Couch to 5k 2011: Part 5 - Polished and Ready to Run

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yet more space for us to talk about our progress on the Couch to 5K programme, the clothes 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! Although this thread has been going for a year now some of us are re-doing the Couch to 5K, some of us are relatively new, some are doing half marathons already, we are a good mix and would love to hear from anyone who would like to run with us. Just jump in whatever stage you are at.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Evening all, where are you all? Out enjoying the spring like weather hopefully.

I went out yesterday and did a Week 1 run with fast running intervals, I think my weekly plan from now on till I change my mind again is going to be

Monday - Pilates
Wednesday - Swim
Friday - Interval running from C25K
Sunday - 30 minutes or so steady run

Nail update, I think I've got the hang of the Seche Vite a bit better now, I made sure I left a good 5 mins between coats this time instead of rushing one after another. The polish that I did on Tuesday night is still holding up, I had worn edges after a couple of days but I did a v.quick touch up last night and they still look fine. Going to see if they can last the week.

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

Hello WhoKnows

That sounds like a good plan!

I did 2 x shreds this week, and a yoga session, but no running. I also had a night off alcohol. If you count from last Saturday, that's 2 alcohol-free nights in 7 days . I need to try harder.

I would have run today, but have a 1500 word assignment to write for the OU course that I started for "fun" . What was I thinking?

I hope to run tomorrow - and the clocks change here sooner than in the UK, so the evenings will be lighter again soon and I will have even fewer excuses

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!

[hattifattner]

ive finished w2, but now have a stinking cold. dont know if I will have energy or inclination to tackle w3 next week. But dont want to lose momentum.

[ifancyashandy]

Morning all. That looks similar to my work out reigime (sp?) Whoknows. Although I ask watching the budget at the mo, so running more regularly because it's free!

Ran Tues, Weds, Thurs & Sat this week and completed W5!! So chuffed with that! Thought D3's 20min run would kill me but it was surprisingly manageable. Ok, so I'm not going to break any distance/speed records but I had an ok pace going and didn't stop once. And I'd run for 13mins the first time I looked at the clockwatch, which was hugely motivating!

Left thigh is bloody killing me this beginning though!!

Glad you got to grips with SV too. My last mani only needed one touch up & lasted a week. Back to Jessica Winter Berries today!

[jellibelli]

I haven't posted because I haven't run OR been wearing nail garnish !

I have run this morning though so I feel qualified to post. I just went out for 30 minutes because I felt I should as I've not run since last Wednesday (10 days ago), I had my folks visiting and the kids home so fell off my low carb wagon and the exercise went to pot too. Anyhow, I am back on my own again now and the tape measure and scales have held fast on my measurements so I am happy I stayed static despite the disturbances to routine!!

I wish I enjoyed running more. I run in fab places too, with great views but it's just so tedious, sigh!

My exercise routine is up the spout a bit. I am not entirely sure what I am doing now.... I do something most days but is usually Jillian M, strength training, some running and a touch of yoga. I need to get a plan going methinks.

who knows you sound organised (like I should be) with a good plan.

shredded I hope you got your essay done and can run with a clear conscience today!

Hatti you could repeat week 2 if you are not up to tackling w3 this week. Depends on how you are feeling as to whether you are up to w2 even...

shandy well done on the running front it sounds like you are having fun with the running.

Must dash - out to lunch again today. Happy running one and all

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Plan isn't looking too good today, so far we've had heavy rain, heavy snow, back to heavy rain and massive puddles everywhere and it's 2C out there, I really don't want to go out. Might do a bit of Wii fit instead.

Shredded I too need to do some OU work this afternoon, so I'd better get off MN and get the kettle on.

Jelli - I find it tedious at least 90% of the time too, once in a while I get a buzz from it but not regularly. Same with swimming.

Shandy - well done! That last week 5 run is a big psychological boost I think.

