W8 R2 & R3 (Unexpected Benefits)

[BeaglesEnd]

Another busy weekend meant an aborted update on Friday’s W8R2. This was a great run for me. I comfortably broke the 3km & 2mile barriers and I had the little sprint at the end. Also, my heart rate was wonderfully in the correct zone.

Today’s final run of Week 8 was a little tougher. There are a few possible reasons, but I believe it might have been the overindulgence due to celebrating our anniversary.

Anyway, it was this celebration that provided enlightenment on the side benefits of C25K. The first was the fit on my favourite shirt. By fit, I mean I actually fitted in to it without providing glimpses of my hirsute abdomen through gapping apertures in-between buttons. I’ve so far resisted the call of the scales and have been wholly satisfied with the surprised overtures of friends and family. But I could resist no more and took the plunge. And, there was no doubt. I’d manage to shed close to 6kg, over half a stone in old money, since my last doctors appointment before last Christmas. Now I know that I put a few kilos between then and me starting C25K, so I suspect the real figure is closer to 8-9kgs. That is significant. Close to 10% of my body weight. Nice!

The second benefit is a little more sensitive and difficult to explain on a family forum. Suffice to say, Mrs End had a very satisfactory anniversary evening despite the copious amounts of alcohol consumed. This was not a benefit I’d been expecting but this is certainly one that is going to keeping me going.

And, going!

😜

[Fifitrixiebell73 Graduate]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Brilliant!

Happy wife, happy life! 😜

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Fifitrixiebell73]

Thank you! Yes, a very happy lady 😊

[Overweightandunfit Graduate]

Well done, on to the final week 👏

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Overweightandunfit]

Cheers! Scary stuff.

[Jools2020 Graduate]

😂😂😂 Well, what can I say!? A welcome and unexpected benefit! Happy anniversary!

Well done for the weight loss, too. That’s a great achievement and surely can’t be just a result of just the running; I’m the opposite, losing too much weight before I started running (out of my control) and losing slightly more once I started. I’m now the slimmest I’ve been for 40 years. I need to put some weight ON 😂.

Lastly, a huge well done from me for your Week 8 success! That’s brilliant news. I, too, broke the 3 km barrier with W8 R1 this morning, but only just; even so, I was so proud of it! We’ll ignore your overindulgence and Run 3 😀. So - 3 more runs until graduation! Can you believe it? 👏👏👏

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks Julia. My curse is also my gift. I lose weight and put it on very quickly. In my younger days it was muscle! I had a few mates back in the day that were body builders and they were quite jealous of my frame and ability to put on mass. The penance is that is that only have to have a couple of bad weeks and I’d like gain half of it back again.

Well done on breaking 3km! It was quite a big thing for me as this was the distance I got up to last time I tried getting fit. Difference is that I’ve a real taste for it now and I know that there is a lot more to come.

Not long to graduation!!!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to BeaglesEnd]

I’m sure the forum has helped with your motivation, so it’s different this time; I know you’ll keep with it - and the weight loss. For me, the 3K milestone is huge. I’ve never run before, and I was saying to someone only yesterday that I thought it would be a while before I could run 3K. Well, it was a while - less than 24 hours! I intend to join a local running group. I live alone now, and spend too much time alone; this group does an ‘Easy 3K’ and they do it in groups of 6. Social distancing observed. I’ll do a couple more runs until I feel confident and put my name down! I can’t wait. Things are looking up! 🙂

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

That’s brilliant! Obviously, I’ve shared the same struggles you have and I completely understand how easy it is to isolate yourself from social situations. This forum is amazing. I hope you are going to also join the bridge to 10k as well! And joining the running club will be amazing. Perfect!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to BeaglesEnd]

Bridge to 10K? Hadn’t thought about that! My goal was 5K - but hey! Who knows! Perhaps I will 😀

[ForestGrump63 Graduate]

😂😂😂

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to ForestGrump63]

Thank you. I’m glad everyone managed to get the meaning! 🤣

[John_W Graduate]

You can't beat a happy End (ing).

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to John_W]

🤣🤣🤣

[Plattszo Graduate]

🙈🙈🙈 wasn't expecting to read about these types of benefits on here 😆😆

I'll stick with a rather prudish and business-like response of "Congratulations on the weight loss!!"

I have not focused on food intake yet, that is my next thing to get sorted and it will surely help with the running too.

Can't wait to see your graduation post!

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Plattszo]

Sorry for the ‘over share’! It was just a little unexpected!

The weight loss, to that degree, was also a surprise. I have also not been concentrating on changing my eating habits too much.

Graduation is in sight!

[John_W Graduate]

Not 'friends with benefits' but ... 'C25K with benefits'.

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to John_W]

You are on roll!! 🤣

[Plattszo Graduate]

P.S. what is the right heart rate zone?? 🤔🤔🤔

[John_W Graduate in reply to Plattszo]

From someone who's been running for 5 years now (and a devoted heart rate guy). take it from me ... forget about heart rates for now. It just isn't an important consideration for a beginner doing C25K - besides, a lot of devices churn out rubbish values so they can't be trusted anyway.

