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

Happy Special birthday for tomorrow Linzer!

Oh poor WhoKnows, sciatica is so painful. Rest. I used to lie flat on the floor at times which helped a bit for about ten seconds.

Linzer, I am a lazy cow really, I have had this corally stuff on since about Tuesday and just keep putting another coat over the top. I'm due a change but have had sad happenings this weekend and cba.

This is what I've been using to strengthen my nails and it is marvellisimo I must say. Got my first bottle as a gift, and the second one I bought on eBay (cheaper than that link, think £10 ish). I remember Sekt (hic) from my flying days ...

Good luck with your run birthday girl!

And happy running to everyone else

Bear What sad happenings - are you ok?

And you have to wave at non runners too

WhoKnows - hope you feel better soon, poor you

Linzer - many happy returns for tomorrow, hope you enjoyed your Sekt!

Nell - hope you are OK, sorry to hear of sad happenings chez bear

Hello pistey and babycham!

The yoga DVD was OK, but still quite a lot of bending/knee stuff, so might not be very good for you Linzer.

No running today, but we did a 6 mile hike which almost killed me

Thanks Pistey and shredded.

Off to work now, have a good day everyone, runners and lapsed non-runners.

Thanks shredded and babycham. Shame about the yoga DVD shredded but actually I'm quite glad to have an excuse to do nothing but running for the time being. I could still feel my knee today a bit but it's definitely better than it was.

That looks interesting, Nell. I'll have a look on eBay as that site doesn't ship to Austria. Have also heard that the Sally Hansen nail hardener is supposed to be good - have you ever tried it?
Sorry to hear about happenings this weekend; hope you're OK.

I've just been out for the first run of my forties, and it was definitely harder work than my last one. Also had to stop about halfway through as I got chased over the road by a barking Alsatian and thought that standing still might encourage him to stop chasing me. I'm normally very slightly scared of dogs but find that listening to my iPod turned up to full blast helps me to feel a little removed from the situation (and drowns out the barking).

That'll be the after effects of the Sekt slowing you down Linzer. Now you are old (like me!) you won't be able to hold your drink like you used to!

Nell hope you are OK.

Re flaky nails, I use Body Shop almond cuticle pen on mine, I usually take my polish off, rub in some of this and do cuticles and let the rest sink in, leave them bare for a day or so before repolishing. They do get flaky eventually, that's why I leave them bare for most of the summer, let them grow out completely. I also keep them fairly short.

I knew that second glass was a bad idea, WhoKnows. I haven't been able to hold my drink for years - I'm still working on getting my alcohol tolerance back up to its previous level after five or six years of either being pregnant or bfing.

I thought that running was going to be easier now that it's finally cooled down, but it wasn't. I was no faster than usual and there were no welcoming cool breezes, just the wind - and it gave me a headache.

Hey All

Went out this morning with DS (9) so did a gentle w2 run . However I don't think that he will make a regular thing of it, he was a little tired by the end of it .

I really must get the nail varnish on my fingernails, although my toes are a really nice pearly purple at the moment, I do get annoyed when going out for a run chips them though!!

Happy Birthday linzer

Thinking I may dig out the Shredded DVD for the days that the weather is really bad here.
Although it wasn't too bad rain wise this morning, my feet were soaked by the time I came in, is this normal with running shoes, or should I be looking for a more waterproof pair??

Gulp. I've entered for this run. I will post the pics of me steaming through the marathon finish line pretending I have run the whole thing

Bafanga/bafana - I get wet/muddy feet too. I like to think that if the trainers let water in they will also let some fresh air in to stop them getting too revoltingly smelly

Nelly, hope you are OK today.

Wow, that's fabulastic shredded, sounds great especially not having to do the whole thing. You will get such a buzz out of it I'm sure!

Thanks for your good wishes (and Linzer and WhoKnows too). I lost a very dear friend at the weekend, and although it was expected, it was still a shock and came so quickly, and I feel very :(. That coupled with various teenage angsty dramas and a really mundane freezer full of food seemingly defrosting itself has taken the wind out of my sails.

Linzer well done on your run. I have tried the Sally Hansen but think the OPI one is better - I could send you one if you like if you can't get it there.

Still not been running/shredding/low carbing.

It's so dark here this morning, very antumnal, I've got the lights on.

And thanks to dear old Pistey too. How are you getting on with your bunts? I've got some flowers to send, not as many as I would've liked though.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, Nell. Even if it wasn't unexpected, it's still terribly sad when it happens. Hope you are OK. ((hugs))
Thanks so much for your help with the nail hardener. I found (and have just bought) the OPI one on eBay for 10 pounds (plus very reasonable P&P to Austria), so am looking forward to having strong and healthy nails very soon. (Which would be a first - I've had flaky nails ever since I can remember.)

Well done on entering the run, shredded - it sounds fab! Am sure there will be a fantastic atmosphere too (unlike the annual summer race in our small town, where rain kept the majority of spectators away).

Bafanga My feet were also soaked the one time I went for a run in the pouring rain; I think it's probably normal. Was going to ask how you manage to chip your nails going for a run, and then realised you were talking about your toenails rather than your fingernails.

