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

Oh no Pistey, poor you. You were doing so well with the shredding too. I won't tell you how stupid you are as that would be hypocritical - about a day before we were due to flew back to the UK, I discovered that we didn't have any of DS's allergy tablets left. I have no idea if we have a spare preventer for him either; I'm hopeless. Anyway, take care of yourself; I'll be thinking of you while I shred and wishing I had an excuse to get out of it too.

Love the purple hats shredded, especially the second one. I was about to write off Lands' End as either not delivering internationally or charging extortionate postage, but was to discover that of their six international websites, one is Austrian. I've just ordered a catalogue.

Also noticed that Aldi has running gear here next week, including a boringly black but bargainous hat at ?3.99 and gloves (ditto). Oh, and they have headbands too but I just look silly in a headband. Austrians are very into headbands but I've never quite seen the point of them - although what you said makes sense, WhoKnows (I also get earache if it's windy).

Pistey -arE you in the uk? If so, your usual chemist will give you an emwrgency preventor without a prescription until it comes through fro your gp. There is no need to be without one for a week

Do you have a regular asthma review? Does your Gp knwo thatvyour asthma is so poorly controoled? I am concermed thatbif your asthma is tvhis bad now, what will you be like coem winter

Kristina - you are far too kind. My asthma is only poorly controlled by me and I don't know why I get so cavalier. When I take the dugs properly I am fine, which is 99% of the time

I have two preventers - serevent and flixotide, its the serevent I'm missing I have got emergency relievers from the chemist before, not preventers, I shall think of that next time.So thank you x And yes to reviews - it is coming up in October and I will get my luvvverly flu jab too. I never tell them that I am such a loon.

I find very cold air makes my lungs feel stiff, and when it was very cold last winter, I was fine as long as I ran with a scarf over my face, like a bandit!

But I am a silly arse. Tomorrow I can get the prescription at lunchtime and will be good to go

Morning All [boing]
Am feeling so good this morning.
Actually managed to pick the right run today - so Week 2 Day 1.
Didn't manage to travel as far as I have done, but it felt good, although I don't spring out of bed in the morning - I do come home on a wee bit of a high.

Have promised myself that if I did 2 weeks I could buy myself a proper top. So off to TK Maxx after work.

Piste hoping that you are feeling better!
JelliBelli I am only a few miles from Aberfeldy, the birks of Aberfeldy are lovely in the Autumn, actually might head out there tomorrow for a walk with the children!

I ran with my thinsulate hat on this morning, and a fleece that I tied round my waist when I got too hot, will need to start carrying water soon! Need to think about that one now .

Have a great weekend everyone.

Quite enjoyed my run this morning; it was sunny but there was a bit of a breeze, so it wasn't too hot. No PBs broken, but I did have to stop and tie up a shoe-lace halfway through (well, that's my excuse).

Was talking to a friend this morning about going running together, but she decided I run too fast for her. (I'm sure she runs for longer than I do though, and I don't think I'd have the stamina to run for much longer than 30 mins.) I have friends who go running together so that they can talk. I cannot imagine it; I'm absolutely incapable of talking when I'm running as I have to concentrate on breathing and not collapsing. Anyway, we're going to meet for a far more civilised coffee next week instead.

bafana I never carry water, and as I haven't needed to in the summer I doubt I'll have to start doing so in the winter. Then again, I rarely get thirsty and really should force myself to at least have a drink when I get back from my run.

Much better run tonight, W3R3. Didn't quite make my target time, but the last two runs were so poor after being ill that I'm not really surprised, so going to do one more run at W3 before moving on.

Tonight I have been listening to Queen Live at Wembley 1986 while I ran, I was at one of those concerts, so a bit of a nostalgia trip there.

I'm feeling so much better. It was a rough two weeks with tummy bug then cold. I will resume running this Monday and actually go back to week 3 instead of W4. I'm in no hurry. Can't wait, actually.

Glad you're feeling better BsshBossh, I have sneezed about 15 times since I got back from my run tonight, so hope the cold is not coming my way.

I don't carry water as yet, although I did once back in the summer I didn't really drink it. I always have a big drink when I get home though and make sure I have had a smaller one before setting off (can imagine nothing worse than a Paula Radcliffe moment though so not too much). I also drink a LOT after shredding, usually at least a pint.

