Yesterday was the anniversary of my starting c25k. So what's happened during that year?
Well Runkeeper tells me that I've completed 151 runs, totalling 1290 km. I graduated c25k on 25 July and after consolidation, started to work towards 10k, which I achieved in October. I've done 31 parkruns and volunteered 4 times - what a fantastic invention!
Currently I continue to run 3 times a week - one 5k (experimenting with intervals at present), one 8-10k and parkrun. I was really pleased to get a parkrun PB of 27.39 two weeks ago, which took me into the 60% age-graded band (60.1%!). I'm still working on a sub one hour 10k (1.00.39).
I guess what has made a significant difference has been health-related. I've previously posted about being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last May at the age of 63 and that reinforced my motivation to get fitter and lose some weight. In conjunction with a low carb, low sugar diet, running has helped me lose over 3 stone from a starting point of 14 and a half . That contributed to my blood sugar level dropping from 54 to 42 (one above the normal range). My next annual assessment won't be till November but I'm confident that will show I am now lower still!
But the most important aspect has been the enjoyment I get from running. I've never been ‘sporty’ and it still sometimes surprises me that I am a runner! The support from this forum and from VRBs (you know who you are!) has been a key factor in enabling me to achieve what I have and carry on. Happy running and thanks to all - particularly the forum admins, without whom…...😀
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JonathanP
Graduate10
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Happy runniversary JP!! 🎉🎉🎉 And amazingly well done on losing all that weight! 👏👏👏 I think many of us feel as you do, that, not only do we get a lot of enjoyment from running (I won’t say ‘enjoy running’ as I think that is slightly different!) but that we are also runners! Personally, it always surprises me that after 5 minutes of running I’m not scrabbling on the floor for breath and can still carry on for relatively ages!
I wish you many, many more happy years of running. Good luck for your assessment and let us know how you get on 🤞🤞🤞
Great post and I'm glad you've achieved all those great runs I'm sure there's more to come, I've managed to run 10K but convince myself I was too old to do more.. But seeing that you're 63 I'm going to try and do more 😁 you have inspired me to carry on, I will be 60 on the 28th of May😱 I'm going to plan my next 10K with my daughters and start training for it now😁🏃🏼♀️
What a fabulous year JP 👏👏👍😀. It’s just amazing what a difference it can make to every aspect of our health. Happy Runniversary and wishing you very happy running days ahead. 😀
Congratulations to you Jonathan! Wow 3 stone in a year! What a change that must be for you! And wow 151 runs! Sounds like you must have avoided injury as well. Long may that continue.
Quite a wait until November, I do hope that your blood sugar will be in the normal range then. Have you come off medication as a result? Did your GP suggest low carb or did you go that route because of something else? You have mentioned the background before, but I have forgotten.
Well done on your PB from the Parkrun too and just 40 seconds to go for a sub 1 hour 10k! You certainly have lots to celebrate! 🍾🥂👏🏻😊🎉👍🌟 💥⚡️ 🏃🏻🤸♂️🏃♀️🤸♀️🏃🏻🤸♂️🏃♀️🤸♀️
Thanks over61 - yes the weight loss has meant a lot of new trousers!😀 Thankfully I have avoided the IC - perhaps more by luck than judgement!
I didn't need to go on medication thank goodness - my GP referred me to the diabetes nurse who advised on diet. I can still have little treats - just a case of being careful. 👍
What a great year Jonathan! So many health benefits and some great stats to go along with it. Congrats on starting this awesome journey and keeping with it. Enjoy your second year of running
Happy runniversary, Jonathan! And what a fantastic inspirational story! I am so happy to hear your blood sugar levels have come down so much - wow! You have put in the work and turned your health around - running is amazing, isn’t it? You too are amazing. And lovely to hear you enjoy your running. ❤️ I’m the same as you - never been particularly sporty, but now feel positively athletic and get so much pleasure from running.
Happy first Runniversary Jonathan, and congratulations on all that you have achieved since starting c25k. It's great how this program has changed so many of our lives, given us the tools and incentives to get fitter and healthier. We all love it don't we!
Happy Runniversary Jonathan and congratulations on all the benefits your first year of running has brought you. Here’s to many more happy running years to come!
What an inspirational post Jonathan, what impressed me most is your consistency and determination to keep going, especially as you must have done so through winter. I hope I’ll be posting something similar in a year’s time!
Well done JP. You started 3 days before me but your times and mileage are light years ahead! In the end it is all down to how feel after a run, preferably enhanced with a flat white and triple chocolate brownie! 😊👍🥇
Go on Nellienoo ( sorry that's what I call my daughter!) You can do this.It doesn't have to be spectacular.I always remember one of Laura's tips on the podcasts...."a bad run is always better than no run".Good Luck
That sounds fantastic progress Jonathan. Your PB has made Mr Coddfish quite jealous as he has been trying to get under 28 minutes for a little while. Meanwhile I dream of getting back to the 37 minutes I achieved in 2017! We look forward to seeing you at Southsea on Saturday. As we are running the London Vitality 10k on Monday we are volunteering so should be easy to spot. I am on finish tokens. Mr C is marshalling, not sure whether he is on the turnaround point or not.
Thanks Coddfish - yes I have been promising Dexy5 I will 'head south' for a while so thought it was time I started my parkrun tourism with an easy one!
What a year! I missed this when it went up so get to enjoy it now. 🎉👏🏼🎉 You’ve accomplished huge things and kept going amazingly. SUCH a good example to those of us in our first year. Can’t imagine what you’ll go on to do, but sure it will be fabulous. Happy Runniversary and happy running! 🎶🎵🎶
What a lovely post Jonathan, sorry I'm late to the party. It is amazing to see what you've achieved in such a short time, you are always so supportive of others, it's nice to have the chance of giving some back 😊 🎉🎉🎉
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