do the couch to 5k

It looks as though an alien is about to burst out of my foot. My symptoms seem to align with achilles tendonitis, although I haven’t seen anyone about this yet.

I swam instead – a painfully slow 700m. I couldn’t find any swimwear so underwear had to suffice. (No, I did not use a public pool.) It’s just so important that I keep up with something.

I am so so sore. Yesterday’s run suffered accordingly and I think my form was pretty poor. (I’m not entirely sure what good form looks or feels like but I certainly felt uncoordinated – legs falling away beneath me, arms kind of flailing around…I could barely remember how to run). I’m a bit worried about my knees and ankles, as I’ve started to feel subtle twinges again. (I used to have knee/ankle problems when I ran 9/10 years ago.)

In future I will try not to schedule C25K and boxing on the same day (I am still sore from Wednesday). Anyway, I’m still here.

I couldn’t sleep last night, so managed to go for a run at 5.30 or 6 in the morning. Is it just me or are there many more creepy people out and about at that time of day? It may have been my utter exhaustion manifesting as paranoia, though. The run itself was fine, and the blister thingies worked wonders. (Thanks Wildcranberries!) I could really do with some new music…

Done. I will not bring my negativity here. I am going to order a pizza and watch a movie.

Felt pretty awful today, but I have been treating my body like shit over the past couple of days so I guess it’s to be expected. I’m a little apprehensive about beginning week 2, but I’m going to continue. So Monday, right?

Does anyone have any advice regarding blisters?

I did it! I didn’t do half the things I said I would (eg get up early, find a flat surface), but I finished ok with a few accidental hills thrown in, too. I think the heat is my biggest obstacle at the moment, so my route was kind of dictated by random patches of shade and streets that looked as if they were relatively flat.

sore?

I have to admit I was slightly terrified. I decided to go early afternoon as it was overcast and raining lightly so I figured it wouldn’t be too hot. I was wrong. I made it to the last run but then the urge to vomit became too strong…so I stopped. (Urge to vomit also lasted an hour after stopping.)

• find a flat surface
• make sure I’m actually eating properly that day
• early morning if at all possible (this probably won’t happen)
• find another sports bra so that all my energy isn’t channeled into not bouncing too much
• headphones that don’t look stupid and keep falling off

I must say, I feel surprisingly good now. It’s also amazing how all notions of self-consciousness faded away 10 seconds into the run as I could no longer be bothered to care.

Anyway, I guess I’m one behind you guys now, but I’m so pleased I did this!