The Health Huns
The Messy Side of Health and Fitness!
Your favourite amateur athletes keeping it real, discussing the messy side of health and fitness
The Health Huns
EP.6 COUCH TO 5K
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Remember that first moment when you realized you could run without stopping for 20 minutes? That initial sense of accomplishment is something we all treasure as runners. Whether you're contemplating your first steps off the couch or already have several races under your belt, this episode celebrates the journey of becoming a runner.
We dive deep into the democratization of running and how programs like Couch to 5K have transformed it from an elite sport to an accessible activity for everyone. The magic isn't in expensive gear or perfect form—it's in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. From Joe Wicks completing the London Marathon in six hours using the "Jeffing" method to our own experiences building the Gater 5K community, we explore how running has evolved to welcome all bodies, abilities, and goals.
Practical advice abounds as we discuss essential gear (good trainers are non-negotiable), safety tips for solo runners, and the life-changing power of finding your running community. We debunk common myths, like needing to run fast to get benefits or requiring specialized gear before you begin. Most importantly, we share our genuine joy in seeing others discover running on their own terms.
Running has fundamentally changed our lives, not through dramatic weight loss or marathon medals, but through connection, confidence, and the simple pleasure of movement. Listen in, lace up, and remember—if we can run, you absolutely can too. Share your running journey with us on social media, and let's celebrate every step forward together.
Welcome back to the Health Huns Episode six. Episode six we're loving it. That's a lot of episodes. That is a lot of episodes and I think if you get to 20 you're in the top summing percentage of podcasts.
Speaker 2:We're gonna get to way more than 20, because I've just got I've got a list of potential topics and and we love to talk love to talk. We act for a living. Yeah, this doesn't feel like work, does it? I mean, it's not work no, it's not.
Speaker 1:It might get to that point maybe, but we'll still be fine we'll be fine, we're gonna hire our studio soon, aren't we? Yeah, we're gonna have headphones. Guests, guests, so excited. Oh, who do you want to be on this podcast? Who do you think would fit in with this podcast, and what stories do you want to hear?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good one because we have got a. Really we haven't actually. Well, we have sort of roundabout way asked them and they did say they would, but we haven't actually.
Speaker 1:Our people spoke to their people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, our people spoke to their people and it, you know, hopefully will be a thing, but it's a very busy month for them. Yeah, so a really exciting one. But who else do you want? You've actually just got a rainbow on your head right now.
Speaker 1:It's because it's. Pride, pride. Yeah, who do you want to hear and if it's someone, maybe we don't know just like, send us at Instagram or socials. Yeah, and we'll definitely check them out and see if they're up for it. Yeah, we'd love that, but today's episode is called Couch to 5K. Couch to 5K. Now we're not going to be just talking about the app for an hour.
Speaker 2:No, it's more about like getting into running the rise of popularity. The rise of popularity, yeah.
Speaker 1:All you know, know what you need. Yeah, because I don't know if you've actually picked up on this. The last few episodes we've been quite um subtle about it, but we are runners. We are runners. Amber, especially, is a full-time runner. Full-time, yeah, as you learned before. She doesn't stop. So this is amber's master. Is it mastermind, not master chef? Uh, what's it called that? When you have a topic that you're you know everything about and they ask you questions.
Speaker 2:It is mastermind. Yeah, that sounds about right. Yeah, this would be your topic, my topic that and pugs, pugs and running running pugs.
Speaker 1:They don't go together, not particularly yet. We'll invent a pushchair for them. Yeah, so, couch to 5K. A lot of people listening are our friends and supporters and we run with them. Yeah, so there'll be a lot of people listening At your run club, at my run club, goto5k on Instagram. Check it out Please.
Speaker 2:Over 400 followers 404.
Speaker 1:One Check it out Over 400 followers 404.
Speaker 2:One of the most popular run clubs in Norwich, some might say. Some would argue it is.
Speaker 1:I don't see any contenders. No.
Speaker 2:But so Rhi, why is running so popular? Why is it so popular? The rise of running.
Speaker 1:I think we act as if running has never been popular before. Sometimes, yeah, ways of running. I think we act as if running has never been popular before. Sometimes, yeah, I think with the right, I think with social media and documenting things and people documenting their journeys. I think that's had a big impact because a lot of people like why this is called couch 5k start on this journey of never thinking they can run. Yeah, they get into it.
Speaker 1:A lot of people started in lockdown as well yeah, they do which is a big, I think, pusher for it and they do the couch for 5k and they just kind of fall in this in love. I say that loosely, but they just get into the stride of it and everyone's like, well, if that person can do it and that person looks like me, maybe I can give it a go. And I think, because we're no longer just seeing the marathon runners out there, the pa Paula Radcliffe's of the world, you know, the everyday person with a very normal average body and a normal average life is thinking I can get out and run, yeah, and I'm going to enjoy it.
Speaker 2:And I think people realise they're much better than they think they would be. Yeah, because what is a good?
