For those lacking confidence...

[Kimmiijay]

I am a high school teacher who lives in the catchment area. 5 stone overweight, never done physical exercise in my life and so crippled by anxiety and depression that for 2 years I could not leave my bedroom without the use of major tranquilizers.

I started C25k in May - I joined an adults-only gym and thought it would be cheaper than a personal trainer. I used to use the treadmill in the corner where no one could see me. Then I enrolled in a 5k and decided I needed to get some outdoor training in - so I drove 5 miles away from here where no one would know me. Then I started running nearer to home, but in the dark so no one could see me. I have slowly been moving the time of my runs forward so now I run in the light.

I didn't notice that I don't care anymore if people see me in my too-tight jogging bottoms with a beatroot face.

The acid test came today when I did my run, and bumped into 5 kids (all of whom I teach tomorrow and are "interesting" characters) and a collegue. Only 1 person from work has ever caught me running in the past. I am not the most loved of teachers, and do get some ribbing from the kids. But today was great, because these kids who could have mocked didn't. They said "Hi miss" and nothing else. And if they mock me tomorrow it occurs I don't really care.

In 4 weeks time it is the school's 10k walk, and I think I might run half of it, and screw the raised eyebrows.

I have realised that running has given me some confidence. And it's fucking fantastic.

[Adzriel Graduate]

This is just the sort of thing that I need to be reading right now. Thank you.

And well done for keeping up the running, as well as for your amazing change in outlook

[katee1958 Graduate]

It really is amazing the positive effect running has on us all, well done x

[Eve1975 Graduate]

What an inspirational post. Well done for getting out there and fantastic to hear how well you are doing and how it has given you confidence.

[mehitabel Graduate]

Hooray, hooray, hooray for you. So impressed at your incredible achievements and inspired by your progress. Be proud.

[Twizzle53 Graduate]

I can truly empathise as I work in a school too and I know how hard it is to just survive each day in the sort of environment where your face doesn't fit. Well done though, you have persevered despite the difficulties of training within your catchment area and come out of the other end a stronger and more confident person. Give yourself a huge pat on the back and walk into that classroom tomorrow with your head held high. You will have the last laugh on that 10k walk when some others could be struggling with just walking it and you burst into a run.

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Oh, that's a great post! Well done for so many things, and very best wishes for the 10k 'walk'. Go you!

[Tracey001 Graduate]

Really enjoyed reading post. Good for you!

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Good for you. Brilliant achievement!!

[Julia321 Graduate]

That is amazing, made me smile. Thanks for sharing, and good luck!

[Eebahgum Graduate]

Well done. Very moved by your story.

[Hezzabelle Graduate]

Teacher said "fuck"! Yeeeah! Good on you! Brilliant attitude and a joy to read! Please update us when you really do stick it to em on your walk!

[annasee Graduate]

Fantastic and inspirational post, thanks for sharing. I'm only gradually realising how much running has a correlation with increasing confidence. It's a completely unlooked-for bonus, but so welcome. So glad you are feeling good about yourself and your running now. The kids probably have increased respect having seen you running. And people respect others who have self-confidence, so your aura of "I don't mind what you think of me because I'm happy with what I'm doing" now will be apparent to them as well. It's a win-win situation, surely!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Well done and you go wow them and make them all speechless while you run at the 5k walk.

[LouisaJayne Graduate]

Great post so nice to read how much difference running has made to you xxxx keep it up

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Brilliant....I really like the way at each stage you did what you could cope with at the time but you did *something*

[Lippie]

Fabulous! You are a true inspiration!

[Hidden]

Wow fantastic, great post to read on my first day on this site!

[imswan Graduate]

Well done! Running really is fab for your confidence- week 4, run 1 for me tomorrow and I still can't believe how much I'm enjoying running!

[MrsMozzer Graduate]

Well done there! As someone who also struggles with anxiety and depression, I agree that C25K has worked wonders for my self confidence and my mood. Pretty much no real exercise for around 30 years and then I dropped onto C25K and decided to give it a go - and enjoy it so much that I get grouchy now if I can't get out for one of my regular runs!

Keep it up and let us all know how you're doing.

[Mini13 Graduate]

Hey YOU, congrats for coming this far...gr8 achievement! Well done and keep it up! Shhh....teacher says the 'F' word!!

Remember, as for not liking by everyone at work, who cares? You can't make people like you and in fact it is hard when everyone likes you as you got to live up to it. I like you for what you do..go for it girl....you run you run!

[Elsie1 Graduate]

Brilliant post. I always run in the dark too, either early morning or late evening .Well done you.Truly inspirational !

[shinjin Graduate]

Awesome post. You are an inspiration to all.

Keep it up.

I read one post above about being liked. I say screw it. With this programme I like me more and that's what counts. If I like me then others can too.

In this I like one element of the Fish books. Chose your attitude. Chose to be positive and confident and you will be.

[hop_along Graduate]

Great post. Don't look back just forward!

Very inspiring (on a few levels) and honest too....

H

[ActiveWizard85]

How awesome are you!! Totally wowed by your post !! Give yourself a giant pat on the back !!

[molly1973 Graduate]

That is just brilliant! So chuffed for you 👍💪