Well... I got here...it took a little longer than nine weeks...but here I am !
Eight years ago, on a very dark, wet morning I graduated from C25K.
Eight years on, eight years older and yes, probably a tad wiser, yesterday, I re-graduated.
No fanfare of trumpets, no air punch of delight...just an wonderful sense of calm satisfaction.
I have had quite a journey to get back here... with ups, downs, highs and lows... Wind and weather have done their very best to upend me, but last night as I set my running gear out, I was determined that, other than the worst of weathers, I would get out and I would run. Week 9 Run 3... ! Mr OF's increasing, ongoing dementias issues and the heart attack, he had in July, which rocked us both, to the core, has meant we have had some tricky times, less than many, nut more than some.
The running outfit was the one I wore the first time around... the only concession, a thermal long sleeved top.
So... awaking to a quiet world...no wind, no rain and no ice. The route was to be the same as that taken eight years ago...the normal cuppa and two digestive lights! Faffage complete and out.
Two friends with me this run. My dearest Bluebirdrunner and this morning, who else? Coach Bennett. He has missed me greatly and this morning, the 30 Minute Thank Yous, run was the only choice.
The Close was quiet, but it was a later run than eight years ago, so it was light. As I began the run, the familiar excitement butterflies kicked in, turning into the Crescent, and round and down. A fair few more Christmas trees and lights apparent in the un-curtained windows of the early risers, and the most amazing collection of Christmas door wreaths! Santa's grotto, in the porch of one house, a yearly favourite with small ones heading to and from the local school. The lady who owns the house has always done it and this morning, she gave me a cheerful wave as she opened her curtains! CB's thank yous continued and he and I chatted amicably. My pace was deliberately slower than my usual slow. The months have taken their toll and although my regular exercise routines have kept everything going, I am still careful not too push too hard.
Down the hill and past the station... Narnia entered, as I pass the lamp-post...and on to the village. Just me, footsteps echoing on the pavements, lights twinkle and glittering en route. Through and up the hill. It felt a tad harder than usual, but I still maintained the slow and steady pace I love. Breathing easy, legs strong and feeling relaxed. Turning along towards the school , I slow down and take a picture of the galleon play-boat in the yard... like me, looking a little older and perhaps in need of a make-over, but, still there, waiting for the small sailors who board it, with such glee each breaktime ! Along and through the very quiet road and out into the trees and the lane. Old Road, the site of my ghostly encounter, bright this morning in the strengthening day, and I cannot resist, slowing to take a photo of the road sign.
The haws and hips glow like jewels against the glossy greens, the fields are waterlogged and muddy, but the beauty of the season is unblemished; the air fresh and clear, and the presence of the power of Nature is palpable. I breath deeply, trying to take in that power, to fuel my continued recovery back to full strength. CB is telling me I have about ten minutes to go, and so I decide to alter the end of the route, and make a detour across my beloved fields.
Squeezing through the gap opposite the Steam Railway, I take another quick photo and head for home. Down through the field. Muddy tracks making my gait ungainly, an inelegant ballerina, teetering on the ridges, across the tracks, unused, of the railway side line m another quick photo of the Signal Man's, ( the film ), tunnel, and down the field. CB is always right and my space has increased, unblinkingly. I feel light and free, liberated from all stressful thoughts and my thank yous are many.
Down the seaside track and down the hill, towards the Narnia lamppost. Full circle completed as CB counts me down and a final burst of speed, in deference to Laura, to always have something left in the tank.
Done. 3O minutes... no speed, little style, and as ever, slow and steady.
I walk, ( yes, walk), up the hill to home... I am grateful and happy. It is still quiet as I turn into the Close, but, as I open my front gate, I am greeted by cheers and whooping. I look up to see Mr OF leaning out of the window upstairs, clapping ,smiling and cheering me home.
It was... a moment.
As I open the door to enter, the thought, well known to may of us of a certain age, pops in, unbidden into my head.
“ There will come a day, when I can no longer run, Today, is not that day”.
Oldfloss x
With love and a thank you to all those folk who have supported me on the last eight years... on we go.
