine from Ebay but I am pendulous, whammery mammary of nork so need the cladding.

I am so pleased you have joined us. There is another C25K thread because apparently we are a bit scary. Oh dear. I hope that other new people are not put off.

Sorry your run was not great, bear. Hope next one is better.

I have packed up our entire kitchen today with the help of my lovely cleaner, and am shattered. We go on holiday on Saturday with not a thing packed as yet. I have no car as it hasn't come back from the repairers. i am sure I will be OK. I am so looking forward to running and not thinking about kitchens. I will read and try to post, but on my phone so won't be along one.

Love to everyone. Keep on running!

Manatee, I fear Bear;s bra is a one off. I stuff things down mine,even though space is at a premium, and often have the imprint of a set of keys on my L boob!!

Yes Manatee, mine is customised with bells and whistles. Several silly suggestions have been made by the others to incorporate other things into the Bear Lingerie Range but I've ignored them not had time.

SCARY? Us? Mwahahahahaaaaaahhhhhha! Never. We are timid little micepeople who talk of nail varnish, bras, The Shred, coyotes, running injuries, excuses and very occasionally, running. If anyone's reading this and wants to join in, we will make you very welcome :) as long as you wear nail varnish.

Sybil - so nice to see you, I am WELL off 5k in 30mins. I'd be quite pleased to run for ten at the mo. Yuk to having the builders in but at least you'll be able to go away and leave them to it, and run till your heart's content.

pendulous is such a descriptive word for my norks.

Hello everyone, a newbie here.

I did my first Couch to 5K run on Weds, and am doing the 2nd one tomorrow. Wierdly, I am actually looking forward to it, even though my legs ache from yesterday's run. I want to lose around a stone, but more importantly, get fit and feel energetic again!

I have huge norks (32FF) and am wearing lots of cladding. I downloaded the NHS podcasts onto my phone, and waddle run with this shoved down my bra. I actually drove to the nearest big park and ran there, because I don't want my neighbours to see me running :o

Looking forward to run number 2 tomorrow. I am also on the other C25K thread, but thought I would join both for maximum motivation.

hi everyone, i am a newbie runner to and usually just lurk on your threads. but i wanted to thank you for all the information i have gleaned from here. in particular i have learned that cant go on running in my old scabby gym trainers, so i have been out today and invested in a proper pair. had the gait analysis and everything

i was a bit at the price as im a TK maxx kinda bargain shopper . but i guess its cheaper than an injury. with 3 LOs i cant afford to be out of action

and now i have spent megabucks i will HAVE to keep running to get my money's worth

Welcome vanimal and well done on your first run! W1R1 - DONE! I hate running where I live too, too many people I know guffawing and too many hills for my liking. Also go by car to somewhere flat and tranquil.

Hello Kristina so pleased you have delurked and come to chat, glad you managed to get some good running shoes. I had mine fitted too, pink New Balance ones and I really love them. I should at the price and will need to wear them till they drop off my feet to get my money's worth.

I'm supposed to be running in the morning but have been a bit poorly this week so might give it a miss. Spent most of Wednesday run looking at the wildlife in the field over the farm gate .... must do better.

Night everyone.

Pistey cool Merry Midnight - it makes my Marie Claire giveaway Ciate Wait until Dark purple fingers look quite dull

Manatee I am glad the running is going well and you're enjoying it. I am large of nork too, I found my ShockAbsorber on eBay for about a tenner. I could not believe the difference it made as it held my 32G puppies down enough to be able to run in public. I put my iPod in there too sometimes, if I am feeling mellow enough to accept whatever comes on 'shuffle'. Have a look at this if you need convincing.

Linzer your distance discepancy sounds odd. I hope you have success in finding the app is right sorting it out.

Oh Bear don't be despondent! Don't expect to be perfect for each run and perform better than last time everytime, as you know it won't happen. We all have frustrations about our performance, and for each of us it's a different struggle. BUT the main thing is we are doing great things to our bodies, mostly inside where we can't see it, with shifting fat from vital organs, great improving heart and lung function, reducing pulse and blood pressure and warding off diabetes and who knows what other horribles. You're doing well. Be proud of what you've acheived and the fact that you do keep going, even through the tough bits. (Lecture over - it's safe again now! )

Vanimal and Kristina welcome, welcome.

