My C25K journey -

There seem to be quite a lot of people starting the C25K at the moment so I thought I'd post all my updates in one place. I wish I had enough time to have written it all up properly, instead, random Facebook updates are all I have really - later on, Nike+ information too.

It's easy (now!) for me to say that this is achievable and that next week wont be as bad as you think, that you will be able to do it but at the time I remember thinking I would *never* make it to the end.

Week 1 Day 1 - 28th December 2011
Week 1 Day 2 - 7th January 2012
Week 2 Day 1 - 9th January 2012   - "More survivable than enjoyable"
Week 2 Day 1- 10th January 2012 - "Wondering if anyone as unfit as me     (very) has ever made it to the end of c25k? not even optimistic about next week"
Week 2 Day 2 - 11th January 2012
Week 2 Day 3 - 13th January 2012
Week 3 Day 1 - "Very glad when it said 'walk now'!"

Helen would just like to point out that if Liz really was as 'rubbish' at everything as she claims to be, the kids would be in care, the cat would be dead, Keith would never come home, and she would be lying on the floor face down being eaten by badgers. That is all ;) xx  15/1/2012

Week 3 Day 2 - 17th January 2012

Week 3 Day 3 - 19th January 2012 - "Bit slower and sore but I made it!"

Week 4 Day 1 - 22nd January 2012 - "Stupidly happy to be able to run for 5 minutes!"

Week 4 Day 2 - 24th January 2012

Week 4 Day 3 - 27th January 2012 - "Halfway! (if I make it any further!)" - was struggling a bit with a sore knee/foot

Week 5 Day 1 - 29th January 2012 - In a lot of pain with knee when I got home

Took few days off

Bought beautiful new trainers :-)

Week 5 Day 2 - 2nd February 2012 - Minus 2 outside!!

Week 5 Day 3 - 4th February 2012

8th February 2012 - Too much snow and ice to run outside so went to the gym. 5 minute warm up, 25 minute run then 5 minute cool down = 4.8k!  Very, very surprised and happy.

At this point, I abandoned the C25K programme as I could pretty much run for the required time/distance.

Since then I've been running roughly 3 times a week, very rarely only twice if I've been really busy studying, building up to going 4 times more often.  These are the distances I can do now, 4 months on from starting the C25K, not being able to make the corner of the (very short) road.

12th February 2012 - 4.19k

14th February 2012 - 4.7k

15th February 2012 - 4.7k

19th February 2012 - 5.1k - I did it!!!  -  8 1/2 weeks since beginning.

21st February 2012 - 5.4k

28th February 2012 - 5.6k (3.48m) (switched to miles as easier to work out distances in relation to what I needed to do for the half marathon)

15th March 2012 - 6k (3.78m)

25th March 2012 - 8.2k (5.09m)

1st April 2012 - 8.6k (5.37m)

8th April 2012 - 10.6k (6.63m)

16th April 2012 -10.75k (6.68m)

So that's where I am now, I've been running for 18 weeks - my next target is 7 miles on Sunday!

I'm better at running than blogging .... 6.6 miles!

I started this with all good intentions but I just haven't found the time to keep up with writing as well as running, studying, children, housework and the million other things I always end up doing.

Finally, I've turned a corner this past few weeks. I believe I can do this. I really do think that I can complete this Great North Run and not injure or humiliate myself too much.

This morning I ran for an hour and 15 mins and completed 6.6 miles. Half a half marathon.

I am enjoying the running so much more now I am not spending so much time worrying about it and I find it hard to take days off. I love the time on my own, the fact that I can have time without having to do anything, talk to anyone or even think about anything.