After finishing the 9-week Couch to 5k program, and being able to run for 30 minutes, I have been continuing to run and slowly built to running 4k. And believe me I was more than happy with that. But 5 kilometres still seemed like a long way away.
Then one day I thought, why not just keep going? Just a little bit further, just another 250 metres, easy. Well it wasn’t so easy but I did it. Now I had run more than 4k for the first time, and my comment on my running app was ‘5k here I come’. Little did I think that it would come with my next run.
When I went for that next run I felt good and thought, why not go for it? So I ran for 2.5k, turned around and started running back. Now, in the back of my mind, I was always thinking that if I didn’t make it there would be no shame. But as I started to visualise the feeling of achievement if I made it, I just knew I had to go for it. And I did it.
Now, there wasn’t an immediate sense of elation, I was too tired for that. But, as I recovered and my legs stopped wobbling, it soon began to dawn on me. I just ran 5 kilometres, me. 47 years old, still overweight, never been running in my life before this spring. And I ran 5 kilometres. Was it really me? I still can’t quite believe it.
I have visited this National Park several times and, having lived in the Czech Republic for more than a decade, thought I knew what to expect of it. But a recent family trip proved to me how wrong I was.
Located along the northern Czech border with Poland, the Krkonoše National Park is one of the most famous and popular in this country. Containing the countries highest peak, Sněžka, it has a stunning collection of ski resorts, hiking and walking trails, as well as beautiful nature everywhere you look.
Now, I am not much of a hiker, my dodgy knees make me wary of getting too high as coming down is a jarring experience. Due to this I have never been to the peak of the highest mountain, so I had never experienced the difference in nature which the higher reaches of this mountain range contain. But a recent family trip, and a small improvement in my fitness, recently changed that.
We still did not visit the peak itself but stayed in a small skiing village, called Rokytnice nad Jizerou, for one week and enjoyed day trips in the surrounding mountains. Now they may not have been the highest, but they were high enough. And since our holiday took place during the recent European heat wave, it was fairly hard work every day. Hard work, but so satisfying. Physical exercise, beautiful nature and plenty of fresh air.
As I said, it was a family trip and we were all kitted out with our Camelbaks. Carrying 9 litres of water, between us, just about covered our needs for the day. But the best item we carried had to be our micro towels, nice and cooling when wet, they proved to have great recuperative powers, for both the children as well as my wife and I.
So what is so different about the nature? At the higher altitudes, the dense pine forests disappear and are replaced by sparse Scandinavian style nature. Low-growing trees, which look more like bushes, and space. There is much more space, if you can get away from the crowds. But that is relatively easy. There are some very popular trails, like going to the source of the Elbe, or Labe in the Czech language. But if you take a different route back you will be on your own in no time.
There are also many mountain chalets located throughout this area. Places to stop, take a break and buy some food and drink. If you are Czech this will probably mean a beer, but until I finish the day I stick to the water myself. Some of these chalets can be surprisingly large and offer a bit of fun for the kids too, they never lack in energy of course.
At the end of the week, I was happy to get home and rest my legs. But this was definitely one of the most enjoyable holidays I have had. A special mention should go to Hotel Helena, where we stayed. Returning there every day, where the kids could keep jumping and playing and my wife and I could collapse for a while, was a pleasure. This small hotel has good facilities and the food was excellent. Breakfast, a snack for the day and dinner were all included in the price. There was plenty of it and every meal was delicious. Oh and, of course, the beer was cold and refreshing too. Even more so than dipping your toes in one of the local streams.
Yes! I did it, C25k completed. Ok, at the moment, it’s more like couch to 30 minutes, but I still can’t believe it. When I think back to the first week of this program, when I was out of breath after running for 1 minute, the progress has been amazing. At time of writing I have done four 30 minute runs and each time I am going a little further, a little faster. So now, of course, the challenge is to keep going.
There was a great sense of satisfaction, seeing the little trophy light up on the application and hearing Michael Johnson say ‘You’ve done it!’. But this is just the first step, I’m still only running just over 3k but the goal is 5k. There is a charity 5k run in my town in October, and that is my target for my first organised run.
So my plan is to keep running for 30 minutes every other day and try and build to around 4k in that time. Then extend the time and do 5k, and then more. So I have about 3 months, but after what I have achieved in the last 10 weeks, I don’t see why not. It’s only my knees that sometimes disagree.
First things first, no those aren’t my legs, maybe one day. For now I am into week 6 of the Couch to 5k training plan and I am loving it. Apart from a short break, due to a back spasm, it has all gone smoothly. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been hard but I havn’t failed to complete any of the runs.
I’ve gone from struggling to run for 1 minute to being able to run nonstop for 20 minutes. My next run will be for 25 minutes, that will be a challenge. But the beauty of this plan is that I am sure I can do it. It seems to have formed a mindset where running is just putting one foot in front of the other. Simple as that.
The challenges will keep getting harder and eventually I will be trying to run faster, but for now it’s slow and steady wins the day. Overall, the sense of accomplishment is amazing. I’m built like a rugby player, and a retired one at that, not a runner. So no matter your size, this plan works. Why not give it a go?
This title was my prediction for the trip. A grumpy bugger, with a bad back, driving for hours, then walking for a couple of days surrounded by other people’s screaming children. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it?
Well, happily, my prediction was premature. Our family trip to Legoland, in Germany, was incredible. Two days and one night of Lego magic. Fast rides, which were OK, and high rides, which were not for me.
We arrived on Sunday morning, checked in, got our directions and we were away. The whole process was easy, organised and efficient. Before we new it, the car was parked and we were exploring the park.
I didn’t totally know what to expect, but I would say the best thing about the park was its variety. There were amusements and activities to suit every age and taste. Starting with the classic Miniland, lots of famous places all made from Lego, was a great introduction. But the kids, especially my daughter were keen for some action, sightseeing could wait.
It’s been a few years since I was on fast, spinning, rides but they were great fun, even if I was slightly worried about losing by breakfast. And the pace didn’t slow from there, we crammed in as much as we could on day one, but didn’t panic because we had a whole second day to come.
We finished in the theme park at around 6pm and went to find our accommodation for the night. Believe it, or not, we were sleeping in a barrel, which reminded me a little of a hobbit home, just not underground. What a great idea, two little rooms, a fridge, clean, private, perfect for a one night stay. We used the communal bathrooms at the camp site, which were very near. I was a little nervous about this, since I had vague childhood memories of wading through water, I hope, to get to the showers at British campsites. But this couldn’t have been further from the truth. Every time I went to the bathrooms they looked like no-one had used them that day, well done Legoland, great job.
After a good night’s sleep we checked out and were ready for day two. This time we had a few ideas of the must do things, which we didn’t have time for the day before, plus the things which just had to be repeated. Even though we had the whole day, we could have still used another hour or two, there is just so much to do. But the second day had to end, and we had to drag the children away, with the promise of one last visit to the shop.
If anyone is thinking of paying a visit, go for it. Kids from the ages of 5 will be able to join in on almost all the amusements, if they are a little brave. My kids are 6 and 8, which seemed to be the perfect ages. And if it’s not normally your scene, don’t worry, this recommendation is coming from a grumpy bugger, just ask my wife.
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