Am I dead?

I certainly feel like it - no wait a minute I'd probably not be breathing if I were dead and I am puffing like a steam train at the minute.

I thought I'd give week 4 a try and OMG!  It looked terrifying just on paper

5 minute warm up  |  3 minute run  |  1.5 minute walk  |  5 minute run  |  2.5 minute walk  |  3 minute run  |
1.5 minute walk  |  5 minute run  |  5 minute cool down

The reality of my run (with internal monologue to bring it really alive for you) is as follows:

Right, I'm going to do this.
Am I ?
Yes I am, I may as well try and I can always go back to week 3 next week if I don't manage it
Why don't I just do week 3 this week?
Get out of the door and do week 4
Okay, I'm going!
Warm up, fine.
3 minute run - maybe I shouldn't have changed my route to take me up an hill - ah yes but this means I can run down hill for my 5minutes, okay I can do this.
Walking now, hoping the 5minutes run starts soon or I'll run out of downhill.
Running now, downhill was a good idea, this isn't as bad as I thought.  Damn I did run out of downhill, no prob I'll take this shortcut - oh look the sun is shining on me just because I'm running  - actually I don't think I can do this. I want to be sick.
Thank god I can walk again now.  My next 3 minutes are definitely going to be uphill though
Running again well moving my arms  I can't feel my legs anymore to be sure what they're doing but I'm sure it can't be classed as a run.
Walking again and my virtual coach is telling me how to combat stictch - I wish she'd just explain how I'm supposed to breathe properly as this is killing me.  Christ those 90 seconds went fast, back to running.
And I'm supposed to do this for another 5minutes. No chance.  I'll just go to the end of this street and then I'll call it quits.  And I still have to walk home!

So I didn't quite manage it but I'm glad I tried. And points for doing the first 5minutes run okay.  I didn't really think I'd even manage that. I think I'll have to come up with my own midpoint plan something that is a step up from week 3 but not the I'm going to throw up and die effort of week 4.

Happy Weekend!

Exploring

One unexpected positive side effect I've been meaning to mention for a while on my blog is the fun of exploring.

I'm learning to run on the same streets I used to run up and down with my friends when I was a child.  I pass by the swings I used to play on and the school I used to go to.  So much has changed though and with new housing estates popping up, new leisure centre and library being built, there are lots of new streets to explore on my thrice weekly runs.

It does help keep each run fresh too, taking just a slightly different turn, even if it means doubling back on myself when I reach the end of an unexpected cul-de-sac that I swear used to have a shirt cut at the bottom, is good fun. I even ended up running uphill yesterday which I definitely wouldn't have planned for if I stuck to the exact same route every day.

So getting to re-know my neighbourhood has been great and something I would definitely recommend to everyone.

What to do on days off running..?

I'm now running 3 times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday - though I had a bit of an abberation last week and ran Monday, Thursday and Saturday instead but what should I do on the days I don't run?

I know I need the day off (Laura from the NHS Couch to 5K told me so!!)  and I have definitely seen that I run better with that day's break but I feel lazy not doing anything on the Tuesday and Thursdays and mush as it's tempting to sit on the sofa for an hour's lunch break instead and watch the Christmas film channels (call me sad I don't care I LOVE Christmas) I do want to be doing something every day to build up my stamina and fitness levels.

I've tried exercising with a 6kg powerball but I could barely walk the next day which isn't good as the next day would be a run day.

I have got some dumb bells but I don't know what to actually do with them (well I know to lift them obviously)

So I know I don't have that many readers but the few of you I do have, can anyone recommend any weight programmes for beginners? Or point me in the right direction?

Thank You!

Happy Belated Birthday to me!

It was my birthday yesterday so I treated myself to a day off running so I could go shopping for new boots  instead.  I even got my lovely, husband to share my day off and come with me which was amazing as I can still remember the day 17years ago that he vowed he would never,  EVER shop for shoes with me again.

Anyway I'm now 38 years old which means I have two years to reach my aim of being fitter and hopefully thinner by the time I'm 40 and I'm feeling rather positive as I think I've done really well these past couple of  months.

If you'd have asked me a few months ago what I was expecting to get for my birthday I'd have listed the usual chocolates, bubble bath and furry socks.  And while the reality yesterday did seem me unwrap chocolates, bubble bath, furry socks - I also requested and received a long sleeved running top, running socks and running gloves too (from the above mentioned lovely husband)

And these lovely new gifts have worked their magic as I'm just back in from completing a week 3 run which saw me running 2 x 90 seconds runs and 2 x 3minute runs :)  I wasn't fast by any means but I did it!

Yay me!

You know you've had a busy day when...

