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

Whoknows on your new plan do you walk and then run during the intervals or do you jog and then run?

Run and walk at the moment. I might try run and jog next time though.

I have just completed W3R1 - really pleased with myself, as I am in the US for work, and brought my running stuff along just in case.

I spent the entire day eating crap at the meeting, (including a bag of Lays crisps and a snickers bar and two 3 course meals! eeek!), and starting to feel really awful, as I hadn't run in days.

My meeting ran from 7.30am-9pm straight, and I came back to my hotel room and headed straight out for a run.

The views here are amazing, and it's very safe to be running alone on a dark evening, so it was a lovely run - I will always remember it :)

The area I went to seems to be very popular with local runners, all in tiny shorts with amazing bodies. I looked like a giant loser elephant stomping alongside them, but I am soo glad I did it. But I did notice - they all run very slowly. They were sweating and really running hard, but very slowly, so that is a good reminder for me to keep it slow. I managed the 2 x 3 min runs in this session, and keeping to a slow pace was key for me I think. I actually enjoyed it, it pushed me but not too much to put me off every doing it again :)

All in all, I am on a post-run buzz - I am SO pleased with myself - go me! :)

I need to restart the running programme to get remotivated. Bear will you join me? I need to get going again Does anyone else who is struggling want to start again just to boost ourselves?

Aww Pistey. You'll get your running mojo back. Remember how the PRSP feels?

Do you think it's the weather or the change in routine with the kids back at school or the changing of the season heralding darker, colder times to come. It's odd that so many of us are unmotivated at the moment ?

Well done Vanimal sounds like a lovely run. I think you are in PRSP (Post Run Smug Phase) - feels great doesn't it?

Who knows I may think about redoing it with jog and run-a-bit-faster in the future.....

Sorry to hear you're struggling, Pistey. I really need to force myself to get out again too; it's geting on for two weeks since my last run. But at least you're keeping up your fitness by shredding - and doing far better than I am and you have lovely pink and purple weights. For some reason it was easier to find time for running in the summer holidays - even if it did mean getting up ridiculously early - than it is now the DC are back at school.

Sounds like a wonderful run, vanimal; whereabouts in the US are you?

WhoKnows It must be really motivating to see your time improving and that 5k in 30 minutes is within sight.

I'm feeling much better today and up to running/shredding again, but just don't have the time. Talking of which, really must get back to work...

pistey, I'm up for a re-boot as well, along the lines of WhoKnows' strategy for getting faster. But it won't be this month, as I'm having a nightmare at work and am coming home too late to run. No sign of it letting up for a while (I am 2 people short, and it will be a while before I can get replacements in).

Shredding is keeping me sane and giving me an energy boost in the mornings, so I don't want to stop shredding and go back to running in the mornings. DH has gone out for a run so I'm going to shred while he's out, and try to shred and run tomorrow. I'm supposed to be swotting - one last essay to write and I will be done with my MBA .

vanimal wave from New York . Your description of runners in tiny shorts with great bodies is very familiar (there were loads of people out at 0.30 when DH and I were walking home from a local restaurant on Thursday night). Where are you?

I'm planning to try Week 2 Run 1 tomorrow, I want to get through a bit quicker than 9 weeks this time. Weather permitting.

I have put the first 3 weeks of Robert onto my (new) wetpod and a few other jolly songs. am aiming to go out tomorrow morning to see how the land lies. I think I might start with week 1 but do each week twice rather than three times. Do you think that would work?

Keep on running everyone.

That sounds like a plan sybil. I'm sure you won't need to do each week three times, as you should have quite a bit of residual fitness/strength.

Are you going to run and walk or run faster and slower?

Hello darling. I am going to see how I get on with running and walking, with a view to running and jogging as I get better. I was so amazed to be running at all last time that I went for slow slow slow. Now I feel the need for speed. How are you doing?

I haven't run for over a week, but I've shredded for 6 days in a row. DH has just returned from running round the park . I am going to try to go tomorrow. Work is really busy, so I have no time to run in the evenings and I have my final assignment (ECA rather than TMA) to write over the next couple of weeks. But otherwise all good!

You must be bionic if you can shred at all, let alone 6 days in a row! Respect!!

Thats what I am doing, have done W1 twice, going for W2 tomorrow. I got bored of my running playlist so yesterday i ran to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac and very nice it was too.

