Seconds out! Round Two!: So there it is then. W... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Seconds out! Round Two!

PaulS83 profile image
29 Replies

So there it is then. W1R1 done...again. I'd like to say I've risen like an elegant phoenix from the ashes, but given the further degradation since my last go 'round, it'd be fairer to say I've reemerged. Like yesterday's curry.

It took 3 people to get me into the base layer and then we had to get the neighbour 'round to prise me back out once I realised it was back to front. I thanked her and told her I'd return the favour any time, but she just tutted, called me a cheeky sod and marched off. She's got a bit of a rude streak, our neighbour.

So once I was strapped up, laces tied, "L" plate taped to my back, I was ready to go W1R1-ing and go have it all over that pavement again...gawd, I've missed this.

Right, before we proceed here, I probably need to set the scene a bit by way of introduction, as all of my previous partners in crime from C25K round 1 have since graduated and are off marathoning somewhere. So in order for us to bond over this blog, you need to understand one thing and then everything will make sense: I'm an idiot.

You may've had your suspicions, but it's confirmed.

My brain and body have pretty polarised opinions as to the current state of my fitness. My brain thinks I'm still in my 20's and able to wheelspin around a football pitch for 90 minutes with no warm up and a hangover. My body, on the other hand, knows I'm first on the spit if marooned on an island, Lord of the Flies-esque. It knows it's burst its banks. I mentioned in my last post that I'm mushrooming out of my trousers and I'm not talking about your off-the-shelf dainty little button mushrooms, oh no, I mean the sort that lit up Bikini Atoll.

The problem is, my brain is loud and domineering and my body is too fat and lazy to argue back, so it just does what its told and we end up in a metaphorical ditch, covered in our own blood with my brain saying, "Well at least we know that there's nothing we could've done to avoid this".

So now the scene is set. We're all glad-ragged up in running gear so garish it can be seen from space, and out the door saying, "Remember last time. Too much, too soon, buggered the knee" followed by, "Do we really need to go all the way to week 1? Let's just go at it and see when we collapse and then we can judge where to slot back in" and then followed by, "Come on, let's do this properly. Build ourselves up again, trust the programme" and then followed by, "Oh look, Strava still has our W1R1 from last time. I reckon we can beat it".

And we did beat it. By a whole min/km. Pop the kettle on and make room for me on that injury couch, I'll be with you momentarily. My bet is before W4. Can I see it coming? Yes. Can I stop it? No.

I told you. I'm an idiot.

I'm disappointed with my run-route though and need to do some serious tweaking. No just because of that bloody great mountain that requires a Gurkha Guide to conquer (luckily I had a reprieve today as MJ gave me the nod to walk [climb] halfway up) but it's all more boring than a pair of nun's knickers. By my old house, I had what I called Perverts' Pass, which was a row of houses all with lights on, no nets. I love gawping into other people's mundane moments for a split second. This time, it's all country lane and that's not going to get me through those tough K's.

Plus, I run past a Chippy and my God it smells horrible and greasy. I desperately need to avoid that as I'll be doing my homeward leg blowing on a saveloy.

I'm on a diet as well. Until about 8pm most nights when my resolve cracks. Last night it was Christmas cake. I got a hamper from work and it was the last thing in it, I convinced myself over Christmas that I don't like Christmas cake, but suddenly remembered that I do. A lot.

Actually, it was more of an epiphany than a realisation. Loneliness is like a white noise that stealthily builds up all around you, like a buzzing fridge it's unnoticeable, even at its crescendo, until it suddenly stops! And its absence is deafening. That's what happened when me and this cake locked our gazes. I looked into its two cherries, surrounded by raisins, and saw love. Love which soon became destruction. Of it.

The more I think about it, it should make me fitter, right? I've seen these gym goers, walking around carrying weights and heavy chains draped over their necks. I'd like to see them run for a minute, eight times in a row with an extra 15kg strapped around their midriff. It's good for building up the leg muscles.

W1R2 scheduled for Monday. Happy running you bunch of sadists.

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PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83
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29 Replies
RunningMigster profile image
RunningMigsterGraduate

Good start! Good luck for Monday.

My job for the weekend is finishing off the mince pies and chocolates.

Not gonna be easy, but we all have a cross to bear.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate in reply to RunningMigster

O my goodness RunningMigster, you still got Mince Pies and chocolate to finish off, 😂

I have ate all of my Mince Pies, but I was given so much chocolate and special Christmas biscuit tins that it will be mid February or later before I get through that lot.

