When I first started the couch to 5k program I went through my iTunes and made a playlist called Run Baby Run. I listen to it on shuffle while I run and after five weeks I have a couple of favourites that I’m always happy to hear come on.
For the warm-up or cool down walks, Breathe Me by Sia:
And for the running, Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine:
This morning I did week 5 run 1 which is just about half way through the program. Go me!
At about 5am this morning I was feeding Edward and listening to the rain falling outside thinking I wouldn’t be running today after all. At 7am when I got up it seemed to have stopped and I got dressed in my running clothes. I stepped out the front door and it had started to heavily drizzle (technical weather term.) I stood undecided on the verandah for a minute watching the rain. It seemed to be easing a little. I remembered my high school days when they made us run the cross country course in sleet and thought at least it’s not that bad. So I tucked my iphone away from the rain and set off. More hardcore than I thought I was, it seems.
A few minutes into the warm-up walk the rain stopped. The sun even made a brief appearance and I saw patches of blue sky. The streets were very quiet due to the public holiday and I only saw a couple of dog walkers and a slightly odd looking man out walking. I got my run done and as I headed round the corner for home the drizzle started again. Perfect timing.
Dave has gone off to work (he dressed in his work clothes even though he’ll probably be the only person in the office today. I laughed at him.) Edward is having a morning nap. I was not up for attempting another one nap day alone and he went down with no complaining at all so I think he needed it. Lillian has taken all the (mostly dry) clothes off the drying rack and put them in the basket for me. She’s now eating one of yesterday’s apple muffins for morning tea.
The sun is trying to win over the rain and clouds but is struggling. I considered trying to plant the front garden but decided to do this instead. Maybe later.
Even though Dave is going to work tomorrow this weekend has had a definite long weekend feel to it. Before the rain started yesterday we made it to the nursery and came home with some plants to go in the front garden that I dug up on a whim on Friday. Dave dug up the other side to match but we ran out of time to do any planting yesterday.
Today was even more rainy than yesterday so the planting still hasn’t been done, but we’ll get there. We had to go out in the rain for Lil’s swimming lesson and the grocery shopping but after that spent the rest of the day dry and cosy inside. Except for Dave who decided the gutters needed cleaning and went up on a metal ladder in a thunderstorm. He survived.
Ed has been resisting his naps more and more lately so we decided to use the daylight savings time change to our advantage and test out a one nap day. After waking at 8 (daylight savings time) He made it to 12 before napping but was well and truly ready by then. He slept for two hours and then made it to 7.30 for bedtime which was also easy. I don’t know if he’s ready to do one nap every day yet but we’re definitely heading that way. One nap is much easier to plan around but I hate this transition stage. He still slept for longer today than he did for his two hard fought naps together yesterday.
He also spent most of the time between nap and bedtime eating. The boy can eat. There was much to eat too. Corn and pea fritters, lasagna, sweet potato chips and apple muffins. The kitchen and the dishwasher (me) got quite a work out today.
Tomorrow morning I’m supposed to do my final week 3 run in the couch to 5k program so let’s hope it’s not raining. I’m not that hardcore yet. And finishing week three means I’m a third of the way through. If I stay on track I’ll be finishing the program while we’re on holidays on the Sunshine Coast. We’ll see if I’m hardcore enough to run while on holiday.
Moment 1:
On Sunday morning, after Lil’s swimming lesson, Dave’s mum came round to look after the kids while Dave and I went to the farmer’s markets. We bought the vegies while having whole conversations with each other. We drank coffees without juggling them with a baby or fielding ice-cream/jumping castle/pony ride/cupcake requests. Then we went to Aldi and doing the groceries together was actually quite pleasant. Thank you Lynda!
Moment 2:
On Monday I finished week 1 of the couch to 5k program (after a break to get over that sinus infection) and decided to drive to the beach for my run instead of just running from home. Dave thought it would be busy with lots of other runners/walkers but when I got there I found this:
And on the way back:
It was a beautiful morning and I had a very enjoyable run/walk. I think I’ll run here more often when time permits.
Moment 3:
This morning Dave took Edward with him when he dropped Lil at preschool. I had half an hour in the house alone. I did some tidying, listened to the radio, had a shower and got half my breakfast eaten before Dave dropped Ed back.
Moment 4:
Ed is now napping while I write this, drink a cup of tea, and eat a biscuit (or two) that Lil and I made yesterday.
Lovely.
I did it! It would have been very easy to stay in bed this morning. I lost count of how many times Edward woke up last night. Teeth, a cold, and a leaky nappy were conspiring against us. He woke for the day at 6.30 and up I got and into my running gear.
I couldn’t have asked for a nicer morning for my first run and I quite enjoyed it once I got going. The iPhone app is awesome but I need to work on a running playlist. I just had it on shuffle today which made for an interesting mix and lots of pushing the next song button. Sorry Wiggles, I will not run to you. Britney, however, not someone I would choose (I didn’t even know she was on my phone), was actually quite good. Any good running music suggestions for me?
So the run went ok but I have discovered I am definitely less fit than the last time I did this program. Five years older, two kids later, and no longer walking 20mins each way to and from work every day like I was in Scotland. I am feeling a little stiff and glad my next run is not until Friday.
But, I did it!
