Couch it is then!

Well, the intention was there but it has just been one of those weeks! With a brief to be submitted last Monday and presentation due to be submitted by Friday I didn't have much spare time left to try another walk/run last week. On top of that  the new owners of our home (and hopefully our new landlords) were due to visit on Friday bit they cancelled with a couple of hours to go and pre-arranged for Monday. Which they then cancelled on Sat and re-arranged for Tuesday.........😠 It was all a bit stressful!  I COULD have made another attempt at the couch to 5k but instead I helped (forced...) Billy to do his homework, made some chocolate eclairs and did some painting! 🎨 I had my new palette and brush to try out so got my easel set up and and spent a very relaxing couple of hours with Bob Ross and my oils!  I even managed to get more paint on the canvas than on me and everything else for a change! 🖼 This week I have my presentation to practice and some revision to do so it looks like the couch might win again this week! Ah well.........apparently it's the thought that counts! 😁

Couch to 5k? Really?

 That's what the app says......Couch to 5K in 9, that's NINE weeks! 😱 I mean, I've barely been out of the house for 6 months! However I'm an optimistic person, so I downloaded the app....

About 3 weeks ago....

In a rare 'I should do something about my lockdown weight gain' moment.  Who am I kidding, it's not the lockdown.  My weight gain has been around much longer than coronavirus that but hey! When you're handed an excuse on a plate, who am I to argue?! So, lockdown weightgain it is! 😁

Anyway, I thought about it the whole concept, whilst I made some iced buns.

Whilst eating one of said iced buns I  exercised my index finger by pressing the little app icon to open the app and see what it was all about. I even got as far as picking my mentor/encourager/inspiration/torturer - Jo Wiley. 

I have to say, I liked the idea of it. Getting out a bit more, losing some pounds  regaining some of the health, fitness and energy I had previously enjoyed. About 40 years ago....

Then that was it. Any thoughts of leaving the couch for any reason other than to go and get another iced bun were put to the back of my mind with all other thoughts that should never see the light of day.

Until today.

Today I awoke with the thought 'I think I'll try that couch to 5k thing's. Very worrying. I even took my temperature but nope. Normal.

After a morning looking out at the horrible, gloomy weather I decided to go for it. So I found some running kit and my headphones, worked out my route according to 'Run 1' and got Jo on board ready to go.  

I set off at 4, which gave me an hour before the park closed, by which time it was properly chucking it down with rain. Nice and cooling for me and less chance of seeing anyone as no other idiot was going to be out in this weather! 

It all started so well.....my warm walk took me to Knighton Park, only passing a Dad with a little girl on a bike and a dog near the entrance and a kids foot lesson on the field. I was feeling confident with Faithless' Insomnia in my ears as I confidently continued my 5 minutes 'brisk walk' warm up  over the bridge and round to the park. Then it was time. 

The first 'run'. 

Only 60 seconds - how hard could it be?! In reality I don't know. I  started my run and on reaching the tennis courts (really not very far!) I was knackered!  I retrieved my phone to find Jo had buggered off and left me! The app was paused and I had not idea how many seconds I'd been running for or how far into my 90 seconds 'resting' brisk walk I was into! I noticed a dog walker heading in my direction so took a great interest in the sign at the tennis courts explaining fair use etc. etc. until they'd passed then set the app off again and started my 90 second walk. Yeah yeah I know I'd already had WAY over my 90 seconds but as I went round the bend I saw a council vehicle parked up on the side and decided I couldn't run until I'd passed that.

Thankfully my shoes lace came undone so I had an excuse to stop and retie it. After all it would be highly dangerous to run with an untied shoelace wouldn't it?!

Once I reached the top of  rise past the park I set the app off again and took a brisk walk down Laburnam Way. Passing the Dad with the girl on the bike and the dog, feeling slightly sheepish that I was walking.  To counter this I had a drink to make it look as though that was why I wasnt running.... pathetic I know!  My anxiety then increased as I spotted a little group of dog walkers at the bottom of the path. Congregating at the point I just knew Jo would suddenly reappear and pipe up that it was time to start my 2nd run! Which she did. Obviously. 

By this time I had decided that the phone getting wet in my coat pocket had been the problem with to keep turning itself off so decided to just carry it. Jo encouraged me to start my 2nd 'run' reassuring me that I could do this as I'd already done 1 run. Little did she know! However, I successfully completed the 60 second run, if you can call it that. More of a weird shuffle really!  It seemed a very long 60 seconds but it was right. I know as I checked the phone about every 10 seconds, each time sure that must be 60...my throat was dry and my lungs burned.  It was with great joy I heard Jo telling me it was time to walk again. I was relieved to see the council car drive past just before the lovely Jo told me to prepare for my 3rd run. As I did I felt a slight sense of pride as I passed the Dad with daughter on the bike and dog again, pleased I was shuffle-running this time.  Red faced and hoping they thought I'd run half a lap of the park to look so done in.  This bit was uphill and I had to give up the running after 50 seconds  as I basically couldn't breathe (to be honest I only made it that far due to having to pass another dog walker!). For a split second I even contemplated ringing Jay to ask him to drive down and pick me up. Instead I sat one wet bench for a bit until I could breathe again. And again much longer than the 90 seconds I should have had.  

I set off again with my 4th run, having already decided I was going home I rather than doing another lap (required for my 8 sets). I just avoided running into a dog as I turned back onto Laburnum Walk and managed another 60 seconds, hoping I wouldn't meet anyone this time and pleased it was downhill. I was half way down when I saw a familiar girl on a bike appear from the trees in the left, followed by the dog and her Dad. Shit! Now it was obvious I hadn't been running as there was no way it would have taken me so long to meet at that point if I had! I held my head up high as I walked past with a smile on my red tomato-like face as, at that particular moment in time, I WAS doing exactly as I should have been and thanks to the rain I just looked wet rather than sweaty!

At the bottom I met the dog walker again, who gave me a smile but I detected a hint of sympathy in her eye, although it might just have been a silent "oh dear!". 

I decided I'd had enough as I started my 5th run and only made about 30 seconds before disconnecting Jo and making my way back home. All uphill I might add! 

So 40 minutes after leaving home I returned after failing to even complete 'Run 1'. Sorry Jo.  My legs were like jelly, I was soaked to the skin and wheezing like a 40-a-day smoker, wondering how the hell this was supposed to be good for you!

I initially felt quite disappointed in myself but then I thought  'do you know what...you should be proud for even going out there at all!'

I might have felt like a bag of shit without even completing the first challenge but I had got up and gone out. I had completed 40 minutes of exercise, even if it wasn't exactly as planned. My lungs aren't as good as most other peoples but I still tried. And they'll get better.  

Maybe I'll eventually complete the course and make it to 5k. Maybe I won't. Maybe it'll take me longer than 9 weeks to get there. But you know, it doesn't matter. I don't care if I reach that target or how long it takes. I don't have any aspirations to be the best runner in the world. I just want to feel better and healthier for me. Even if I just walk around the park 3 times a week, it's more than I've been doing and that's good enough for me.

I may not exactly be a leading example or inspiration to anyone thinking about trying it but I hope to show those less keen or confident that just trying is good enough. You dont have to do it all in one go. Baby steps. If you have to stop after 1 set then stop. It's still 1 set! Another time you may be able to manage 2 ...and so it goes on.

Let's just see how it goes! You can follow me here to see if I make it or not!

Now, where's that iced bun recipe........

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