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

sweaty I liked the clip :) - it made me . In fact even typing it makes me . I bet your PE teacher would be laughing on the other side of his/her sadistic because it's in their job description face now if he/she could see you running through the dunes of Puerto Rico with coyotes on your tail .

Pistey - all I can say is and of course ! How very funny, I am chortling just thinking of you - and the coyote was SCARY - and I'm not wearing that chest revealing running outfit near any beach! Well done on 4K though, that was brilliant considering:

a. shag pile lungs
b.
c.

I'm having a run free day tomorrow, too hot - hope you all manage to get out and about :)

Yikes. I fear I have gone overboard on the smileys. Sorry.

in unison!
I will never be able to listen to that again without an or two I hope it comes on every time!!
It was so hot today I had to peel my running trousers on and then off again....eeeeeuuuuuuwwww. Not nice.
But am currently in PRSP so all is good in Piste Land, esp as I have a legitimate run free day tomorrow.
X

Lots of arfing since I last posted - I feel like I've missed out on all the fun. Lol at the three men on the cross trainers Piste; I can just imagine their expressions!

sweaty I was hopeless at games at school; in one report the PE teacher gave me a grade D for achievement but a 1 for effort, which just goes to show that she must have thought there was no hope for me!

sybil Glad to hear you're feeling more positive today. Personally, I think the fact that you've been running for a year is incredibly impressive, as is being able to run non-stop for 20 minutes (esp. if you were anything like me and found that even running for a minute used to be utterly exhausting).

Bear Enjoy your day off - am slightly of your hot weather as I know it will be wet and windy at my parents' (we're flying back to the UK tomorrow).

Am not sure whether I'll be able to fit in a run before we leave tomorrow. I asked DH what time he'd be leaving for work and he said "usual time", which means around 7 am ... and whether I'll feel like getting up at 6 am tomorrow is debatable. We'll be leaving for the airport as soon as he gets back from work, so I won't have time in the evening either. I really can't decide whether or not to pack my running gear; I decided not to when I was packing this afternoon, but may well regret it (or have a change of heart tomorrow).

I'm also in PRSP. The weather has turned (Tropical Storm Emily is in the vicinity), but being hardy British types we have continued to go to the beach. The boys have built brilliant shelters and while they have been weaving palm fronds together I have been barefoot running on the beach . We've ben the only people down there all day.

Linzer, have a good time at your parents'. It might be worth packing your running gear just in case .

This may not have worked, but I took some photos on the beach today and put them on my profile (first time I have ever used it).

Better run today - hurray! Bloody hot and sticky though.

Love all the clips. God bless YouTube.

Linzer, bring your running stuff just in case.

Sweaty, could only see one photo of your footprints but looked very arty!

That's made me that pic of your feet on the beach Sweaty. I love the beach. Or the shore as we called it when I was growing up. I hate living so far from it. . Be warned!

Linzer - pack your stuff, it's not too late. You might need to get out and get some fresh air escape while you're at home .

Yay sybil, glad you're feeling better, and you liked the insane amount of clips. I think the heat got to us.

Tis raining! And cooler. Well a bit. I'm not in PRSP today, but am pleased for those who are. It's a lovely feeling which I've not felt for a while.

Happy travelling and running everyone!

Love the new name Bear! Loved the clip - maybe Sweaty's feet are like that?(I'll have a look when we meet up!) And maybe she will take up foot painting??!!!! It did make me want to go for a pedicure though

Miserable day here today too. Well done Sybil on your run. Glad it was better and that you managed to get out.

Yes Linzer - I hope you brought your stuff too! You never know.... I do fancy running in Central Park but would have to lug my gear and we are on v minimal luggage on the way out. I will think about it.

No running for me today but my lovely boxercise at 8pm. I'm going to try spinning too in attempt to shift my arse. Fat bottomed girls is my personal anthem now (if anyone wants to share though I'm happy with that too, don't want to be seen as greedy )

Best get on with my jobs. Actually no, maybe have a coffee first!

Maybe you will just have to buy some new kit when you are over there Pistey, save lugging them over, reduce your carbon footprint, and you'll be shopping anyway and twould be a shame not to fit in a run in Central Park especially with knowledgable foot painter companion .

