Another day, another landmark in the Couch to 5k running plan - after today’s run I am over halfway through the program. Woohoo!

Today was the second run of week 5 - dubbed The Week of Pain for now. Though after today it doesn’t really deserve that particular moniker. Today’s run was tiring but emminently runnable.

I’m quite looking forward to the third run (on either Friday or Saturday), even though it will be more than double the previous maximum distance I’ve run in one go in this plan, and the first straight run with no walking. 2 miles. Running that sort of distance seemed unattainable 5 weeks ago, but now seems within reach.

Wish me luck!

And so on to week 5 of the Couch to 5k plan. Week 5 is the first week in which the runs are not all the same. In fact, this week looks like a monster (and next week is fairly similar just with a little extra distance each day).

Run 1, today, was relatively simple - a small jump from the previous week. 3 repetitions of 5 minutes running followed by 3 minutes walking.

Run 2, which will be Wednesday morning, is 2 repetitions of 8 minutes running and 5 minutes walking. Sounds do-able but definitely going to be tough.

And Run 3, on Saturday, is a straight 2 mile run with no walking. The first “real” run.

By comparison, today’s run was rather tame. It started out tricky, but I think I need to warm up better. After the first 5 minute run, my legs stopped their whining and the last two runs were much better. All things considered, I think that bodes well for Wednesday!

Hooray! The end of Week 4. Today marks the halfway point of the training stage of the Couch to 5k plan. The first run of week nine is the first 5k run - not long now.

My running partner joined me on my route today and seemed to enjoy herself - it’s a nice area to run in though. Very peaceful (and only a little hilly). One side-effect of that was the change in pace. I found it harder to get into my usual running rhythm, which meant that by the end my legs were complaining a little more than usual.

However, we both finished - we ran and walked around 2.2 miles in around 22 minutes - not a bad distance for the time. That bodes well for a 10-minute mile time for the 5k.

Run 2 in week 4 of the Couch to 5k plan today. Another early start. Unfortunately, my other half works some late shifts - I didn’t get to bed until 12:30, and my alarm brutally woke me up at 5:30am. Not a good start to the day.

However, I did at least manage to actually get myself out of bed and go running. It appears that once you are in a routine, motivation becomes less of a problem. I’m into more of a routine than I used to be before I moved … I start at 6am, usually (sometimes a few minutes later), and head straight out for a run north from home through Benfield Valley. It’s all uphill for about a mile (alternating running and walking, as per the plan) to the golf course at the top of the hill, then turn around and head back down. I get home between 6:35 and 6:45 - early enough I still have some time for a shower, breakfast and a cup of tea before heading off to work. On the days I don’t run … if I’m not playing squash or racketball I take a rest day. And that’s my morning routine. Needs more bacon.

Anyway, back to the running. I was expecting my calves to be the problem today, but they weren’t. I know nothing about running muscles. The run was easier than Monday, which is the important thing. Maybe last week (which actually seemed to get progressively more difficult) was just an anomaly. My left ankle (actually just above, on the inner side of the leg) feels like I stretched something - might need more of a warm up in future.

I can run! Well, a bit. Week 4 of the Couch to 5k plan is seriously intimidating. Almost double the distances of the previous week and slightly less walking time to recover. Bearing in mind I found last week no picnic, I was not expecting this week to go well.

However, I finished today’s run with no problems. Actually, I found this run easier than Saturday’s supposedly easier run. My calves hurt by the end (as did my running partner’s apparently), but lungs and legs were otherwise fine. It was tiring but achievable - nowhere near the demon I had envisaged. I had my music on (still not sorted out appropriate music) and a little rain was no issue.

I’ve worked out the distances we’ve been running (we’re basing everything on time rather than distances so far) and it looks like we’re both running a little ahead of the expected/required pace, which is good news. Means there’s room to slow down if needed!

Finally, the end of week 3 of the Couch to 5k plan! One third of the way through. Phew. And still going strong.

It was an early start and a journey over to the other side of Hove today for a run with my running partner. She and I are running separately for the first two runs of the week at the moment, and travelling alternately to each other for the third. We think it’ll help with motivation - can’t go missing runs, because a failures in sticking to the plan would (or should) be obvious to the other person on the third day. This is a plan that is low on logic but big on grasping at straws. It’s working so far.

Anyway, this week was my turn to travel back to Hove Lawns for run 3 of week 3. Week 3 has been pretty hard work and today was only a touch easier than Monday’s run thanks to two days rest rather than the customary one day off. We’re definitely fans of avoiding running on grass - decent surfaces appear far easier.

