#Couch25k Week 9: Run 3
Powered by : Top Gun - Various Artists.

Completed it, mate. Now I'm just a normal jogger who can keep going for 30 minutes straight. Something I haven't done since just over a year ago.

My C25K journey has come to an end. The hash tag is no more. The regular exercise carries on and maybe later, I can extend my run times.

PS that album I've loved since it was released and Top Gun Anthem by Harold Faltermeyer makes for a great song to finish on!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCTJmXrgsFg

@PixysFitJourney the last ever #couch25k toot will reveal all. Then the hashtag will retire. 😆 (They only other person to use it was over 150 days ago.)

#couch25k Week 9 Run 2
Powered by: Chris Cornell - Carry On

Something clicked and this was a very good run. This probably sounds weird but recently with my tired runs after work, I feel I'm pushing from the back of my lower leg. Tonight, I could feel myself pushing from my upper legs / hip.

The run felt a little quicker and not so strenuous. I know it was quicker because when Jo Whiley told me to stop running, I was a lot further along the road compared to where I normally finish. 😊😅

#couch25k Week 8 Run 3
Powered by: Iron Maiden - Dance of Death.

F**k. 💀😓 That was a tough one. Too soon after dinner? Did half a day of work tire me out?

We'll see how the next one goes on Friday after a full day of work. I managed this last year so I'm not sure what's different now.

Maybe because I'm pushing harder, going every other day which I didn't do last time. Also, I've been running my old route which is very hilly and not my flat "training" route.

🤷

#couch25k Week 8 Run 1
Powered by : Body Count - Body Count

I went swimming with my youngest this morning. It's not really swimming but mucking about.

So going for a jog on the same day, phew, it was the slowest jog I think I've done so far or it at least took the most amount of energy to complete.

Also, I've complained to the bot on Amazon about my package and they say wait until end of Tuesday. Is this Amazon giving themselves time to send out a replacement?

#couch25k Week 7 Run 3
Powered by: Slash by Slash

Two weeks left and the final 25 minute run, next week it's 3 x 28 minute runs! I ran my old route which is a lot hillier than my training route and I was definitely slower but I didn't stop despite what felt like a stitch coming on.

That Slash self titled album from 2010 is a collaboration with many other rock stars and is lovely piece of heavy rock. Nice for running too.

See you in two days time. 😁

#couch25k Week 7 Run 2
Powered by: Disturbed - The Sickness

Like a broken record, I'll say again, another great record from my youth and their cover of Shout is fantastic.

Went for a run at 11pm meant it was a lot cooler but maybe a squidgen too late for running. I didn't stop but it felt harder at times.

The good thing about being out in total darkness is no one can see me miming to Shout and pretending I'm in a cool music video. 😁

#couch25k Week 7 Run 1
Powered by: Queen of the Damned - Various Artists.

Lovely collection of early 2000s Nu-metal. When jogging, I exhale rather loudly and with ear buds in, I've created a mental picture of what I must sound like as I approach other members of the public.

#couch25k Week 6 Run 3
Powered by: Jonathan Davis - Black Labyrinth.
The lead singer of Korn has a solo album and it's really good but unfortunately, it really doesn't suit me for jogging. Some of the songs are too slow a pace.

Today was a 25 minute run and it looks like the next batch will be as well! #sweaty 😁

#couch25k Week 6 Run 2
Powered by: Megaherz - Götterdämmerung

Why did I go running without checking the temperature! It's only 21°C but what a difference that makes. Two ten minute runs and I've no extra to give today.

Also, I've overloaded on Megaherz now. 😜 need to listen to something different and cleanse the pallet.

#couch25k Week 5 Run 3
Powered by: Stone Temple Pilots - Core.

Just one 20 minute run. Had trouble syncing my breathing with my running and it's warm today. Didn't stop though and completed it but no energy left to push any further today.

Alice did get up and we ran then walked a bit then ran on and off for 5.6k which took us 52 minutes. She’s a lot fitter than I am, probably because I’m more than double her age and 4st heavier 😹 It was fun to have someone to run with. She was stuck here for 5 weeks during lockdown when no one was allowed to travel, and she helped me get started on #Couch25K by running with me 3x a week. She was very patient with me when I struggled to run those 1 minute intervals. Now I have to shower, then prise my son out of bed so we can go and see the owls #running #fitness #FitnessJourney

#Couch25K Week 5 Run 1
Powered by: A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms.

Three runs of five minutes with breaks of three minutes. As usual I pushed on and made the last run ten minutes.

And it was raining, which as a glasses wearer, is annoying, plus I wore my new head sweatband. My wife says I look silly but I've already gotten over the stigma of looking silly while running, what difference is an extra headband going to make. 😎

#couch25k Week 4 Run 3.
Powered by: Papa Roach - Infest.

No extra running on this today. I decided to change my usual completely flat route and my last 5 minute run was entirely uphill. I had to slow down but didn't stop.

That Papa Roach album is, as the kids say, a damn right sausage. No! Banger! 😆

#Couch25K Week 4 Run 2
Powered by Clawfinger - Deaf Dumb Blind
Pushed myself yet again. After the last five minute run, I kept on running for another 5 minutes. Get in!

I discovered Clawfinger in a rather unusual way. My friend in 1994, discovered an industrial unit with a skip containing magazines from a shop. My friend grabbed a load and later gave me one of the cover CDs. I believe it was from Metal Hammer magazine and Clawfinger were one of the tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmfMaoNiIo0

#couch25k Week 4 Run 1
Powered by: Papa Roach - F.E.A.R.

Runs are getting longer now. According to Jo Whiley, I'm running more than walking per session. Added another 90 seconds on the end as well. 👍

#couch25k Week 3 Run 3 completed.
Powered by: Machine Head - Burn my eyes.

Like an idiot, I got my numbers mixed up. I'm not ½ way through but a ⅓. I can feel it coming back because after the last 3 minute run, I kept going and ran through the 5 minute cool down walk as well. Plus another cheeky 90 second run on top of that. 😊

#couch25k Week 3 Run 2.
Powered by: Eisbrecher

Officially over the halfway point now and something odd happened.

Once I finished the 25 minute exercise, I'm a little short of halfway back home and today a little switch seemed to flick in my head.

Rather than do my usual walk back, I ran a further 3 x 90 sec sessions.

I'm now sitting by a fan sweating away and I'm taking my son swimming later!

#couch25k Week 2 Run 3 completed.
Powered by: Universum25. I'm really loving German metal at the moment.

#couch25k Week 2 Run 2. It's pouring with rain but my OCD really didn't want to break the 1 run / 1 off cycle I'm using. I wore my hoody to keep the worse of the rain off despite it knocking my earbuds and threatening to make them fall out. Also, the hoody got heavier with rain and this run felt a bit harder than usual. Struggling a bit to find my breathing rhythm, I'm just not fit enough yet. 😁