Morning all. Glad you're feeling better bsshbosh. Hope the cold stays away Whoknows Well done on week 2 bafana. Hope you found a nice purple top. Slapped wrists and sympathy in equal measure pistey And you're too fast for me too Linzer cowbag
I'm another one that doesn't bring any water. I run up to 10k at a time and if that increased I might need water but so far I'm happy that I can get round without. Also hoping to avoid doing a Paula and my pelvic floor is dodgy enough without adding more liquid into the mix!
Did my first 10k yesterday - 74.02. Was great fun! Well after it finished. Still in PRSP if a lot little bit achy.
Ds who is 13 and a true couch potato/ computer geek has started c25k. Lots of blackmail and the promise of money when he can 5k in sub 30 mins but he's quite enjoying it. He wants me to go with him today. He runs a lot quicker than his old mum. Who doesn't? Might be fun.

molly massive well done on your 10k!

Well done on the 10k molly, that's fantastic. I'm on the verge of collapse after 5k and can't imagine running twice that far.

Glad to hear you're feeling better Bssh and hope your cold didn't develop WhoKnows.

Thought I was going to get out of this morning's run as I was going to meet a friend for coffee after the school run (and if I don't go out first thing, I find it virtually impossible to motivate myself to go out later), but she cancelled last night so I have no excuse now...

My legs are really aching now. How can this be? Maybe it's a delayed reaction from shredding yesterday. I hardly ever ache after running any more, and certainly not straight away.

Saw a female runner running towards me and smiling broadly just after I'd set off. Thought "Gosh, she's friendly" until I realised it was my neighbour! She must have only just started running; she did tell me she was planning to run in the town race next summer, but I was hoping she wouldn't start training until a few weeks beforehand so that I could beat her quite comfortably.

Morning all
Sun is shining this morning, and I was out at 7. Was listening to an audio book on my way round this morning - Rob Lowe's Stories I only tell my friends, but think that listening to pumpy music is definitely better for my head.

My bum muscles are really sore is this normal?
We headed out to the Birks of Aberfeldy yesterday, but the rain very definitely had other ideas - so it was coffee and cake instead!!

molly well done on 10k, I could no more do that than fly in the air, but it is really cool to see how far people can take this!!

linzer hope the legs feel better soon!!

I wish I'd gone out at 7 bafana; it's nice and sunny here too, and was slightly too hot (for running purposes, at least) at 8.30 am. Mind you, it's partly my own fault - I could have gone out at 8 am but was procrastinating.

Sore bum muscles sound normal to me. I'm sure mine were sore when I first started running; they were only used to be sat on.

All the runners I know here run without music and I don't know how they do it. I find the pauses in between tracks - when I can, horror of horrors, hear my heavy breathing - difficult enough!

Linzer - I know that I would not have the motivation at any other time, it needs to be an "out of bed out the door" thing or it would never happen.

Just had a look at my stats for today - and I ran at the same rate that I have always run at - actually slightly faster, I walked slower, and that is definitely down to the music.

Have also downloaded all the children's cheesy pop CD's onto my itunes, coz I am thinking some Girls Aloud and that ilk of music would also be quite good to run too.

Right - off to actually do some work !!

I'm another "first-thing-in-the-morning" runner; I have to do it before the nursery run otherwise I'll never do it.

So, it had been 2 weeks since my last run before illness struck and I had just begun week 4. I went out this morning having decided to start back at the week 3. I am so glad I did because I really struggled.

But hey-ho, I'm back . Felt so great running again.

Molly 10k

I wish I could go out before the school run, but with DH leaving for work at 7 am and school starting at 8 am, I'd have to get up ridiculously early (I normally get up at 5.45 and can only just about manage to get us all out of the house on time as it is!). I did manage to go out at 6 am in the summer holidays, but only because I didn't have the stress of getting the DC ready for school afterwards.

Bssh Well done on getting out again!

bafana The only time I've run without music was when I did the town race in the summer, and I found it so much more difficult. (It might have been different if there'd been crowds cheering us on, but it was pouring with rain so there was hardly anyone along the route.) Have decided that I'll definitely be taking my iPod next year!