Hatti - hope the cold gets better soon. I have found, and one of my running friends agrees, that if the cold is all in your head you can still run, but once it's on your chest you've had it and need to rest till it shifts. I've had several enforced lazy spells away from the running where I have maybe only been out a couple of times in a month but the fitness usually gets back to normal within a week of re-starting properly.

[NeitherShreddedNorSmug]

WhoKnows that weather sounds like a very good reason not to run. I have got my OU thing in, and I WENT FOR A RUN! Only half an hour, but better than nothing. I just did week 1 for the umpteenth time and used it for speed intervals (i.e. slow and very slow). Feeling rather wheezy for the first time in ages, but it was pretty cold out.

[jellibelli]

Not boasting or anything but I think I must have had the best weather today. It was a bit chilly when I ran as I forgot to take my gloves (you know the saying, the last thing I want to do is forget my gloves and sure enough the last thing I did was to forget my gloves....) but this afternoon I needed my sunnies to drive with .

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Well, got my OU done too, and ahead a bit for next week. The weather has cleared up in the last couple of hours but I'm not going out now, will try and fit in a run tomorrow instead.

[ifancyashandy]

Evening All. Hope everyone's happy and polished!

Did W6D1 today - I am LOVING running! Thing is, I am prone to depression and am slipping into a bout due to having a fairly hard time life wise at the mo (unemployment plus other issues), so running covers so many positive basis for me - the physical act of getting out of the house, the feel of fresh air, the actual endorphines and the sense of achievement. It'll all go to pot when I'm back working again, I'm sure!

[melodyangel]

Ifancy - your quite right about running being a mood enhancer. Hope things get better for you soon and well done your doing really well.

Weather here cold so still running on the treadmill, was hard going today but know it will get easier, well it did last time.

[ifancyashandy]

Thanks Melody & hope the weather improves for you.

[jellibelli]

Well done shandy and melody.

I haven't run since sunday as I can't face it but I have done JM's Ripped yesterday and today so I am not alll bad. If I get up in time tomorrow I will run if it isn't too cold/wet/miserable, I haven't seen the forecast yet. Otherwise I may well have a day off exercise, or I may get ripped again! I am hopin to get the time to sit and do my nails tonight but as o haven't eaten yet I won't hold my breath!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Evening all,

I haven't run or swum all week (so much for the plan, just too much RL stuff going on right now). However I can report that the lower GI diet is making me feel good, I'm less tired and not getting the massive hunger pangs that I used to, so hopefully I can gradually tweak it and make myself lose some weight too.

However I have had time to pop to the shops for urgently needed retail therapy essentials and was very excited to find these little beauties in my local Boots New L'Oreal Nail Colours on 3 for 2 I am currently sporting a taupe one very similar to the OPI You Don't Know Jacques or whatever it's called.

[ifancyashandy]

Morning all! Hope weather / moods / kids / partners / hangovers are conducive to running for those who want to this weekend!

I finished W7 yesterday - the 25mins was the longest I've ever run in my life! And while there were a couple of 'when will this end' moments, I did it! Stiff thigh muscles today however! Athough a long soak in a bubble bath with wine helped last night!

No running for me today but may go for a swim. And there are nails to be painted (Nails Inc Picadilli Circus, for those whom care!).

Have good day y'all!

[ifancyashandy]

Sorry Who knows, meant to say, interesting about GI diet and energy. May look into that. And the nail polishes!!

[melodyangel]

Well done Shandy! I can't wait to be up to those long runs again.

So we managed to break the treadmill again. but it gives us the push we need to start running outside again.

Have made a pact with a friend to run the marathon in 2015. So will need to keep this running malarky up now. Also hoping to learn to swim this year if I stop being such a chicken

Nail polish is lurid green, No7 fever.

[jellibelli]

Well done shandy and to melody on breaking the treadmill again !?! I won't ask....

No running for me again today even though it was my running day really. I got up a bit late usual iPad problem and faffed a bit tidying up and I ran out of time. I went out for lunch with DS so now I am full of lunch (only an omelette, honest) and it is still firmly in my tummy, so I don't think I'll manage to get a run in before it's dark. I will do Ripped later on instead and force myself to run before work tomorrow morning (and enjoy a whole days PRSP ).

