Category: Couch to 5K

GRADUATION DAY!!!Where did those 9 weeks go? It really only seems two minutes since I was telling my self to get my butt out of the door for run on week one.Decided to try a proper breakfast this morning before heading out, normally I would grab some fruit and a drink and eat when I return but I know my eating habbits need to change. So alarm set for 6am, yes I know its Sunday but I love getting up and out, cuppa and a bowl or porridge giving it time to settle before going out.Instead of taking the car to the bottom of the track decided to walk down it would mean a longer cool down walk but the excercise all adds up!So started my walk along the trail and then began my run, watch set determined to get that 5k coverage today!Ran down the trail entering the main lake at the top. Decided not to run the top lake today as my run had started earlier on the trail so knew id get the coverage I wanted.With no more than a few people round the lake, it really felt so calming and relaxing.Before I knew it the half way bell had gone and then the count down to the last ten minutes. Legs felt good today so when I was told it was time for cool down I was determined to push on for a little longer up the exit hill to the track to make sure I’d covered the distance.If it hadn’t have been for stopping to climb the steps onto the trail I feel I’d have kept my pace going but today was all about finishing that last c25k training run and covering that 5k!I DID IT!!! Does that mean I can now call myself a runner or say I run? I think it does 😍😍. Cant wait for my first medal to arrive from #virtualracing.co.uk. I shall be hanging it with pride as my first medal on my display Ive ordered.

So now the hard work starts, I need to decide on a training plan moving forward.I’ll continue to blog but wont blog every run, maybe checking in each week and bloging my up coming charity races. Feel free to continue following.Apologies for the shocking first video I dont do recording or photos of myself very well 🤣🤣 I look wrecked but felt great!

It appears the blog wont publish my video so I’ll try and blog it on a post on its own.

Nope it appears your saved from watching it 🤣🤣

Early start this morning.

Up and out of house for 6.45, sun shining but temperature wise ideal for running as not yet fully warmed up.

Decided to do usual route on trail for warm up then down to Rothervalley off arpund the lakes. Once again it was so peaceful with only a couple of people around the lakes. I definetly think morning runs are my prefered choice. (Don’t think ill be saying that in the winter months but we will cross that bridge when we get to it)

That 5k is haunting me so close today, I even went longer after being told I’d finished to complete the lake in hope of making sure id done 5k. It wasn’t tonnes longer but I was hoping it was long enough.

I will have it Sunday I intend to add a small section between the two lakes on, hopefully adding extra distance. On the plus my pace was a huge surprise as I honestly felt id really plodded along today.

Last one Sunday! Feeling sad to be leaving my comenteers who have kept me going through the 9 weeks and built me up.

Ive already started looking at training plans for moving forward, just need to decide which one is best to folllow.

Lots of reading, researching and most of all getting out there and running to be done over the next year, exciting times ahead but also scary!

I’m not ashamed to say tonight was tough. Decided to try a different route locally around the houses, kind of forgot how hilly the area was, not sure how thats possiable since ive lived here long enough 🤣🤣. I’m sure it wasn’t this hilly in those early weeks, but then I was walking most of the 30 minutes back then, that seems so long ago.

I set off up hill for warm up walking thinking that most of the hill if not all would be covered in this and my run wluld begin on flat, what ive not really noticed is its a gradual hill after the steep but all way to the main road. Really didnt think this route out.

Hit the main road and headed down which gave legs a chance to rest however uts amazing how running down puts pressure on the knees just as much running up is on the calfs.

Hit bottom road and headed off for the trail. Had to stop at the road for traffic, only several seconds but have to admit starting once id stopped was hard to get back my rhythm my legs thought they’d finished so definetly something I need to work on.

Headed up the trail and back along the trak onto the main road. I pushed what I thought was the time id not recorded at the end of the run but it turns out it wasnt enough and My run ended not far from my home which led to a short cool down this evening. I know, I know not a clever idea. Need to ensure im cooling down full time and stretching more now.

I can certainaly feel the burn in my knees tonight and ache in tops of my legs, think the lack of cool down is part of this.

I suppose feeling these aches are all part and parcel of building up and thats not a bad thing. If it was too easy it wouldn’t be a challange and if it is challanging tjen how an I going to progress?