Speaker 1:runner, someone that can run, someone that can run, someone that can walk a bit faster than they normally walk. Yeah, is running to me. Yeah, it is. Um. The bar to entry is quite low as well. Yeah, you don't need much to start running really no, you don't Couch to.
Speaker 2:5K is actually such a great app for starting this journey.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's structure. Mm-hmm Accountability yeah, it's free.
Speaker 2:And it's something it tells you what to do, which I think is really important, because I mean, lots of people message me or just talk to me at work and they're like, oh, I wish that I could run and I'm like you can run. If I can run, you can run yeah like I mean, obviously not everybody can run, but the majority of people can run.
Speaker 2:If you are able-bodied, you can run. And I think people have said to me, like you know, I don't know if I can run, and I'm like go in your garden, put some trainers on and just try running to the end of your garden. Yeah, because if you can run to the end of your garden, you can run.
Speaker 1:And the good thing about couch to 5k is that's how it starts you run for a minute and then you walk for 90 seconds and that run isn't judged on how fast you're going oh god, my first runs like were so slow, but that was fine and you build it up, you build it up and I think, with the running couch, 5k strava which I'm sure we'll get onto there's a I love the community of it. Now, don't get me wrong. There's some douchey people who run. There's some douchey run clubs. There's some not welcoming things, but that's in any walk of life.
Speaker 1:You get unwelcoming spaces, but I see all different types of people out running in these run clubs and the groups and on social media. It doesn't seem like there's a fit or a type of person that you think of anymore. When I think of running, I just don't have an image in my head. Well, anyone can run. I've seen anyone, yeah.
Speaker 2:Women, men, younger people, really much older people, bigger people, smaller people, muscular people, lean people. I'm just going to every type of person there is in the world. But yeah, anybody can run and, like you know where we we're actually changing our run club start point this week yes, we are but where we used to start from, there's quite often two other run clubs.
Speaker 2:We're just all there doing our own thing, yeah, running like, and there's no like I don't know, you're just all existing together running. And I love, when we're going down the track where we run, the people that are like hi, hi, morning, morning, like yeah, people just say hello to each other and I think anyone who runs and has like done running or ran all their life is their like hobby or sport, I think they get a bit of a.
Speaker 1:They're pleased to see people out doing it. I think it's then then I've never really met anyone who's looked down on someone for starting to run.
Speaker 2:No, if you can't be happy for people giving it a go, sort your life out. You do need to have the long hard. Look at yourself and like I. By any means I'm not a fast runner, you know, I'm just somebody who likes to run. But there are people that are slower than me and I am more than happy to do slow runs so they can get into it and they'll probably get quicker than me very quickly. But I'm there to support them. In the beginning, when you started, running really did you do couch to 5k?
Speaker 1:no, I hate couch 5k, do you? Yeah, I like the idea, I love the concept and I love how it has given people this gateway into running. Yeah, for me personally. I didn't like the build-up. It was too structured and slow for me. I struggle following a plan when it comes to fitness okay, so you're just feral yeah, which is weird, because I'm always telling other people to follow a plan yeah but for me, when I started running, I just went okay, I'm gonna run for 20 minutes, yeah, and whatever that looks like.
Speaker 1:Well, that's half walking, half running, slow jog and I'm just gonna do that three times a week until I get a bit better at it, and that's how I got into running. So it's not dissimilar to a how couch for 5k is structured yeah but I just didn't.
Speaker 1:I didn't personally need the person in my my headphone telling me to walk slow down, run faster. All that kind of stuff pissed me off. Yeah, so it doesn't work for everyone, but that you don't. Not everyone needs couch to 5k to start running. Yeah, but it is a useful thing for support.
Speaker 2:To follow it loosely maybe might be helpful, I feel like if I hadn't have had it, would I have continued to run? Because I was like I have to do three runs a week because that's what couch to 5k tells me to do. I did find there was a. It starts off quite slow and I'm like oh, this feels quite easy. Like you go from like a minute, three minutes, five minutes, eight minutes and then about week six, suddenly you're having to do a 20 minute without stopping run.
Speaker 1:I've heard this, and quite a jump, isn't it?
Speaker 2:it's quite a jump yeah, and I would say the one thing that couch to 5k doesn't really talk to you about much is pacing yourself. I would be like I've got to run as quick as possible, so I've really struggled for a long time to be able to run for more than 20 minutes without stopping.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Even when I was doing Couch to 5K, because I'd get really out of breath, because I was like running really quick and I'd find my runs would be like I'd either be running really quick but then five, 10 minutes of running and then I I'd have to walk and then I'd run and then I'd walk, or I'd go slower sometimes because I'm with somebody and I'm trying to have a conversation and the timings were very similar. But I'm like that's because I was like running too quickly and then having to walk, so that was equating to more of a slower, steady, consistent pace.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which I guess there is a time and a place from that, but I do think, uh, learning how to pace yourself is really eye-opening and will help you with.
