So after last Sunday’s 45 minute run with fellow Rani in Shrewsbury, Ammani insisted I quit C25k and just start running 5k three times a week and slowly build things up from there. I thought about what she’d said during the week when the rain washed out all running plans and decided that she was right. So this morning I found myself running with R, a new friend of mine who lives around these parts. We managed the 5k in 34 minutes, and the last 10 minutes up hill almost killed me. Seriously. But it made me realise I could run 5k without reaching the end of the c25k program. So I officially resign from the program and the challenge now is to do 5k thrice a week and build up from there. Year end goal is to do a half marathon. How are all of you doing? Come on Ranis, write! And run 
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odu raasa odu!
the abonimable running woman
Regular readers of this blog will know that one of my (many) new year resolutions was to start running and get fit. I’ve been using the couch 2 5k app, and have managed to progress to week 4 alive, red faced and out of breath. All signs of someone in good health I assume. Before I started running, I asked a<a href=”jikku.blogspot.com”> good friend</a> what were the basic things I would need to start off. I followed her advice and found myself armed with a good pair of shoes, some sports bras and a couple of track pants. I decided to forgo fancy running gear. I’d spent enough on the shoes, and since I wasn’t sure how long I’d be running, I figured it made sense not to spend another small fortune on the rest of my kit. As a result, most days, I head out running looking like this.
The loose, black jogger pants with the white stripe is a nod to a time when workout gear was meant to hide one’s flaws and doubled as clothes to watch daytime talk shows in (“You are my baby’s father” “No I’m not” “Yes you are” “No am not ho” “Don’t you call me a ho, your mama a ho” and so on). The red fleece is to warn people a few miles off that a crazy person is going to hurtle right in to them if they don’t get out of the way. The white beanie is a souvenir from Switzerland and says “Schilthorn piz gloria” so that people know that I have witnessed the glory of the Schilthorn mountains. It also keeps my head warm. And the gloves add a touch of whimsy to the whole outfit. They say, yes, I am a dedicated runner. But I’m still a fun person. I call this look bag lady chic. People who see me gracefully sprint by, often give me worried looks. Perhaps it’s because they think I’m being chased by the bag lady mob who are angry at me for stealing their trolleys filled with plastic bags. (cross posted at www.runningranis.wordpress.com)
what shall we sign up for
UK running ranis, this site lets you look at running events and races across the country. Fancy signing up for something?
i guess i;m making progress
If my husband asks “Where did your butt go?”
Week 3 of couch25k begins today! I”ve dropped 2kgs and my pants are starting to get really loose! woohoo!
And here’s what I look at every morning in the kitchen!
running to the beat of…
And I am very pleased to say that I have started week 2 of the Couch to 5k program. And boy do I feel good. I have synced the app to some songs which are on my Ipod most of which are Hindi and Tamizh film songs. Today I found myself running to this. I kept giggling the entire time. I can’t find a video anywhere and am desperate to see the way it has been shot.
I’m thinking it’s time to get some new songs. But I will keep Aval oru pachai kuzhanthai. GOD!
update
So far things have been going pretty well. I have embarked on the c25k program, been doing Gillian Michaels 30 day shred program and Tony Horton’s 10 minute trainer. I feel fit and also tired. It’s hard to do ab crunches with a heavy 19 month old sitting on your stomach. What can I say. My son wakes up before I do and insists on joining in my work out sessions. He already has made his partiality to Gillian Mami very clear by watching her perfect abs and sports bra with slack jawed awe. When Tony Mama comes on the TV he goes up and hits the screen. Oh well.
I feel all round pretty darned good. Have also been eating sensibly, This means buying Gu mini puds and not Gu big puds. Hey, We gotta start somewhere.
S, where are you on c25k and ammani has the brain unmushed itself?
So, after Broom put up her C25k challenge on her blog I thought it would be a good way to start my running plans. Yesterday, I downloaded the app on to my Iphone and added songs to the playlist. Now I just have to wait for the roads to thaw a bit and hopefully I can start running. So I’m doing Tony Horton’s 10 minute trainer till then.
Ranjani, here are the stretches you asked about.
And as a committed gym-o-phobe, I am heartened by this article. So get outside and workout ranis. well, when the ice thaws anyway.
Also see – Gym Intervention
Since my last (and only) post, I’m very pleased to say some progress has been made! A pair of Asics have been purchased, as have some basic tracks to run and work out in and some good quality sport bras. And lest you think that I’ve just been flexing my credit card and little else, you shall be happy to know that I have started working out.
i’m writing this post in Boston, where, since the 1st of January my sister has been kicking my butt in to working out with her every morning. Her cable provider has an entire channel called exercise tv with pre-recorded workout sessions that range from 10 minute butt and thigh blasters to hour long intense cardio sessions. We’ve tried quite a few of them in the last five days including a very amusing hip hop workout, where we laughed at eachother more than we ‘worked it’ as the annoyingly perky in every way instructor instructed us to.
It’s been a good start fitness wise to the year. And I hope to be able to return to London and continue with what I’ve started and add running to the routine too.
What have you ladies been up to?
running and i. me. something.
So here we are at the end of another year. Time to look at the last twelve months and reminisce about the good bits and cringe over the bad bits. My bad bits would include many poor food choices and yet another year of missed opportunities in the fitness department. Why did I eat so many bread sticks? (Dunked in butter). Why didn’t I try and incorporate more than just walking in to my daily fitness regime. Does going up the stair to check the post box count as exercise? So now that 2010 is almost here, I decided that I am going to make more of an effort to get in shape over the next 12 months. And running and swimming shall hopefully be part of that effort. And this is where you can help me. Please do help me answer the following:
1. What running shoes should I buy? Which brand? With Air? Or without? With hexapower technology or without? Battery powered or not?
2. What is considered good running gear? And please, something that is basic and won’t break the bank.
3. and what is a good way to get started? a website link will suffice
but remember i’m only going to start in jan. there’s still three weeks of bread stick eating to go
