This is something I never thought I would say - ever - in a million years..... I have started running. And here is a second statement that I would have bet indecent sums of money on never passing my lips. I ENJOY IT!
OK - before I get too carried away - here are the facts: I have ran twice. I have enjoyed both times (despite the second time being something of a catalogue of errors...) I am doing the c25k program. I am on week 1 and have completed the first 2 sessions.
Some of my facebook pals have been doing this program. I have seen them posting and linking and so I checked it out. Voluntarily. I think the reason it hooked me in is because its a totally preposterous claim to make that it can take you from couch to 5k in just 9 weeks. See? you're saying 'you what??' and checking you read it right now aren't you? seriously - this program claims it can get a total non runner off the couch and managing a full 5k run in just 9 weeks.
I used to run on the treadmill at the gym - I would run for 20 - 30 mins at a time, happily plodding away. I was fit at the time and would do 3-4 exercise classes/cardio gym sessions a week plus swimming whenever I could fit it in. I liked running on the treadmill, I hated running outside. I found it hard to pace myself, I found it hard on my knees, I found the weather unpredictable, I found it a pain that you had to watch your feet in case you tripped or went down a hole and I hated that there was no 'in run' entertainment (remember this was 1995-97 - mp3 players probably didn't exist and sony discmans were frankly huge - and at the gym there was MTV) and so running outside was never to be contemplated. Even running for a bus, or for shelter from the rain didn't happen. And by 1999 and pregnancy with Tom, exercise mostly stopped.
So yes - it took me by surprise when I realised I was actually thinking about trying the c25k program. I still don't quite believe it and I'm a new pair of running shoes and 2 sessions of week 1 in....
Week 1 session 1 I did last Saturday. I 'grasped the nettle' as they say, and struck while the iron was hot etc etc. before I could change my mind, and went and bought a nice new decent pair of Nike runners - and because it helps to like what you wear, I got the black with neon pink trim and soles. Pete did approve (obviously I asked for the help and advice of my marathon runner hubby!) and they are super comfy and incredibly light.
So there I was in the house alone on a sunny evening with nice new running shoes.... and I thought - just do it! Now! and went put on some kit and my new shoes and loaded the workout podcasts to my ipod. The podcasts are an absolute essential. It makes the whole session easy by taking away the stress of having to concentrate on timing yourself by just telling me when to run and when to walk over a sound track of good tempo music. Simples.
Snag one when I realised I was in the house alone and couldn't find a way to carry my door key - no pockets in pants or t-shirt - no problem, I'd just run round and round the block and leave the door unlocked. Sorted. Second teensy snag when I found trying to run with my iPod in my hand was weird and uncomfy. Solution - shove it in one of my 2 bra's (double layered to make double sure things are well clamped down). Perfect! Nothing was going to stop me! And off I went.
I'm not sure what I expected. I think I expected to struggle and find it really hard but I actually managed the 60 second bursts of running fine - I probably could have gone on for longer, but heeded the advice of the program and just did what I was supposed to do. This is possibly why I enjoyed it - it gave me a pleasant sense of achievement knowing that I didn't crash and burn first time out.I decided to do session 2 on Tuesday morning.
Boy did I ache on Sunday, but having done a lot of leg work on the vibro trainer on Saturday I was unsure if it was the running that had caused it.
So now it's Monday and Week 1 workout 2 of c25k is complete - a day early. I'm an eager beaver! I figured I'd run today as I have a man coming to fix the boiler tomorrow and fitting in a run around my morning weigh in with Slimming World and the waiting (waiting waiting) for the repair man in the afternoon could prove tricky. It's been broken for 2 weeks and 5 days. I really REALLY need a hot water source other than my kettle now. Especially if I'm going to get all hot and sweaty when running. Coz I do that now you know, I RUN!
Todays session went ok and despite everything I did enjoy it, but I have learned several valuable things:
a) do not drink a pint of diet coke (or I imagine, any liquid) half an hour before you are running. Unless you are prepared to wear tena lady and ignore the leakage..... (pelvic floor exercises here we come....)
b) run with eyes closed as fly in the eye is mega painful.
....ok so maybe thats a tad unrealistic....
new b) find out how other runners avoid getting fly in the eye. Do it.
c) Check thoroughly that iPod is on correct podcast and not inadvertantly changed to later week - or else may just have coronary from effort of running too long too soon....
d) Door key can be worn on a (purloined from work ID badge) lariat round the neck however put it UNDER the t-shirt so it doesn't fly up and whack you in the nose when you start to run.
e) Scope out your intended route before you actually run it to identify possible hazards - like going the wrong way up a dead end path (locked gates at the end) and having to turn round and go a long way back - or unexpected Chickens.
So session 3 is pencilled in for Thursday morning. As I sit here in bed blogging from the laptop I am aware of a not unpleasant ache in my lower half that tells me I have exerted myself in a good way. I fully expect it will be a very unpleasant ache by the morning.
