Several years ago I was diagnosed with a severe form of arthritis which to be fair was pretty crappy for a young 30ish Mum of one. Having tried various drugs over several years without success I was given a chance to receive special therapy but I would only be allowed to keep it if it worked within 16 weeks because (I guess) of cost.
It was amazing! I went from having no life, not being able to run and play with my son or having the use of all my fingers to having joints that worked again. The chronic fatigue that went with it was also away and I felt like a new woman. During this time, my Dad was seriously ill and we didn't know why. The last conversation I had with him in hospital was the day before I was due to find out if I could keep my miracle drug and he was keeping everything crossed for me.
I was allowed to keep my medicine - I rushed home to call my family only to find out Dad had got worse. He died later that day. I never got to see him and I never got to tell him I had been given a chance to get my life back.
My medicine comes with a horrible list of side-effects which I try to ignore but they are there. However, losing Dad made me reevaluate my life. You only have one life. Go and live it - have fun - do they best you can do.
Cancer took my Dad. I am running race for life in his memory this summer. I have stuck two fingers up at cancer and my own condition! I have taken the bull by the horns!
I can't believe that I have just completed w8r3 of the program and can now run for 28 minutes. Not bad for a huffy-puffy out of shape woman who looked at the C25K spreadsheet in week 1 and thought no way!
I have done most of the program on the treadmill but have ventured outside about 5 times. I think I prefer the rush I get when running outside and I feel like a 'proper' runner but the treadmill has it's benefits. I think it makes the running a little easier despite having it on an incline etc. I think I intend to keep mixing the two and I really need to find me an inspiring route outside because running round the houses / main roads is a little dull.
I still think I am quite slow but pleased myself today because I upped my pace on the treadmill to 7 and increased it to 7.9 for the final 5 minutes which I know is still a little pathetic, but quicker than the 6.5 I have managed thus far.
I am starting to think about graduation now .... I am aiming for 5k and at the moment I am just under so I might start setting 5k as a target distance and work towards that. Once I know I can manage it (I am at 4.35K with the warm up/cool down ) then I think I will try and increase my speed.
I have learnt so much these past few weeks especially from people on the forum sharing their words of wisdom. I am so pleased I went and bought running shoes and had my gait analysed before I even started running as I am sure that has helped. I am grateful that I was in a position to have an appointment with a physio and podiatrist who were brilliant at giving my advice on stretching and looking after myself. I am so pleased Sports Direct offer bright coloured running gear at a good price and I am so pleased that one day in December random Google searching lead me to here.
Thank you to Laura, thank you to everyone who has helped me and thank you Dad.
I don't tend to tell my story, most of my friends don't really know how life has been but this running lark really has made me feel 'alive' 
A cautionary tale...
Treadmill speeds - accurate?
The Beast from the (Far) East
W6 R3 - failed😞
