I'd found the site accidentally on one of my wasting-time-surfing-despite-urgent-deadlines moments.
It was August and hot in this sleepy small town in northern Italy. Older kids off on various adventures around the world, the youngest with hubby at the sea and I was stuck here looking after ageing parents (that sounds awful -- I am not a bad person, but you know what I mean!) I was tempted to give it a go. On August 29th I posted one of those "Can I do this?" style blogs to which Phil answered encouragingly. And on August 30th off I went.
We are a one car family and hubby had taken the car to the sea so I walked to the park. It's only a couple of K away (funny how easily I run there now ), it was a Monday around 10 am and it must have been around 30 degrees (what an idiot!). I remember those one minute runs being endless. And the walk back home! My feet! The blisters! The pain with all that lactic acid that had been sitting there for decades watching TV suddenly made those legs of mine as stiff as posts. Talking of which, I posted. (Pity I couldn't find those posts this morning but I know not where they have been hidden!) And Phil posted back. Followed by a bunch of wonderful Bloggerettes (I have been assured that this is a gender neutral noun) who have become dear friends during this wonderful journey details of which will follow in my graduation anniversary blog which took 6 weeks longer than it should have cos I broke my arm in Week 6.
One year on, I look good and feel good and by golly it (running) does you good
Thank you guys and gals for the endless encouragement, the sensible advice, the shoulders to cry on, the punchbags and, most of all, the friendship.
Written by
DeliaItaly
Graduate
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Happy anniversary and well done for keep going although you live in such a hot area! I think we all can understand now in this heatwave how hard it has to be to run in Italy and for me it definitely increases my respect for your achievements!
I really enjoy reading the anniversary blogs- what people have achieved and all the trials and tribulations. Nobody knows more than the people on this site what a triumph it is to have got this far and keep going.
So thank you for a lovely inspirational blog. And thank you for hanging on in there with this site-despite all the frustrations.
Nice memories Delia. It is amazing to look back and see the dramatic changes over such a relatively short time. The doubts as we contemplate starting (bloggeramuses?), then the realisation that perhaps we can do this, and then the confidence and resulting energy and fitness. Great to feel and see how it works for others too.
BTW I think you can see your old blogs (posts) by this (highly non-intuitive) method. Go to your Profile, click on View My Public Profile and there you can see your various offerings under 'Activity/Questions/Posts'.
I love the "bloggeramuses" ! And thank you for the info as to where to find my old blogs. I am humbled by my ignorance in all that is IT. My 13-year-old just has to look at any hand-held-electronic advice and is able to take photos and even make coffee within seconds without reading the instructions. Alas I am of the Sinclair-cum-Amstrad generation ....now that is old...
Sinclair? Amstrad? Veritable cutting edge! I was a trainee actuary for a (very short) time and we used mechanical calculators for £sd. The advent of electronic calcualtors was a wondrous thing.
Well, my first year at uni I shared a room with a girl who was studying Maths and Computational Statistics. You should have seen the size of her computer!
(Btw My brother's an actuary, I'm the black sheep of the family!) :-).
Oh dear ... I used to wake my kids for school by singing to them, making up the words as I went along. Don't know why I've just done the same to you. Poor Delia.
Delia the running lady. Bet that, a year ago, you didn't think anyone would call you that!
Oh you sweetie-pie, thank you Malcy Of course I shall stick with you no matter how bad the combination of Firefox and the new site gets! Btw I love the graphological play of "Eyetie" xox delia the running lady!
Delia, what a lovely anniversary blog; just like all of your blogs over the year, sincere and heart-felt. You've inspired me on many a day, and I thank you for the friendship x
Congratulations on your anniversary Delia, just the inspiring words and support I need to keep this up. Starting week 2 run 1 today, so still hard to imagine'graduation day'!
Oh Delia, my friend! Happy anniversary to you!! I'm so glad you are still going strong despite numerous blips and are still posting here; its lovely to see and so encouraging! What a journey we started on last year, never expecting to get so much from it when we signed up for that first dreaded "run"!!!
