It is a well-known fact that dogs love to run, so if you share that love, the natural instinct is to grab the lead and start running together. However, using a lead to keep your dog close to you when running or jogging is not ideal. The constant pulling can be uncomfortable for your arm and shoulder and can also cause strain to your dog’s neck.

Going into the last week I wanted to work on my timings to try and get as close to 5k as possible otherwise I will feel like I’ve failed this experiment. I know it says to get you running steadily for 30 minutes but come on, its called the couch to 5k!

Because of the leg toning from the running, I have been motivated to look after my beauty regime better and I have started back on my Korean skincare routine (it's more a way of life than a routine but man, they have good skin).

It’s still cold, it’s still snowing, I’m freezing my a*se off in Berlin and JR is flying the Surrey Hills Challenge Couch to 5k flag! Kind of. In his own words…

With the unpredictable running schedule in week six I am trying to get back into the rhythm this week. For the three runs in week seven, you will begin with a brisk five-minute walk, then 25 minutes of running.

Sure, I get a sense of achievement after I have run but I don’t love it when I’m running and I still work myself up before the run. The Couch to 5k gives you the opportunity to enrol in a forum which appears to be a lovely community full of optimistic, happy and encouraging members. The majority of ‘graduates’ swearing by the fact that you will become hooked.

It’s Monday (26^th Feb) evening, I need to get on with Couch to 5k because I skipped Friday but I currently have a mantra running through my head screaming ‘I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to do this, I REALLY don’t want to do this’. It’s my internal, whining child voice that just wants to throw myself on the floor and ‘scream and scream until I’m sick’. Actually, I don’t think it was even an internal voice at this point.

There are three different runs this week, run one: a brisk five-minute walk, then five minutes of running, three minutes of walking, five minutes of running, three minutes of walking and five minutes of running. Run two: a brisk five-minute walk, then eight minutes of running, five minutes of walking and eight minutes of running. Run three: a brisk five-minute walk, then 20 minutes of running, with no walking.

This week started off a little differently. We had an awesome training session with Jude from Run Surrey Hills. You can read more about it here. We loved it and are definitely planning more sessions.

Cut out sugar they said, cut out fat they said, you’ll lose weight and feel great they said. LIES!!!!!