I’ve made the decision to get fit and lose weight. This is a decision I’ve made several times before but this will be so good for me for so many reasons. I owe it to myself and to a lot of other people to look after myself.
On twitter, several people have been mentioning the C25K app. This is an app that takes you from being inactive (the couch) to being able to run 5k. I’ve done the Race for Life twice which is 5K, but both times I ran a bit, power walked a lot and then ran home.
I downloaded the app, and yesterday I gave it a go. I live in a rural area which is quite fortunate as I am very self conscious when it comes to running. The unfortunate thing is that I live at the top of a hill so whichever way I go, there’s a lot of ‘up’ to do.
The app plays music from your phone as well as telling you when the 5 minute warm up walk is over, and when you need to run or walk. Over the weeks, the run length increases, and each session lasts about 20-30 minutes, so doing that 3 times a week, you get your recommended weekly exercise too.
I did ignore the voice a few times (I was going uphill and my lungs were bursting), and once during a running bit, the app paused so I ran further than I should’ve! My route ends near two pubs, a bakery and two places to buy sweets but I was a good girl (and the pubs were shut!).
I also used a second freebie app; the Nike running app. This plots the route you’ve taken, where you were going faster/slower, the time and distance, and how many calories you burn. As my route was longer than I needed for the C25K, it was nice to see how far I’d gone. It was 2.63 miles so only half a mile short of my 5k. You don’t need shoe tags, just your phone.
My next attempt is tomorrow (as long as my thighs stop hurting enough for me to move) and I have a new preparation list.
- Ditch all the unsuitable music (Tinkerbell, Barry Manilow ballads etc)
- Buy suitable clothing (M&S shop now done)
- Put the phone in a pouch to avoid it pausing again
- Pack a tissue
- Prepare better to deal with the symptoms of giving birth twice, once to a 10lb baby, without doing any pelvic floor exercises (mums, you know where I’m coming from!)
- Wear a bandage/plaster over my grazed knee after my a*** over t** fall last night!
I’ll look forward to a different type of running afterwards – running a nice hot bubble bath!