Speaker 1:I mean, 20 minutes when you first start is your longer run yeah, I mean that to run non-stop for 20 minutes is a lot. The first time I done that. I literally was amazed yeah, how often in your day-to-day life are you ever having to run? Just run for 20 minutes.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm gonna be honest, I don't think I'd ever run for 20 minutes in my life.
Speaker 1:You don't have to do that now. No, like we've got cars? Yeah, exactly, and even before that, yeah I think the pacing thing really helped me get like stick at running this time, because I used to just go as fast as I could and I'd burn out and then I hate running but, the pacing thing, because you often get people go I'm running so slow, I'm running so slow and I'm like well, good, yeah, because you're you're running so slow, but that doesn't matter, because your body's got to get used to that endurance.
Speaker 1:It's got to build up the endurance, yeah. So if you want to stick at running and get better at it, go slower than you think you need to yeah, and I think that's a real issue with people.
Speaker 2:People are always like striving to get a pb. You shouldn't be getting a PB every week.
Speaker 1:Unless you're Shannon.
Speaker 2:Unless you're Shannon.
Speaker 1:And then that's just a given.
Speaker 2:Bloody Shannon, but you shouldn't be getting a PB every week. No, like you should. What was it like? 95% of your runs should be easy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're building your engine. That's what the athletes say you are building your engine.
Speaker 2:I like that. I like that and actually, like you say, like you know, the first time I done 10k with um sarah, sarah g we. It took an hour and 20 minutes but I did not get out of breath the whole way and to think that I ran non-stop, other than when we stopped at 5k and turned around and had a gel.
Speaker 1:I'm going to say until we saw the five guys we stopped at 5k.
Speaker 2:I had a gel. We walked for a couple of minutes. It was a really hot day. If, if I hadn't have run slowly, I wouldn't be able to do it, and I think to increase your distance you have to slow down to begin with oh, definitely, you get the elite marathon runners.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're running at like a four, three minute kilometer or whatever, but they, that is their whole thing. This is a whole sport. Most people are running marathons like five hours, six hours, seven hours. Yeah, it's hard enough to run 26.2 miles, let alone doing that consistently at seven minutes a kilometer.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean someone that I never thought that I would like joe wicks.
Speaker 1:Oh my god, are you?
Speaker 2:serious. Did you not see him doing the london marathon? No, so joe wicks is a big advocate for slow running, is he? Yeah, he'd done the London Marathon. Took him like six hours. So he does this thing called jeffing. Have you heard of jeffing? No, okay, is it a sex thing?
Speaker 1:No oh.
Speaker 2:It's a method of, I guess it's like intervals, so it's after a marathon runner called Jeff Galloway, I think Okay, intervals like. So it's after a marathon runner called Jeff Galloway, I think okay, and it is intentional run, walk and people do it to sort of conserve their energy, and he jeffed his way around the London Marathon and it took him six hours, okay, and like I don't know who it was, somebody interviewed him whilst he was doing it and he he was like yeah, he's like I'm having a nice time Like I'm just, I'm walking a bit, I'm running a bit, I'm jeffing, yeah, and he was like you don't have to run really fast, no, and he did something else recently.
Speaker 2:I actually followed him on social media because I was just so surprised that somebody like him, who is quite I mean his workouts and his meal stuff I think is quite intense and not for me. I disagree.
Speaker 1:Do you think it's like? I think he's bang hit the nail on the head of his target audience with that, though.
Speaker 2:Well, maybe the thing is that when I looked at it I was much bigger and I hated exercise, maybe. But I mean, he I don't even know who his target audience is, but the slow running just really hit me because I thought somebody that is as fit as you, yeah like, and has a great body and is that like typical sort of, you know, essex bimbo kind of guy yeah, like he is just saying that slow running is fine slow running is fine yeah and it's when we talked about um, like, do I have to be achy and sweaty after gym session our last episode to for it to be worthwhile?
Speaker 1:I think people like, well, if I'm not running super fast and I'm not hitting my pbs, then it's not worthwhile going on a run. But what is your aim for going on a run like? Let's clarify that first. Is it just so you can start running and slowly get better, or is it to be the fastest person on planet earth?
Speaker 2:I mean, there's no point it being the fastest exactly, so maybe like bring yourself down a bit yeah, and think I'm.
Speaker 1:If you've never ran a day in your life and you want to start running. Like I said at the beginning, if you're going faster than a walk, you're jogging, yeah, and a jog is fine. A fast walk is fine at the beginning. If it's harder than what you normally do, it's fine. I mean, have you seen power?
Speaker 2:walkers, they walk faster than I run their hips. Their hips must hurt all the time yeah, that can't be good for you.
Speaker 1:They're like streamline them. Yeah, do you think they shave their legs?
Speaker 2:yes, they're smooth as a dolphin power walking's fine, do that.
Speaker 1:Start with there, maybe yeah, you need.