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🎺A lovely and special run and a special welcome home for you this morning Oldfloss. The final run of the programme, but the first of the rest of your hopefully very many remaining running days.. your positive spirit shines through as always.. well done for today and I will look forward to following many more. Wishing you a joyful festive season ☺️🎶🎄🤶🎅🌲
Thank you.. I hope so too! Luckily for us, the runs wait, however long it takes! That run was very special.. and Mr OF's greeting to me... just pure joy!
Absolutely fantastic! So pleased for you. You deserve a massive celebration for getting back to where you are now with everything that’s happened. Just brilliant to read you’ve got there with such a wonderful final program run. ❤️❤️❤️
It was pretty fantastic... steady, calm and gentle.. apart from the muddy bits! But I love my fields in all conditions... made better by the fact that there was only me about! A run back in time and a run into the future, changed though it is... thank you,.my friend x
Oh Floss, today definitely isn't that day, what a beautiful post and many congratulations on your re..... GRADUATION you wonderful inspirational person xxx
Thank you... it was a very special one, this one... and I can hardly believe I am eight years on... Slow and steady gets us a long, long way, doesn't it? x
Thanks Oldfloss and Dexy5 . I’ve taken a break from organized, scheduled running as I try to focus on a bit more strength training as I navigate the lovely stage of perimenopause and all that comes with it 😩. That combined with raising a teenager has kept me on my toes, taking everything one day at a time since every day brings its own new challenges as I deal with my own hormonal fluctuations and that of my teenager 😆. Fun times in the SaskAlliecat household 😆
Hug from me too dear Allie, its so nice to see you popping up on Strava, and of course keeping an eye on the forum posts. Seasons greetings to you and yours! 🌲xxx
Thanks you... you know how hard things can get sometimes too x I am grateful that I have the strength to move forward and the friendship of so many folk x
Thank you... You do know too, how life's ups and downs can impact us!
Yes, CB, he knows I am his special girl, (old girl), and he and the run did wait... It was joyous run, and a calm and satisfying one...nothing to prove , just one to complete for myself. Thank you for your very kind words. x
Huge congratulations to you Oldfloss on graduating all over again . You and hubby have been through the wars this year and to commit yourself to running cannot have been easy.
How brilliant that you had Coach Bennett to accompany you on this run and the Thank You run was a perfect choice. To have Bluebirdrunner virtually with you must have been even more special , just like running with her at the Monsal Trail last April.
Thanks you...so special...and yes.. Bluebirdrunner . ...she runs with me a lot...I can't wait to run the trail again next year...hopefully, a few more friends will join us.On the way...I'll take my time, and thank you. Hug gratefully received xxx
I missed this post somehow Dexy5 but I'm here now and I was watching Floss slip past that lampost on Sunday. Keeping faith that I will begin the plan in the New Year too. I have that Monsal trail booked again!
Thanks BBR. Good luck on Your restart. There’s nothing like an event with friends to get you running again. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎅🏻🎄🦌
Thank you for sharing your graduation run with us Oldfloss , beautiful writing, I felt like I was with you. Congratulations on completing C25K again, here's to lots more 'not that day's' (apologies if that apostrophe is in the wrong place, hope you know what I mean) 😁🏃♀️💨👏👏👏🍾
What an achievement, my dear friend. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I hope that I will also be able to run and regraduate at some point ❤️ You are and have always been my running mentor 🤩
Hello you! How absolutely wonderful to see you her and thank you so much... Gosh, we had fun didn't we, in those early days.
I know you have had some real struggles and that it is going to be a long road back to running. BUT you will get there, if you wish to, and we, will be right here, waiting to run with you and support you!
What a wonderful and heart warming post! I’m just recovering from surgery and was half way through Cto5k for the third time pre surgery. When I am able I shall pick it up again where I need to and finish. I have never wanted to run further than 5k, though I have a dream I might one day be able to complete it in under 30 minutes, (I’m a good 5 minutes off that goal) but I accept it may never happen. I love my parkrun (Worthing) and it is my regular haunt.
However, a couple of things have happened. A friend suggested I take part in the Bognor 10k road race in May, saying there was plenty of time to train so I recklessly booked myself a place! Hence I upped my game from one run a week (parkrun) to following the Cto5k plan again. Last time, (a year ago) it improved my performance. This time I’m hoping it will lead me to training towards the 10k. Your post has inspired me. I shall either do Bridge to 10k or NRC if they have a 10k training plan because I was surprised by how good I found it in the little time I did some of their running programmes (or maybe only one, I can’t remember). I definitely recognise the name of Coach Bennett and the 30 Minute Thank You run sounds like a banker for later in my journey.
