Confessions of a couch potato - Part 2

This is my fitness journal detailing my ongoing journey from Couch to 10k and the mental obstacles the mind throws in your path on the way.

Tuesday 3rd March Couch to 5k Week 1 Day 2 A little bit fresh and damp this morning but no rain thankfully. The sun is still coming up and it's getting lighter. I'm running through my local woods. The running is a mental challenge, but a lovely environment to run in. I'm running through a dawn chorus. I have birds chirping above me, chirping me on. Three runs in Week 1, a brisk 5 minute warm-up walk, run for 60 seconds, followed by 90 seconds of walking, total time 20 minutes. I was glad to finally get to the cool down walk. I'm out of breath but feeling alive. Wednesday 4th March To set a regular daily routine and to ensure I get into the habit of getting up earlier I have introduced another fitness routine. The NHS Strength and Flex exercise plan

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-and-flex-exercise-plan/ This is a gentle (I like that) workout with music, starting with a warm-up followed by a series of strength and flexibility exercises, finishing off with a cool-down-total time 35:28 Warm-up 5 shoulder rolls as you walk 10 chest presses as you walk (pushing both hands away from you, then bringing them back in with your elbows pointing out) I'm walking down the high street doing this and getting some strange looks. 10 arm rows as you walk (keeping your elbows tucked in while you pull imaginary oars back and forth) They must think I'm a nutter! 10 knee bends as you walk Feeling sheepish, I must find a quieter place to do these exercises! Strength workout 10 standing press-ups (leaning against a beautiful huge oak tree) 10 pull-ups - I've always struggled with pulls up, but luckily these are more like standing lean ups 10 shallow squats - tough on my knees and thighs, but do-able Flexibility workout thigh stretches calf stretches seated hamstring stretches chest stretches upper back stretches Cool down That was a really good workout and great stretching exercises as well. Very happy to finish and feeling good! Friday 6th March Had a few beers on Wednesday evening to celebrate getting to Wednesday :) Skipped Thursday's exercises. Strength and Flex Week 1-2 Great Workout, although my feet slipped whilst doing the standing press ups and I ended up head-butting the oak tree. The oak tree won. Sunday 8th March I've decided that Saturdays will be my weekly rest day. Couch to 5k Week 1 Day 3 I love early Sunday mornings, always so quiet and peaceful. Just me and the birds. Another damp morning, but no rain. I've been very lucky this week. A good run, but I'm struggling with hilly ground. Decided to run several laps on the level ground. That's not cheating surely? Couch to 5k Week 1 complete. Summary: Overall not too bad. A gentle re-introduction to running, which challenged me at times, but very rewarding. The only down side is I now have a heavy cold and I hardly ever get colds. I always seem to get colds when I start running. I need to investigate the cause.