Speaker 2:I mean, when I started running, I actually didn't really have anything to start with. I had a pair of trainers that I'd brought for walking and I wore them and I just wore leggings and I mean, stupidly, I started running in November so I mean it was trial and error what I would wear, because a sweatshirt, even when it was freezing cold, was too hot and sweaty. So I brought like a running jacket that had like these little reflective things on it, so if a car shone its lights at you, you'd like basically glow you came into gym once with like a long sleeve night top on and then like a night vest on top that was my tabard.
Speaker 2:I love that, you remember. Yeah, it's like uh outfit that really sticks in my mind um yeah, and here I am. Like my gym food is what I wear to the gym is it not how I remember it um, but yeah, like you know, all I had to begin with was some trainers. I wanted to make sure that I was going to be into running before I actually spent any money on it because if one thing ab is good at spending, money buying things that she may or may not need so the things that I think you need for running is you need some good trainers, a hundred percent.
Speaker 2:If you don't, have good trainers.
Speaker 1:You can fuck your legs up on my this running journey. The only thing I've invested in heavily is my trainers. I haven't even got a running watch. At the minute, I just use my phone. Yeah, I'm raw dog. It you really do. Sometimes I don't have headphones whoa, I'm an alpha, uh.
Speaker 2:So I think having a running watch like a sports watch, is really helpful, yeah and so I had.
Speaker 2:My friend gave me her old one, um, and I couldn't work out how to change the settings on it and the battery died all the time. So I did buy myself the cheapest Garmin and I bought it from Vinted uh. So it was a lot cheaper than it should have been. And one thing it's really helped me with is it tells me what pace in kilometers I'm running at. So when I'm doing things I am trying to run at a certain speed, I can check my watch and see that I'm doing it. So that is actually really helpful. If you you know, after like a couple of months you know you've done Couch to 5K and you then want to carry on, I feel that's really helpful. Just something comfortable to wear that is like not a cotton T-shirt and stuff for me, because I sweat a lot and I feel like that doesn't feel nice on me, so like Is it a wicker?
Speaker 2:Wicker Like moisture wicking.
Speaker 1:Wicker a running belt yeah, or well again, I don't even wear a running belt because I? Yeah, I just put mine in my little pocket because I've got them cycling shorts yeah, I I don't know if my cycling I don't think my cycling shorts have that.
Speaker 2:They've got a little tiny zip at the back where you can put a key, but I didn't have anything that had any pockets, so my running belt is from aldi my running belt is from aldi, my pink one, ah, it's from aldi. Oh, that's okay. Um, so it's from aldi. I think it was like about four pounds. It was really cheap and it's fine. I have also got a running vest yeah, let's just clarify.
Speaker 1:You do not need to be running a certain amount of kilometers in order to deserve to wear a running vest no and if anyone tells you that, punch them in the throat. It's basically a bag. Yeah, sorry, I don't want to hold my keys, my phone, my vaseline, my gels, my wallet whilst in my hands, whilst I'm running even if I'm so on a sunday, I do usually wear my running vest because I might have some water in it.
Speaker 2:I've got a car key, I've got a lip balm, um, pepper spray, pepper spray. You never know. All sorts of things. But even if I'm doing 5k and it's a really hot day, I do want to have some water with me.
Speaker 1:Yeah like what's wrong with having a sip of water? You still get thirsty. Yeah, under 25k. Yeah sorry, yeah sorry, I need hydration.
Speaker 2:There's to me, a running vest is a bag. Yes, all it is on your back, yeah, a backpack. What if I was doing 5k wearing a backpack? No one would judge you they might maybe but probably less than if I'm wearing a vest yeah.
Speaker 1:So disclaimer, get the vest, wear the mentor of pride, yeah, and you don't need a super, super expensive vest. You know you can trial and error these things as well.
Speaker 2:So my first one I brought off vinted. I do buy a lot of my things from vinted, to be fair like no there's not like. You don't need to buy things brand new because it is, it can really add up.
Speaker 1:Yeah, if you're buying stuff all the time, yeah, um.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I think you know having just a cheap running bell or vest to put your things in is helpful um sure glasses.
Speaker 1:What do you think about glasses? Do you need the running sunglasses?
Speaker 2:if it's sunny and you are good. So I try to just wear my normal sunglasses, and I am a sweaty person and they just slid off my face, so I have got some running sunglasses the wrap round ones. No, mine are the round ones tortoise shell, and I've got those pink ones so what makes them running sunglasses?
Speaker 1:well, they don't steam up okay and they don't slide off your face, so kind of got got some grip thing going on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're like a sort of they're plastic, but they're almost like rubberised.
Speaker 1:I don't know, rubberised.
Speaker 2:Rubberised, but they don't steam up and they don't slide off your face. Okay, and that is the issue with a normal pair of sunglasses.
Speaker 1:They might be worthwhile.
Speaker 2:Condensation is the issue. With a normal pair of sunglasses they might be condensation, yeah. So I do think if it's sunny and you want to wear sunglasses, you probably do. Some people do. I mean, maybe they're not as hot and sweaty as me, because some of the people at gator 5k do wear normal sunglasses yeah, I should probably get some again, something I don't have I mean, yeah, you need some of those big wraparound ones.
