A year ago today I pulled on a pair of hiking trousers (the closest thing to fitness gear I had), a t-shirt I most used for sleeping in and zipped up (yes I kid you not - zipped up) the closest thing to a pair of trainers I possessed and headed out to complete Wk1R1 of C25K. 30 minutes later I shambled back with quivering legs and bursting lungs but I'd started something....
Yes this is one of those C25K affirming posts of the (genuinely) hadn't run since school some 30 years or more ago 40 somethings who has successfully completed the programme and now has proper running shoes (carefully selected following gait analysis of course), a wardrobe full of lycra and who has beaten her 5k time on her runniversary and can happily run 10k ...
BUT I really wanted to write this post today because when I say I can happily run 10k - I mean just that. My 10k is slow (and I've yet to do 5k in less than 32minutes) but it is, very definitely happy. You see when I pulled on that rather bizarre runing outfit a year ago I felt unfit, overwhelmed by work and generally unhappy. I'd already spent two thirds of that summer holiday (I'm a head teacher) promising myself I'd go swimming every day and eat more healthily and make more time for myself (all starting tomorrow of course) and for whatever reason having come across an article on C25K actually decided today's the day and changed my life - literally. I had to find at least 30 minutes three times a week just for me, I developed an interest completely separate from my job, I was getting outside into the fresh air regularly in a way I never had before. I had undisturbed headspace and every tiny improvement made me feel more positive and confident and helped to keep me going and, though I'm a solitary runner and like it that way, there was an amazingly supportive group of people on here to keep me going too.
And now I'm fitter, I've lost about 10lbs (without dieting), I eat more healthily (most of the time), I keep work more in perspective, I love running and I'm happy!
So any one out there wondering if it's worth the effort - it really is. Keep going you'll do things you would never believe you could. And to those of you who've shared your journey and acknowledged some of mine thanks to you for all the motivation and support you provide.
Much love Deb (aka Fitter40s when I began this wonderful adventure).
Happy running 😊 - looking forward to running with you all for another year 🥂
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DebJogsOn
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A powerful message to anyone looking to change things in their lives.
The part about " today's the day" definitely rings true because I think it's best to do and not think ( too much) about this spectacularly simple ( but not easy) activity that makes people happy.
Ha ha - it's the best (and sometimes worst) job in the world and it certainly keeps me busy!
I think C25K's simplicity is the key - really you just have to pull on some trainers (or in my case something approximating them 😂) and get out there. For me the promise of improvement in 9 weeks was the key - I thought if I start now I'll be a runner by half term ... and it worked 😊
Thank God it cannot be bottled - the Corporations would be charging a hundred percent spoonful and people would be lining up to empty their wallets for it.
Feel really blessed to be able to write it John. I have to say your posts and comments were a real inspiration to me in my early running days (before you spent time on the IC with your hip) - so thank you. It's been great to see you come back from that too 😊.
Happy runniversary! What a lovely post and a great celebration of what this programme means to so many of us - well done! I also work in a school, so have an inkling of how hard you work (very!) - so great that this has helped you find some 'head space' away from school. Enjoy the rest of your summer break!🙂
I'm determined to enjoy the end of the holiday - I have a few new lovely running routes planned. Would never have believed I'd have looked forward to more running opportunities this time last year 😂.
Lovely, just lovely Deb. This is what it’s all about, thanks so much for sharing your story. You are a fab runner. Happy runniversary! And here’s to many more joyful runs to come. 👏👏👏😘
Thank you Sadie! I have to say I feel like you're one of the folk on here that I've run alongside 'virtually' (though think in reality you'd be somewhere ahead of me 😂) - so thanks for the motivation and encouragement. Hope you enjoyed Edinburgh (still can't believe you didn't sneak a run in somewhere 😉).
Thank you for sharing - a really great achievement. And it's not just the fitness, it's the 'I can do this' attitude and overall mental health and wellbeing. Unbelievably good for you all round!
Well done for your runversary (I'm panting along right behind you - October for me). And i take my hat off to you for being a teacher and running. I have many friends and a sister who are or were teachers, and I know how the extra curricula workload can take over. My friend Kate is up till late marking etc every day and the things she wants to do for herself get shelved during term time. Same for all the other teachers i know.
I laughed at your description of your early running gear too. I remember zipping up a waterproof fleece for run 1 week 1 and wondering why I got so hot. And cotton leggings - yikes, it's too true what they say about cotton getting wet and clammy.
To paraphrase Strictly (which will be beginning again soon - ooh ... ) "Keeeep running!"
Aw - thanks Flick. You've been a real inspiration to me, especially as I began uping the distance. If you can do it with all those hills I definitely have no excuses!
Bless you, thank you I can't run on the flat though. I seem to need the uppy bits to get my lungs working and the downy bits to recover and equalise my pace. When I run in Oxford, I always struggle, till I get to Morrell Avenue.
Well, it was a long time ago, and you were adding running on grass to the slope, which is always tougher. In week 4 of c25k I ran round a rugby pitch (by mistake) and nearly died.
Happy Runniversary! Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. I totally understand how you feel. Think we might be similar ages, I teach as well and started in similar circumstances. I remember borrowing my son's trainers, wearing walking gear & a beanie that made me look like Benny from Crossroads!
The headspace and energy that running has given me is possibly better than losing a couple of pounds and finding my waist again. I definitely have more energy for the children & all those stairs at work and might be a nicer person too! So glad for you that running is in your life and I hope you can sneak - or I should say prioritise those runs in come September! X
I think we should really all have 'before' and 'after' pics - not to look at fitness or weight loss just the running kit 😂.
Running has changed my outlook (to the extent that I was more pleased with graduating last year that securing a 'good' during our Ofsted inspection) and energy levels completely. I genuinely think it's helped to keep me in the job.
Will definitely be putting in the miles in September - running of all that start of the year angst!
Happy running 😊
Great post DebJogsOn ... Happy runniversary ..here's to many more .. well done 😊😊
Lovely post Deb...just lovely...it’s amazing how it changes your life...when you think you have no spare time the first time you run you know that you’re going to have to find more time because you have found something that you completely love to do because its good for the soul..it’s good for your head & it’s a little bit of time to yourself, I’m lucky, I don’t work, I decided to stay at home & look after the children so I don’t know how people fit in running when they have a full time job too!! I take my hat off to you...once you’re hooked on running though, you’re hooked & there’s no going back!!! X
Thank you. It's amazing that some thing so simple and obvious can be so life changing isn't it. I'm so protective of my planned running time now (I even put them in my diary) and only change them if there's really no alternative (and then I'm really resentful about it 😂).
Must take you to task about saying you don't work when you're looking after children - when I was at home with my daughters I was exhausted by the time they went to bed! And running around their schedules can't be easy.
We're definitely hooked aren't we? Looking out for your 10k 😊
Fabulous! Well done. I love these inspirational, affirmations of the power of the C25k and of YOU👍🏃🏾♀️👋
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