RunningMigster profile image
RunningMigsterGraduate in reply to AlMorr

We all need a challenge for the new year 🤣

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to RunningMigster

People don’t appreciate the effort that goes in to polishing off the odds and ends

Speedy60 profile image
Speedy60Graduate in reply to RunningMigster

Chocolates are a problem, I agree. Mince pies are the devil's work, you can have my share.

Comfortnotspeed profile image
Comfortnotspeed

Great read. Good going to you for round two. Same here for me 😊

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to Comfortnotspeed

All good things get reboots!

Redvic97 profile image
Redvic97Graduate

Thanks for the chuckle and well done on getting going again. Looking forward to your updates 😂

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to Redvic97

Thanks 👍🏻

Joanney69 profile image
Joanney69Graduate

Haha that has made me chuckle 😂

It's probably a good job I didn't read it before I started, as it may have put me off.

I hope your Monday run is non eventful, but I highly doubt it 😁🏃

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to Joanney69

Pah! Uneventful! I’m not sure I’m capable.

Joanney69 profile image
Joanney69Graduate in reply to PaulS83

I didn't think so.... 😂

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Welcome to the forum and well done

on your decision.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Enjoy your journey.

lexi6 profile image
lexi6Graduate

Great, funny post good luck for Monday’s run.

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to lexi6

Thanks and me too. Let’s just hope it’s full of absurdity.

lexi6 profile image
lexi6Graduate in reply to PaulS83

😅 I’m banking on it.

ktsok profile image
ktsokGraduate

Here we go... again... good luck!

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to ktsok

Indeed.

I feel to you I’m stress in the form of a fly repeatedly beating its head on the living room window in between moments of frantic buzzing, then you open the window to set me free only for me to move 6 inches to the left and start on the next pane.

ktsok profile image
ktsokGraduate in reply to PaulS83

No stress whatsoever. I enjoy watching the struggle.

It’s a bloody sight more enjoyable than my own attempts at running.

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate

Ok!, I glimpsed this earlier today, but who's got time!!!

So I set aside a tea break to get through it, it appears that time has not impaired your ability to get to the point!!!!

The image of you locking eyes with a Christmas cake may stay with me for the rest of today at least.

Enjoy your next run, I'll look out for the post 😬

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to Jell6

Maybe I should offer an abridged version of my little misadventures. If I cut out the waffle and the nonsense, it’d struggle to fill a tweet.

But then what would you do with your tea break, hmmm?

Wenderwoo profile image
WenderwooGraduate

When I saw you’d posted I didn’t just dive in willy nilly, I knew I’d need to sit down and savour. So made myself a mug of the Yorkshire, and sat down. Another humorous tale, and I’m looking forward to the next......after I’ve ploughed my way through the rest of the Quality Street, or perhaps I should save them for the event.

Well done by the way!

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to Wenderwoo

Nothing but the strawberry creams left in my tin of Roses. I keep inviting more and more obscure relatives around with a hope someone will get through them but not a single one offed. Why do they put so many in? There must be someone out there the generate the market.

limberlou profile image
limberlouGraduate in reply to PaulS83

I know!! And my son and daughter love the fruit creams 🤮!!! They’ve stopped the coffee creams which were the only cream ones worth having.

Wenderwoo profile image
WenderwooGraduate in reply to PaulS83

I also have a lump of Irish whisky laced fruit cake that somebody gave me as they didn’t want it, and I’m doing dry January so can’t eat it. Husband might be able to use it as a brick on one of his never ending DIY projects....

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate

Listen to your body, listen to your body, listen to ..... oh, too late

PaulS83 profile image
PaulS83 in reply to Tartancat

Can’t help but hear it today, groaning and wincing every time I bend over or walk up the stairs. Who knew, eh?

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate in reply to PaulS83

Who would have guessed?

limberlou profile image
limberlouGraduate

Well I am going to be joining you in that reboot tomorrow morning. My 3rd go at it.!!

Did it once 2 years ago. Got up to running about 10k and was in top of the world..and then.... fell walking and fractured my wrist and ankle end of June 2018. Spent 3 months in a boot and then had to build back up again from wk1r1. Started back running Sept 2018, did C25k, then B210k, and I was back better than ever. Got up to 21k in August last year.

Then I un-retired and went back to work part-time , ended up with a very nasty virus ( I blame the aircon at work) and had really bad problems breathing so haven’t run since Oct 16th 😥😥. Now after 2 batches of antibiotics and a batch of oral steroids and re-retiring again...I am fighting fit and ready to start again.

So wk1r1 here I come!!! See you on the other side 😁

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