It was a big day for me! 🤩 Two years since I graduated from C25K! 🎓 🙌🏽🙌🏽!
And...I’m still running!! 🏃🏽♀️💪🏽🥰🥰 When I first started this programme 2 years ago, despite the 9 week programme, in my head, I said, 🤯, 🤪 “I don’t think so”!! “But...don’t be put off, you can do it in a year”!! 🤣🤣! That was a very serious plan. I was 48 years old, soon to be 49, hence the name Fabulous_4_50!! Little did I know (and definitely less than expected) I’d be completing the 9 week programme in 9 weeks and on my birthday. 😃🎉🎂🎓 I can’t begin to describe how that felt. My son came with me to a large beautiful water park and he waited while I ran! Oh...the tears when I saw him as I was completing my run. Just the thought makes tears of joy come to my eyes right now. He was so happy for me and I was so grateful for him waiting patiently to welcome me in. He knew how much it meant to me. I also graduated on the same day as some of my amazing VRB’s, Chelsea007 and Flaraflarkin!! Happy Runniversary to you both too!! 🤗🤗 Chelsea Blue and Fabulous Red have set aside football team preferences for running!! We’ve even swapped shirts 👀 🏃🏼♂️ 🏃🏽♀️ in solidarity ☔️ and we keep each other going to this day!! 🤗
I started C25K, kind of giving myself a kick up the butt! I lost my very dear brother a few years before. I was feeling low and kind of sorry for myself about life in general, but I woke up one day and thought 💭 ...actually, I’m alive...I’m alive and I really can’t justify not just appreciating living. My Dad had passed away very young too and thinking of them both gave me a kick up the butt from above!! 🦵😁😁! I decided it was time to do something that was just for me. To celebrate living and C25K was that thing. This was territory, I’d never stepped into in my whole life. I’d done quite a lot of sport at school, but running was just not one of the things I did and the gym...errr....NO! 🤨😊
Look at me now! 😂 No....I’m not going to be the athlete of the year any time soon, but I have absolutely loved every minute of this experience. The cafuffles (I had a few of those today too...🙄, but we won’t go there, let’s just say it was an anniversary in many ways!🤐) and the imperfect runs have ALL been fun!! Yes...fun! 😁 I have been very accepting of my imperfection at this wonderful thing that I do. I still laugh at myself quite a bit! But, I sing while I run quite a bit too! 🎶 🎵 🎧
I haven’t run very much over these last few months, but I’ve done a little bit of HITT every morning for a while. Today, I did 4K in 31 minutes...and then decided that was the bit for getting off the couch 2 years ago, the “C” if you like and then some crazy thought popped into my head (yes...another one!😆), It would be rude not to do the extra 1K to take me 2 the 5K!! So I did!! (Not in the extra 5 minutes I thought it would take though...😳! A girl can dream 😂!)! C25K complete!! ✅
So that’s it, I made it 🤩! I’m higgeldy, piggedly all over the place with my running and today was one of those days 😊, but I always keep going. My mantra “Out there, don’t care’ is alive and kicking. You have ALL helped me to keep going too. So a massive big thank you!! 🤗 If I mention any more names, this post will never end and I’ll risk leaving out so many special VRB’s, but I do have to give a massive shout out to my VRB UnfitNoMore!! He has been a tremendous motivator to go with whatever little I can do (and still always reminds me that I can do a lot! 🙄)! He’s an amazing virtual running coach!!
Thank you ALL for being so amazing!!
Happy running Runners!!❤️
Written by
Fabulous450
Graduate10
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Happy birthday Fab!! Was thinking of you this morning as I was wondering when to do my runniversary run today. I have 3 granddaughters to chase after today (11, 6 and 2) so not a lot of time unless I do my very first evening run after they’re in bed. We all love you’re positive posts and I know you inspire many to just get out there and do what you can or what you feel like. Have a Fab day.
