Didn't think I'd be able to run for 5 minutes but it would appear that I can!

[earl-grey-sian]

I took advantage of a brief respite in the deluge and headed out for the first run of week 4. The route I usually use is impassable. The footpath has become a fast flowing stream. I never run in my own village, it's too hilly, there are no pavements, and people know me! There was not a lot of choice about where to run as two of the three roads out of the village are flooded, so I drove to the next village which is larger and has pavements!

What is strange about doing this programme is how smoothly you move on from one week to the next and what seemed nigh-on impossible is more than manageable just a few days later. Just 7 days ago, three minutes of running nearly killed me. Today, when part of a five minute run it seemed easy (am I tempting fate by saying that?).

What is surprising me about my own body is that it is my legs and not my lungs that are struggling. As an asthmatic who has been hospitalized on several occasions I am amazed at how my lungs are coping. In fact I blew a pb on the peak flow scale the other day! But my legs are another story. They are so slow and feel so heavy (at least after the first few minutes they do) that I am in danger of being overtaken by elderly ladies out walking their equally elderly Yorkshire terriers!

One final note: I could have slapped Laura today. I haven't had a stitch for about 40 years. Why did she have to go and mention them? No sooner had she talked about them and then told me to run than I developed one! I chose to ignore it, after all, it's only pain

[PeaBea Graduate]

Well done on doing the five minutes (twice). Gulp!!! My turn tomorrow. For me it is more about the breathing than the legs.

[earl-grey-sian Graduate in reply to PeaBea]

Good luck Pea Bea. If middle-aged, overweight, asthmatic me can do it, so can you

[Vivwestie Graduate]

Yup - easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy! Before you know it you'll be up to 30 mins and running proud and strong round your own village. I think you might be surprised by peoples' reaction if they saw you running. I've had only really positive comments from anyone I know that's seen me out running. But all in good time. There will come a point where you'll want to be seen and when you will be a great example. People will say "Well, if she can do it, perhaps I can.".

That's great news about your peak flow reading. Running really does work, doesn't it?

I can sympathise with the heavy-leg syndrome - I still have it a lot of the time. I'm just assuming that with time, continued running and weight-loss there'll come a time when it isn't so bad.

You're doing great, keep it up!

[earl-grey-sian Graduate in reply to Vivwestie]

After today, although it was hard, I'm starting to believe that I will eventually get there, however slowly!

[rolphie2 Graduate]

Well done to you, I too never had a stitch til Laura mentioned them, then I always had one, has stopped now though. My legs always feel heavy and also ache like mad for the rest of the day after a run but they work (slowly) when I am running so can't be any serious damage and am hoping one day they will feel light as a feather and maybe be alot slimmer!! Good Luck with your next run

[earl-grey-sian Graduate in reply to rolphie2]

My legs are no longer aching after running, they just feel weak and heavy when running. I'm hoping that they will improve with time. I already feel fitter than I did a month ago

[vixiej Graduate]

Good job, well done! You most certainly will do it! Fab news on the lungs. Believe me, when you are running 'comfortably' for 30 minutes you are going to want everyone to see you, but you should already feel proud of yourself

You could play around a little with hydration/food before you run. I find running easier if I have a bottle of water (750ml) in the hour before I run and a banana. If I eat more/less and drink too much/too little it all goes a bit out of kilter and feels a bit of a chore, with legs of lead. Of course, that my just be my imagination, but now I've found what works for me, I do try to stick to it