๐Ÿ Catch Up Corner: Week 3 The Gold Edition - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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๐Ÿ Catch Up Corner: Week 3 The Gold Edition

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduate
โ€ข22 Replies

There is Buck fizz or Orange Juice laid out today & yummy snacksโ€ฆ Do help yourselves & do come in & help me blow up some balloons! ๐ŸŽˆ

This weekend past my hubby and I celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary in the Lake District . Nature put on her best golden show for us.

These milestone celebrations are awesome and lots of fun. However every anniversary is special and worth celebrating & we have enjoyed them all โ€ฆ homemade candle light dinners , surprise parties , camping, & trips away in many different countries.

Itโ€™s the same with running! The week you make that commitment to start couch to 5k is a real commitment! Little rewards a long the way can be a great incentive to keep going until the grand finale of 9:9!

For me as an early morning runner, my treat on run days is extra special coffee when I get home. I remember too when I first started Couch carrying a few wine gums for โ€ฆ. when I get to that tree, or once I turn the corner.. Do share your fun ideas! Week 4 for me was a biggie! I promised myself running kit & proper trainers on completion. This was to replace walking sandals T-shirt & shorts. ๐Ÿ˜‚ It was only then that I began to feel like a real runner.

I wonder what creative ways you have in mind for the big 9:9 Celebration ? ๐ŸŽ‰ Perhaps a special restaurant or a spa day, takes your fancy? An audio book or a new playlist may inspire you to finish. Do tell!

We know what it takes and how hard it can be, and here on Couch we recognize your commitment with a well earned graduate badge next to your name.

The greatest rewards however are the gifts that running itself brings us! According to both the University College of London, Saga and Harvard you can expect the following gifts.

๐ŸŽ Cardiovascular Health: Running strengthens the heart and improves circulation, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Research has shown it can lower blood pressure and improve arterial flexibility, contributing to better overall heart health

๐ŸŽ Bone and Joint Health: Regular running increases bone density and strengthens joints, which can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis as you age

๐ŸŽ Mental Well-being: Running is known for boosting mood and reducing anxiety and depression. This is partly due to the release of endorphins and other natural chemicals like endocannabinoids, which enhance feelings of well-being

๐ŸŽLongevity: Studies indicate that regular runners live longer on average, with a reduced risk of premature mortality. Even short runs can yield these benefits

๐ŸŽWeight Management and Metabolic Health: Running is highly effective for burning calories and improving metabolism, making it a great choice for maintaining a healthy weight

๐ŸŽˆ๐Ÿ’๐ŸŽThese insights make running a comprehensive lifestyle choice for both our physical and mental health. Every time we pop on our trainers & head out the door we hit the jackpot. Itโ€™s good to remember and console ourselves when the runs donโ€™t go according to plan that it was still better to have run than to have stayed at home.

Letโ€™s get the run done โœ… and go home & celebrate!

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Annieapple profile image
Annieapple
Graduate
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22 Replies
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Baggieboy61 profile image
Baggieboy61Graduate

What a fabulous post. I think I will treat myself to some new gear because when I started this journey I was a large and Iโ€™m fast becoming a medium.

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduateโ€ข in reply toBaggieboy61

๐Ÿ Itโ€™s exciting when the running starts to make us look good as well as feel good! Well done on all the effort you are putting in & thanks so much for popping in! ๐Ÿ‘ We love hearing directly from our runners!

69upandrunning profile image
69upandrunningGraduate

Happy Anniversary!! My reward to myself for graduating the first time was a run assessment and proper running shoes. I'll have a bucks fizz please.

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduateโ€ข in reply to69upandrunning

๐Ÿ Cheers ๐Ÿฅ‚ Thank you! โ˜บ๏ธ Yes running gear is always a super option especially when the sales are on!! ๐Ÿ˜„

Wavy-chick28 profile image
Wavy-chick28Graduate

Congratulations on the golden anniversary a massive achievement!

Running has given me so much Iโ€™m fitter and happier when running and last year when my mental health was in free fall this forum encouraged me back and it was the push I needed.

Now I have another challenge apparently Iโ€™m in the diabetic range again ๐Ÿ˜ฑ but Iโ€™m not overweight and I am very active so no wine gums for me or any Buckโ€™s Fizz ๐Ÿ˜ซ another challenge to get back on trackโ€ฆ..

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduate

๐ŸWell there is definitely some mineral water with slices of lemon ๐Ÿ‹ for you. I will join you as this is definitely the drink we runners need the most ๐Ÿ’ฆ Thank you for celebrating with me! ๐Ÿ˜„

Your blood sugar is a definite challenge but one you will overcome as you did with the running!! A much needed ๐Ÿค— for you Wavy-chick28

Wavy-chick28 profile image
Wavy-chick28Graduateโ€ข in reply toAnnieapple

Thanks Annieapple it was a bit of a blow but Iโ€™ve escaped it before Iโ€™ve just taken my eye off the ball and more on the cake ๐Ÿ˜‹

Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoAdministrator

Congratulations on your Golden Wedding Annieapple , what a wonderful milestone to achieve!

