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.

I should also add that we routinely exceed our home broadband limit of 10GB every month since we acquired mobile devices, you might want to check that too...

That's really interesting to know WhoKnows, thanks. That would save me ?5 a month (?15 rather than ?20) if I went for the 1 GB package - I know that 1000 texts and 1000 minutes would be more than enough, so it's only really the data volume that I'm not sure about (after 1 GB, it goes down to 64 Kbit/s, which I assume is ridiculously slow). I can't imagine I would use mine a huge amount outside the house either - just for checking e-mails or checking something on the Internet quickly, but not browsing for hours unless I'm on holiday.

Do you have a 16 GB iPhone btw? You can only get 8 GB phones from t-online, which I thought might be enough for me, but DH said I should definitely go for the 16 GB or even 32 GB.

Mine's a 16, it has at the moment got 656 songs, 445 photos and 38 vids and has only got 2GB free. I would def get 16 not 8.

My iPod is 32 GB but I've only used 1.7 GB. I notice the OPI app is the third largest at 11.2 MB! I don't have any photos or videos on it, only songs and not all that many (have just checked and it's 102, and I probably wouldn't want all of them on my iPhone). If I go with Orange, 16 GB is the smallest one in any case - am keeping my fingers crossed that DH will manage to get to the shop tonight, otherwise I'll probably order it online while the offer is still on.

Was very disappointed that there was no knock on the door from the postman this morning. However, when I checked our postbox I discovered that he'd managed to fit in a small nail-polish size parcel. Thank you so much Nell, the colour is gorgeous and I shall be trying it out tonight!

Well, I'm at home now, I have plugged the phone into the PC to have a better look. 8GB is just the music, I think DH has Itunes set to make them in a very high quality format which takes up lots of space (don't get me started on DH and his obsession with hifi and sound quality!). I use it for photos far more than I thought I would because I always have it with me and the quality is far better than on my old phone, also you can email them straight to people from the phone which is nice. The 445 photos is under 1GB.

I'm also hoping that, WhoKnows. But I shall definitely post about running tomorrow after I've been (even if I probably won't have anything interesting to say about it). Where's Pistey - she has an iPhone too, doesn't she? Perhaps I'll try to track her down on FB. No, I've had an even better idea - I shall put out a general call for help on FB.

Just nipping out to the gym (shh!!)
I am not sleeping well at the moment and I know it's because I am not exercising
Just going to do my weights and maybe week 1 run depending how wound feels

Hello runners!

Humph. I didn't have a parcel from Nell in my letterbox today .

Those of you who are on FB with me have heard my news already today, but as I'm still sitting on my fluffy white cloud from this morning, I will repeat it here

I passed my MBA!

And I ran 5 miles before breakfast!

Remember the good old days when I couldn't eve get as far as the Park - well today I went to the Park, round part of it and home again and made myself late for work because I took so long.

Congratulations again Shredded, fantastic news. I saw that you'd been for a run too, but misread it as 5k rather than 5 miles so am even more impressed now.

I'm giving my run a miss today as my knee was hurting all day yesterday. I'm so fed up as I thought my building-back-up-gradually plan seemed to be working. It's also slightly worrying that it's not just during running/just after a run that it's hurting (it was fine for a whole day after my last run), so I suppose I'll have to go back to the doctor's if it's no better by next week.

But, to cheer myself up, I have ordered an iPhone.

Well done shredded! Fantastic news abut the MBA! What are you going to do to mark this achievement?

Linzer, sorry to hear the knee is still hurting. Mine have been hurting on and off since I started, but I'm sure the shred ruined them permanently. My latest ailment is that my left foot goes completely numb about 3k into a run, and stays numb for the next few k before coming back to life. Did the doctor ever give you any advice? I've looked at knee supports but there seem to be lots of different ones depending on the problem. Good that you are not over-doing things.

Kristina - DH is away this weekend, and I'm doing my Jingle Bell Jog but I'll find a way of celebrating!

Yes, I reckon it was The Shred that did for my knee as well, Shredded. It was perfectly fine beforehand, so I rue the day I ever clapped on eyes on Jillian and her Best Girls. The doctor advised me to do some strengthening exercises (should probably do more of those), stretch before and after runs, apply some kind of gel afterwards (I've bought it but am sceptical), etc. but said I'd need to see an orthopaedic specialist if it doesn't get any better, which will probably be ??. Which is why I was hoping that my building-up-slowly approach would cure it.

The postman had another parcel of polish for me this morning! My OPI mini varnishes have arrived; I knew they weren't full size, but they are teeny tiny. Gorgeous colours, but I shall try out my China Glaze for Audrey courtesy of the lovely Nell first.

Yoohoo! Je suis ici!

Yay! Congratulations shredded on:

A. The five miler!

And

B. The MBA!

Well done you clever thing, I'm very prions of you on both counts! [mother hen emoticon]

I'm so sorry your parcel hasn't arrived yet. Grrr.

Well done linzer on the phone progress! This is my virgin iPhone MN post so hope it works!

< waves to everyone>

Here goes ...

Prions? PROUD!

Turn off the spell checker Nell!

Do you have your spell checker set to French, Nell? I've set the language on my iPod to English but it still wants to change everything I write to German. You probably confused it by writing your first sentence in French. Continuing on the multilingual theme, je te PMerai ce soir. (Excuse any mistakes; you'd never guess I had a degree in French.)

Nell thank you so much for your parcel. You won't believe this, but I almost PM'd you at the weekend to ask you to get one for me you mind reader! Thankyou!

Ooh, what did you get Shredded?

Bells for shoes? Seasonal soundtrack? Post race bagels and hot choclate? Can i coem too please?

Shame im only a couple of thousand miles away

[wonders about local park run]

Linzer Nell very kindly sent me this year's must-have fashion accessory

Kristina if it's as cold as it was this morning I'm going to need the seasonal soundtrack and hot chocolate . I'll report back afterwards!

I am intrigued now, Shredded. It's not the MN scarf, is it?

My knee seems better today, but I'm still getting the odd twinge so will give tomorrow's run a miss. A shame really, as DH has decided he's going to work from home tomorrow: normally an ideal opportunity for running as a) I may feel the need to escape and b) I'm not missing out on valuable MNing time (I have to restrict myself with DH hovering).

Foul weather here today, run postponed (again!) but I have been swimming instead. Hope those of you in Scotland are OK.

Linzer - glad it's not just me who feels like that about DHs working from home....

Horrible weather here, snowy, hailing and very windy. Luckily not working today, so after going out this morning have decided best to stay indoors until tomorrow!
Though had to make a quick trip outside when part of the neighbours roof landed in the garden - just glad it wasn't mine...
Week 9 runs look like being postponed indefinitely at this point. :(

Kids off school and storm force winds are gettimg in the way of running

Woohoo! Hurrah! shredded I cannot tell you how relieved I am that it escaped the clutches of Customs this time. And imagine you wanting one anyway! Serendipity. As I was packing it I thought to myself, hmmm maybe she will have the real one and I will look a bit of a chump. Tis luffly isn't it? So pleased you like it. Are your boys back yet?

WhoKnows - gorgeoise colour, I love it.

And at turning my spellcheck off. Zut alors!

Linzer - so pleased you have made progress on the iPhone front, I'm slowly getting to grips with mine. I do love it but can't believe the battery life is so short. For example when I was in town with teenage DD1 Christmas shopping this afternoon, and we sat down for a breather because I was knackered, I couldn't get on MN reply to DH's text. Hope your knee has a little rest tomorrow - you might have to do some horizontal exercise instead, like brighthair.

Stay safe all you wild and windy Scottish runners!