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.

Finally made it out today - still very chilly, but the pavements were fine. So W1R2 done.

WhoKnows Sadly my lack of running over the past few months has made absolutely no difference to the state of the house.

Well done linzer, hows the knee?

Morning all! I've managed to catch Nell's cold - have been up since 5.30 with sore throat, earache and sniffles. So will not be going running today.

I'm glad you liked the yoga DVD recommendation Linzer - the woman who presents it is in her 50's from what I can tell, and does not have the Killian barky voice or grinning assistants bouncing around at the back thank goodness Well done on your run. Well done to Kristina too.

WhoKnows - we don't really know where we want to live, but are thinking north of London. My parents are oop north, so we don't want to have to cross/circumnavigate London every time we go to see them (as we used to have to do when we lived there), so somewhere near the M1/A1 would be good. I've suggested to DH that should we end up back in the UK next year we should rent for 6 months in whichever place we're thinking of buying in to test it out before we make a permanent move and find out that we can't bear commuting.

Hi ladies,

I have recovered from my sulk and am back but oh god it was annoying...

Shredded I am sorry to hear you are not well either, I hope you and Nell take it easy and rest up so you are both back to the exercise as swiftly as possible (although after all of your training you'll be glad of a break I would think). I suspect we may have a move on the cards later this year to but we don't know where or when either - what great game, not!

I did do my run yesterday although I was slow but that is hardly a surprise when I have barely run since mid December (excepting the week I did in Spain). But, it was fun. I think I may have been missing it, which is great news if it is true as up until now I have not enjoyed running much! Before I went out I had decided to run three miles and would let myself have walk for 20 steps at the turnaround point (it was a flat there a back run) since I am out of the habit of running but when I got there my head overruled the permission and I just kept running as I turned back. Oh hurrah! Normally my head is looking for any excuse to make it easier. So I was jolly pleased about that.

I have been trying to find out more about losing the layer of flab I have. It's all a bit difficult to pin down, but my new plan (have signed up to my fitness pal) is to eat more protein, even less carbs and a bit more fat which seems barmy but I will give it a whirl.I shall also in increase my cardio fitness a bit and then begin to do more hill runs eek , I shall start to some yoga, and I have already started to lift some heavier weights. Theoretically I will then become toned and have a low body fat like Jillian et al . I will, of course, be shouting it from the rooftops if I am successful. I am quite excited by my new mission and really hope i haven't got the wrong end of the stick. I would be in danger of being a boring 'reformed exerciser' even more than I am already if it works though

I was successful this time last year when I started the 30 day shred and then completed 6week 6 pack before finding you guys and then completing c25k and then continuing straight onto 10k. Since July I have maintained my size and weight. I am now ready to put some more effort in to make a new change. I like my new body but my aim last january was to be able to shop in regular shops for bras and as yet I am still confined to Bravissimo and the likes so on I go.

If you got to the end of that - I am sorry to have burbled but I find I commit better if it is written down 'in public' and it sorts it out in my head a bit better too.

No running for me today as it's a weights day (which i haven't done yet). I shall also be buying Shredded's yoga DVD to help with that side of things.

Waaaaaah waaaaahhhh I'm dyyyyyyying I tell you. Dyyyyyyyiiiiing.

It is the most horrible cold sinus type thing I have ever had in my entire lifetime which is considerable. My heid's like mince! The only good thing is that I can't eat and breathe at the same time. And to be fair, I'd rather breathe.

Will be back later to catch up on all the goss. Oh and I bought myself some nail varnish to cheer myself up

Nell, are you a man?

Kristina. My knee seems to be holding up OK, thanks. It's good to know I can subject it to 30 minutes of exercise (if not non-stop running) now that I've restarted the plan.

Oh, poor you Nell - I haven't suffered myself, but I know that sinus-related things are just horrible. And get well soon too, Shredded. I'm from north of London (Hertfordshire) but can't remember much about motorway access! I also used to commute out to Buckinghamshire when we lived in London; the trains coming into London were a nightmare (jam packed) but commuting against the flow was quite pleasant.

Good to hear about the lack of grinning assistants on the yoga DVD; always a bonus. I had an e-mail from Amazon yesterday to say it's on its way; surely it can't take 30 days to get here? Even 18 days seems ridiculously long.

