Couch to 5k -- Week 2 Day 3~! Goodbye Week 2!

Week 2 Day 3

Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Man. I really didn't want to do it this morning. Less than 4 hours sleep and not enough water made me feel nauseous and feel like giving up before I even got out of the door. The person I ran with last time wasn't feeling it either and I was close to copping out and getting some more shut-eye, leaving this until tomorrow. But I didn't and that's what counts!

To be honest I felt a lot better as soon I got out of the door. I kept my pace very slow and I took it easy for the most part. I may as well savour these 90 second runs while they last.. I think my next run is 3 minutes and it only increases from there onwards *whimper*. It's so frightening when you're the furthest away from the definition "fit" and you're suddenly running 3 minutes at a time. 

My eating has suffered; I'm not eating well, I've definitely had a few treats this week, ugh. I think my brain got cocky with my last weigh in and I'm sabotaging myself. That stops now however. I don't want to step on the scales Tuesday morning and cry ;) 

- Nova

Couch to 5k - Week 2 Day 2~

Week 2 Day 2

Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Just a quick one - I'm on my mobile and this app is awful so I will have to be brief!

So week 2 day 2 is down and oddly I'm still feeling really good. I actually went for a run with somebody else this morning as the news has been really frightening lately; a female jogger was sexually assulted at 8:30am about 10 mintues away from where I live, a man was also raped locally over the weekend, and on top of that an attempted child abduction. All of these in close proximity to where I live so I'm stepping up my safety a bit. I'm hoping to get a personal safety alarm and perhaps that weird dye tagging stuff.. For all the good that will do, ugh. (I REALLY wish pepper spray wasn't considered a firearm and wasn't illegal in the UK. I feel like I'd have so much more peace of mind. I mean guns, fine. But pepper spray, really?!)

But for now it's running either at a normal time or dragging some other unfortunate soul along with me ;). 

That's all for now. Apologies for the typos. I'm sorry but this app is literally so awful and I'm running out of patience with it! 

So until next time,

- Nova.

Weigh in #1 -> One Week of Couch to 5k!

Starting weight/Last week: 168lbs
Weight today: 163lbs
Weight lost: 5lbs

Woaah! What a difference one week of healthy eating and moderate exercise makes. You have no idea how much of a shock it was for me to step on the scales and see that number. 5 pounds! What?! I even had a pep talk with myself before I stepped on; that even if I hadn't lost a pound weight loss is a side effect of fitness, not the other way around and not to find myself disappointed. But 5 pounds.. That's cool too ;).

- Nova

Couch to 5k Week 2 Day 1~!

Week 2 Day 1

Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Average heart rate: 156

Highest heart rate: 177

Yup. (It was actually 31 minutes, but it took a few minutes for my watch to sync, just so it's clear I'm not cutting corners hehe)

First off the great news - my shins feel fine! *Touch wood* but it seems those two days of rest and massaging my calves before this mornings run really seemed to help. I even ran outside (and uphill!) which may have been an awful idea after how bad they were hurting Friday but I'm pleased to report that the only thing that is hurting are my lungs after huffing and puffing my way through these 90 second intervals like the unfit lump I am ;)

It's strange how much difference 30 seconds makes. I mean it was doable, but the spike in difficulty was obvious (I feel like having a little wee at the thought of running 20 minutes without stopping in only a few weeks! Eee!)  I had phenomenally bad luck though. There is this absolute beast of a hill and every single time I'd reach the bottom of it "start running now" and I swear that hill feels almost vertical. Every time. I was going so slow you'd think I was running on a treadmill because I was barely moving and SO out of breath! ~*~#1 athlete of the year~*~ I know. 

It didn't help that I did a stupid thing where when it said 'start walking' I ran for about 30 seconds longer because there was a man in the distance and I didn't want to walk past him (in part due to embarrassment, another part because it's so dark and scary and I have a probably irrational fear of getting mugged or snatched!) and this was right after the hill. So I didn't make this run easy on myself ;). It went alright though. I definitely feel like I got a workout in today, let's put it that way! You know, even the most successful, most accomplished people have a starting point. I'm trying to remember that and shed the shame I feel panting like a dog down my road at 5 in the morning ha!

Wooo so glad about my shins not feeling crummy though. Long may it last. 

Anyway, I shall be posting my first weigh-in tomorrow (!!)

Until then,

- Nova x

Couch to 5K Week 1 Day 3~!

Week 1 Day 3

Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Average Heart Rate: 157bpm

Highest Heart Rate: 176bpm

The last day of week 3 bites the dust! Reyy! I enjoyed the run itself. It was a *really* cold morning here in England so I had to put a few layers on (I prefer covering up anyway). Although it's kiind of awkward when your running interval stops about 3 seconds after passing the postman, halfway up a hill and you're huffing and puffing, probably looking like the laziest, least fit person ever! Heh.