Vanimal I timed my early, short runs so that I did the running part near the houses and the walking parts out of sight. Not that I am a showoff or anything......

Kristina next time you buy yourself a pair you'll be able to shop around and get another pair of those much cheaper on the internet. How far into the programme are you?

Hi everyone I am a newbie, completed my second session tonight and found it easier on the heart but worse on the legs! When does the aching stop. I actually hate running but really need to get in shape and keep hearing stories of people who end up enjoying it so am going to stick it out and see how I go. I aslo have huge norks vanimal so we can have black eyes together (34G). Have done first two sessions without sports bra but will be going to get one tomorrow!

Hello tootired and Vanimal - another newbie here who's just done the 2nd session! I am still excited about the programme as it seems gentle enough to start. It's keeping it up that will be the challenge, though, I suspect.

I might be gripping both your hands over the next few weeks in the hope that we all survive...

Us???? Scary???? Whatever next????

Back later when I've cooled down and had a shower and got a glass of in my sweaty paw after this evening's spectacularly rubbish run

Hello lovely new friends! Can't believe we are scary... I can't believe I could scare anyone. I'm too divvy Mind you, the thought of me as a porn star called Merry Midnight is indeed vairy scary indeed

And hello old friends!! Old obviously as in longer standing not geriatric.

Yes MM is a very dark Shiny purple- you only see the red twinkly bits in the sunshine. I likey it a lot.

In Cape Cod now so technically PisteysinCapeCod but can't really be arsed to change it

Good running everyone!

Morning all, thanks for the welcome!

I am loving the new found energy that this running lark gives you, am normally slumped in bed at this hour waiting on DS's getting up but today have been up since 7 am all ready with a tidy house and a wash on line - whatever next!

Have to ask, is everyone here quite slim, I have about 3 stone to lose although at a size 16 am not massive, am quite tall and norks weigh at least a stone I do feel I look like a fat fraund when running. Has anyone else lost weight through running? I plan on following a healthier diet, but not dieting if that makes sense?

Also a big OPI fan here, used to work in a nail bar also love Essie polishes they also have great names!

Hi tootired, I haven't lost any weight since I started running three or four months ago, but that wasn't really my aim - I was ridiculously unfit, so really wanted to do something about that. (Actually, I did lose one or two kilos but have put it back on since I've been back in the UK thanks to my mum's cooking!)

Enjoy Cape Cod, Pistey!

Hope you're feeling better now, Bear. And you really shouldn't be disappointed by your last run (easier said than done, I know) - just think how far you've come since you started.

Jelli I'm hoping against hope that the app is right (I've calibrated a few runs so thought it was), but was also wondering whether I take smaller steps when I run uphill, which might account for the discrepancy. Then again, it's normally taken me 31.5 minutes to run what I thought was 5k before I came over... I think I need a GPS thingy. Must look into Garmins.

Welcome Kristina. I was also at the price of running shoes, which didn't even include gait analysis - and DH virtually banned me from giving up after a few weeks when he saw the price!

Welcome too vanimal, hope your run goes well today.

sybil Hope the packing is going OK and that you have a lovely holiday.

I did my last UK run earlier so have just packed my running gear ready for our journey home. Decided not to bother trying to break the 30 minute barrier as I'm probably not even running 5k, so had a nice leisurely run instead and actually quite enjoyed it. I did speed up a bit when Mr Blue Sky came on, though; it's impossible to run slowly to it! It made me think that I need to revamp my running playlist to include songs that are good to run to rather than just songs that I like.

Hello, I got up at 6am and did my second run this morning, yay! I was so early the park hadn't even opened yet, so I did the run in the car park instead

It was not very motivating running there, I'll have to figure out a way to break into the park (there was a man in there, walking his dog, so there must be a way in!)

It was great to go so early - I was back home by 7am, DH and DDs were all still asleep, so I was back in time to get them up and ready etc, and don't have to spend the whole of today thinking up excuses not to go running :-)

I finished the running comfortably, I was puffed and sweaty but not dying on my feet - that is still to come I fear!

But yay me - W1R2 - DONE!