A plan helps purpose.

[Chinkoflight]

Just like Oldgirlruns I'm heading for a runniversary (April 11th) and a healthiversary too (March 13th) and they are as significant to me as any other in my calendar. What I've learnt from the five Health Unlocked groups I've followed the most gains and positivity come from those with a plan. Whatever the adversity and personal challenges, little bite sized plans help people get by; feel a little in control of their destiny; put some of the inevitable gremlins either on the back burner or better still in their place!

C25K was an off the shelf plan which was brilliant. JuJu's 60 minute was the basis for me to begin to get in to a running groove. Asking questions and getting great answers, or differences of opinion has helped me shape my current running plan which is quite informal.

1 Aim to run 5 times a week

2 Do a parkrun (or not parkrun) 5k

3 Aim to do one longer run of 6k + or 60 minutes

4 Do short speed or jog runs as the in fills.

Running is a reward in itself. Parkrun is a massive reward because it's so life affirming.

But the reward was a cold shower and it was magnificent. For 11 days I've been prohibited following a minor procedure that had to stay dry, rendering a shower impossible. To top it all as well as having had yet another lawfully effected stab wound this year (drama person/it/they/him/queen) yesterday two nurses failed 4 times in their attempts to extract a vial of blood from both arms, muttering stone or fossil under their breath I imagined.

So yesterday in spite I ran 7k in 62 minutes and this morning I did a short intervals run, walking/running totalling 3 k, but I still can't fathom this, my fastest Km time to date of 6:55mins .

So the cold shower washed off 10 days of health interventions and quite a bit of running too! Why cold, just wanted to be reminded of the sea, which will be awaiting after I run on March 13th.

Keep running, keep smiling, have a plan, keep the gremlins and anxiety in their place!

Picture is of yesterday's #chinkoflight. This was the start of my run facing west. By the time the run had finished it was full 🌞.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Happy Runniversary! You’ve got so much to celebrate. It’s wonderful looking back on everything you’ve achieved and feeling proud. 🏃‍♀️❤️💪🎉🥳

Who knows what you’ll have to celebrate this time next year?

[CBDB Graduate10]

Exactly this 👆! And certainly for me this is true: “positivity come from those with a plan” 😄😀🙂

Enjoy your reconnection with the shower! I bet that felt great! 🚿🛀💦🧼

[Chinkoflight]

By way of up date this approach to planning dropped in to my in box from the Alzheimer's Society tonight. The injury couch, illness, work or family pressures seem to regularly crop up in posts causing negative feelings, anxiety and low mood because running is the thing that has to stop. So this seemed relevant.

Sometimes, however much you want to do something, whether exercising more, reconnecting with friends or picking up an old hobby, life gets in the way! If this is something you’ve experienced when trying to put your pledge into action, creating an ‘If, then’ plan could help.

For example, say your commitment was ‘I will start exercising using the Couch to 5k app, on Tuesdays after work in the park’, but sometimes you have to work late. Your plan could be ‘If I have to work late, then I’ll run during my lunch break on Wednesday’.

What’s yours? Think about the things that tend to get in the way of your goal and have a go at writing one.