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.

Mine were over an hour and over £90 (eek!) too. Although I didn't have to run up and down outside the shop for you IFAS! I am starting to think about getting a new pair now. How do I know if mine are worn out?

Kristina do you run faster at your Parkruns than you do at home?

My fingers are mostly better now so I may have bash at some nail garnish this afternoon. Am going Out this evening, with the girls so need to make a bit of an effort......

RI30 today (if I get out of bed NOW!)

Jelli-apparently they shoudl be replaced after a certain distance, about 400-500 miles. I think it also depends on the terrain you run on too. Or if you throw them in the washing machine

The advice is to get another pair and rotate them so you will be ablw to tell when the cushioning goes, as gradual deterioration is hard to detect.

Yes, i run MUCH faster at the parkrun that at home. I suspect one reason is that at home i run a route measured by the car, rather thn by a more accurate method and i suspect its neaere 5.5km. The other reason is just trying to keep up with all the better runners.

Ive discovered that i do much better times if i run fast at the beginning to get up neaere to front of the pack and try to keep pace with them. When i followed the standard advice to beginners of " start slow" i was about a minute slower.

Our lcal park run is very slow at the start anyway as there are about 350 runners on quite a narrow road . Plus a few mad people with dogs on these expanding leads...

Kristina thanks, I hadn't thought about getting a pair, comparing and rotating if I am too early, as it were. I got them in April and run 10 miles per week (well probably less than that now) so I will wait a little while I think. We are still pondering about the half marathon - clashes with DDs study leave I think - so will take training for that into account too...

I don't have a clever gadget so I use this to plot my runs fairly accurately. Perhaps you could use it to find out about your regular run.

I have recently read an article about starting out fast v slowly. Can't remember where though but as far as I remember it said for 5k type distances if you do hold back to start with you don' go far enough to benefit from the saved energy, IYSWIM? So it is the faster way too go

Just for the record I did do L2 RI30. Phew!

Well done on your run jelli. And thnaks for that link, ive just plotted my route from home and its nearly 5.4k. Handy to know

OMFG!

What a difference!!!! Just back from W4D2 and no pain! Just minimal stiffness. I'm amazed!

That second 5 min run at the end still kills me though. Stopped about 3 mins into it for about 15 secs. Grrr. So team for the last 3 mins of the Cool Down, as where I finish that is about 5 mins walk from home, so I still do that 5 min walk & still feel like I ran enough... here's to hoping I crack that second 5 min run on Monday!

Damn autocorrect - ran, not 'team'

Fantastic! Good decsion on these shoes

IFAS great news re the shoes. It's amazing what difference the right kit makes isn't it? For me is was a shock absorber bra that was my "Wow! What a difference" item.

(Kristina I didn't run today I did level 2 pf Ripped in 30 - a Jillian Michaels DVD. Running tomorrow if the snow doesn't lay...)

OOps sorry, i thought it was a typo for w1. Must remember that not everyone types like me

The man in the shop was fab - gave me advice on my arms too. I was holding them high. Jeez, I must have looked like bloody Rocky!! .

Right, off to cook a curry and decide on nail polish!

Grrrr! I didn't get my run in today, partly because of the snow but mostly from taking long phone calls from DH, DMil and DM, all about an hour each. I was busy with the kids too this afternoon and the day has now evaporated. Grrrr! (But it was nice to catch up with them all )

I will have to get up early on Wednesday and squeeze a run in then i think. The days are definitely stretching out though. I have my DParents coming at the end of this week for a week, so by the time they have left to go home the days will be long enough for me to run before OR after work, which apparently (!) will be great.

Kristina how did your Parkrun go?

Did anyone else manage to get any running done? Nail garnish?

Morning all, I had a quick run (about 4.5 miles) on Saturday before I got on the plane. I spent most of yesterday in cabs and on delayed trains on a crazy journey between Heathrow and Gatwick via Peterborough. Thank goodness for M&S and those little bottles of in the chiller cabinet.

I thought about running this morning, but it was a bit frosty and I realised I still had the yoga DVD in my laptop so I did the sun salutations instead to get the kinks out of my back and shoulders - I'll be having a lot of computer time the next few days. I might go this evening if we finish early enough. But am slightly put off by the note in the "about xx conference centre" brochure which advises wearing flourescent (sp?) bids, available to borrow from reception, while running in the locality and . Surely no coyotes here?