OK - before I get too carried away - here are the facts: I have ran twice. I have enjoyed both times (despite the second time being something of a catalogue of errors...) I am doing the c25k program. I am on week 1 and have completed the first 2 sessions.
Some of my facebook pals have been doing this program. I have seen them posting and linking and so I checked it out. Voluntarily. I think the reason it hooked me in is because its a totally preposterous claim to make that it can take you from couch to 5k in just 9 weeks. See? you're saying 'you what??' and checking you read it right now aren't you? seriously - this program claims it can get a total non runner off the couch and managing a full 5k run in just 9 weeks.
I used to run on the treadmill at the gym - I would run for 20 - 30 mins at a time, happily plodding away. I was fit at the time and would do 3-4 exercise classes/cardio gym sessions a week plus swimming whenever I could fit it in. I liked running on the treadmill, I hated running outside. I found it hard to pace myself, I found it hard on my knees, I found the weather unpredictable, I found it a pain that you had to watch your feet in case you tripped or went down a hole and I hated that there was no 'in run' entertainment (remember this was 1995-97 - mp3 players probably didn't exist and sony discmans were frankly huge - and at the gym there was MTV) and so running outside was never to be contemplated. Even running for a bus, or for shelter from the rain didn't happen. And by 1999 and pregnancy with Tom, exercise mostly stopped.
So yes - it took me by surprise when I realised I was actually thinking about trying the c25k program. I still don't quite believe it and I'm a new pair of running shoes and 2 sessions of week 1 in....
Week 1 session 1 I did last Saturday. I 'grasped the nettle' as they say, and struck while the iron was hot etc etc. before I could change my mind, and went and bought a nice new decent pair of Nike runners - and because it helps to like what you wear, I got the black with neon pink trim and soles. Pete did approve (obviously I asked for the help and advice of my marathon runner hubby!) and they are super comfy and incredibly light.
So there I was in the house alone on a sunny evening with nice new running shoes.... and I thought - just do it! Now! and went put on some kit and my new shoes and loaded the workout podcasts to my ipod. The podcasts are an absolute essential. It makes the whole session easy by taking away the stress of having to concentrate on timing yourself by just telling me when to run and when to walk over a sound track of good tempo music. Simples.
Snag one when I realised I was in the house alone and couldn't find a way to carry my door key - no pockets in pants or t-shirt - no problem, I'd just run round and round the block and leave the door unlocked. Sorted. Second teensy snag when I found trying to run with my iPod in my hand was weird and uncomfy. Solution - shove it in one of my 2 bra's (double layered to make double sure things are well clamped down). Perfect! Nothing was going to stop me! And off I went.
I'm not sure what I expected. I think I expected to struggle and find it really hard but I actually managed the 60 second bursts of running fine - I probably could have gone on for longer, but heeded the advice of the program and just did what I was supposed to do. This is possibly why I enjoyed it - it gave me a pleasant sense of achievement knowing that I didn't crash and burn first time out.I decided to do session 2 on Tuesday morning.
Boy did I ache on Sunday, but having done a lot of leg work on the vibro trainer on Saturday I was unsure if it was the running that had caused it.
So now it's Monday and Week 1 workout 2 of c25k is complete - a day early. I'm an eager beaver! I figured I'd run today as I have a man coming to fix the boiler tomorrow and fitting in a run around my morning weigh in with Slimming World and the waiting (waiting waiting) for the repair man in the afternoon could prove tricky. It's been broken for 2 weeks and 5 days. I really REALLY need a hot water source other than my kettle now. Especially if I'm going to get all hot and sweaty when running. Coz I do that now you know, I RUN!
Todays session went ok and despite everything I did enjoy it, but I have learned several valuable things:
a) do not drink a pint of diet coke (or I imagine, any liquid) half an hour before you are running. Unless you are prepared to wear tena lady and ignore the leakage..... (pelvic floor exercises here we come....)
b) run with eyes closed as fly in the eye is mega painful.
....ok so maybe thats a tad unrealistic....
new b) find out how other runners avoid getting fly in the eye. Do it.
c) Check thoroughly that iPod is on correct podcast and not inadvertantly changed to later week - or else may just have coronary from effort of running too long too soon....
d) Door key can be worn on a (purloined from work ID badge) lariat round the neck however put it UNDER the t-shirt so it doesn't fly up and whack you in the nose when you start to run.
e) Scope out your intended route before you actually run it to identify possible hazards - like going the wrong way up a dead end path (locked gates at the end) and having to turn round and go a long way back - or unexpected Chickens.
So session 3 is pencilled in for Thursday morning. As I sit here in bed blogging from the laptop I am aware of a not unpleasant ache in my lower half that tells me I have exerted myself in a good way. I fully expect it will be a very unpleasant ache by the morning.
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