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.

Hiya Everyone

W1d1 does it count if I did half well a bit more than half. I had 8.36 to do when I stopped

Wow 400m swim well done.

Hiya linzer what's this gait analysis thing.

Waves to everyone.

Morning all, , welcome coostoonettle and Neilsboar and anyone else I've missed.

Linzer - let me know how you get on with your knee. Mine is still really sore, but that's partly because I've treadmilled for three days to avoid hanging out in the bar with some of my colleagues

WhoKnows - I think my friends has been low carbing quite strictly - e.g. he didn't have any bread or pudding. But he did drink plenty of wine. He was saying that the advice he got in the US was very different to the UK, and mentioned a book his Dr recommended. I'll get him to tell me what it is called and send it to you. My DH (despite being whippet thin and very fit) has just been diagnosed with high cholesterol, so it was quite entertaining listening to the chaps swapping diet tips.

Neils - good that you have set yourself a goal. I think it really helps to have something to aim towards to keep you motivated.

Nettle - gait analysis is when you get your feet and running style checked out by people who know what they are looking at so you can get trainers that suit your style, which in turn is supposed to stop you getting injured. I apparently have high arches and do not pronate very much whatever that means. Once you know what kind of trainers you need you can look out for them in the sales/on eBay

Hey jelli, did you ever enter a half marathon? I'm hoping to do another one in May and have entered a couple of 5 mile/10k runs in April and June.

Well done Nettie, good start.

Gait analysis is where you go to a running shop (not a Sports Direct sort of place but an independent one usually) and they put you on a treadmill and video your feet as you run, then they can recommend shoes that specifically support your feet and legs as you run. Trainers vary hugely as some people feet turn in, some turn out etc, getting the right ones can make a huge difference in terms of comfort and avoiding injury, but of course it isn't cheap and you are looking at £70-£90 for the shoes. I would say it was absolutely essential if you are going to run seriously though.

x-posted with Shredded - waves! Neither of us has high cholesterol, so that's good at least. I think DH knows he needs to look at his diet but is being lazy. He also doesn't like veg very much so fills his plate with meat and carbs then eats masses of fruit, none of which is brilliant GI wise. If you can find out the name of the book that would be great, thanks.

I'm crying off (again!), I feel really rough still, chest full of cold, sinuses aching.

Just done another run/walk combo. It was much easier than Tuesday night which has given me a boost. I hope to do the same run on Sunday and if it feels as good as it did tonight I am going to aim to increase the amount of run/walk combo's as I don't feel I can reduce my walking time, but I do feel that I could do some more run/walk combo's.

I also felt more comfortable with my pace this time and I find if I zone out and don't analyse EVERYTHING (my pace, speed, how knackered I feel etc etc) it's a bloody sight easier.

Well done ILike. I sometimes ditch my phone and just go out for half an hour or so no music, no timing, nothing and it is very liberating. I'm one of nature's analysers, and if I'm timing myself on a regular route but find I'm slightly slower I do spend the rest of the run thinking about headwinds, uncomfy socks, what I ate for lunch, you name it and doing anything except just enjoying the run. Good to do different things on different days IMO.

No running for me today (I did run yesterday though to make up for being lazy on wednesday) I did Ripped L4 with Jillian instead. I think I need to do one more session with her tomorrow or Sunday and that'll be me ripped! I wish!

I think i will do Kill Buns and Thighs next since I have it anyway and I haven't done it yet. I fear it'll kill my legs though.....

But DH is home in the near future and now I have mentioned doing a half marathon Shredded I think he is fairly keen on finding one to do, and will want to crack on with the running training. Unfortunately we will probably have to bin the half I found before as DD is on study leave then and I'd prefer not to leave her on her own while she is trying to study.

Hope you are feeling better WhoKnows.

Well done ILike. Did you get out today?

jelli if your DD is anything like my DS1, that sounds like a wise decision!

I hope you have all have lovely Mothering Sundays. It's not Mothers' Day for a while here, so we haven't done anything special - just a walk in the park. The blossom has started to come out and it looks lovely.

I ran 5 miles yesterday - since I've entered a 10k in 3 weeks time I need to up my distance again. It's a lap of Central Park, but in the opposite direction to the way I (and almost everyone else) usually run it, and it was jolly hard work - the hills were all in the wrong places, and I hadn't realised how much I relied on my usual landmarks to tell me where I was.

Have a good week y'all!

I was about to ask you where you are Shredded, but the mention of Central Park somewhat gave it away I am v impressed that you ran 5 miles. That distance seems a long way off for me, but somehow still achievable as I feel like I am making progress (albeit a small amount) with each run.

I did run this morning (a Mothers Day treat ) I added one more run/walk combo and I ran for the longest time yet. So am feeling stupidly pleased with myself. I am out tomorrow night, so I plan to run again on Tuesday night.

I couldn't seem to zone out today though, I will have to find out what it is that I zone out to and practice it more often.

ILike - I was about where you are now this time last year . Just keep at it and you will be running 5k in a few weeks.

I don't often manage to zone out, but when I do it's usually when I'm running downhill, I'm in my stride and have the right song on .