The intervals are leaving me feeling like I could go for more which is always a good sign. I'm not too worried about the 90 second intervals next week, in fact I'm kind of looking forward to running for a bit longer.. I may be eating those words later I realise ;). But yeah week one is over and I didn't die. Always a good sign. 

However, I am feeling so thankful that I have two days off of running... My shins were hurting at the point of  actual agony when I got home. I couldn't even walk up the stairs, I just had to sit, ice, and stretch. Now that I've been sat down for 30 minutes or so they feel much, much better but I can't help but feel a little worried. I hope this is nothing. I mean it seems silly (and unfair) to have problems with my shins so early on. It doesn't seem like a normal ailment for someone only running 60 second intervals to experience. I wonder whether it's because I'm running on quite an uneven ground (the pavement is patchy and bumpy where I live, also quite hilly) and the fact that I've suffered with shin splints before (I'm not sure whether you're more susceptible to issues if you've had them before..?) 

Anyway, YES it's annoying, but I have two days off to recover and look for answers.. Perhaps running on the treadmill next time is the solution. I'm NOT giving up though, so don't take it as me trying to weasel my way out of this, I'll crawl my way through this if I have to ;)

It's also worth noting that I've cleaned my diet up quite a lot recently. The running is definitely helping with that. Junk food just doesn't have that same appeal when you factor in that you were running at 5am in the freezing cold, it seems almost offensive to try and counteract that by stuffing your face with chocolate. Although this IS the first week, I'm pleased with how it's going so far - long may it continue!! :)

- Nova x

(P.S. I have ice burn on my shins. Ow.)

Couch to 5K Week 1 Day 2~!

Week 1 Day 2

Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

Another early morning run in the dark. I oddly love them. (When I'm not fearing for my life every time I pass a dark corner!) there's something beautiful about wandering the empty streets while everyone is all tucked up in bed, the eerie peace and quiet that is completely non-existent here during the day. Of course there's also the factor that nobody can see me haul my unfit arse around! That's always a bonus ;)

As I said in my previous entry, my knee was playing up big time yesterday andmy shins were giving me some worrying twinges, so I was hesitant about running on it for that reason (I'm aware this is pathetic, but I'm unfit and overweight, so my body is probably freaking out from the sudden stress) but surprisingly I ran and my knee gave me no trouble at all! It may be one of those injuries that fades as soon as you've warmed your body up. The only thing I can report was that my calves were burning a bit and my left shin is still twinging on and off (while I'm sat down about an hour after working out) so I'll have to keep an eye on that. I did ice it vaguely and stretched a bit, but I don't really know what I'm doing haha. So perhaps I should look into that!

The workout itself was nice, well, I mean it was fine. I tried to take it a little easier today, thinking of my knee and shins and, dare I say, I enjoyed it? I didn't even feel that winded (until the end where I was running the last minute up the hill, I got a little puffy). I know it's early days yet but I'm feeling hopeful about this programme. I hope my shin stops giving me these little scares though. I want scare-free, hassle-free runs please. I don't think I could live with the embarrassment of having to take time off the programme for getting shin splints in the first week!

Anyway, that's it for now. Week 1, day 2 of C25k is officially complete!

- Nova x

Musings & The Dreaded Initial Weigh-in & Measurements..

Measurements:

Neck: 13"
Boobs: 39"
Waist (smallest): 30.5"
Belly button: 37"
Hips: 40.25"
Butt: 42.5"

Upper Arms (L/R): 13 / 13.5"

Thighs (L/R): 26" / 26.5"

Knees (L/R): 17" / 17"

Calves (L/R): 15.75" / 16"

--

So as suspected I weighed in at around 170lbs. 168lbs to be exact... Which makes my BMI between 26 and 27.. Technically overweight, again, as I suspected...

It still hurts though.

I can't help but feel embarrassed and repulsed that I let myself slide back to this stage. My clothes don't fit me properly, my 'loose' jeans I can barely button. I know I'm not a (UK) size 12 any more, barely even a 14. As far as fitness goes I get out of breath climbing a flight of stairs, and I just don't feel good. I don't feel healthy, like a woman in her twenties, in her prime, should be feeling. I feel about 50 years old. I shouldn't be getting knee troubles after one day of running that's for sure (I'll save that for the end of this entry*)

BUT, and there is a but, this pity party ended the moment I typed it. I feel like a veritable fire has been lit under me, I feel eager, excited, and ready to drop this weight and get to the stage where I feel good about my body again. This goes beyond aesthetics, aesthetics don't even come into this actually. I want to feel alive. Wallowing, eating, existing... I don't want to reflect on these years and realise that I squandered my youth and opportunity to simply exist. To cry myself to sleep, to settle. I'm drawing a line right here and now and saying no more. No more yo-yo dieting, no more excuses. This is the final straw. This is it. I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm ready to do this!