Rather nervous now about Monday. Had today been noticably easier than Monday or Wednesday I would be looking forward to Monday, but I haven’t noticed any real improvement through this week.

Yay, a birthday run! I’m 27 today, and rather tired now. Today’s run entailed another early lonely start, but all went well. More self-motivation! I’ll be a guru in no time at this rate.

The run was pretty much the same as Monday’s but easier on the lungs. Legs were ok but ache now. The step up from week 2’s runs to week 3’s had looked to me to be a rather large jump and I was thinking I might need to repeat week 2 before making the transition, but the two runs this week have both been easier than I expected. The jump to week 4 is another big one, but now I’m looking forward to it rather than being worried about it.

I saw a fox this morning. Very exciting stuff. Unfortunately, I had no camera so can’t share with you. In future, I may see if taking a camera is an option. I don’t really want to have carry it by hand, and a pocket is out of the question - would be too annoying. I’ll see if I can work something out though. I’d also like to be able to take keys without them being annoying in my pocket - I’m sure there are things you can buy to help with this.

I get 2 days off now - running with my previous running partner on Saturday. We decided that in order to continue to help motivate each other we would run together once a week. It should be obvious if one of us hasn’t been running the previous two days in the plan, so should keep us both on the straight and narrow.

Today was the first day of week 3 of the Couch to 5k plan and the first run where I’ve not met my running partner in the morning. Self-motivation all the way baby!

Getting up and out was no problem. I started a few minutes later than usual - all my stuff is still in boxes from the move. I ached all over as well from lifting and so on all weekend. Not the best start. I also took music with me today - an iPod shuffle and some light, rubbish, expendable headphones. I didn’t specifically select the music - it was already filled so all surprises.

And it was a different experience altogether. Running alone allowed me to concentrate on the running and get into my own rhythm. Going at my own pace is probably a smart move as the distances start increasing. I missed the banter, but all things considered this is probably a good thing for the remainder of the plan.

The music wasn’t bad, but I’m definitely going to sort out a “running playlist” to populate the shuffle from. I’m thinking soundtrack music would be best (aside: StreamingSoundtracks.com is the best internet radio for listening to at work) - Chariots of Fire being a good place to start.

I also had a new route. Though I still live by the sea, the seaside path where I am now is nowhere near as picturesque as Hove Lawns, so I run inland, through a massive parkland area. Very idyllic and quiet and an acceptable substitute.

The run itself was a serious lung-burner. I’ll spare the more graphic details but I left most of a lung along the way today. Felt very good to finish the run though. This was the first run I’ve done that I feel I wouldn’t have been able to do before I started this plan.

Today was the last run of week 2 of the Couch to 5k running plan. My running partner and I both found it relatively painless. Tiring, yes, but easier than earlier runs without a shadow of doubt. It’s another milestone as well, and takes us to a quarter of the way to our first 5k run at the beginning of week 9.

Weather was fine - sunny and no breeze to speak of (a shame - I like running with a bit of wind to keep me cool) - and shoes were fine too. I’ve noticed a marked difference between running on grass and on a tarmac surface, the latter being easier by far.

Things will be interesting next week. I am moving home this afternoon and over the weekend (I’ll be writing my posts but won’t be able to get them online until next week) and will be living too far from my current running partner to go running with her in the mornings. Having to meet someone at 6am has been a major help getting me to actually get up and run in the mornings - I hope that having started I (and she) will be able to carry on despite having to run separately. We shall see.

Week 2 continued in fine style today. No problem getting up - I was up well before my alarm, which was set for 5:30 for a 6am run, went off. Perhaps there is something to this exercise lark after all. I’ve certainly been feeling better than usual for the last few days, though that could easily be my imagination.

No rain today. Suits me! And a repeat of Monday’s run. Strangely, while the second run of week 1 was easier than the first, this run (the second of week 2) was harder than Monday’s run. Both myself and my running partner found today’s run tougher than Monday’s, which was confusing (but both finished the run as planned). We’ve both pretty much put the difference down to our bodies not recovering from Monday as much as we might have liked. If anyone has any idea of alternative reasons for this, I’d be happy to hear them!

If the same happens next week, I think we may have to leave an extra day after the first run of each week. We’re running Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the moment - maybe Monday, Thursday and Saturday would be better.

And once again, my ankles, shins and kness found the whole experience much better than previously. Decent running shoes really do make a huge difference!