WhoKnows - one of my all-time fave albums

We are watching Chariots of Fire this evening for inspiration . I am ashamed to admit I have never seen it all the way through before, despite having watched bits over the years

Did R1, W1 apace and it was good. Forgotten how much I had missed Robert. Forgot how little I had missed his music though.

I even overtook someone who was running, although about 20million people overtook me.

I feel a bit more positive now. Hope everyone starting again feels good too and that you all have a lovely day. It's quite hot here. Fingers crossed the rain holds off.

Keep on running everyone

Glad you are feeling more positive sybil

I'm off to tackle the Central park reservoir (pistey, did you ever get round to it what with the hurricane and everything else?). DH is coming with me, but will cycle, having run yesterday.

And I have downloaded Rumours to run to . I think I must have had it on vinyl, as I can't find it in my not very extensive CD collection. I definitely had Tusk on vinyl .

Chariots of Fire was a film i saw on one of my first ever dates - oh how young I was!! I think I have only seen it the once though.

I did my 3 miler this morning. I should maybe have gone for longer but I was a little short of time (wanted to watch DS playing rugby - it was cancelled in the end) and I am about to go and shred so I have my excuses reasons. Nice day for it too, not to hot nor too cold.

Glad you're feeling better Sybil

Keep running everyone

Well done Sybil. I did Laura first time round, can't bear the music again so I have programmed the intervals into Runkeeper so I can listen to my own music this time.

Shredded - copy of Rumours on vinyl in my loft too. I had to run to silence tonight as I went to go out an noticed my phone battery was nearly gone, it t lasted till I got home, but I haven't been able to upload my time and see how I did.

Jelli / Shredded - I've never seen Chariots of Fire, although I'm certainly old enough. Not a great film watcher TBH, but that is one I really ought to have seen.

Shredded this morning, then did W2R1 just now in the nearly dark. It seemed to go quicker than the week 1 runs, probably because there are fewer intervals. I got quite breathless in the first few running intervals, although my legs were fine, was fine for the last two, it will be interesting to look at the data when my phone is charged back up, see if I did them slower.

I'm finding I can shred and run in a day so long as I space them out. Creating tons of laundry! I went out for new sports bras yesterday, bought my first racer back one, what a revelation, I could not even feel I was wearing it, I am converted

What kind of racer back bra do you have, WhoKnows? I find my Shock Absorber one quite tight and almost uncomfortable when I first put it on, although I don't really notice it when I'm out running - and it's very handy for my keys when my running gear doesn't have pockets in it.

Have just finished and sent off my work, so now have no excuses for not running or shredding. Will def. shred tomorrow, but will have to see whether it's cool enough to run after the school run tomorrow morning - it's been very hot here today. I've just straightened my hair too, and would like it to last longer than a few hours.

I am DYING

So we walked to the park, I ran to the reservoir and then round it, twice. I started the reservoir circuit with a blast of Mr Blue Sky, followed by Rumours. I went round in 16 minutes (2.5k) and was pretty pleased, despite being out of breath and very hot . I decided to try to do the second circuit a bit slower, but ended up with calf cramps and a numb foot. Whenever I stopped to stretch it out it felt OK, but went numb again when I ran. So I had a very slow and stately jog, with 4 or 5 pauses. Then we had to walk home - all in all 8.75 miles, of which I ran about 4.

THEN I shredded.

DH noticed the disgraceful state of my legs and toe nails and has gently suggested I require some grooming sent me out for a wax and a pedi. I will report back on toe nail colour later

Oh oh oh, was also going to post for bra advice so will deffo be back later
(x post with Linzer)!

It's an M&S one Linzer and Shredded. The M&S website is playing up this week on the bra section, or I would post a link, but it is called Sport Extra High Impact Non Wired Racerback, £20.

Shredded Ouch, well done for still shredding after that run and looking forward to a nail varnish report!

I have kept up the team purple, as I managed to find pistey's Merry Midnight in my local nail bar

Bra-wise, I have three of the Nike pull-on crop tops/racer back bras like these. When I went to buy the third earlier in the summer I discovered that the two I was using were for medium impact, and that for running they recommended a high impact one. I bought one like this from
Sports Direct, but it doesn't have the clip on the back. My problem is getting them off, especially after the shred when I can barely lift my arms so I was wondering whether any of you have sports bras that fasten.

Merry Mudnight