Speaker 2:I think I look pretty, look pretty good, you would look pretty good. But yeah, I mean, you know, really, as long as you've got good trainers and you're wearing something, comfortable.
Speaker 1:You can run yeah Hats running hats, Running socks as well. Do you need running socks?
Speaker 2:No, no, I have got some running socks but I don't always wear them. No, I just wear whatever socks I feel like, yeah, I'm gonna wear my gayest socks on Sunday for a gay to 5k oh, I'm excited they're so gay. Yeah, so you don't need running socks. I don't I? I don't know really. I mean running socks. They do have an L and an R on them for your left and right feet, don't they?
Speaker 2:thank god that's tricky time. There is obviously something in them. I don't know. Some of them do seem to have a bit of support.
Speaker 1:I don't know, I don't know. I think a lot of it sometimes is support and like grip on the shoe, because real runners complain about their foot sliding around in their shoe sometimes. But I don't notice myself, I mean.
Speaker 2:I've got a few different pairs and I've got one pair probably my most expensive pair of running socks and they are quite tight and I do find, if my ankle is ever because I've got a dodgy ankle if you didn't know sometimes it is almost like a bit of a support on my ankle because it grips it tight. Yeah, but I don't need them.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, what you need might be different to what someone else needs. So again, it's trial and error, but I think at a minimum some sort of running trainer. I wouldn't recommend running in like Converse or Vans.
Speaker 2:I had to run across the road in my Converse today and, like I, almost died.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's really the main thing we'd suggest.
Speaker 2:The other thing that I think is important is, like safety yeah, especially if you are a woman.
Speaker 2:Yeah, running on your own, yeah, and actually at any time of day, even in groups, like you experienced on your 10k with yeah, sarah G yeah, yeah, I'm just referring to my notes, um, I yeah, I don't think it matters if you are going at night or if you're going early in the morning, any point, like especially if you are going a bit more remote, kind of like the route that we go down. If I was on my own doing a 10k down there, doesn't matter what time of the day it was, I would be cautious. Yeah, because it's quite remote the further out you go um. So you know, let people know where you're going. You can share your location. If you pay for strava, there's a feature called beacon and people can track you um, and actually, like my husband, if he's going on a long run on his own, he turns that on in case he falls over and breaks his leg or something.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you can set up a setting so it will automatically send it to your preferred contact as well, so you don't even have to remember to do it yeah.
Speaker 2:If you are going out at night, I think you know you should really have some sort of not even necessarily high vis, but something that you're visible for cars and stuff as well as when it's dark like pitch black outside.
Speaker 2:There's been so many times I haven't seen someone, till the last minute yeah um, I didn't hit them, by the way, guys because they've got nothing reflective on. So that is a big like crossing roads, yeah, reckless drivers like yeah, actually my running vest came with some little led lights that clip on it oh yeah, you know like the dog collars that flash.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've got about 10 hivers in my boot what you're gonna say.
Speaker 2:I've got like 10 flashing dog collars and they're not worn by a dog but yeah, letting people know wearing reflective clothing and just being aware.
Speaker 1:Yeah, know your route beforehand? Yes, I think is another important thing, because sometimes if you're running blind you might take a wrong turn. Yeah, you could get lost, you know. If you did trip and hurt yourself and you rang someone like could you explain where you?
Speaker 2:were yes. Another thing if you do happen to be somewhere and you don't know where you are and you have got signal and you can contact people, you can do that three words thing, can't you?
Speaker 1:how does that work?
Speaker 2:because I don't even know how it works uh, I think you go on the three words thing and, like the location, it tells you where it is and if you put the words in, it will tell the other people the location how do you find that three words, though? You have to just well, you have to have signal.
Speaker 1:I guess let's do it here three oh three, three words for, for those listening, amber's Googling this for me I'm Googling this.
Speaker 2:This is a live demonstration, so okay, it just comes up. Don't say that I'm not going to say it. So there you go. Tap the search box to find your three words.
Speaker 1:Oh, oh, it's giving me here.
Speaker 2:Okay, look. Notting Hill, london, oh right, but anyway, you come on and it tells you Okay, look Notting Hill London, but anyway, you come on and it tells you oh, that's clever, tells you what you are. And then if you put that in and you navigate through Google Maps, if you were somewhere else it would take you there like the coordinates.
Speaker 1:That is very good to know. Yeah, wow. Well, there we go. Know that before you go running. Yeah, but I guess you do have to have signal. Yeah, but hopefully none of this will ever need to happen to you, it's good to be prepared.
Speaker 1:I did actually get injured on the run once and I had to get my sister to pick me up did you yeah, last summer I went running through a wooded area and I fell in a rabbit hole and I like really badly twisted my ankle and I thought I'd broken it and, um, I was like crying on a bench. I was literally two minutes away from my house, you're like I'm down a rabbit hole. I was like Hannah, please come and pick me up in your car. She's like, for god's sake, it's my day off. I was like I literally cannot walk on my foot there's nothing like the love of a sibling oh.