Hi girls

Sorry not to be around. Builders still here and really getting me down now. I also have terrible backache due, I think, to the weight of my handbag. I plonked it on the self serve counter in tesco yesterday and it weighed nearly 5 kg! No wonder my poor body is aching.

I will try to read now as M is engrossed in Teletubbies (crap mum alert) but I hope you are all well and still shopping / running.

Big love to you all.

Morning girls!

Nell I'm sorry to hear of your loss (and your dramas and your freezer).

Linzer, I'll be interested to hear about your nail progress.

Sybil, poor you, builders and backache. What a combination.

I dragged myself out of bed for a run this morning. I thought I was doing quite well, but only managed 4 k in 31 minutes. For some reason, according to my Garmin data

Hello everyone and sorry to hear your bad news Nell.

Hope everyone's backache and sciatica are improving.

Did noone think to mention to me how much harder WK4 is than Wk3?!!! A very well kept secret

I managed wk4r1 yesterday but it was a struggle!!!!

Thanks girlies.

Big hug for my lovely Bear x

Yes, hug from me too Nell, no matter how much you are expecting to lose someone it hurts so much.

Babycham - oops, didn't I say? I found week 4 hard this time too. Hoping to get out again in a day or two, my back is much better now. Might have to repeat W4R3 before attempting Week 5.

Linzer - I have just bought some new topcoat today, you lot keep making me spend money! Running jackets, nail varnish, fitness DVDs, weights, whatever next!

Sybil - hope your back is better soon and your builders gone. I'm another one who tends to lug around a too heavy bag, although I leave it at home for the school run, which is the majority of my walking time.

Shredded - well done for entering a race, I have not plucked up the courage thus far!

Hi girls,
Hope everyone's backache is getting better.
Nell - I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.
Thanks for the welcome - week 3 did get easier, though I'm starting to worry about week 4 after reading Babycham's post...
Anyway was running/jogging/walking round the park in the pouring rain getting soaked, admiring everyone else's proper running jackets. Any tips where to get some running stuff that's not too expensive. Already know I need to get a better pair of trainers and trying not too spend too much all at once. Planning to ask for some stuff for Christmas if I manage to keep this up. :)

Hi all. This will be a rubbish brief post as on my phone and dd2 all poorly and lying on me (she's 16 months)
Sorry to hear your sad news nell
Happy birthday Linzer
well done to all those womanfully working their way through the early weeks. That was for me the hardest bit.
My 10k was a bit bleurgh. Supposed to be a family day out but a bit wet. But kids race before the race proper was nice. Both ds (13) and working on c25k himself being bribed to do it and dd1 (10) who sees herself as quite the sporty spice ran 1k. Was very proud of them. Then the 5k race started. Then the 10k. Loads of people doing the 5k were just walking in big groups of friends/colleagues and no fecker would give way on these narrow footpaths to runners. Bit annoying as couldn't get into a rhythm. Lots of horrifying lovely hilly bits though when even my pace of running left them behind! Then one of the marshals sent all the 10k folk the wrong way so I only really ran 9k. No big deal although I could have gone the distance. Lots of people very annoyed as were aiming for a certain time for 10k and that was messed up. I was just gutted because I finished about 8 mins before I told dh I was going to so the kids weren't at the finishing line in time to see me. were sheltering from the bloody rain
Oh well. Not the end of the world. Will do another 10k next month and hope it's better organised.
Was meant to be running today but didn't happen due to aforementioned poorly baby.

hi Maybe, it's worth going to a running shop for proper gait analysis and trainer choosing, costs a bit but worth it to avoid injuries. For other stuff, Sports Direct either on the high street or online are good, I've just received a parcel of stuff from sweatshop.com, which was all very reasonably priced, jacket was £19 for example.

Molly that sounds a bit poorly organized, but you made the best of it, so well done you.

Hi All,

I have been shredding and running - honest! DH has been around a bit and has interrupted my MNing routines - I'm not complaining as he will be away with work for quite a while soon .

I am very sorry to hear your sad news Bear (((unMN hugs))) - one of my besties has just left to live in Portugal and I was moping a bit until your real sadness put me right . I hope your shock soon makes room for happy memories of your friend.

Welcome to your 40s Linzer they're not too bad really!

Maybe Aldi have some running stuff on sale from tomorrow, so you could pick up a couple of things from them leaving you more £££ to get proper running shoes from a running shop. You could upgrade the Aldi stuff once you know you will stick with it for Christmas.

I am sure I am running slower and slower so I think I will start again with the plan and run faster this time. How did you get on with your time if you restarted the programme?

I think I will have to enter something for springtime to keep my nose to the grindstone. I suspect I'll be a bit flakey about running during the cold, dark, wet months without DH and will give up a bit if I don't have a target. I think I may tackle a 10k run. Anyone else feeling a bit nervous about running regularly during the winter?

Happy running everyone

maybetoday sorry about my post re:WK4.Pay no attention to me.I found every week hard on the first run.......I just like a bit of a whinge,that's all!!!!

Off out on Wk4R2 in a short while so I'll find out if it's got any easier.I think that after you have done the first one it's easier because you know you CAN do it.You're in a better place to start with.

Jelli I am also a bit worried about running when it gets icy.I even walk like I've messed myself when it's icy .....

maybe I will report back on how this session goes.