So here it is folks, the Challenger Blog that has been sent over to the 5x50 website to be included on their web page and/or newsletter
I had a nice reply saying it was an amazing effort by us all and that it had been forwarded to Kelly at 5x50 who will no doubt include it in their newsletters so fingers crossed everyone that our hard work and efforts will be recognised and we will get a special mention! I think we all deserve it dont you, both those participating and those cheering us on?!
I will post the link as soon as I see it appear so everyone can bask in their 15 mins of fame!
Sue
Our International Team Rocks!!
You may have heard of the NHS Couch to 5K (C25K) running plan on the NHS website…..but then again maybe not; it doesn’t seem to get a lot of PR on the outside world which is a real shame. So, if it is news to you then read on and be amazed at the plan and the 5x50 Challenger Team!
It is a brilliant nine week program that gets you off the couch and running three times a week starting with one minute runs with walking intervals and ending with a full thirty minute run and a virtual ‘Graduation Badge’ to honour your success; as good as any real winner’s medal in my eyes and we are so proud to “wear” it! It is a plan that really does work, but what makes it absolutely amazing and very unique is the wonderful community on the forum made up of new and intermediate runners as well as Graduates that offer continual support, encouragement, motivation and advice. Never critical or negative; never condescending or sarcastic; no rivalry or competitiveness; just positive, upbeat and friendly help. Simple.
So because of that, many of us have become friends as we share our journeys together from all parts of the globe with a common aim – to run, to enjoy running and to keep running! So much so that when a few mentioned joining this year’s 5x50 challenge, spurred on by a veteran from last year’s challenge and a very intrepid member carrying out her own 100 day challenge (yes, really!) we decided to create our own Challenger Team. It started with just a handful of members and as we approached the final week before the challenge started we had 26. After a big recruitment drive we grew within that week to 71 members, 62 of which are tracking activity! Last year there were just three from the forum. What an increase! What a result! What a Team!!
Our wonderful Team, NHS Couch to 5K(C25K) 5x50.co.uk/team/nhs-couch-t... consists of all levels of runners, graduates and those still working towards graduation; all ages including many in their fifties and some in their sixties; from different parts of the world including the UK, Italy, Belgium and the USA. When someone is struggling we are there to help pick them up. When they are feeling negative we offer the positive. Our daily postings on the forum of what we are doing, how we are mixing up the activities, how we are progressing and improving, the humorous take on it and the times we don’t give up despite hurting are a constant source of inspiration to us all. Without this team spirit and the unwavering support of those of the community not able to take part but still waving their virtual pom-poms, many of us would have by now fallen by the wayside. A big Thank You to all!
We have a marvellous Techie (Malcy, please take a bow!) who has blown us away with creating data spreadsheets that capture our tracking from the website on a daily basis, updated every hour and loaded into stats, graphs and charts showing averages and total distances, splits between activity types for every single member plus instant links to their page on the website. It is our unique and special toy but we are happy to share it here mmcinteractive.com/5x50/ind... It is a brilliant tool that has also helped keep us motivated from day one. But you know what is even more brilliant? Drum roll please……………………..
As at day 30 we have collectively broken the 11,200 km barrier averaging 180kms per member or 6kms per day! That is from London to Buenos Aires. That is 3 ½ times north to south of Australia. That is once around the moon. That is incredible!
We don’t like to brag, but you know what, we have every reason to brag! We are the biggest challenger team with active members tracking this year! I am sure we are the most international team and what is more our NHS C25K Team rocks!!
Let’s see what we have achieved by day 50….bring it on!
Fab, Fab, fabulous!!!! We are stars and our team deserves a round of applause! Over 12,000K as of today! Just imagine what the end of the challenge will bring!!
Thank you so much Sue for a truly brilliant article and the effort involved in getting it to the right people. Di's photo collage added, makes it even that much more personal.
Super article, Sue! You managed to convey the facts with just a wee bit (ok, a big bit) of the sense of achievement we all feel as a team! I knew you were the right person to write this.
Brilliant! Really great writing Sue. Also it's very motivating and will spur us on in the last part of the challenge. Go us! What a fab team! So proud to be part of it!
Cheers Hilary! I enjoyed writing it and I'm glad if it can be used to motivate the team too, even better! Another two and a bit weeks to go....what are we going to do then??? I will miss it and the team spirit
Terrific article, well done Sue. What is the anticipated readership? Is the NHS website going to crash under the deluge of new applicants for C25K? Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful to realise the dream of being part of a nation which really cares about the health and well being of its people. I'm ready for the next challenge - I guess 365 is too much to hope for? Linda x
Fingers crossed that Kelly uses it in their newletter; it's so upbeat and enthusiastic about the challenge I'm sure they will. Thank you again for all your hard work, Theresa x
That is just fantastic, really well written. As a newbie graduate and recent professional coucher, I really wasn't sure about joining but got swept up in the enthusiasm. Now I'm so glad and while I struggled at first, it's now a way of life to do something every day. Please let's cook up a new challenge once this is over to keep the momentum going?
I'm definitely planning to keep going when the 50 days are up, but maybe will just do it and not record it (except for recording running, walking and cycling on my Garmin). I sort of feel that if it's part and parcel of daily life why make a fuss?
When I signed up for this challenge a couple of people asked my why I was doing it, since they knew I did some exercise practically every day already. I think I agree with them. I don't need a 'Challenge' to keep my going. And, despite me making daily updates (and sharing photos) on my Facebook page, I don't think I'm convinced any of my FB friends to do a daily 30 minutes of exercise.
Yay! Go team C25K! Lovely article, makes me feel so good to be a part of it! I'm already feeling a bit sad that it's coming towards the end; wll definitley need a new challenge after this one.
Lovely pics too, a poster of dedicated people enjoying this new fitter life; all brought together by this great program, and supportive blogs, cheering everyone's successes and helping those struggling!
Happy happy happy running everyone!
Thank you for putting all the hard work in on this and to greenlegs for the picture thingy magig and Malcy for the website. I really do love it all THANKS
Love it - well done! I'm just sad that some kind of technical glitch is stopping my tracking going to our team total - cause I've been notching them up like I can't believe, mostly from a new-found enjoyment of cycling. A collective pat on the back to us all!
That is such a shame Have you emailed them to ask them to sort it out? Others had similar problems for the first week but then it got sorted.... It could all then be backdated and added and your efforts publicly recognised! We want you on our team properly!
Woohoo! Just heard back that the technical glitch been sorted and the good news is that all my tracked activities can be seen - and I'm amazed to see I've clocked 400km (although only about 20 of that has been running). Hopefully it's also been added to the team total. Thanks for the advice - once again proving the value of this forum.
It's a great post Sue and makes me feel so proud to be part of such an amazing team. All who have made this experience so enjoyable need a huge pat on the back....not too hard though Di for the amazing team piccy, Malcy for the wonderful Malcymeter and you for all the admin and encouragement. All our virtual cheerleaders are also such a big part of our success.....thank you everyone
I just found this at last! I've been waiting to see what you've written and it's great! Thank you so much (and Greenlegs and especially Malcy) for all your coordination efforts. I'm intending to hand a paper copy of the blog and photo to our local leisure centre - the lady behind the desk there was very interested when I told her about the challenge as I bought my swimming ticket on Thursday.
Now I'll be checking the 5x50 site to see when our team photo and your words go live!
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