Just popped in to say that since I started running a DEXA scan showed that instead of having osteoporosis I only have osteopenia now. Running was the only major lifestyle change between the 2 scans (about 6-8 years apart) and with that length of time and no medication I wasn't expecting good news.

The arthritis in my knee has pretty much stopped bothering me too.

Keep at it everyone, the benefits are real.

Now I've said my piece please may I have some Bucks Fizz and a few of those delicious looking nibbles :)

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduate

๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ Running keeps on giving us gifts! What a fabulous outcome for you!! Definitely letโ€™s raise a glass & celebrate together! Appreciate your good wishes too! โ˜บ๏ธ ๐Ÿ’Thank you Yesletsgo xx

Baggieboy61 profile image
Baggieboy61Graduate

Me too. High cholesterol. What a shock. Iโ€™m delaying statins for now and aim to have a retest in six months. Iโ€™ve lost two stone since February so I was taken back when I had my results. Doc thinks itโ€™s hereditary. Itโ€™s borderline so no panic. Be interesting to see if the running helps.

limberlou profile image
limberlouGraduateโ€ข in reply toBaggieboy61

how annoying!! I know how you feel though as I have also lost 2 stone this year and was looking forward to my BP coming down and being told what a good girl i was. My VO2 max is the highest its ever been, my max HR when running is a lot lower too and most of my runs are in zone 3. I was even starting to speed up slightly and was feeling really fit and happy with myself.

Then i had a routine heart scan and find out I have an enlarged left atrium and they would like to see me again to discuss this AND my BP has gone up again too despite being on the highest dose of meds ive been on ๐Ÿ˜–. I bet that will be hereditary too!! ๐Ÿคฌ

Baggieboy61 profile image
Baggieboy61Graduateโ€ข in reply tolimberlou

Hi limberlou.

I had a heart procedure 20 years ago to correct SVT. As a result I take beta blockers. Problem with that is I canโ€™t elevate my heart rate. I average around 130bpm on my runs. Good news is that itโ€™s mostly in a fat burning zone. But Iโ€™m grateful to be out there running and enjoying the experience. It could have been so so different. The specialistโ€™s have assured me that all is well. One said go out there and run a marathon if you want. Erm no thanks. Just do it slowly. Haha.

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduate

๐Ÿ ย Baggieboy61 Mine is hereditary & a strict diet & running didnโ€™t budge it so a low dose of statins for me & bingo, problem solved!

JeremiahObadiah profile image
JeremiahObadiahGraduateโ€ข in reply toAnnieapple

Well you learn something new every day, statins and bingo. I knew about statins but bingoโ€ฆ!? ๐Ÿคช

I also tried really hard on very restricted diet and loads of exercise but the numbers hardly budged . The low dose statin certainly works, in conjunction with good diet and exercise. I just wish I had started it earlier.

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduateโ€ข in reply toJeremiahObadiah

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ Bingo as in hey presto not the game in case I mislead anyone !! Yes that combination certainly work for me too.

JeremiahObadiah profile image
JeremiahObadiahGraduateโ€ข in reply toAnnieapple

I doubt any one would misinterpret your comment but it made me smile. Had visions of lots of people turning up to Bingo for health purposes!!

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduateโ€ข in reply toJeremiahObadiah

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ so did I when I reread what I had written

Baggieboy61 profile image
Baggieboy61Graduate

I might relent and try the statins.

Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoAdministrator

Some people just seem to be able to cut down on stuff and their cholesterol goes down but not me. Apparently high cholesterol has some sort of link to low thyroid so I'm resigned to taking a pretty hefty dose of statin.

Even the running doesn't seem to make a difference but as my only real vice is cheese I suppose me and the statins are in it for the long term.

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduate

๐Ÿ ๐Ÿง€ ๐Ÿซ• yummy!๐Ÿ˜‹ I try! Sigh! Try to keep as a special treatโ€ฆ

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Hi there... may I be a party pooper and settle for a mug of tea this freezing cold morning! -4 here in sunny???? Staffordshire:) But I will take some snacks please!

Late this week , but so glad that you had a wonderful Golden Wedding Anniversary.

My treat to me when I began this, ten years ago...just that wonderful feeling of satisfaction on finishing the run, and on the completion of each week... a special treat breakfast...smoked salmon, cream cheese and bagels... scrambled egg with smoked salmon... smoked kippers... or Staffordshire oatcakes and cheese!

Then, after the Graduation... I got my first Garmin! and I have over the years, upgraded with different milestones..

The treats really are ongoing. each run is a blessing and being a part of this wonderful forum community and sharing everyone's delight in their runs is a real bonus.

Running, really is a gift that keeps on giving!

I will sit a while now, before heading out to defrost the car! It is very comfy and warm here.. x

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleGraduate

๐Ÿ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿฅถโ„๏ธ ย Oldfloss I have stoked up the fire & made a big pot of tea for you, hot chocolate & coffee available for others who may pop in & join us if itโ€™s too icy to run!! Your yummy special breakfast treats would definitely be an incentive to get the run done. A special watch, now that would makes a great reward for Graduation. I wonder if anyone else is promising themselves one? I know you will be heading out soon so enjoy the snacks while you can. Hope your day goes really well! ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ™ โ˜•๏ธ

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