Ooh Sybilw!! 🤗🤗🤗 Happy Runniversary to you too!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🥰 Thank you so much!! I hope you have a wonderful run. Remember whatever time you go out, it’s a time that’s all for you!! So you can have it all!! Running around with the grandkids 🥰🥰 and running around for you!! I think that’s kind of perfect! 😉❤️
What a wonderful post and fantastic motivation for those of us just starting our running journeys! I still metaphorically pinch myself every time I lace up my shoes as I can't believe I'm sticking with it after 4 months...I hope I'm still going in 2 years' time like you! Happy birthday AND running birthday!
Thank you so much NetCadet!! 🤗 Ah I’m still pinching myself after 2 years too. I just love that I can run. Even when my running dips in regularity, I’m a runner on pause! 😂! I’m good at softening the blows! 🤣🤣! It always gets me back out there too.
You’re doing brilliantly. All I can say is running for me isn’t all or nothing. It’s as much as I can and always because I want to have time just being me for me too. Happy running!! 🤩❤️
Oh Fab, what a brilliant post! Happy runniversary!! You had so many good reasons to get off the couch and you have done them proud by keeping going. And happy birthday too 😍😍😍👏👏👏
Thank you so much TailChaser!! 🤗 I certainly ran in the outdoors with them firmly on my mind!! I got another kick up the butt to do the extra 1k too!! 🤣🤣❤️
Aah 🤗🤗🤗! We certainly have and I’ll always be grateful to you!! Sometimes we need to take a breath, but onwards we go! 🙌🏽🏃🏼♂️🏃🏽♀️☔️ Thank you so much! ❤️
Hey BTP....ah..my little riddle may have caught you out. I was 48, almost 49 and I graduated on my birthday, not the following year (as was originally planned 😳). So....the big one was last year! Instead of celebrating finishing C25K, I was celebrating 1 year of running. Another year has gone by so fast.
Maybe having a 51st will become very popular one day! I like it anyway!! 😂😂😁❤️
Congratulations 😃 Fabulous! A great post to inspire the rest of us on our journeys, whichever stage we are at. Enjoy your celebrations today 🎉 🥳 !
Thank you so much Adelle-dot!! 🤗 It’s a great feeling knowing I’m still doing this and it’s just become one of the things I love to do. I do forget that I love it sometimes, but I’m only human. 😂🤩❤️
Oh thank you so much Grannyhugs!! You’ve all made this experience so much more amazing! We are such a wonderful community of care and support!! Thank you!! 🤗❤️
I actually read this twice and got emotional both times ❤
What a beautiful, open and honest post. 2 years on and you're still out there achieving. That's what each and every run is, 'an achievement' and a massive well done to you. Running brings so much but I like to think that most of all it brings us something. We do it for ourselves because we deserve it and we also need it for our physical and emotional health.
You are Fabulous! and I hope you look back today and reflect and are proud of who you are and what you do 🏆
Oh 🤗🤗🤗! Thank you so much GTFC! You have all made this experience so much better than it would have been just going it alone. I celebrate everyone who is out there doing this for themselves!! We are all absolutely fabulous!! I just took the name first! 😂😂❤️
Yay Fabbo, happy runniversary! 🎉🎉🎉 I feel like you motivated me as I’m about a month behind you in terms of graduating, and I remember your journey nearly as clearly as mine!
You are a fantastic strong runner and person. Always chipper, always funny (in a good way, you know I mean that ❤️), and an inspiration to all of us. 🥰
Here’s to many more years of wonderful running. You are a superstar! ⭐️ 👊😍
Thank you so much Cheeky! 🤗 You have continued to inspire me too! My running adventures are pretty funny! It helps me to keep going out for a bit more funny too! ❤️
Happy birthday my fab friend Fab! You were way to early for me today, I saw the alert as I was dropping my hire car (well, Van) off and had to get a lift home... just done my run.
Thank you so much!! 🤗🤗 The van is no more!! 😂! I’m sure you’ll be extra glad to get into your own car now. I got out early because it was bin day!! I appreciate them, but I didn’t fancy running with the refuge collectors. That would have been too much of a rubbish start to the day! 😂😂❤️
What a fabulous post Fab. You're always so supportive and encouraging and I love your attitude and enthusiasm 😊 happy 2 year runniversary and a very happy birthday, hope there's a big cake 🎂
Ah thank you so much JonathanP!! 🤗🤗 It has been an amazing experience!! Even when I finished I wasn’t sure if it would just be something I said I did once. But here we are... 2 years on!!🤩 It’s just so fantastic!! And I look forward to yours on the 25th too!! That’s a very memorable date! C25K on the 25th!!👌🏽😁😁❤️
Happy happy runniversary-birthday! 🎉💐🎂 You have so much to celebrate and be proud of. My running can be very sporadic and I often think of your positive attitude of just getting out there when I'm finding every excuse under the sun to stay in bed!