Speaker 1:I know she could have cared less. She made me crawl up steps. She wouldn't help me. She was too embarrassed to help me hobble to the car, so she made me drag myself up like a cat that had been run over up these steps into her car. She didn't even help me back into the house. Amazing, anyway, what free words and better sisters is what you need. Community, community, which we always talk about, our little community, don't we?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think actually the the running community is fractured, I think. No, I think it's, as a whole, really nice. Uh, so I created, when I first started running, I made myself a little secret Instagram that I didn't tell anybody about, um, and then, I guess, because it had running in the title, lots of people followed me. So then I did actually allow like my friends and people to also follow me and I have made some really nice friends on that Instagram. I do think there's quite a lot of creeps on there.
Speaker 2:As a female um, I do think it's weird because I I live in a world where 99% of my friends are female or like yeah, I just I am around a lot of women. I've always been friends with women. I I've always worked in like industries where women dominated, like. So for me to suddenly be in a space where women don't really talk to you very much, like women, do women runners? How many times can you say women Like they do talk to you and like stuff, but very rarely. But men definitely talk to you. More is my thing, observation my observation.
Speaker 2:I've met a really nice girl who lives in Glasgow and we chat quite a lot and she's. She started talking to me quite early on because I was complaining that my legs were hurting and she was like are your trainers right for you? Yeah, um, and we are still friends, but yeah it's uh, I feel like you know Instagram is good, but you do have to be wary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so just create your own community.
Speaker 2:Create your own community like Gator 5K.
Speaker 1:Just even if it's like two or three friends that want to start running, like just go running on a Sunday morning with them.
Speaker 2:But Gator 5K is great because like look at the little micro groups that have like gone off.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the additional Gator, 5k runs and just people becoming friends and deciding to meet up and do stuff together. We've got the 6am club, we've got the six. Yeah, what did matthew call it? Gay am, gay am um. Friendships made and it encourages you to keep going accountability and it takes our pressure off trying to be better and faster, because actually now you're going for a run to meet up with your friends yeah so it's now a social thing rather than I have to do this and yeah because you want to talk to your friend yeah, so if you're someone who wants to get into running and has struggled in the past, maybe community is what you're missing.
Speaker 2:Yeah and the run clubs that you see out in the wild.
Speaker 1:They're always having a coffee afterwards yeah, that's the only reason I started ours.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just wanted to have a social, but they're always having a coffee, they're always having a chat like it's a really, so it doesn't feel like it's a social thing, but it is a really social thing yeah, and it's if you, and because it's quite easy to do, like you just need a space to run and some trainers, lots of people can come and get together and I guess it's going to be daunting, maybe the first few times you go. Yeah, but anything like that is going to feel daunting, even if you're really good at something. Going into a new group of people is going to be a bit scary.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Matthew does come to Gator 5K. That's the only run-in thing he's ever been to. He does everything on his own because he's really awkward. Did he enjoy it? He loves it.
Speaker 1:Did he. Yeah, wow, that's made me so happy. He did smile a lot, he did yeah.
Speaker 2:And he was. You know, I got a PB because I was trying to keep up with him. He didn't even break a sweat, did he? No, no, we were running. I was going to 6am club the other day and we were running just down the road to get to the meeting point and he had his hands in his pockets and I was like can you take your hands out your pockets when you're running? And he was like I'm not running, I'm like I am literally just walking slightly faster let's just disclaimer this is the ultra marathon husband.
Speaker 1:Yes, so you know.
Speaker 2:But he gets down with you, he does and like I actually think it's been quite good for him to not be so focused on, like, doing a really long distance and doing it quickly, like it's just going out and doing it, rather than putting loads of pressure on yourself yeah.
Speaker 1:So we've spoken a lot about why we do like running and we mention it every episode. But what don't you like about running itself, the community around it, the expectations, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 2:I don't like running on my own because I find it really boring. Yeah, when I first started I thought I liked running on my own, but actually I don't think I could do more than 5k on my own. I'd be bored to death would you? Yeah, I find it.
Speaker 1:The motivation comes from somebody doing it with me and knowing I have to carry on yeah, the accountability definitely does help, but kind of a bit like that with the gym as well, I suppose. I think you're quite a social person, naturally yeah, which is funny because I hate people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you love it you don't.
Speaker 1:You're always surrounded by them. You're always doing stuff with people. No, it's true. I guess that is true. See, I'm uh, I do prefer run if I've got like a. If I've got a, I'm gonna go fast. Or I've got a long distance to do. I like being on my own, not because I don't like people, but I just find it easier to concentrate sometimes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I quite like that downtime for myself, but that's. We're not talking about what I do like about running. We're talking about what we don't like, what else don't I like about it I don't like how it's become about the outfits and the and the certain type of trainers and the vests, that the kind of you have to have these things to start and I think it can come across like the mainstream people you see probably running on social media.