1. The kids are home from school but to you it feels like it's still morning.
2. You haven't had chance to look at Facebook once all day
3. You realise your husband is home from work soon and not only have you not cooked any dinner for him and the kids but you're still sat in your running clothes promising yourself you will have that shower after just one more email...

Or in my case today, all of the above!

I don't know where today has gone or why when I still have emails pinging in to my inbox and dinner to cook for my kids before taking one of them to gymnastics I'm sat here typing my blog - guess this is now my me-time :)

My run was okay today, my head wasn't totally in the right place though as I couldn't switch off from work stuff.  Normally I'm fairly good at allowing myself half an hour to just concentrate on running but today my head was still at my desk even though my body wasn't.  

I also think I feel a bit demoralised with myself after not managing to complete my week 3 run 1 last week (once my delivery had actually urned up).  I did the usual 5 minute warm up walk, a 90 second run, a 90 second brisk walk, a 3minute run, a 3 minute brisk walk, a 90 second run, a 90 second walk but then stopped 2 minutes into my final 3 minute run.  So I was only 1 minute off but I still feel like I've let myself down a bit.  I'll give myself a stern talking to once I've finally had my shower, turned off the PC and eaten some dinner and hopefully I'll be back to positive thinking soon!

Waiting in for a delivery sucks!

So I was meant to start week 3 of the c-2-5k plan today and I was feeling nervous but at the same time looking forward to seeing whether or not I could actually complete it.

I normally run in my lunch hour, though I work from home so that's flexible and I then treat myself to something nice to eat afterwards, as a well done to myself.

All usual plans are out of the window today though as I have to wait in for a delivery and what sucks is that I just know the courier will arrive about 5 minutes after I leave the house to collect my daughter from school so all my wasted waiting time will have been for nothing.  Why is it that always happens? Is it just me who never sees a delivery man face to face but is in first name terms with the guy at the collection depot?   Still it's preferable to pushing my way round the shops full of Christmas shoppers!

I guess I'll be trying running in the dark tonight! Best dig out something reflective...

I found today's run a bit hard

As I said a few posts back I've started the NHS Couch to 5k plan again, today was week 2 run 3, and while I've been surprised at how far I can actually keep running for overall, I found it a bit hard today.

Week 2 is 6 bursts of 90 seconds running interspersed with 2 minutes of walking.  By the last run today, my legs were like jelly and I had to stop - I only chopped 10 seconds off the final run but it's not a good feeling, especially when I should be moving onto week 3 on Friday...

I thnk it might have to do with all the Bonfire toffee I consumed last night or maybe the fact that I had to stay up until very late to make sure the bonfire was actually out.  I know when I've slept poorly in the past I've not had the energy to keep up a run the next day.

I think I'll go back to my earlier posts and remind myself how far I've actually come rather than sit here feeling sorry for myself though.

Mischievous night tonight

The 4th November is known as Mischievous Night -  in Yorkshire at least!

Every so often during the year - generally after we've got through the hilarity that is April Fools day - my two children remember that there is another day when they can pull pranks but funnily enough whenever they ask me about it, I can never remember the exact date.  I would say the memory loss is a clear indicator that I'm getting old but to be honest the real sign that I'm getting old is that I no longer find the pranks funny.

Knock a door run was hilarious when I was 10 but not so much when you actually own the door!  And as my kids idea of a prank is to put salt in my tea or jump out from behind the door wearing a scream mask you can see why I'm not too keen.

Though I could pretend I'm just being a very good parent and trying not to confuse them by allowing them to cause mischief one night and telling them off for the same "joke" the next.  Actually that sounds much better doesn't it so scrap all the stuff about me just being old and boring, it's just good parenting.

Anyway back to the real reason for my blog, I did go for a run today!  The second run of week 2 of couch to 5k.  Jelly legs but I did it all again.  I'm thinking I might have to repeat week 2 at least one extra week though so I feel more comfortable before moving on to week 3.

Am I being boring by not telling my children the date so they can have their own laughs?

Week 2 of couch to 5k is a killer

I could barely lift my arms to drink from my water bottle after the last run and the fact that I then had a hill to climb to get back to my house (and bed) was a kick in the teeth.

Still it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be and again much easier than when I've attempted it in the past and had to stop after the second run, so knackered I might be but knackered for a reason.  Even the fittest people are knackered after pushing themselves aren't they?

The best thing was I realised as I was half way round that I was really looking forward to the day when I can just run the entire route without the walking bits to break up the running.  I'm still a couple of months off this - IF I stick to the plan - but I actually feel positive that I will get there.

I've just got to hope now that we don't get any snow between now and christmas or that Santa brings me an early present of a treadmill :)

For anyone interested, this is the running plan I am now following (again but properly this time round)
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k-plan.aspx