Thinking about what to do next - W9R3 completed...

[mmphc]

I just caught myself looking at the Walkjogrun website, looking up running routes in Hyde Park. I'll be in London tomorrow night, and plan to run in the park before breakfast on Friday morning.

Hang on a sec. Is this the woman who, ten weeks ago, could just about manage to hoick herself off the couch to, reluctantly, jog for 60 seconds before gratefully walking again? What in the name of boiling hell has happened?

Well, I'm still 54.I'm still overweight - thought not as much as I was. My knee doesn't seem to be as dodgy as it was and my legs feel much stronger. Today I bought a 'wicking running top'. Ten weeks ago, I would have thought that a 'wicking running top' was a Bowdlerised version of something that keen, annoying running types wore.

Yesterday, I listened to Laura's final podcast. I can't say much for her choice of music although I quite enjoyed the inspirational final music. I listened to it for W9R1 too, but chose my own for the second run of W9 and actually ran for 38 minutes. In that time I did 5.2 km so I guess that my 5km time is around 35 minutes - my Strava run app was playing up a bit so I'm not sure. Hang on another sec. 'Strava run app'. Is this me I am talking about? I still feel like the same person but over the past few weeks I have realised that although the runs are - still - quite hard, I take much less time to recover and the feeling of achievement is fantastic. If I'm running on the flat or downhill I actually quite enjoy it, although I don't think that I'll get to grips with hills, ever. On my drive to work, I'm thinking'Could I run this - would it be safe? Would cars see me?' I know for sure that I see the world in a different way now.

So, despite my self-doubt, self-consciousness ( yesterday, setting out for the grad run, I ran past someone out for a walk whom I know previously entered the London Marathon - Eeek!) beetroot face, and huffy-puffy running plod, I have got there, in no small part thanks to the support and encouragement of Laura and the Forum. So thank you all - and, if you are are a new runner, IICDIAC!

[maryannlucy]

Great post...well done you! I am looking forward to Laura telling me 'you are a runner', not long now, but in the meantime, thanks for the inspiration

[mmphc Graduate in reply to maryannlucy]

Well done for getting as far as you have; if Laura's runner comment isn't far off, then I reckon that you have done the hardest part which is getting off the sofa and keeping on getting off it.

[suzybenj Graduate]

Well done-it is a marvellous feeling to have come this far. I am much the same myself. New trainers-new top-garmin with a heart monitor -really is that me. As for Hyde park -go for it-you will feel very smug and on top of the world. I did the same a few weeks ago at the 25 mins stage ran round top of park then around serpentine -fantastic.

[mmphc Graduate in reply to suzybenj]

I really enjoyed running around the Serpentine, but didn't have time to do the whole thing, so did what my Strava tells me is the 'Half-Serpentine'. I did stop to take a photo of a heron which was apparently unbothered by me standing only about eight feet away, but ran the rest of the way. I was very slow I think, as everyone else overtook me, but it was good fun and much flatter than I am used to, which was a bonus.

[jillie100]

Great post, and very motivational for me as I finish week 1. I have to believe I can do this too! Thank you for sharing that great feeling.

[mmphc Graduate in reply to jillie100]

Well done for starting the programme, Jillie. The last few weeks have gone quite fast, and it almost seems like magic. Little by little, bit by bit, you build it up - I promise you, you really can do it. Just trust the programme and yourself. You will amaze and delight yourself with what you can do.

[Aftabs Graduate]

Congratulations! I have my graduation run this evening and have already begun my post grad runs. I think I will try the B210K programme next but also try and improve my 5km speed at the same time.

[mmphc Graduate in reply to Aftabs]

Many thanks for the congratulations and I hope that the grad run went well. I too had started my post grad runs by the time I did the grad run and I'm now thinking about the 10k programme and improving my 5K speed too. I did wonder about Parkrun, too. Congratulations on your achievement, too.