Oh if it had been this time last year I would have been there too and we could've all ran together to Fat Bottomed Girls, shaking our asses round the park and frightening the horses, and up and down 5th Ave. And then gone and drank wine. Boooo hisss I want to come.

Glad you like my new name . This Bear moniker is quite versatile - as is Piste - meant to ask, what's with the Parcel bit?

I can't decide either Piste, as I'm also flying out with limited luggage (one 15 kg suitcase, which is already full). I suppose I could just take my trainers and then buy running gear over there, which I was planning on doing anyway as it's so much cheaper than it is here. Will have to weigh my suitcase and see whether I can fit any more in!

Glad you had a good run, sybil. It's been pouring with rain all morning here, another excuse reason for me not to go out as I don't have time to wash my hair afterwards (and knowing that I'll be up until at least 3 am, getting up at 6 am seemed slightly masochistic).

Bear Yes, I probably will need to escape fairly regularly when I'm back! Maybe a thread trip to NY would be in order? I haven't been since Sept. 2001 when I was six months pregnant and running was about the last thing on my mind!

Great photo sweaty - I do miss the sea (we have to drive to another country to see it). My parents live on the coast but there are no sandy beaches for miles.

Right, off to weigh my suitcase.

Linzer - wear the trainers and put light weight shoes in your bag!!

Right, you've all persuaded me - my running gear is packed! No more room in my suitcase, so it's had to go in DD2's hand luggage.

I did think about wearing my trainers Piste but, a) I feel silly wearing trainers with normal clothes, and b) they're only 100g heavier than the shoes I was going to wear.

Now I really do have to go running when I'm back (and shall probably have to ignore my family laughing at me).

they weren't my footprints. They belonged to a coyote scary looking dog with equally scary owner who ran by us (the only other runner I've seen all week).

Linzer - Don't let your family laugh at you. Bloody cheek!

And Sweaty - you should have said they were coyote foot prints as they chased you up the beach, I would have believed you! Did you know if you say gullible really slowly it sounds like orange?

Aw Bear - we will have to arrange a meet when Sweaty is in the UK, clearly not a running event, more a wine do!! We can play our anthems and a lot!!

My Parcel Piste bit is a nod towards my contribution to the MN Blankets that are made by wonderful people for wonderful people who have gone through bereavement in their families. I am so un crafty, can't knit or sew but I got involved because I know BlondesHaveMoreFun who tragically lost her husband last April. There are some people working incredibly hard on these things, and once they are ready for giving, the blankets are transported in a relay after parcel-force farkingly, bollockingly and arsingly temporarily lost one. That is meeeee, Parcel Piste in my motorised beast!

I met some lovely and inspirational people at the last Blanket Handover (to Edgar and Rindercella) back in July, and now things are gearing up for the next one which hopefully will be in September. So I have adopted my new persona and tomorrow morning I am going to central London to collect another one ready to relay it on to the Meet.

RatherBe..... is also a good one, it lends itself - RatherBeWearingASluttyBra was one of my best, but out of contexts I did get a few looks! Let us say it wasn?t one to be using round the feminist boards.....

And I went for a pedicure today. To a new place because I decided that the staff they had in the old place were too grumpy and if I'm going to get Bits and Pieces done I want jolly

It was lush. Really really nice. The nicest bit was the leg and foot massage. Fab-U-Lous. And now I have very nice tootsies. I went for a dark purple and it looks great. S&B comes back to running!

Did I mention shiny? My toes are very shiny.

Yes Pistey, that would be fun! We could all wear cut out coyote masks so we could recognise one another, and drink through a straw .

ParcelPisteInHerMotorisedBeast sounds fantastic, you are doing a wonderful job. I've often noticed those threads and thought about making something/joining in but didn't know anyone involved in it and wasn't sure (which is silly, I should just have jumped in and made something.) What I am sure of is that they will bring comfort in more ways than one to those who've lost someone. Will be thinking of you tomorrow haring off all around London.

Yes my sluttyslutslut name received a few 's too, but it was very tongue in cheek, a nod to my previous career in the skies. But Bear is growing on me and has provided some 's thinking of variations.

