Week 9 underway!: Good morning fellow intrepid... - Couch to 5K

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Week 9 underway!

54 Replies

Good morning fellow intrepid runners :)

Just a quick note to say week 9 is underway, run 1 is done. In truth the 30 minutes felt easier than 28 I think. I was sloooow, but I was trying to pace myself, I didn't want my first "practice" run to be a week 9 one! You know what I mean by practice run...

Also mid-run, my left knee started slightly, and feeling rather similar to how the right one had done, so in an effort to avoid a repeat of "knee-gate" on my graduation week, I was really quite snail like. I fact, I was sworn at by at lest 3 gastropods along the way for holding them up :P I think I've managed to get away with it, but I'll keep you all updated.

2 runs left... it's all getting rather exciting!! And boy does running for 30 minutes feel great. How did I get here???

54 Replies
Shelby1973 profile image
Shelby1973Graduate

Keep going uve got this x

in reply toShelby1973

Thanks as always Shelby1973 , you know, it almost feels like I have a bunch of cheerleaders around me ready to spur me on even when the going gets tough. I'm quite sure I don't deserve that, but I do really appreciate it. Thanks so much!

Shelby1973 profile image
Shelby1973Graduate in reply to

N e i l N e i l go Neil go Neil 👯

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

I know! 😱 How on earth, What the! 😁

You better believe it baby! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeha! 😃🏃👍✔️

Take care. Easy now. 🙂

in reply tomisswobble

Lol! Yup :)

I'll believe it after a couple more runs probably... and I do love it when people get excited for me. I'm usually quite a reserved sort of a chap... I sometimes need to see that there's stuff worth getting excited about. Knowing me, I'd do W9R3 and think "another one checked off, on to week 10" oh, wait... ;-)

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate

You got there through determination, dedication and practice, Neil, and you made a beautiful job of it!

So glad you enjoyed running for 30 minutes! It really feels quite the accomplishment. Also, very proud of you for putting everything you have learned to practice i.e. the ole slow and steady routine.

As for the knee - meh! You did the right thing in slowing down even further. Also, consider 2 days rest - really helps with the longer runs anyway. Hope it eases up. I get the odd knee twinge when running but it hasn't turned into anything (yet!) so it doesn't always spell disaster.

Well done Neil. You are truly doing yourself proud! x

in reply toSadie-runs

The knee has actually settled down a lot since getting to work. I was really surprised actually, I was so concerned with not getting back on the IC, I totally forgot to feel tired actually. I could have gone on, I love it when that happens. I also did the sensible thing and rather than trying to plan a circular route which got me exactly back to work after 40 minutes, I just turned round and retraced my steps well the bell rang, and I didn't even have to do any loops of Aldi's car park for a change :)

Can't wait for week 10... oh, hang on... lol!

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate in reply to

Week 10? Ha ha ha! You will NAIL week 10. :-)

Well done on your sensible, and successful run. Always good to have a plan.

Martin_Rose profile image
Martin_RoseGraduate

Hey Neil, well done mate, just 2 more runs to go, WOW.

in reply toMartin_Rose

I know, I can hardly believe it. Me, the most unfit, unsporty person in the world... who would have thunk!!

Richard7 profile image
Richard7Graduate

Well done Neil. Keep off the IC - 25 down 2 to go.

in reply toRichard7

Thanks Richard7 , certainly planning to keep off the IC if I possibly can! That wouldn't be good.. Couch to 5k to Couch.

I have shared this link with Sadie, but I found it quite amusing:

theulsterfry.com/featured/5...

You lot have got a sense of humour, right? :P

Richard7 profile image
Richard7Graduate in reply to

Love the "Build up your lack of stamina" - I too work in IT and spend most of my day sitting down - that's what makes the running great. I used to get up at the end of the day and my knees were shot - now I can walk!! Hooray for C25K.

Christene profile image
ChristeneGraduate in reply toRichard7

I wonder how many of us are

a) in sedentary jobs, and

b) work in IT

though that’s a bit of an oxymoron. 30 years in IT for me ... 😂😂😂

Sandyscroll profile image
Sandyscroll in reply to

Love the link! 😂😂😂

Running for 30 mins?? Who'd have thought it!?!😵😉 You're so close to graduation you can almost touch it.☺ Keep going! 👏👏👏👏

Jan-52 profile image
Jan-52Graduate

Am with you Neil and think Richard is on his final week too. We got this !! 🤗👍

Richard7 profile image
Richard7Graduate in reply toJan-52

W9R3 tomorrow weather and body and mind permitting

in reply toRichard7

All the best for your W9R3 Richard. I know we can do this!!

Jan-52 profile image
Jan-52Graduate in reply toRichard7

Both will be fine, body and mind. Enjoy !

Richard7 profile image
Richard7Graduate in reply toJan-52

You don't say anything about the weather I notice :)

Jan-52 profile image
Jan-52Graduate in reply toRichard7

No need once brain and body in gear, you won’t even think about the weather!! I will have a chat with the Universe for you !!!

Christene profile image
ChristeneGraduate

Well done Neil, great start to your graduation runs, instead of the Gastropods swearing at you, why didn’t they just shout “on the right” ... just asking 🙄😂😂😂

Well done, keep it going ...

in reply toChristene

Lol! Thanks Christene :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

😀. Terry Wogan was always on about the Ulster Fry

in reply tomisswobble

I confess the first I heard of it was when I absent mindedly searched for 5K to Couch :) My brain works in strange ways sometimes...!