You've also inspired me to try HITT workouts. I downloaded an app and have been doing them every morning - thanks! 😊 ♥️
Hope you enjoyed your cake & film with your fabulous sons! 🍰🎬
Aah thank you so much Slinkymalinki!! 🤗🤗 It was a lovely day. I was back on the HITT today!! Even though I was trying to tell myself I deserved a little break....’No you don’t...there was cake yesterday’ was the reply 😂! No seriously, it doesn’t take long and I do feel like I’ve achieved something first thing in every day, no matter what happens after that. Kind of strengthens you up to take on the day! It’s a bit C25K’ish, the energy to do it builds up slowly, then it becomes just what you do. 🧚🏽♂️ And you know me...if I stop for a bit, it’s ok, because I know.... ‘I’ll be back”! 🤣 Hope you’re enjoying it too! 🤩❤️
Yes I'm surprised at the enjoyment factor of HITT, it's a good combination of cardio and stretches (which I was doing anyway). I squeezed out 5k today - sweaty with a stitch but pleased I went a bit further than usual. I'm trying to lose the lockdown pounds otherwise I'm going to need new work clothes come September 🤣😳!
Ah that’s brilliant!!! 🤩 And well done for the 5k too! Go you!! 🤩🤩🤩
Yes.....the lockdown heaviness is what started the daily routine (and looking at my clothes and saying ‘oh..no’’! 😂😂.)! But we’ve kept pushing through. It may not be perfect, but still... just as amazing! ❤️
Congratulations on your 2nd graduation Runniversary and happy birthday too 🥳🥂 Facebook reminded me on Monday that it was my 2nd graduation Runniversary too and, just like you, I never thought I would or could become a runner. Look at us now 😃
Thank you so much Sandie1961!! 🤗🤗 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽!!! Look as us now!! 🥰 It’s amazing!! Belated but very happy Runniversary to you too!! What a star you are!! 😁🤩🤩❤️
Happy 2nd run anniversary my dear friend. 2 years and you kept on running. Well done. I remember starting of with you. You were so motivating, positive and an inspiration- kept me going. I hope to get my 2 years just like you. Well done again and keep it up 😘
Aah thank you so much Peet999!! 🤗 Of course you’re will! 🤩
If I can do it....🙄🤣, you most certainly can. I just found a way that worked for me. That way was just not to require too much pushing and punishment of myself, but to also let this body of mine know who’s the boss around here!! ‘Come on...we’re doing it....move’! 🏃🏽♀️ 🤣🤣😁❤️
Lovely post, and great to know you’re having fun. I’m a new C25K graduate and - I know it’s a silly question and must be really obvious, and I will kick myself when someone explains- but what is a VRB please? X
Aah thank you so much 2bon!! 🤗 You’re a VRB = Virtual Running Buddy too! We’re all at different stages, sizes, shapes and abilities, but we’re all doing this running thing together. It’s such a great community!! Enjoy every minute of it!! 🤩❤️
Yay!!! Belated birthday wishes Fabulous450 !!! And runniversary wishes too!!! I remember you arriving on here full of enthusiasm, your bubbly personality shining through your posts..and you are still just the same...you are infectious..your posts are a joy to read, full of honesty and inspiration...done ever change Fab! Enjoying life to the full is what your brother would want you to do I’m sure and you have to keep doing that for him...running, Hiit, whatever it is you’re doing, it’s working...hope you enjoyed your day xx
Aaah thank you so much Mummycav!! 🤗 Joining this forum was a fantastic decision. I take my hat off to everyone who does it without this kind of phenomenal support. It’s been my key to keep being inspired by all these amazing runners and keep going myself!! 🤩
Thank you for your tireless support and kind words!! ❤️
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