Jelli I've definitely been missing running too. I tell myself I enjoy it - and I do enjoy feeling like I'm a runner (or used to...) and of course the PRSP, but generally don't enjoy more than the first minute and possibly last minute of a run!

(gruffly) Kristina

Hope you're feeling better shredded, I'm a bit less bunged up today, but still not been running. Loads of boring chores to be done today on my day off like making a cake for DH's birthday and testing it, and taking DD2 to a hospital appointment. Mucho hanging around.

How's your nails knee Linzer? hope it's a bit better, and you manage to get out.

Hope everyone's well and happy And looking forward to a nice weekend ahead! DS is back from uni for the weekend so he might nag me into going out running. Mind you he said he ran to the Peak District last week from Sheffield so I've got no chance!

Arf at "are you a man?"

Glad you are starting to feel a bit better Nell, I suffer with sinus problems and it is not nice. I have got a neti pot (sinus irrigation thing) now and although it is gross, it really clears things out amazingly well.

Shredded - sounds like you want Beds, Bucks or Herts then, not Hampshire. My parents are both from oop north (Yorkshire and Scotland), I grew up in Bedfordshire, we spent many a long hour on the M1. Having said that, we get to DH's family in Birmingham in only 2 hours, so it's not too bad from down here, if we do go further North we tend to go M40/M6 Toll road and cut across Leicestershire to get back East again rather than using the M25/M1/A1 now. The toll road makes a big difference now.

Linzer - where did you work in Bucks? I lived in High Wycombe and worked in the Chalfonts for many years, was nice (but I prefer Hampshire)

Krtistina - sound advice re housework, however they are only 8 and 6, I don't think I can wait that long.

Jelli - that all sounds logical, a good idea to let your body get used to your regime changes for a few months before pushing on to the next level I think. I managed to lose 9lbs last year but have stuck at the same weight since Christmas, I need to kick start again. I have tried MyFitnessPal and found it quite good, but it takes a few weeks to get all your favourite foods found and in place, then it is very easy. I like the bar code scanning facility.

Went out this morning, not a great run TBH but it was 11 days since I had been out for a 30 min run and I have got a bit of a cold too, so I am not going to worry.

Well done to everyone who s been out. I am planning to do local parkrun tonorrow, which is probably a but rash as ive only been out running onve this week. Might be too cold....

Who knows-my youngest is 6 too and the minial housework plan is working out ok for me.....

Good luck with your Parkrun Kristina!

Nell - enjoy having your DS home! He sounds like a fit young man! My DS1 is doing cross country as his sport this term and has deigned to run a 10K with me in April .

jelli - glad you got over your sulk . I used to get timed out all the time as the servers would go down at 3am in the UK/10pm here - prime mumsnetitng time! Well done on your re-commitment to running and exercising and eating well. I have fallen off the exercise waggon this week - working far too hard and too late - but will get back on it next week.

I hope that if you do have to move it will be somewhere you want to go. Enjoy the yoga DV when it comes. To keep up the shopping I also bought myself a yoga mat to go in the corner with the exercise ball I used twice

WhoKnows - well done on your run.

I'm not sure if it is correct etiquette to mention this, but I have been nodding vigorously at your posts on the changing names when you got married thread

Linzer has the DVD turned up yet?

Sorry for so many posts. I'm very tired and can only hold one bit of information at once.

No sign of the DVD yet Shredded; it was only shipped two days ago, although I can't imagine it will really take 18-30 days. Not that I have time to start it next week as I'm ridiculously busy with work - although I'm determined not to let my running slip. I really must go out either today or tomorrow.

Good luck with the park run, Kristina.

WhoKnows I used to work in Gerrards X, although sadly never spotted Cilla! I know the Chalfonts and High Wycombe too as I had friends there (still have a good friend in HW in fact - DD1's godmother, who came to visit us a few months ago). Lovely area, although parts of it are horrendously expensive.

