Couch to 10k

A non beauty post for you today. I just wanted to share this as I’ve been doing it and actually find myself sticking to it. A miracle in itself (I’m starting week 5 runs on Wed).

I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to tone up and feel fitter and generally better. I envy seeing those girls in there little leggings and tops and just breeze past me in a jog. I want to be fit enough to do that and enjoy running.

I’m definitely not a runner!! I’ve done two half marathons and failed to train for both. Even though the second time I promised myself I would after the pain endured from power walking the first one. (I can’t believe my friend talked me into a second, she’s in the process of talking me into a third, I’m almost persuaded) I found the prospect of going for a run very daunting at first and think that’s why I probably I just kept putting it off.

When I decided to start this I had a different aim for the end of it. Though I think I’m likely to be persuaded to sign up to cardiff half again. I like the challenge I feel to make it round the 13.1 miles and the sheer relief and joy when it’s finished is amazing. I like the feeling of pushing myself hard and succeeding.

So onto where I am now. After chatting to a lady in work we decided we’d start couch to 10k, it eases you in gently and gradually builds you up. I found an app on my phone called 10k which is amazing.

So this is what the app looks like. It takes 14 weeks running 3 times a week and starts off with half hour workouts with the longest being around the 70 mins. Each work out has a 5 minute warm up and 5 minute cool down, and as you can see the first week breaks you in slowly so is great for those starting out running.

This is the next run I have to do. I will probably do it on Wednesday but maybe tomorrow if I feel up to it. The app is really handy. If you plugged in your headphones it beeps when you need to switch from running to walking which I like as it makes doing this easy as I don’t have to keep time myself.

As you can see it also imports all the music in your phone to your app, so click on playlists select the song and go. It’s that easy, it’ll beep when you need to switch and I have no trouble hearing this over music. All I would say is it doesn’t work well when I put my phone on my hip in trousers I didn’t have a pocket on.

As a normally non runner I’m actually enjoying this at the moment and I’m hoping it’ll be more than a fad and hopefully become a fitness change and something I keep up. Running 20-30k a week is what I aim for towards the end of this and what I’d like to keep up.

Have you done couch to 5 or 10k, do you enjoy or struggle with running?

Do you enjoy posts like these? Would a week 10 update be a post you’d read?

Love M

xxx

sorry for the ramble but this app is amazing and has changed my attitude to running. Today was a big struggle of a run but I didn’t give up!!