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Well done Neil... you are a proper runner now..just two more runs til we break out the streamers and party poppers 😊xx

Go Neil...go Neil...go Neil..🏃🏃🏃

in reply toBluebirdrunner

Ooh steady on now, I wouldn't go that far, and I wouldn't exactly call what i did today "running", to mis-quote from the original Toy Story film, maybe running (or limping!) with style?

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate in reply to

Noooo... you are a proud 30 minute runner. Run tall and proud be confident in your new found ability.😎

We are very proud of you 😊x

in reply toBluebirdrunner

Thank you Jan, still trying to get used to the fact that I run. I haven't had a kebab since I started, and I'm eating things like salad. Oh - and I've lost about 7lb since starting. I'm not technically overweight, but have been noticing a certain amount of middle aged spread creeping in lol

ejvcruns profile image
ejvcrunsGraduate

You go Neil!! Run and enjoy!!

in reply toejvcruns

Thanks ejvcruns , I know I can always rely on you for a little cheerleading x

Kimchoc08 profile image
Kimchoc08Graduate

Well done and I’ve had many a cross word from snails as they’ve passed me!! Slow and steady and you will achieve wonderful things 😊😊

in reply toKimchoc08

Thank you Kim! Well hopefully in a couple of runs time you'll be saying to me "congratulations, you snailed it!" (See what I did there??)

Kimchoc08 profile image
Kimchoc08Graduate in reply to

I’ll be at the front of the line with the congratulations (snails and all) 😊😊 I’m very excited for you already!!

Renmurew profile image
RenmurewGraduate

Go Neil! Not far now to the podium and then its just onward and upwards from there.

You're doing great. Nothing wrong with a snail's pace. Its fast enough to get them to where they need to get to. In fact running at a snail's pace to someone who spends their day sitting on a couch is like running at Mo Farah's pace to a runner like you. Its awesome!

Cant believe how far we have come in such a relatively short time.

Looking forward to reading your graduation post soon!

DebJogsOn profile image
DebJogsOnGraduate

Well done you! Sl9w really doesn't matter. Getting to the end is what counts and now you're in spitting distance. Woo hoo! 😀

in reply toDebJogsOn

I am - as are you too :) We can do this, right? We CAN do this!

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate

Brilliant!!! Full of surprises this programme isn’t it??!! You’ve done brilliantly Neil...slowly get you there in the end 😉

in reply toMummycav

Yes it is indeed, though I may be crawling to the podium at this rate, my left knee has been acting up a bit since my run, but you know what? I just don't care, 2 runs left!!!!!🎈

Massive well done Neil!!! Sorry to hear you’re other knee is moaning at you a little. Sounds like you did the right thing by going nice and steady though. Week 9?!!! Eeeeek how exciting 😆 you’ve done amazingly well to get there, so much hard work and dedication. The badge is so close you can almost smell it!!!

in reply to

Thank you :-) the knee would probably have been better if the journey back from work hadn't taken nearly 2 hours... I hate traffic!

And sorry about the smell! My running kit is now in the wash 😂

Wantorun2013 profile image
Wantorun2013Graduate

Well done fantastic achievement enjoy the last two 👍🏃🏃..........👨‍🎓 on its way.

in reply toWantorun2013

Thank you for your support and encouragement. I still can't believe I made it past week 1 to be honest...!

Sadeskin profile image
SadeskinGraduate

Well done you!! It’s great to read how you got on today and you did the right thing taking it slower (even if they did swear at you, haaa that made me smile). I hope you are still feeling the glorified glow after achieving your first 30 min run. Week 9 is a good feeling, isn’t it?

in reply toSadeskin

Thank you :-) still feeling the glow after a rather annoying day at work and a fairly horrendous drive back. Week 9 is fun though, feels quite consolidatory (is that a word???)

Sadeskin profile image
SadeskinGraduate in reply to

Well if it isn’t I totally understand what you mean!! I am feeling like I am going to miss Week 9. How crazy is that?

Sadie-runs profile image
Sadie-runsGraduate in reply toSadeskin

You don't have to miss week 9! Once graduated, it is a good idea to consolidate by running 30 mins 3x week - essentially week 9! 😀 That's my plan, and so far so good. 30 minutes sure does hit the sweet spot! 🏃‍♀️👏😀

Sadeskin profile image
SadeskinGraduate in reply toSadie-runs

I will keep it going Sadie 👍🏻 xx

GaryB1966 profile image
GaryB1966Graduate

Well done, keep up the good work, you’re nearly there :)

in reply toGaryB1966

Thanks Gary :)

TJMazz profile image
TJMazzGraduate

Ooh this is exciting. You have done so well. Keeping everything crossed for week9. Can’t wait to see your graduation post 👍

in reply toTJMazz

Thank you TJMazz, believe me, no-one will be as surprised as I!! How are you getting on anyway?

Cornet-Carolyn profile image
Cornet-CarolynGraduate

Woohoo well done you. Nearly at the finish line. Take care of those knees and we'll see you on the podium soon 👏

in reply toCornet-Carolyn

Yay! Thank you :-) I can't wait!!

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