Speaker 1:They are picture perfect and maybe that's just because that's what you need to be, to be, you know, very popular on social media maybe but I don't like that kind of clicky side of things. Yeah that can come of any sort of it?
Speaker 2:definitely can. And I guess the thing is with social media. You're, like we said before, with comparison, like you're just seeing a snapshot, aren't you?
Speaker 2:you're just seeing the best bits. You know. You're seeing somebody maybe who might be sponsored by lulu lemon, yeah, and they're wearing head to toe, you know, expensive clothes, um. But I do think that on there is now a lot more social media, especially on tiktok, of like real regular people doing things, wearing normal clothes, yeah. So yeah, I do. But I do get that and I get, I get it sometimes because I'm like, oh, I want to have that, I want to have that yeah, I don't also like the lack of running clothing that's affordable and also fit for bodies that have thighs and like bits that wobble, because finding a pair of shorts that aren't like tight cycling shorts that don't ride up, see, I have the other issue.
Speaker 2:It's too hard. So I like two-in-one shorts yeah, so the ones that are like cycling shorts underneath and then shorts on the top yeah, and I always find that the cycling shorts are too baggy on my legs.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you've got lovely toned legs.
Speaker 2:But it's really annoying.
Speaker 1:Oh, I keep telling you to get these Caramore ones, my what. The Caramore ones I'm wearing.
Speaker 2:Oh yes.
Speaker 1:I'm going to put everyone on these because I will not stop talking about them. Caramore, caramel women's I think they are just running shorts two for 19 pounds in sports direct right now. She's got them on, I've got them on. I have two pairs. Wear them all the time, don't ride up, fit nice around the waist and they've got a pocket for your phone and they have like little drawstrings so you can tighten them up.
Speaker 2:I have got a pair that I brought off Vinted um. They were brand new, with tags cycling shorts. They're sweaty, betty ones and they don't ride like they. They fit my legs good. Yeah, it's when I get the two-in-one ones that have, like, the mini cycling shorts underneath they. I've got a nike pair, I've got some primark ones. I've got primark ones in two different sizes. They're still too baggy on my legs. I've got another pair, I think they're from the tiktok shop. They're the ones I prefer the most, actually. Yeah, but they're still baggy on my legs, which is really annoying.
Speaker 1:So running clothes in general that just aren't fit for purpose sometimes, unless you're like one size yeah, they make them with a certain person.
Speaker 2:I mean, I guess they do make them with a certain person in mind, don't they? But yeah, that's something I don't like about the running do you think you'll still be running this time next year?
Speaker 1:well, if we get into the marathon, I will. Be well, no someone's done it this could be it, it could be all over after that. I really hope running is something that stays a part of my life and I think, being that I have a child and, like I said before, it is something well sometimes that I can just go and do very quickly.
Speaker 1:Yeah well sometimes that I can just go and do very quickly, yeah, and I have really enjoyed seeing the progress this time round of running. And it's got to a point now where don't get me wrong sometimes it's a struggle, like our first two kilometers is always rank, yeah, but I'm now like, oh, I can actually breathe and do this, like I can actually push myself and I'm not dead and I'm really enjoying seeing the progress. So I hope I am, because it's my favourite form of activity at the minute and for a long time it wasn't and also you've got Gator 5k, so you can't let your community down.
Speaker 1:I can't let the lgbtqia plus community down. No, I'm a beacon for him. You are a beacon of hope, right? Just anyone listening. Can someone do a mural?
Speaker 2:I don't ask for much. No, you don't, and you deserve that, thank you. It's the least that you could have really On that, like the bridge, just a mural of you, gaze 5K.
Speaker 1:You know, when a celebrity assumes someone was a photo of them?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think.
Speaker 1:I'm giving that in.
Speaker 2:But actually that is something that is going to mean that you're probably going to keep running, isn't it because yeah, but it keeps me running too, because I look forward to it now, yeah I'm like oh, I get to do my little run with my little gaze. Yeah, I mean, I'm not going to be, I'm going to be there this week, but the week after I won't be there because I've got to go. I'm going to be at the norwich Triathlon, not Sajan Park.
Speaker 1:However, like I won't be there, and I'm sad, yeah, I'm sad you're not going to be there.
Speaker 2:Me and Jenny are going to get up early and we're going to go on a 6am club run.
Speaker 1:I just couldn't run that early in the morning. I think I could if I didn't have work. I start work at like 7 or half 6 in the morning.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a in the morning. I think I could if I didn't have work. I would start work at like seven or half six in the morning.
Speaker 1:Yeah see, I don't turn around. Yeah, yeah, I think I'm gonna make Jenny get up and meet me at six o'clock.
Speaker 2:Sorry, jenny, but by the way, jenny, did you hear this? I don't know why I looked into my laptop.