The correct 'zone' is one where your running (JOGGING!) effort feels easy and you can talk quite comfortably - it's called a conversational pace. It's a pace that, at the end, makes you feel you could carry on for a lot more time if you had to... i.e. S L O W.

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to John_W]

Listen to John_W.

I was a serious rugby player back in the 90s was lucky enough to have Sir Clive as a general manager of the club I played at. So I have had some insight into this area. For me, at my age, around 140 average is what I’m looking for. I’ve been able to have quick chats with my running partner at that rate. But, it’s right on the border of the next HR zone.

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Haha love it 😂 well done

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

Cheers, man!

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

Congratulations! 🤣🤣👍😁

Happy Anniversary!

It's our 29th today - was due to run but wimped out to share a bottle of Cava in the garden this evening to celebrate instead. 🥂🍾

Oh well - there is always tomorrow...

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

It’s normally the only day of the year we get to ourselves and that we both feel comfortable having a drink. So we tend to over indulge.

Congratulations on your anniversary!

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

Thanks 😊

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

Easy Tiger ! 😂

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Couchphoenix]

🤣 No worries there! We already have four kids and almost all of them in their teens!

[f1madman Graduate]

Lmao congratulations and happy anniversary, if those benefits dont motivate me, I don't know what will!

Also boring question but what heart zone do you aim to run in?

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to f1madman]

Thank you! The best advice I can give on HR zones is to check John_F reply a little further up. He basically states that if you capable of having a chat you are in the right zone.

I was a pretty serious rugby player about 25 years ago and had a lot of sport science advice. So, I have a some idea on what level to be at. For someone my age (mid-forties) I’m looking for an average of 130-140.

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Well someone’s had a great weekend!... sounds very physical too! 😳

Congrats on your anniversary!... sounds like you had a lovely time, the excuse to dress up AND the nice surprise that comes with it, finding that you have shrunk 👍 you must be chuffed!

The weight loss is great! Is it just the running or are you managing your food too?..

I’m loving how your joining the runs together so we don’t miss out on hearing about them!

Week 9 beckons and you are going to smash it!👏👏

1 more week until graduation 👍

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

Hey Jane. Thank you. It was a great weekend. Normally we go away for the evening, the only chance during the year we get, but the current situation has denied us that. So, we just did what we would normally do but at home.

I’ve not really been focusing on my diet but I’ve definitely noticed that I’ve subconsciously changed some eating habits. I’m eating more fresh fruit and I’m snacking a lot less. But, there is still a lot I could improve and I suspect I will need to if I’m going to get down to a healthy weight irrespective of how much I exercise.

After last week I’m going to try and get back to doing a post after every run again. It definitely helps unpack the run mentally and I learn so much from the feedback.

I can’t wait to read your graduation post, I’m certain it will be epic!

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to BeaglesEnd]

Glad you made the best of it and sounds like your celebrations were lovely.

Bit like me then.. whilst I’m not going hardcore against my diet just yet I’ve made some subtle food swaps.. and I’ve amended some of my habits.. I always have breakfast and it’s usually porridge or banana and yoghurt/breakfast bar.. that in itself is a transformation for me.. I was a meal skipper! I’m also snacking less but when I do it’s fruit or nuts rather than chocolate... 🍇🍊🍒🍌

As the running kicks in I will further tweak the diet- didn’t want to go full on because too much change would see me fail at both. I’m also noticing that I’m considering what I put in my mouth a lot more... Just in support of my running.

I view crisps/sweets and chocolate a lot differently now 🍬🍫 I still eat them but a lot less and they are now not my ‘go to’ snack. Further changes to come but it’s a start.

Both diet and running are fast becoming embedded and a ‘new Jane’ is appearing.

My daughter no longer is aghast 😳 and no longer has an expression of complete surprise When I tell her I’m off out for my run - it’s very much the norm, BAU these days! 🏃🏽‍♀️

The forum is brilliant, as are the people on it and I’m sure without it I would have fallen by the wayside long ago...

Here we both are - week 9! - it magical!

I look forward to reading your posts 👍

[Foxyblue]

Congratulations! 6kg is closer to a stone than half so well done on that for starters, secondly Welcome to week 9!!! And finally (errr cough cough) high fives and fist bumps all round 😉

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

Thanks! Week 9 is a little scary as I have to change my route to account for the extra distance. Previously I could just add on a little path of the main run. However, it is going to have to be a completely different route!!

[Foxyblue in reply to BeaglesEnd]

I had a minor crisis of confidence on Monday so put off run 1 til yesterday but it was actually fine so don’t be scared, you’ll be grand I promise. A new route sounds exciting though, I’ve been thinking about this too as the path I run is a bit boring. Talked my hubby into starting C25K so I’m hoping we can run together and go to more remote trails that I wouldn’t feel confident going on my own.

Enjoy week 9 and good luck, we’ll soon be graduating 🤩 Just keep thinking of all those extra benefits and it’ll put an added spring in your step 😜