I got to do another run this evening. It was hard work (again), but for the first 2/3rds of the run I did feel like I was recovering quicker than before, so I can see there is light at the end of the tunnel with reducing the walking times again.

Once I can run continously (sp?) I will feel that I can say I am a runner

Hi - I followed the link from the housekeeping page. While clearing out I found a skipping rope. She who used to be able to do 30 'bumps' in a row now could only manage 10 poxy ordinary skips. Age creeps up on you . So this is my attempt to do something about it.

I bought a cheap mp3 player (not a big fan of being outside with music; prefer birdsong, but needs must). Spent quite some time yesterday learning how to use it and downloading the nhs week 1 podcast.

This morning dog and I went out for normal 45 min walk. I managed to finish 6 runs and then we ran out of walk. Longer dog route next time . I am very prepared to spend several weeks on each stage - the goal is fitness, not running per se.

Not good with nails. Need to stop biting cuticles . Any product advice?

Hello Honu, well done! I agree totally about the music and outdoors and birdsong (music festivals would be a waste of a peaceful camping trip for me for example) but actually quite like running with music sometimes. Got to dash now, but will be back later.

ps I can only do 2 or 3 skips with DD's skipping rope

I've just been out for my second run this week. I decided to start again at Wk 3, which is where I left off last time, so have just done W3R2. My leg only starts getting a bit uncomfortable in the last couple of intervals but I've finally got round to making an appointment to go and see about it, so am hoping I'll get the bottom of what's causing the problems.

Welcome Honu. My nails are in an awful state at the moment, but I'm using OPI Nail Envy (although I'm using the original one, not the matte) in an attempt to get them looking halfway decent again.

Linzer Was going to say my nails are OK, it's the cuticles that are the problem, but I've just looked at them and they are awful. Any nail stuff I have used in the past has made the cuticles stiffer and therefore more inviting to chew . Any ideas anyone?

I've been rubbing my cuticles with a jojoba oil based balm (Lush Ultrabland) which keeps them softer and neater, I've still got one rogue one which refuses to neaten up though, its in a right state.

Oooh, another cuticle chewer! Welcome Honu

Waves to Linzer, glad you are getting out again and that you have made an appointment.

WhoKnows - how is your cold/cough? Hope you are feeling better

I am still coughing and blowing Shredded but not to the point where it excuses my lack of exercise, going to try and fit in a run tomorrow. I have concluded that while my new food regime is working well for controlling carb cravings, the later lunch conflicts with my running slot of 2pm so I need to rejig again.

Welcome Honu I've only been running for a couple of weeks, and for me it's about fitness too, although I would like to enjoy running.

I haven idea about cuticles, sorry. For some reason I have naturally soft and neat cuticles, my nails however are another matter at the moment .......

DH is home now so I have been outrunning with him this week. We are just about to go now for another 3 miler but luckily no mention of a half marathon so far! But he has booked a secret trip for the two of us. Intriguing....

Happy running everyone

Oooh Jelli, a secret trip! What fun!

WhoKnows, glad the new food regime is working. I need to sort my life out and lose a bit of weight - the weather has changed here and all my clothes from last spring/summer have shrunk over the winter .

I haven't done much running this week in fact I didn't run at all, and only shredded once. But I did 6.7 miles this morning in the Park to get ready for my next10K which I just realised is in 2 weeks . So will need to get some miles in this week and next.

Well, I've been off with a cold this week; got back on the bike about half way through the week and did W2D2 yesterday morning on the way to by croissants .

Left shin felt ever so slightly sore which is a little worrying, NHS guidance says to stop running for 2 weeks if shin splints actually come in properly... Its struck me that I'm using a running track and always going the same way around, so I might alternate directions and see what the effect of that is.

Just back from a hilly 4miler with DH. As you know we've been running separately for the last while and he is a lot quicker than me again so we weighed him down with ankle weights to make us more evenly paced. I was still more tired than him, perhaps because I have been skiving off running focusing on Jillianing and weigh training for the last few months. Anyway I have noticed my running is much less hard than when he first came home. Hurrah!

Apparently I don't particularly need my running stuff for our trip, so a half marathon isn't on the cards. We will be taking our running stuff with us anyway I am sure. At the moment I intend to be surprised by this trip although half the fun for me is planning what we shall do when we are there so I may give in and ask again nearer the time. I usually do the holiday search so this is very strange.

Neilsboar have you got new, properly fitted footwear? If not that won't help your injury. Can you run on tracks rather than on Tarmac, or are you on a special running surface?

Shredded you'll be fine for the 10k, all you are doing now is working to get your time lower. I hope the weather will be better than your last jaunt although you don't want it too warm do you? (I was overdressed today in my long legs and long sleeves - ooops)

Whoknows hope you are feeling better now and are out running.

Linzer really glad you have made the appointment and hope you don't have too long to wait for it.

Hello Honu hope the 'dog walking' is coming along.

Yes, I went for gait analysis and am wearing Brooks Endurance GTSes. The track is a cinder track, so has some give; equally it was quite cold so I think that may have made the track harder and may mean I wasn't quite as warm before I started... My next run will be an afternoon one on the way home from work, so I and the track should be much warmer.