Couch to 5k 2011 Part Four: Post even if you haven't run!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yet more space for us to talk about our progress on the Couch to 5K programme, the stuff we wear, the music we listen to, the gadgets we use and our nail varnish.

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!

Some of us are on our second time round now, so don't worry that you will be behind, just jump in whatever stage you are at.

Morning everyone

Prsp here, big 25 min run done several times now and i am still alive

Have registred for local park run so will need to improve time a bit i guess befroe i avtually turn up

Lovely day here, am very grateful to get to run in such beautiful countryside

Still red polish on toes and tasteful beige on stubby fingers. Will i never be a proper runner unjless i grow them long and paint them purple??

My fingers are short and beige today and toes are bare Kristia

Afternoon All

countess well done on the Graduation, wow - bet you feel great!

scarlett I would maybe just aim to run two days leaving a day off in the middle, just because it's new, I find that if I start off at anything all guns blazing then it more likely to go by the wayside. And you don't want to hurt yourself either. I have just completed w5 although I have been doing it since 12/09/11, I have repeated runs, and I also hurt my ankle so took a week off, there is no requirment to complete the weeks runs within the week, just take it at your own pace .

kirstina well done on the 25min runs!! I really feel I have passed a mental barrier, and that now sounds achievable to me!, and I think that beige stubby fingers sounds great

whoknow Boot - get your trainers on and get out there you know that you will love it. Why is the hardest step the first one out of the frontdoor!!

Happy running
Bafana

Look! Think we all need some of these to go with our Bear Grylls Bras!

Well done countess! You must be in mega PRSP now!

Jelli I'm traumatised, grip totally gone. I've broken TWO nails this week. I can't possibly add a failed run into the mix. It would be too much for me.

Ooh yes, I do like those Nell. But are they aimed at people who run one race a week? And only have one rest day per week? Perhaps they're not for me after all... Devastated to hear your nail news too; that's why I keep mine short (but they still manage to break). Mine are in a shocking state at the moment, which sort of reflects my running.

Kristina In that case I'll never be a proper runner, as my nails never grow longer than a few mm - and if they by some miracle they do, the polish chips far more quickly than on the rest of the nail so I end up cutting them anyway. But I have had purple nails and I'm sure they help me to run faster.

Scarlett I always made sure I left at least one rest day in between runs - not sure if it's worth risking an injury if you overdo it; I'd probably err on the side of caution.

I have been taking all your advice and haven't been out. I do miss it, although a) I haven't had much time to go out recently and b) it's freeezing here at the moment. Although it would be a good excuse to wear my purple hat.

Awww Linzer sorry to hear you're still out of action, so frustrating when you want to do it but know you shouldn't. My nails were fine yesterday so how I could have broken three now is a mystery as I've not been doing any housework.

Just continue to rest, paint your nails purple and put your purple hat on - oh and I think those knickers are aimed at seven days a week runners . Not me then.

I don't think those knickers are for me at the moment - i would only need one pair a week .

Nell, I think you should go to bed if you haven't already - the rate you are breaking your nails is terrifying and you won't have any left if you don't finish with today soonest.

Linzer I am sorry to hear your knee is stopping you from running. Have you an appointment made for it yet?

Why is the hardest step the first one out of the frontdoor!! Ooh yes! Good question Bafana

No running again for me today, nor a shredding type activity. It's too dark and a bit cold. Help me motivate myself. I could go to the gym on the way home i suppose.......

Perhaps I should post a goal time and date and publically post my progress....

I need some sort of plan to get me out the door.

Keep running everyone, JB

Nell Yes, painting my nails purple is a very good idea as it may help to cheer me up. And I suppose I could wear my purple hat anyway as it's certainly cold enough. I would continue to avoid housework btw; you wouldn't want to risk breaking any more nails.

Jelli I went to see the doctor on Monday for the 1st part of my annual MOT and mentioned the problem with my knee, so she said we'd talk about it when I go back for the results next Friday.
Yes, you need to post that you will be going out for a run on such-and-such a day (time of day too if possible!) - that's very often the only main thing that motivates me to get out.

I saw a runner in T-shirt and shorts this morning. It's generally just below freezing when I do the school run (although I think it was all of 0° this morning) so I was . But also ever so slightly .

As we speak I'm having a pedicure
Going for the classic what is Lincoln Park After Dark. Will read everything later, but love to all you runners x

Jelli .

And get a grip woman and get out there. What are you waiting for? Chop chop lollipop.

Did that work?

Yes housework is a dangerous activity and should be avoided Linzer so keep resting. Look at the damage I've done this week and that was only thinking about doing housework. Best not to risk it.

PISTEY! You're back! Lincoln Park is lovely but not on stubby little nails like mine at the moment. Where have you been?!

Hello

I have been running on the way home from work. I went to the gym where I can run outside in streetlights (I can't at home as my lit loop is only a mile and that would be far toooooo boring for the whole of winter).

