Recipe: Spicy carrot & parsnip soup

A beautifully velvety soup to warm you through the winter.

C25k 2:2

Today, being my only day off during the week, was my turn to take Ashleigh to school. In my great wisdom I decided to wear my running kit to school then do a 2.4 mile route back home. Needless to say I was freezing. Walking at 4 year old pace wearing a t-shirt and capri pants in October is not a good idea. Ashleigh was good though and we skipped for quite a lot of it.

I really didn't enjoy the music on week 2's podcast so decided to go with my own music (Red Snapper again) and try out another Android app. This was a mistake. The app froze after a couple of minutes, then had to start from the beginning, and the notification to change from walking to jogging was just a slight lowering of the music. This meant I spent a good portion of the run checking my phone to see how much time I had left.

Added to this annoyance was that I had to wait at pretty much every road to cross. Where I normally run at 7pm with very little traffic it seems 9am is quite a lot busier.

Aside from these little problems I had quite a good run and did extra running and less walking to make up for all the time left standing at roads. I found my other trainer at last so wasn't in Converse, but my left shoe was rubbing against the back of my ankle, I'll have to watch that.

I think I'll go back to the podcasts and give up on the phone for good. Too bulky and unreliable. I'm really looking forward to my last run of week 2 which should be on Friday evening.

Review: Karrimor Running Kit

As you can see, I look pretty awesome in my Karrimor running kit. The outfit was available in the black/pink which I chose, but also comes in black/yellow and plain black if you're not such a girly girl.



The capri pants fit really well which I'm surprised about - these are a 10 and I'm usually a 12! They've got a handy little pocket at the back which zips up and is the perfect size for a key, so no more running with it in my shoe. They didn't fall down at all like my regular leggings did and kept me warm and dry throughout the run without overheating.

The quarter zip top is absolutely fantastic. It's a size 12 and fits really well without being too snug. I started off with it zipped up but quickly changed my mind as I settled into the run. I felt warm enough not to need a jacket which, if you ask anyone who knows me, is remarkable.

The outfit was really well priced too. At Sports Direct the kit is currently on sale. The top is currently £6 and the capri pants are £8. Now I've experienced the quality of Karrimor I think they're well worth their original full prices and I look forward to trying more from their range of running gear.

C25k 2:1

Tonight's run was pretty great! For week two you do 90 seconds of running followed by 120 seconds walking. After the first running interval I felt OK but was breathing pretty heavily.

Then came a bit of a breakthrough. Laura (the voice-over on the NHS podcasts) suggested breathing in for four strides and then out for four strides. At first I thought she was being ridiculous, no way could I breathe that slowly. I forced myself to control my breath through the runs and the walks.

It had the fabulous effect of slowing my breathing and quickening my pace. I felt fantastic through to the end of each running interval and was recovered half way through each two minute break! I needed a good run after last time. Can't wait until Wednesday now.

Review: Converse

I'm not going to pretend that running in Converse is ever a good idea but, for those of you who are considering it I want you to be prepared.



When I first started on my running journey (a whole week ago!) I looked everywhere for my trainers. I found one. Not wanting to hop for nearly 2.5miles I grabbed the next best thing - my Converse high tops. Whilst running in them wasn't too bad in itself (if you can ignore the slapping noise as the flat soles hit the pavement) the pain afterwards was just awful. Today is the first day in a week that my legs haven't hurt.

So, let's get down to why they are so bad for sports. Converse shoes typically have very little cushioning in the sole. This means feet aren't supported properly which can cause problems with the natural side to side motion of your feet ('pronation'). If you have problems with pronation you'll almost certainly suffer from injuries and stubborn aches and pains. For me this has come in the form of serious calf pain, for others it could be shin splints or joint problems.

Ask any runner and they'll tell you the most important piece of kit they have is their shoes. Having learnt the hard way during this past week I'll be getting myself a proper pair of running shoes ASAP whilst the Converse will be reserved for looking awesome with my skinny jeans. I suggest any other novice runners do the same.

C25k 1:3

That. Was. Horrendous.

From the very start my long forgotten asthma kicked in and my chest felt tight and painful, my leggings kept falling down, someone stopped me to ask directions to the pub, chavs wouldn't move out of my way, I hurt my ankle in a pot-hole, I almost got run over crossing a road, I got scared by an ambulance and my right ear-phone kept falling out.

I guess there's always good runs and bad runs.

C25k 1:2

For my second run I chose to use the NHS Podcasts to guide me through the run. This had the benefit of not having to carry my phone with me for the interval training app and instead clipping my little ipod nano to my t-shirt. 

The podcast was a lot better than I expected. The music does really well at helping to keep an even pace and also makes you feel like you're in a film. By the end I was smiling and punching the air 'Rocky' style.

The run itself was great. By the end of the second jogging interval I was feeling a bit tired, but then the endorphins kicked in and subsequent jogging intervals began to feel shorter. I also felt myself recovering much quicker during the walking intervals.

I made sure to do loads of stretching once I got home so I hope my calves won't be too tight. More yoga tomorrow night I think just to be on the safe side.

C25k Rest Day

Yesterday was my day off from running and, although I felt fine at the beginning, I didn't feel great at the end. My calves are really tight and walking can be a bit painful.

Luckily I've decided to do yoga on these in-between-y days so I had a chance to stretch my legs a bit. Nothing too advanced, just the sun salutation and a couple of warrior poses - they really help me to feel confident and focused.

This morning my legs are even worse! Oh how I long for a deep, hot bath full of Radox, but living in a flat means just showers for me. I have therefore decided that I shall do more yoga tonight and run on Wednesday instead.

In other news my lunch is a roast beef and Stilton sandwich - very odd.

C25k 1:1

I'm not overweight, I'm just really, really unhealthy. I used to go to the gym with my Dad a few years ago when I was staying at his, I think I went twice or so. My four year old daughter puts me to shame when we race home from school.

So after some inspiration from Bangs and a Bun and encouragement from Jess over atFeeling Stylish I decided to get off my fat arse and have a go at the C25K (Couch To 5 Kilometres) program. It's supposed to get anyone from couch potato to being able to jog 5k within 9 weeks. Supposed to.

Last night I went for my first run. I had to do a 5 minute warm up walk, then 8 rounds of 60 seconds jogging, 90 seconds walking. The route I chose was 2.4 miles which was just long enough to give me another 4 minutes cool down walk at the end.

The first half was really tough. After the second round of jogging my chest was tight and hot, and I'm pretty sure I was going to die. But then Red Snapper kicked it up a gear and I got into a really good rhythm. I had an app on my phone which beeped every time I had to switch from jogging to walking and vice versa. By the time my 8th round was over I felt like I could run forever. I couldn't, obviously. I tried jogging a bit more but my legs turned to jelly so I stumbled home.

Thanks to a bit of stretching when I got home I don't feel so bad today. I'm actually looking forward to going again tomorrow! I rang my little brother (he's nearly 18, not that little!) and told him I went running. He said "You? Running? Why?!" and my good friend Embo said "Why? Was someone chasing you?". I'll show them....

Fit Bunn

Bunn was 27, just married and lazy. In October 2011 she decided that enough was enough and got her arse out on the streets of Norwich for some running action.

Running Bunn follows the progress of a novice runner as she learns what it means to keep fit, how to juggle work, family & exercise and offer a guide to some of the products and gadgets available to runners.

If you have a product you'd like Bunn to review see the Contact page. To find out more about her non-running life hop over to Bunn The Baker