Good luck tomorrow picking the blanket up, I wouldn't mind making squares but sewing them all together - mine would be a real Bodgit and Scarper job!

I'm supposed to be running at 7 tomorrow morning but ..... my motivation has done a runner tonight. Will leave my stuff out just in case though.

Night all!

Hi All, I'm back,

We went spontaneously off to the Yorkshire Dales for a few days on Saturday and the place didn't have wifi !! So I have missed you all this week. I've just got back and read everyone's news and am moved by Pistey's wise words to Sybil, so thank you to both of you.

We too travelled light but I did find room for my running stuff (holiday footwear = walking boots + trainers + 1 pr waterproof shoes - S&B eat your heart out!!) and managed to fit in two runs and two Jillian Michael workouts and a ride out up on the hills .

I did my first run on Sunday morning 1st 2nd thing, having NOT explored the area, and merrily we set off down the hill. We took a turn here, a footpath there and explored down by that stream and checked out the pub. Ths sun was shining, it was hot, the village was pretty and all was lovely in the world. Then it was time to head back to the accommodation.

Oh dear! You may remember that I have just discovered hills having only just left the security of the disused railway. It was about 1.5 miles back to our place and it was mostly uphill all the way. There were a several flat bits and a short downhill otherwise it was uphill all the way. I had to walk. Several times. I was overheated hot. I was cross with DH for offering advice. I was cross with me for walking but I just couldn't keep running. I did manage to run the last few hundred yards up the really steep bit but I was hot, bothered and defeated . When we got back to the front of the place I sat down in the shade, talked to DH, tried to realise how long and steep the hill was and having rested a bit managed to set off in the other direction for the last 8 minutes of my 50 minute run, which I managed to complete somehow.

I did feel hopeless but DH later described my attitude to 'hills' as digital! I really had not taken into account how hard 'our' hill was. Having stayed there a few days we noticed the last bit of the hill was 1 in 8. I scared myself though. I was tired all afternoon and was ready for bed early which isn't like me and I ached the next morning. That day we did a Jillian Michael DVD and went for a 4.5 miles hike round some waterfalls that afternoon. I was pooped and the kids were falling about laughing at my 'incontinence pad walk' as i hobbled about that evening! The little darlings! I couldn't do any exercise Tuesday but managed a ride and a 40 minute run yesterday so I have spook busted myself now as it was a lovely run (in the other direction!!).

Sorry to rabbit on for ages but I was thinking of you all and needed to share. I truely hope everyone enjoys their holiday runs more than me!!!

PS if the coyotes or cougars were chasing me i'd have just laid down and let them get on with it!!

Ooh and lovely toes Pistey, I love shiny AND purple. Love nail varnish and have so many variations of purple - I always seem to come back with another one when I go shopping. Who'd have thunk there were so many purples in the world? My tinfoil Minxies are still going strong four weeks in.

Oooh! I seem to collect dark reds when I buy ....

Well done Jelli - admirable stuff. Just blow a raspberry at your DC!

Sluttyslutslut reminds me of Green Wing - did you ever see that? I just loved it!!!

I always seem to go for purples too! This one doesn't have any pearlised bit to it. But it is v shiny. And the chair was one of those massage ones and that was v exciting . Possibly the very nicest thing was the leg (knee down) and foot massage. Lovely. But...... I'm having my legs waxed next week so am cultivating them at the mo. My legs are quite tanned but I think it can't have been so nice for her!

DD came and had a manicure but she chose this weird pale blue. there were 100+ and she chose that. Well she likes it!

Bear. Where's your va va voom gone? Get running or I shall set coyotes on your tail!

Welcome back jelli. Great running up hill and down dale.

Pistey, very impressed with your parcelling. I remember Rincercella, Edgar and Blondeshavemorefun's threads and how mumsnet rallied round. It must be very inspiring to be part of something like that.

Bear - arfing at the thought of coyote masks and drinking through straws . Get your act together for the morning ! Aren't your toes growing out by now?

Pistey - there's a nail/waxing shop on every block in NYC, so lots of opportunity for prettification :)