Speaker 1:It's all right, because I'm gonna make her a vegan charcuterie. Right, stop like. Okay, running's great blah blah, but listen to this. Between episodes no, during the last episode, amber had about 50 deliveries and phone calls, one Of each. She did an unboxing for me. Tell the people what you got.
Speaker 2:I got 50 takeaway containers.
Speaker 1:Five zero.
Speaker 2:They are a brown paper cardboard bottom with a see-through plastic top. And what are they for? So I can make vegan charcuterie boards for my friends if we go on a picnic.
Speaker 1:For a summer picnic. 50. It's the lowest, it's the minimum order. 50. It's the lowest, it's the minimum order. So if you're friends with Amber, make sure you, make sure you go on a picnic with her this summer.
Speaker 2:Because she is stocked. So when I go to the Norwich Triathlon I am going to make my friends a vegan charcuterie breakfast Lucky, lucky friends. Talking of the triathlon, I was doing um sarah's, sarah g's nails the other day and she was like I want to do a triathlon next year.
Speaker 1:so, uh, we might do the norwich sprint triathlon oh my god, do you know a person without triathlons swimming?
Speaker 2:wellimming. Well, I actually went in the pool on Sunday. Did you drown? I'm still here. She's still standing. I was not great, but I did do. I did do a little bit of swimming.
Speaker 1:Nice yeah, but in a triathlon you need to be a bit more than a little bit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've got a year. What is a sprint? What's the?
Speaker 1:distance for a sprint, I think.
Speaker 2:So it's 400 meters swim. It's longer than you think, though, isn't it? It's like a quarter of a mile. Oh yeah, I think you have to do a 5k, so you do the swim, and then, I think, it's a 20k bike ride, which is about 12 miles, is it yeah?
Speaker 1:and then a 5k run and 20k on a bike isn't too bad, is it? No but after then the run, after doing those two things and they're getting changed, for me it's a lot of talc I feel like you need. Would you just have one outfit? That does it all?
Speaker 2:you can get a tri-suit, which you do it all in are you gonna get a tri-suit?
Speaker 1:yeah, obviously so. Swim hat, tri-suit, special shoes, helmet yeah, sounds like a lot of things you need. That's perfect for you, it's perfect for me.
Speaker 2:I have been looking for bikes on my facebook marketplace how's that going? Well, there was one actually that was really good, but it was in fakenham and it has sold already. But we are Matthew is going to order one of those racks that go on the back of your car that you can put two bikes on um, and then we can put bikes on the back of the car and I'm gonna pick one up that's exciting, yeah because, you have been talking about cycling for a while.
Speaker 1:I think I'll be really good at cycling.
Speaker 2:Got the legs for it, I've got the legs for it and it's something else that I can bring to the podcast Scything and swimming and triathlons. There's no way I could do a full triathlon, no way.
Speaker 1:But you probably used to say there's no way you could run.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I feel like a sprint one would be hard Manageable. But manageable, but a full one. It's like 10k half a mile swim, 25 mile bike ride it's a lot. It's only a 10k run. Yeah, I thought it was more than that. Yeah, I'm sure. Or maybe it's no, I'm sure. It's only 10k. Yeah, too much yeah, too much.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, I think that kind of rounds thing off with running we've had a lot to say, haven't we? I actually feel exhausted yeah, we've done two episodes back to back today and it probably shows I think it's probably better than it always. When I've edited it out, it does make more sense than when we just sat here we were very enthusiastic for the first one.
Speaker 1:I can't remember that was now gym fear, gym fear, yeah, so next week, what we got coming up, amber, are we gonna do two or one next week, let's do two let's do two make sure, maybe I'll bring some actual food yeah I think we've crashed. I think the sugars we'll have espressos espresso, oh next week musties.
Speaker 2:Oh, next week is exciting. What is it? Starting is the hardest part? Sorry, used to be the hardest part, and do you really need it? The episode where? Do you really need it? The episode where we talk about our buys which have changed our life? Yeah, and buys that were just a waste of money?
Speaker 1:Who do you think is going to have more to talk about? Probably me.
Speaker 2:Considering you don't even have a running watch.
Speaker 1:No, I just have some. You're like, I've got two pairs of shorts from Sports Day Carry more range.
Speaker 2:That's it.
Speaker 1:I'm a simple girl. You really are, I just get on with it.
Speaker 2:But yeah, we are. Next week is gonna be episodes 8 and 9 okay, let's put a vote in.
Speaker 1:We have got a potential. No episodes, episodes 7 and 9 7 and 9. 7 and 9 that's delusional. Okay, I want to hear what you want us to talk about in our 10th episode, and if it's better than what we've got written down, we'll do it. Yeah, so comment, send us a message, email us, phone us. You've probably got our number someone's probably got our number, if you google me my numbers there so there you go.
Speaker 1:You know, feel free, but that was episode six, couch to 5k and if you've made it this far, well done, because I'm not sure we have. Oh yeah, and we'll be back next week with another outstanding episode two, two outstanding have a good week bye.