Regents Park

Here's how it was supposed to be:

Scoot down to Regents Park, have a glorious time running around one of London's greenest areas, taking in the boating lake, the zoo and the gardens, all the while marveling at what a wonderful city we live in.

Here's how it was: For the first time in ages, I had to take walking breaks, I didn't even break the 4km line and I felt like I was going to die. I'm blaming it on dehydration.

Not the idyllic run I was anticipating.

Hardcore

It turns out nothing improves your pace quite as much as running in torrential rain, terrified you're going to screw up either your iPhone or your headphones with water damage.

It also turns out there's nothing quite as annoying as Nike+ failing to record the last km, making it look in that all important profile, that you weren't half as impressive as you know you actually were.

Still, I quite liked running in the rain. It focused the mind. I made sure to give passers by plenty of rueful looks, which hopefully conveyed to them that when I left the house it was totally dry.

Also, I finished feeling extra smug.

Oh god, what have I done?

Promised to do the Brighton Half Marathon, that's what.

Whilst I haven't got as far as signing up, I have every intention of doing so. After all, there's no conceivable reason why I can't do it - I proved I could go from a couch to a 5k, and it's only over four times 5k (21.0957k, in fact) which theoretically is about two hours of running. And I've got two legs, which I think is one of the only prerequisites. Although, honestly, I'd rather have these.

In true Starter None Finisher style, I've joined a couple of running sites, googled 'things to hold your keys whilst running' and decided which training plan I'm going to follow. Now all I need to do is do two medium runs during the week, and one long one at the weekend. Every week. A side effect of that is that I'm going to have to not drink the night before, which, quite honestly, is one of the biggest attractions. I know myself well enough to know I can do these things if I have an aim.

This time, I'm going to figure out a way to run places other than my 5k route - I want to tick off the following:

Hyde Park

Regents Park

Regents Canal

Southbank

Some more of these

I've also decided I need to be up and at 'em at 7.30am every morning, and it's going to have to be even earlier in the summer when it's hot.

I "graduated". Or graduated, as I would say without the smirk, if I was American

Can't believe it. I finished the programme. And I think I can confidently say, that's the first time I've made a New Year/February resolution and stuck to it. Amazing.

I am amazing.

Next up, figure out the exact 5km distance, and then try to gradually improve my time.

Ooh, also, you can sponsor me here. Do it. You won't regret it.

W9D3 - I think I may have cracked it

I did not feel awful whilst I was running today, in fact, it fairly flew by.

This is possibly because:

- it was the evening and I'd had tea so had energy
- it was the evening so was cooler
- I was running slower (4.8km in 31 mins)

Dunno. But it was great.

(until I checked and saw my sister ran 5.6km in 25 mins today. Rats).

W9D1 - so freaking close

Well, by this time, I was pretty convinced each run would be a pleasure, and I'd be chatting to the animals, and doing that running/meditating thing. Instead, I am constantly thinking 'just get to the next lamp post'. Hardly Paula Radcliffe-esque.

Still, running 30 mins today is the longest I've ever run IN MY LIFE, and in theory, it should get easier from here on in. Right? It was 4.8km, so all being well, I'll be able to do the 5k in a reasonable amount of time.

Next stop: hills. Vom.

W8 D1. The one in which she finds out that running ain't cheap. At least not when she's involved

So, yes. Week 8. And also Week 7 - a bit of a bitch. I think it's because I've run all the flat routes I can in the 25 mins, so now the runs involve (very small) hills, which my body rebels against. It rebels in this very particular manner where I think I'm going to die, which is cute. Still, I'll get there. And soon, there will be sun, and that will be awesome.

But running being just a case of buying some running shoes and setting off? Bollocks. So far, I have invested in:

1. special running socks
2. running tracksuit bottoms
3. two breathable tops
4. one zip up top
5. one iPod arm band
6. one heart rate monitor that does not have a pedometer so I don't use
7. one audiobook for the iPod
8. one Nike+ sportsband
9. one pouch to hold Nike sensor on the shoe

We're looking at pushing £100 here, and that's without the £70 shoes. Still, marginally (not really) cheaper than a gym membership, right? And I get to have a shower all to myself after.