This site does seem to be improving slowly so fingers crossed we can all get back together encouraging each other and having fun like the "good ol' days" I have missed it soooo much and missed my running buddies
My first anniversary is later next month and I look forward to reading your graduation anniversary post; I think I will be wiping a tear from my eye!
Hey there Sue! Thank you soooo much. I too miss those easy-to-blog-moments, they mey be slowly returning? Who knows! Look forward to reading your anniversary blog soon loce delia xox
Happy Anniversary. What a difference a year makes. The time goes so quickly - am at about 10 months and it still feels like a new venture, but I suppose it's become a habit for us now. Have enjoyed following your journey.
Happy anniversary, Delia! It has been quite a year for you, hasn't it - and you have kept it up and done brilliantly! It never fails to amaze me what a huge difference this programme makes to all our lives. The friendship and support on here is so strong Happy future running!
Happy Anniversary Delia! And thank you for all your blogs/posts* that have helped me since I signed up last October. Being able to read the experiences of others who have 'been there, done that' and have valuable and useful tips or just give much needed encouragement is a priceless resource in this little family.
Oh my dear Delia! You are so inspirational. Despite your journey not always being plain sailing, here you are one year on, still a runner! You always have provided us with so much support and friendship. Here's to the next year, I'll drink to that!
Crikey Delia is it that time already, I remember so well when you broke your arm how frustrated you got because you couldn't run. What a long way we all have traveled and how wide spread we all are too.
Wishing you many years of happy injury free running dear friend and fellow runner (can I call you a fellow runner or should it be fellowess!?!)
Happy anniversary DeliaItaly. Thank you for your blogs. You have helped keep me motivated since I signed up last September. May we all have many happy anniversaries to follow!
Congratulations Delia. I remember when I joined up in September you were 'laid up' with your broken arm but were still a regular contributor on here offering support and advice to others.
Congratulations Delia, a lovely blog and wonderful, warm responses. I wish you all many happy running years and hope I'll be running alongside you all. Xx
What a lovely blog and it was me that was lucky to find you on that early blog, I have enjoyed sharing our trials and tribulations with you and everyone else we found on the way. What an achievement a year on and not letting that broken arm put you off. Luckily the IT is getting better so no need to go anywhere, here's to another 12 months
Delia, my dear friend, I'm so glad you found your way to C25K and to this community. You've done so well to stick with running despite your broken arm early on in the programme and more recent difficult times.
Please stick with the site until the IT problems are ironed out and it once again becomes a loved gathering place for ole running buddies.
Great post Delia, and well done for still running after all the ups and downs. It's amazing to realise how much we need to do it now. It's always great to read your posts and read your words of wisdom. It is quite emotional to read such a post and the responses and to know there are so many people out there supporting you and each other. This site and the members are fantastic keep up the great running, what is your next challenge? Hugs
Oh so many congratulations on all your achievements over the last year Delia - one of which, and not the most insignificant, was how entertaining your stories and some of your challenges were. Thank you for your funny and inspiring blogs and here's to another year of reading them - happy running! Cxx
Linda my dear friend who was always there running right by my side! Snow, treadmills (well, I tried but fell off), laughter and tears. Here's to our next year xox
Good for you Delia, the year is up and like many you have come so far.
I am now a 16 month veteran of C25k and like you despite the ups and downs as well as injury. I find myself being able to run 7-10k now and that's not bad for the over 50 club!
In the last 2 months I have lost 13lbs too and that's really helping as well.
Keep on running all of you who blog here as its one of the best forms of exercise and thoroughly enjoyable.
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which took 6 weeks longer than it should have cos I broke my arm in Week 6. 
I have missed it soooo much and missed my running buddies 
1st Parkrun of the year today - New sport. 
One Year Today
8 stone heavier 3 years ago 
1 Year Runniversay (2 weeks ago 😂) 