(sneaks in...) Hello, I am a newbie runner - started C25k run 1 thismorning. Things I have established.....

1. I need a sports bra.
2. Do they make equivalent sports knickers - I could feel my arse wibbling and wobbling...
3. My old tracky bottoms are not suitable.
4. I should take off my specs before I go.

So Im off to M&S for a new over shoulder boulder holder and some legwear.

I feel OK tho.

I want to run again - havent done so since my teens but going through some shit at home and just need to work it out by pounding the pavement a bit. Also am v. overweight, and need some decent exercise to help me lose the belly!

Morning all,

Welcome Hatti and well done for getting started. I don't know about sports knickers, I used to notice my belly bouncing up and down but I have got used to it now. What you definitely don't want is old ones where the elastic has gone a bit (either fall down or give you a wedgie, neither is good. I have a very good pair of M&S cropped running trousers these

I've just been to Pilates class and am off for a run in a minute. Sunny but cold here today. Then, housework and I'm just starting my OU course, so want to get an hour or two in before the DCS come home.

Nail report: pah! Not very happy with my Seche Vite. Did my nails again last night, following advice from a very knowledgable poster on another thread who says her nails last a week with SV. A big chip in one of them already. I am going to patch it up and monitor for wear and tear for another day or two.

Just got back from my run (decided to MN for a bit longer do the housework first). 30 mins gentle pace but hilly so out of breath. I'm quite happy pottering on like this for the moment, I showed myself after Christmas that I can get myself up to PB times again with a couple of weeks extra effort but at the moment everything else is in the way of going out 3x a week.

Hi all. Ran again today. Cannot crack the second 5 min run on Week Four . Keep stopping for 15 secs after 3 mins. Going to repeat Day 3 till I can do that run!

Whole bloody run felt a bit like wading through treacle today TBH.

Still, Weds is another day! Onwards & upwards!

Maybe try a different route next time IFAS? That does help me sometimes when I get a persistent need to walk at a particular point.

I did walk a bit of mine today, which was just as well because I then got to a steep uphill bit and saw someone I know who doesn't like me and the feeling is mutual walking down towards me so I set off and ran top speed past her and away up the hill without looking back. Pathetic I know but it made me feel better.

Our thread is nearly full! What shall we do? Can we carry on calling ourselves a 2011 thread? Why not I suppose, that's when it started.

Not a great run today - I did W3R1 but maybe I'd left too long in between runs (a fortnight due to snow, icy pavements and half-term) as my knee started hurting towards the end. It's been quite painful ever since and I've been hobbling up and downstairs, so it looks like I won't be able to avoid a visit to the orthopaedic specialist after all.

On a brighter note, my fingernails are going to be on the Internet. I would love to say that they've been talent spotted, but a friend of mine who has a cosmetics studio needs some fingernails for some before and after shots (DH looked at my chipped polish and asked whether that was going to be the before shot - how not to apply your nail varnish). I was complaining to her about how my polish chips after a day; she said that it really shouldn't and to make sure that I bring the top coat up over the nail and underneath the other side IYSWIM (she explained it far better than that). I don't think my nails are long enough and I'd just end up putting top coat on the top of my fingers, but she said that it should be possible even if you have short stubby fingernails like mine. Anyway, I'll be interested to see if my varnish lasts any longer after a professional manicure or whether my nails are just doomed.

Welcome Hatti and keep going IFAS - you'll get there in the end!

WhoKnows I think it's fine to keep 2011 in the title; it'll differentiate it from the other and newer threads.

Linzer I do that over the tip thing with my nails and it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. I have just de-varnished my Seche Vited nails in disgust after three of them were badly chipped within 24 hours.

Shall I start a new thread then?

New route it's a good tip, thanks WhoKnows. It was just one of those where I couldn't find my stride, you know?

And yes to new thread but make it obvious for numpties like me!

I'll start one tomorrow and link on here. Or the day after, depends how long it takes me to think up a witty title!

NEW THREAD NEW THREAD NEW THREAD

PART FIVE!