We shall see what Thursdays run brings!

Ohh maybe now is the time to mention ive set myself self some more crazy goals.

Last one of week 8!!

It actually feels quiet scary that next week will be my last week of C25k, where did those last 8 weeks go?

It’s ok though ive down loaded a few training aps for 10k just need to look at which ones best as some of them seem to take me backwards quiet a bit to start with.

I have so many people who bave inspired me to start my c25k journey, each and everyone one of them I am greatful to, people who showed and supported me in believing I could do this. One of those people is Ainsley who is running a full marathon in London this morning! My run will be absolutely nothing compared to what she is taking on today and Ive planned to run early so I can track and follow her progress. Cheering her along from my sofa. Running really has become my hobby. Not sure if I can call myself a runner just yet, what point do you become classed as a runner? Is there a definitive point?

Looking a bit windy this morning and not the warmest of weather but at least its dry.

Decided to try a different approach this morning. For the past two runs the first five minutes has seemed tough so today I took the trail route and joined Rothervalley further down before I knew it the first 5 minutes had gone and it was half time!

Not sure if my bodys just built up and ajusted to the longer running time or if mentally not looking at the full lake too early on thinking I’ve got to get round that.

Got to the last corner before the enterance when I was told that was it, my time was up. I was determined to finish the lake so kept repeatedly telling myself your not stopping, your not stopping and I did it!! Yay!!

Mixed emotions at end of today’s run Im absolutly extatic that I did it! I ran both lakes at Rothervalley but I’m also a little gutted I was so close to covering 5K and if id have just gone on another minute I’d have done it, I’ll have it on next weeks runs!!

I’m comming to get that first medal next week!

Its raining, it looks cold and its 7.05am the do I, dont I? is creeping around my mind, but I know if I leave it till this evening I’ll regret it, so off I went to get ready pulling on my cookie monsters telling myself I can do this!

Drove to the bottom of the trail, I know we only live up the hill but needed to be back for stu to go to work and wanted my run to cover the lake, Forgot head phones, so had to drive back 🤣🤣.

Again that first 5 minutes seemed to be such an effort and felt like 25, with the whole country park to my self apart from an odd cyclist or dog walker, and it was the odd one, I had no human markers to beat getting past today so with little chance of ploughing into anyone I put head down and concentrated on just keeping those legs going and before I knew it the half way bell had gone.

I imagined my little cheering squad telling me to woman up and waiting at the end and before I knew it I was done. Another step closer to graduating!

When I looked at my stats I was ecstatic, not only had I ran the farthest distance but my pace was the best yet!! No idea how, I truley thought I’d gone so slow.

Tough one today think I may have had a glimpse of that brick wall, just a glimpse though!

Set off feeling motivated, however my legs just didnt seem to be feeling the same motivation I was. Not sure if its down to a busy on my feet day prior to run or what. I have to admit when I was told id ran for 5 minutes I began to question was this going to be the one I couldn’t complete, in fairness it had to happen at some point.

That inner motivation and determination kept yelling at my legs telling them to stop being stupid they could do this, no matter how slow we were not stopping!! I was passing walkers so couldnt have been going that slow. Each time id focus on a point or person and after passing would find a new focus. It seemed to keep my mind occupied and before I knew it there was 5 minutes remaining.

Normall that last 60 seconds I’d push myself a little harder but couldnt muster up the power to go any faster, todays aim was just finishing and that sense of achievment when my full 28 minutes was up was so worth pushing through.

Hoping next early run on Thursday will feel easier.

On the plus side my legs felt solid after my run and very toned.

Opps forgot to write run 2s blog but I definetly did it!

Warm one this morning so on went the new Tikkaboos flames capris and matching top with vest over top, not confident enough to show the midriff.

So this morning I was determined to see how much of my first official run route I could cover so I drove to the bottom of the trail and used the trail as most of my warm up walk.

It was already starting to feel warm at just 9am so I knew I needed to pace as it would be the first time I’d run in heat.

Why is it when the app tells you youve ran the first 5 minutes it feels like you’ve been going ages then when that half way bell rings you get a sense of I can do this?