I've also taken some before pictures *heavy shudder* I won't be sharing them until I have something nicer to put next to them though!

*Regarding my knee...

It's kind of humiliating to admit, but after day one, yes, day one of workout one, my knee has felt like it's had a hot needle slid down the back of it. Every time I walk downstairs or get up I feel that horrid burning sensation. It's ridiculous. I guess it's a wakeup call on how out of shape I am, that I get a knee injury this quickly (don't think this means I'm quitting!). I did a bit of googling and a lot of people say "are you running too fast?" it turns out if you haven't run or exercised for a long period of time you really shouldn't go balls to the walls... Well, I checked my Garmin watch (you can see the results on my previous post) and my fastest pace was 8.24/mile... Um.. Yeah. That could be it. *Sigh*. 

The importance of up-to-date running shoes  was also mentioned, and I know I've had mine for a couple of years.. Unfortunately I just can't afford a new pair just yet, so I'm just going to have to make do with the ones I have for now. I'm going to take it easy today, even if I feel like I can push further, for the sake of my knee and my shins I really need to do what's best. At least until my legs start getting used to, well, actually being used, I need to build my strength and let them rest properly. 

Wow. This turned into a mega long post, I was going to post about my diet plan & "plan of action" but I think I'll leave that for another entry!

- Nova x

C25K Week 1 Day 1 -- Freaky First Run in the Fog

1	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

C25K, Week 1, Day 1: 

5am, and I nearly quit before I took a step out of my front door because it looked like the set from "Thriller" - think thick fog you can't see a foot away from you, in the pitch black with only dull yellow headlamps to light your way (which makes everything look entirely too much like the famous front cover to the exorcist).

Yes, it was scary. No, I didn't take a picture because I was terrified if I stopped for too long someone would come out and grab me and nobody would be able to see it happen!

As far as the run went, well... It went as well as it could have went for a girl who is out of shape and isn't fond of running! I was winded in some parts and grateful for the walking break (although I was actually running a lot faster than I intended, impending death from crazy fog-monsters and all... and the walking breaks I ate into if I was running past especially scary parts of my block!)

I am very proud of myself though. I could have very easily (and let's be honest, I don't live in the nicest area, so completely justifiably) went back to bed, phoned it in and said I'll do it later tonight. I'm so glad I didn't though. I feel like I can enjoy the rest of my day knowing I've had a good start, that I shit my pants running at 5 in the morning, fearing for my poor life.... Surely Nova, you can skip on the chocolate and have a healthy lunch today? I think that's possible ;)

Anyway, here is my time as captured by my beautiful Garmin, Celeste :)

* Edit: I just realised that it's in miles! I changed the settings on my watch and apparently it turns out it's 3.50km! :)

Average Heart Rate: 158bpm

Highest Heart Rate: 179bpm

- Not sure if that's good or really bad haha. 179bpm doesn't sound that great... Though I'm no expert! I wasn't expecting super fast fitness freak mileage, but it's a start :).

Anyway, so far so good. My shins felt quite weird and painful when I got in but that seems to have faded now, so no big deal *fingers crossed*.

Looking forward to my next check-in and run! Hopefully the skies will be a bit clearer Wednesday D:

- Nova x

First blog posts are always so awkward aren't they? 

I suppose a short introduction is the standard, so that's where I shall start..

I'm Nova, I'm just a girl in my twenties, hoping to finally get a real handle on my fitness and not be absolutely abysmal at running. The Couch to 5K programme seems to be the best avenue for me as it stands as someone who currently gets winded climbing a flight of stairs and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. 

I wish I had something worthwhile to record here, like measurements or a starting weigh-in but unfortunately my scales batteries are in need of replacing (won't happen until payday) and I have absolutely no idea where my tape measure is. Ah well. 

It's probably just as well, I know in my heart of hearts that facing the scale before my first C25K run will probably only serve to dishearten me and make me even more self-conscious about looking like a muppet running out and about! If I were to hazard a guess, I would put myself at 170lbs... Which is technically overweight for my height and not ideal. 

It can only get better though right? I'm excited to start this programme and by the end of it not suck at running. 

Sorry for the crappy post, hopefully this blogging thing will come to me more naturally as time goes on. 

- Nova  x