So, I hope to be starting back in the new year, 3-4 weeks if all goes well. I’m not great at posting, (more of a responder) but I look forward to your suggestions.
Well, repeating C25K is a sure, slow and steady way to move on... no pressures and no challenges. A familiar friend who takes you along so steadily! Bridge to 10K.... ju-ju- 's magic plan is a great one... I have used that a few times to get back to 10K and I will be doing that again in the New Year, ready for my 10K race in April! I may use some NRC guided runs to slot in with that too... Coach Bennett is, for ma, a great companion. A run for all feelings!
Do please, keep posting as and when you are able. it is so useful...and maybe , if you, like I am, are beginning this in the New Year.. we can swap our run experiences here
What a beautiful post Oldfloss. A lovely commentary, written in tune with the gentle rhythms of your run, against the backdrop of what has been a truly difficult year for you.
Where would we be in troubled times without the headspace which our runs provide, and the friends/angels who join us, actually and virtually? Hopefully it will be some years before we have to face that question…as you say, today is not that day. You are back on top of the mountain where your running friends can see you in time of need. Thanks for always being there Floss.
Thank you very much. Your words mean a great deal to me and yes, you are so right. The runs and the friends, seen or unseen who we run alongside make things a lot more joyful!
It was a very gentle and evocative run... greatly appreciated and greatly enjoyed
A beautiful poignant run for you Oldfloss and very well done! You did it and what a wonderful welcome from MrOF. You guys are so inspiring and what a year you’ve both had. However the strength you both have is impressive and the bond that is between you two is fabulous.
I hope you both have a wonderful Xmas and 2024 will be a better year for you.
Morning! Yes, we have had quite a time, MR OF and I....but 50 years plus together makes for a really special bond. On we go... x
My run was a special one indeed and had all the bits that make some runs totally memorable. A gentle, relaxed and steady run full of memory and full of joy. I love those runs.
A beautifully written post Oldfloss congratulations on your achievement.. 🎉💐I'm always lurking in the back group and your posts inspire me, so thank you. X
Oh super post, so lovely to read. You've done so well, and inspired so many....congratulations, and lucky you to have a cheering husband! Best of luck with your ongoing training, and your race xxx
You have been one of those folk who have made my running so much fun... remember me getting hooked on the C25K + runs... I got a bit addicted to the Stamina run!
Looking forward the the Monsal trail 10K and Mr OF is coming to cheer me home there this time too!
Thank you so much.... it has been a great few years and so many friends made who have come all this way with me, and my rambles!!!
Yes...bless him, he was as thrilled as I ... and made a lot of noise!
It has been such fun despite the stumbles and set backs... and... the new year holds more adventures too... new routes, new locations and maybe meetings with friends?
Somehow I managed to miss this post, and with so many lovely mentions I'm not sure how!
I saw your run on Strava on Sunday Floss, and am thrilled to hear I was running along with you in spirit, as you do with me on mine.
A difficult year for you, you have rallied and come through everything thrown at you bravely, whilst still holding the reins on the forums offering support and encouragement to new and us old runners. As others have said this inspires us all.
I loved reading your re-graduation run report, seeing those porch decorations, gliding past the school playground, that Narnia lampost that captures the imagination! Coach CB was certainly very proud of his favourite girl, as was Mr OF as he whooped and cheered you home.
I am way behind you, yet to begin the plan again, but we have April to look forward to, and we have the c25k program and our wonderful running family, the belief is there....
The replies to this post are smashing, as are you.
Hello...well..I may have slipped past you briefly. on the muddy track...😉We had a lovely run...and you have played a huge part in getting me back to this point .
As CB says, this is about running and absolutely, not about running.
I shall move on in the New Year but so slowly and steadily. Ju's Magic Plan. With tweaks.
We have the plans and we have each other.
The forum friends are there for us too.
This was a special run in so many ways...and we ran it together.
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Fabulous450 & The Slow Morning Run!! 🏃🏽♀️ ❤️