Nell The knee is OK thanks, but the nails are a bit the worse for wear! I did a quick touch-up of the Russian Navy last night before DH and I went out for a meal (making the most of an unexpected child-free house), but think I'll have to take it off in the next day or two and will probably go for something a bit more subtle next time so that it looks good for longer than a day.
Hope you have a lovely weekend with your DS.

Linzer and WhoKnows We were looking in the Chalfonts and Amersham way a few years ago. DH was desperate to get out of London, but I wasn't, so we compromised on looking at the end of the tube line (Amersham and Chesham), then he tempted me a bit further out. He grew up in Northwood, and still has friends scattered around there. But I feel ready now for moving properly out, but just don't know where! The choice seems to be endless . I will be working in either central London or Milton Keynes next time we are home; DH probably central London but not guaranteed.

I'm going to do yoga before DH wakes up and catches me , and get the manicure I didn't have time for last weekend. I might even go for a run

Ha ha, you should have seen the park run today!!!! Ive only been a few times begroe when its a very gentile footpath run. Y' know, proper tarmac paths through a big country park, with the odd branch or puddle. All the hard core runners splash straight through them manfully while i tip toe around trying not to get my socks muddy.

Today we had to run across FIELDS as apparently the footpath were too icy. So instead we ran on Frozen icy mud. First time around it wasnt too bad but aftre 3 circuits and 600 people thrugh the same mudfield....

To think i spent all these years at school doggimg off cross country....

Kristina - that sounds interesting (and a challenge for your washing machine). And cold. Well done for braving it. How was your time?

DH is dropping enormous hints about how good I'd be feeling if I'd been for a run and what a nice day it is for a run. I haven't told him about my other priorities like manicures and shopping yet

Time was my worst ever and 3mins behind my PB < snort>

Although it fairness most runners were 2-3mins behind their pb. No men ran under 18 and no women under 23 mins, whereas usually there are loads. No one out of 300 runners got a PB

But I was 18th woman overall and 2nd in my age group. Which only goes to prove that most women have more intelligence than to yomp through frozen fields

It was an experinceThough. Not quite in the NY marathon in the snow league

W1R3 done. I'm exhausted now and can't imagine how I ever managed to run for more than 1 minute at a time. I'll have to next week, though.

Shredded Amersham is really nice too, from what I can remember of it - my friend now in Wycombe used to live there. Wouldn't you have quite a commute if you moved further out? It also depends on where you/your DH would be working in London, of course. We only lived a few minutes' walk from Marylebone station, so I was quite glad to be able to avoid the rush hour tube. And I must admit I sometimes found my commute too short. (I often did my overtime, or otherwise read, on the train, and was usually just getting into it when I arrived.)

Kristina The park run sounded like quite a challenge, to say the least, so well done on not just getting through it but coming 2nd in your age group. My aim if I manage to do the town run this summer would be to finish in the top three, but as there were only seven or eight women in my age group last year it's not quite as ambitious as it sounds!

Well done Linzer, and Kristina for finishing at all in such circumstances.

Shredded / Linzer - well, I have to say I never developed any real bond for the Amersham/Wycombe area even living there for 10 years, it was nice enough and I have a certain fondness based on familiarity and good memories, but I left without so much as a backward glance and have no real desire to ever go back. Unlike Hampshire, where I feel totally rooted and at home. Which is weird really, because the Chilterns is a beautiful area. It just seemed like a very glossy commuter belt, no real character. Was very good for celeb spotting though, they were everywhere.

Nearly forgot, Shredded thank you re the married names thread, I nodded vigorously at your post too. I really ought to stop getting sucked into those threads and the Ms/Mrs/Miss ones, they all end the same way, ie two sides very entrenched and a few people sniggering that we should have better things to worry about.

Hi, I'm back. I had a long lie in with my iPad this morning and then went out on my run. I did 4 miles, but I had to stop to remove a stone from my shoe at 2 miles, but even allowing 'stoppage time' I was pretty slow. I WILL look on the bright side so although I was slow I could still complete 4 miles fairly comfortably despite not running much for the last month, so overall , a small hurrah! It was a bit boring though.... although I didn't speak to a single soul yesterday so that probably didn't help

Must go, having lunch out with DD today and I've just got back in and am a bit whiffy.

I lie, I spoke to DH on the phone yesterday. No sympathy required