As I entered the start of the second lake I spied a pair of tikaboo legs and immedietly knew it was sharon, one of my main inspirations, out for a walk. Pottering on past I apologosed for not stopping but knew if I stopped I’d lose my pace, she did get a couple of fab butt shots of me though 🤣🤣.

I did have the intention of trying to push myself and finish off the whole of the two lakes but when I was told that was my 25 minutes up it kind of gave me my finish line so I stopped, walking the rest for my cool down walk. Legs were a bit wobbly today in the cool down walk. Have to admit I think week 8 is going to be a challenge running for 35 minutes, but then 7 weeks ago week 1 was a challange.

Ive already down loaded 5k to 10k training app ready for the end and purchased some shorts for France so I can run on the sea front and keep it going if I keep setting goals I know I’ll do it!

Wow! When some of my inspirational supporters said 7 weeks ago that id be running in no time following the c25k, I remeber thinking yeah right then!

But today I started realising how much I can do this and how quick the last 7 weeks have gone and how much I’ve enjoyed them. Its a bit scary to think in 3 weeks time I’ll no longer have my coach in my ears to train me.

Off down the track I went following my usual route.

I have to be honest when I was told the first 5 minutes had gone, I was sure I’d been running for 20 🤣🤣 so I kept my steady snail pace and that half time bell ringing soom passed along to the last 5 minutes where I realised I felt quiet good, not overly out of breath. Maybe im not pushing myself enough?

It felt good to know I was in the last 60 seconds so much I decided to pick up pace and do a little sprint, plus I was going along the main road with home time traffic so it looked good!

So after reflection ive decided now all my runs are solid runs to try and pick up pace and improve distance etc. Just got to decide do I include my warm up and cool down walk or just start my watch at the run part for a more accurate pace? Decisions, decisions.

Treated myself, again today bought some new tikkaboo shorts ready to take to France inJune with my second 5k race just a week after I need to keep going with training whilst away! Looking forward to a few beach front runs.

Must be mad I’m on a Birthday weekend away, its 7.30am and im trying yo sneak the kettle on so I can have a cuppa before sneaking out for run without disturbing anyone else in the room.

This weekend has consited of food and drink so feeling a little bit dumpy and in need of some calorie burning, ready for todays intake.

Not sure where Im running to. Were at the Mecure york fairfield manor hotel.

Was hoping the grounds would be big enough to run but there not. Having never stayed in the area im on unknown ground so I spied a path outside the hotel yesturday when we drove out and I am hoping it just goes straight on for about 15 minutes so I can run till the half time bell goes then turn roumd and tun back.

It turns out it dosnt and only lasted the warm up so I turned off down a little road with lots of lovelly little cottages called Skelton.

I’d forgot my water bottle so looked like I was running with a fruit shoot, very classy look but this is a biggy so knew I’d need a drink. Turns out I didnt need a drink as I forgot to take it with me and when I returned to the room a smug looking suzie was sat on the bed drinking it.

Really thought this one would be a struggle a full 25 minutes running but at a steady pace it was ok I even did a little sprint at the last 60 seconds.

Definetly deserve a cooked breakfast this morning before we go out to scarbrough to the sea life centre.

Another early start this morning. With a busy week needed to get up and out as really dont want to fall behind with runs.

Was egar to use my new garmin forerunner 365 watch id treated myself for an early Birthday present. I have to admit im loving it already and not fully aware of all features yet but sits on wrist so much better than the tom tom spark and GPS kicks in so quick and simple.

Loving the lighter mornings as it means I can use the trail more. Although its still quiet nippy.

Focused on going the distance again not speed and found it quiet ok till the last 5 minutes run.

Decided to keep going along main road in hope to avoid running on hill but still ended up on the hill parallel for the last 5 minutes of run. I will crack the route planning eventually.

Legs did start to feel it from half way up hill but I was determined not to stop till told to and I did it! I have to be honest was glad when I was told I could stop.

Another one down! Away at the weekend and not wanting to go off track so packed my running gear no idea where we are going but sure I’ll find somewhere to run.

6 weeks ago I would have laughed if anyone had said I would be packing running gear to go away with. Its a bit addictive once you start.