Need music here too, although I am generally a fan of silence and running is about the only time I do listen to any. Evening running only here, but I'm going to have to think again now it is getting dark earlier. Sticking to evenings for the duration of the shred and then will have a look at the whole routine again.

Hello girls, remember me? I had such a dreadful week at work last week that I didn't make it out again after Wednesday's run but am aiming for tomorrow at 6.30am if I can be bothered. I am struggling withouit a kitchen or bath, but the end is in sight! Hurray.

Well done on the 10k Molly, fantastic news and great to see so many people still running away. Look forward to doing some more running over the coming months.

Well as ever you lovely lot inspired me to go and pound the streets. I had a bit of a meh day at work today, but reading about your early morning runs got me going and I did my second week one of C25K with the lovely Laura. AND I shredded this morning - there will be nothing left of me soon .

DH and I are celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary this week. Since it is crystal or watches, I've bought him some wine stuff and he has bought me this little beauty

And a friend and I are going to do the easy version of the New York Marathon

Well done shredded and happy anniversary! I am so of your present; I was going to ask for one for my birthday, but it looks like I'm getting the London trip now. Still can't decide which model to get, either - the 205 and 305 look horribly clunky; the 110 and 405 definitely look better, but apparently the 405 is harder to operate (you'll have to let me know how you get on with the 110). Yours is by far the prettiest, but it costs 43 pounds more than the unisex version (on the UK Amazon site at least)! Hmm, the 205 is the cheapest on Amazon.de (cheaper than on the UK site too). Decisions decisions!

Linzer - there's always Christmas!

WEll done to Molly on that race at the weekend.

Happy Anniversary Shredded

Hello Sybil - welcome back.

Decided to have a change tonight and go for a straight 30 minute run for the first time in a month or so and see if my distance has improved yet and it had, by 200m or so, which is great, shows that either the repeat C25K or shredding or both are starting to work.

just adding my words of congratulations to Molly

im on W4R5. still very slow

Thanks all for your support. I'm shattered at the end of a 5k too Linzer but my overall pace is about 90s/mile faster for a 5k than for 10.

Me and dh just reached 15 years last month too shredded Congratulations to you.

bafana I always run with music. My own eclectic mix of inspiring songs. I even occasionally sing along as I run. Well done Whoknows re the increasing distance. I think I'm going to do similar to you once my next 10k is over (next Sunday - eek. Poor timing) with the aim of finally doing 5k in 30 mins. Would be nice to achieve that by February. Then it will have only taken me a year.

Glad you're back running after the lurgy bssh
Welcome back Sybil - glad an end to the chaos is in sight
Don't worry about being slow kristina I'm still very slow but I keep reminding myself I'm not racing other people but running against myself. And if we keep running we get better which is fab.

I'm a bit sore still after my 10k. I tried a run yesterday and I was even more slow. I appear to have a bit of a groin strain. My first ever sports injury. How bizarre annoying! I've been advised to put ice on the sore bit by a friend who is a bit of an expert. How lovely!!! Apparently my thigh muscles are pulling against the groin because of an imbalance with my abs. Which are shot post 3 dcs. Maybe I need to shred after all. Or some abs equivalent!

That's what I thought, WhoKnows. I ordered something for DH from Amazon yesterday (for somebody far more technically minded than me, you'd think he'd be capable of placing his own order) and a whole row of Garmins came up as recommendations at the bottom of the page after I'd ordered, so I pointed them out to him as a possible future present!

molly Sorry to hear about the injury; I hope it's better in time for your next 10k. Yes, there's no way I could run a 10k at my 5k pace - but even if I slowed down, I can't imagine running the route a second time. Walking possibly, but not running!

I was stopped about 100m before the end of my run just now by someone wanting directions, aargh! Was hoping he only wanted the time (have been stopped by someone for that before), but no - he wanted to know where the shops were so I waved him off in the direction of town, although kindly told him about the baker's too (which he ignored). I'm sure I wasn't the only person around he could have asked and should probably have ignored him (I had my headphones on so could pretend I hadn't seen him), but I'm far too British and polite. Surely there's an unwritten rule about never stopping a runner unless you're dying?