I will be back on track with the running after next week as DH gets back then and I'll ask him to nag me about it. He will enjoy that as he likes us to run together....

On the plus side, at last I have respectable nails and found time to garnish them so I am now sporting deluxe chocolate if I have done it right.

Hope you all have more success than me on the running!

[jellibelli]

who knows how are you getting on with the low gi?

I have been doing some reading too and had decided to reduce my carbs this week too. I have not noticed a great difference with my energy levels really. But it is difficult to compare as I generally have SO much more energy now than before I made the changes to my body, so a small increase may well have slipped by me. I was saying to a friend though that I had noticed (oh god, this is really tempting fate) that I haven't been ill since I started losing weight and watching my diet over a year ago, not even a cold. I have never gone a year without a snuffle or a throat infection. Ever.

I have noticed a greater positivity though, just a general feeling of being able to do stuff , perhaps that is more energy?

However, the housework remains and won't do itself so I must stop procrastinating wittering and get a grip!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Whoknows is sat at the computer eating apple crumble and ice cream with a streaming cold, having not run for over a week (but has beautiful nails Blue Reef).

So, the low GI Diet! Despite all the above, I think it is working, I haven't lost any weight yet but I suspect I will need to make a few more changes to achieve that. I feel a whole load better though, cold notwithstanding, energy levels are not fluctuating as wildly as they used and I'm not getting massive hunger pangs / carb carvings either. I used to get a massive dip in energy / carb craving about 2 hours after lunch (when I get home form work) and then used to stuff myself with toast only to feel the same at 6pm and stuff myself with anything to hand whilst making the dinner.

So the regime is as follows

7.30 - breakfast, old = branflakes with milk and banana, new = extra nut granola with milk and a banana

11am - snack time, old = nothing, new = slice of wholemeal bread and peanut butter or 2 oatcakes and cheese

12 - old lunch time, was starving by then
1.30 - new lunchtime - soup plus salad with protein (meat/fish/nuts)

4pm - snack time - nuts and raisins or more oatcakes+cheese

Anytime between 6 and 8 - dinner, with lower GI changes where possible.

Ahem, no running this week due to the cold and being very busy, but hoping to get back to it this week (not optimistic, the next two weeks look manic).

Jelli - love that chocolate colour! I hope my new diet leaves me cold free from now on, I've had at least 4 this winter, I usually only get about one.

Shandy - well done with Week 7, fantastic progress

Melody - I'm not a very good swimmer but am making serious efforts to improves this year. A friend of mine did an adult swimming course last term and went from being able to do one length to doing 50 front crawl non stop in the space of a term, I'm well impressed.

Better go, DCs are kicking off.

[littlepinkpear]

Hello ladies I am absolutely brand new to this exercise nonesense but I have to run 5k with my colleagues in June

What app would you recommend for my iPhone?

There appears to be a nail polish theme on this thread. Chanel rouge noir on my hands, OPI fuscia on my feet

Can I join???

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Ooh, yes, hello LittlePinkbear and welcome. Back later!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Another newbie here, safety in numbers and all that

I have a treadmill, I have Lycra and I have trainers.

I don't have any running experience or fitness

Dh is a runner, so has been helping me. I've been doing the running/walking/running/walking etc for two weeks now and have been noticing small improvements. My running time is longer, my walking time is shorter and my pace is faster.

However, I have the problem that I have the strength in my legs to increase the pace, but my fitness lags behind.

I am running as I need to lose weight (am very overweight), but most importantly I need to get fit and healthy. I need to find an activity that I can do on my own, that fits in with the kids (I have a 3yo and a 10mo) and that I enjoy. Dh has always been a runner and I have always been envious that he has a sport that he enjoys rather than endures.

Right, confession over

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Another one!

Will pop back for a proper chat once I've taken the DCs to school.

[alessthandomesticgoddess]

What music do you listen to when you run? I'm finding my gym playlist a little slow and dull.