Not only am I starving now in PRSP but whilst running I was enjoying DRSP (During Run Smug Phase). I passed several groups of ladies out walking, they didn't want to catch my eye as I ran past . The only runner I saw was more unfit than me and I saw lots of people coming in and out of the chippies/pizza places and also outside the pub smoking etc as i ran by like a gazelle, in my head.

Anyway now I have actually done it, I will have to repeat my adventure again.

Off for dinner now, back later for chat and talk that's not about me!

Ha jelli, you were that woman anither psoter mentined, bounding along the canal full of youthful vigour

I am the slobby lump sittimg at the kitchen table watching the rainoutside and eatng choclate ice cream. But i WILL runtomorrow. And i will do my finger nails, although i dont own any purple polish.

Kristina the gazelle image was only in my head, i probably looked more like a lame warthog . And don't let Nell know you haven't any puple nail garnish or she might expell you!! Quick, get some tomorrow!

It's been quite here tonight - have you all been out running in the dark?

KristinaM . You're not just letting yourself down, you're letting the whole class down. You need to sit down and have a think about your behaviour.

Detention on Monday after school and 75,000 word essay in my inbox on The Importance and Benefits of Purrrpull (got to be said in Scottish) Nail Varnish In Today's Society by 3pm today.

I'm disappointed in you.

ristretto I have the same problem as you with dark country lanes but I do at least get a couple of slots when I'm not at work and kids are at school so I grab the chance when I can. I know when the kids were pre school I couldn't have done it.
I feel for you and hope you find a way.Could you drive somewhere safer (closest village?) when DH home?

I'm struggling to fit it in too, all my free slots during the day have been taken up with helping out with stuff at the DCs school the last couple of weeks. Oh and having coffee with friends (very important). However I am sitting here in my running gear tapping my toes impatiently as DH has promised to come home early. Although he is taking his time and it's completely dark now and I am going to have to go into town instead of my usual rural route. Grr. Back later.

I managed to get out before dark (in hi viz as it gets gloomy so much earlier than it gets dark and DH really worries about me on the country lanes otherwise) and ran 30 mins.

I'm really pleased as I have been broken the last two days as I have started 30 Day Shred also.But it eased up a tiny bit today so I decided to get out running too.

I had a bit of shin trouble after my Monday run so I decided to take it easier for a couple of days (which is a good job as I could hardly move after shredding ).But it seems to have settled and I wonder if it was just muscle ache I could feel rather than impending shin splints.I am expecting new running shoes any day soon (pressie from DH as he's proud of me for graduating).

Hello to everyone and Scarlett hope you were able to get out today.Keep on running!!!!

[sits in the naughty corner]

Please miss nell, i promise to buy soem purpple polish next week. But i have very short stubby fingers and weak borken finger nails, so can i wear it on my toes?

In penance i did a run today in the drizzle and managed 28:06.

Im lucky that i work pt so can go a run aftre kids leave for school and befroe i go to work.

I'm back, it wasn't a brilliant run TBH, but at least I've done it. 30 mins of town streets in the dark, unfortunately I live on the edge of town and the streets here have widely spaced streetlights and lots of trees, so the pavements are completely dark, uneven and covered in leaves, asking for an accident. Town centre streets are fine though, if a bit boring, I might be running up and down the high street a lot this winter. Another problem is that whichever way you come back from town it is uphill, long and shallow hill which is hard work.

I am still planning to mainly run on Mon and Fri mornings as I don't work those days, but other things do crop up pretty often. Will either swim on Weds or run on Weds night.

I am going to purple up my fingernails tonight. Kristina - toes are fine, I just find I don't see much of mine at this time of year with socks on all the time.

Well done for your runs today Countess and Kristina

Well doen too whoknows. You are brave to run in dark with leaves etc. I am a fair weather broad daylight runner

Also brave to run with a long uphill at the end.

The route I did today gets the uphill out of the way at the beginning,thank the Lord!

Morning!

KristinaM - wearing nail varnish on your toes is always acceptable, I currently have Lincoln Park After Dark and it is gorgeoise. I also have done something so weird for me, I chew my fingernails, have stopped recently but when I was having my toes done, they persuaded me to try gel tips, and I have them on three fingers at the mo, so the others are all manicured as best as can be. I have a nude OPI on them, which I really like, although tis very non if you see what I mean?!

And I'm just not sure what to think of them....

But re the running, Countess - I will be interested in how your energy levels change now you are low carbing, because for me they dropped right off, I hope it doesn't affect your running cos you seem to be going so well.

You all do
Carpet lungs here today Nelly - how are your chesticles?

Confession time - walked most of the up-hill bit! It is so shallow that you hardly even notice it when you are just walking home from the shops but with tired running legs it is harder! I really wasn't in the mood last night, which didn't help. This is one reason why I want to stick to daylight, my normal out of town (unlit) route has the uphill bits on the way out.