My second "10".

[Carolecal]

I so nearly bailed it this morning.I'd planned to run...I planned it and looked forward to it all through yesterday,but this morning the idea wasn't so appealing( funny how that happens).

Dreary skies,plus a 2-day old painkiller-resistant headache...so what to do ? Another coffee ? Snuggle back down under the duvet and read a few more inspiring posts on here ? (and there have been some really amazing ones lately ).

No...guilt got to me and as I slowly prepped for my run I told myself the fresh air and moderate exercise ( ha ! ) could only do the head some good and besides, I could turn back at any point.So that's what got me out the door today.

Well,I did 10.7 K.....oh yes !!! ... I'm pretty ecstatic about that

I thought I'd get to maybe 3 or 4K ,then turn back...but I didn't feel too bad,so I thought I'd aim for a bit further.

I ran out to the Stamina podcast,then switched to my playlist.

Between 7 and 8K I felt a bit rubbish...too warm,breathing out of sync,"can't do this " popping into my brain every 30 seconds,but it would have been a shame to stop at that point and anyway the thought of a slow run back was more appealing than a long walk home !

At about the 9K mark I changed direction ...into the blessed cool breeze...lovely ....and seemed to grow someone else's legs- legs which still had it in them to run...and run I did , all the way back,misjudging the route a bit so I ended up at 10.7K when I reached the little stone bridge ...my stopping point.

This time last year I hadn't even heard of C25K and if anyone had said I'd be running 10 K -or any distance,come to think of it,well I'd have needed scraping off the floor !

This is the second time I've managed to run " the ten ". I graduated last September and pootled around three times a week ,just getting used to the whole running thing. Since February I started to increase the length of my runs by 10% and got to 8K at the end of March.

A planned visit ' home' in April and an eagerly anticipated catch up over tea and cake with my best and oldest friend "B" (friends since we were 9 years old) spurred me on to go for the 10K. She's always been so supportive .....and not a little flabbergasted ,by my new found ' hobby' and I just wanted to see her jaw drop when I told her how far I could run....and drop it did...almost down to her slice of coffee and walnut

You see,she knows what a sport-hating couch potato I'd always been.We were always the ones at school with a myriad of ready excuses to get us out of games...all games.

At the register in the changing room,I was the one piping up " A cold, Miss" ...or "P, Miss" ( apologies if that's TMI chaps)... anything to regularly dip out of hockey , netball etc....well, as often as I could get away with it...and she was just as bad !

So , that's what got me from 8 to 10 K in what seemed like quite a leap ,for me anyway.

I managed 6 or 7 runs while I was away, but the longest was only 7.4 K...I found it quite challenging running along the windy coast. So I am really dead chuffed to have got that second 10 under my belt today...well, did I mention it was actually 10.7 ??

I have to pinch myself on a regular basis.....I'm not sure my head has actually got round the fact that ' I am a runner !! ',

though I can't imagine not doing this 3 or 4 times a week now....so I guess I must be.

The C25K programme and this forum are amazing, I'm just so glad I found it and discovered how life changing the whole running thing can be.....words don't seem adequate somehow.

Haven't posted in a long while..... though I'm always on here reading and sometimes commenting.

Hope you can forgive this lengthy ramble.....

Happy running ,lovely people xx

[thinlizzyIwish123 Graduate]

What a lovely post. It's amazing to think that nearly a year from now I could be running 10K..... I started C25K back in January so still getting my head round this running milarky, different runs, nutrition, foot gauge, apparrel and stuff. All a bit of a learning curve. I hated sport at school apart from Hockey and a little bit of sprinting. I'm short legged but got good times for 100m when I was at school.... Some people in my family laugh when I say I go 'running'. It's a shock to them as well. They've generally all been biggish people...like their food so that's hard to get away from. I like reading stories like these because they inspire me for what I'd like to achieve in future.

[Carolecal in reply to thinlizzyIwish123]

I've read so many inspiring stories on here-they've helped me shift my butt out of the door many a time.You'll probably get to run " the

ten" sooner than I did ! I dilly-dallied about a bit for a while ,unsure of how to proceed without Laura and the programme, then I had a bit of a knee problem at the end of last year which set me back a little....but over that now thankfully.

Thankyou for your lovely comment...and remember, you'll have the last laugh x

[runningnearbeirut Graduate]

Sounds like a brilliant run overall despite some tricky moments. 10.7k is FANTASTIC! Shout it from the rooftops, hang out the flags, or just come on here to "boast" and we'll be here to encourage you even if only a virtual way

How's the headache? Hope the fresh air helped.

[Carolecal in reply to runningnearbeirut]

Thankyou .....head's a bit better ...at least the run gave me something else to think about !

I'm so pleased to have done it ...especially as I was looking for reasons not to (!)...just hope I didn't sound like I was blowing my own trumpet too much x

[runningnearbeirut Graduate in reply to Carolecal]

It's what we're here for

Most other people don't appreciate what "having a good run" actually means.

[Nerdio Graduate]

Great post, and congrats on the 10K.

It made me smile what you said about 'I have got this far...a slow run back was more appealing than a walk'. I have thought this on occasions. I'd rather run than walk. Would never have contemplated that early last year!

[Carolecal in reply to Nerdio]

Thanks, Nerdio .Yes it's odd that walking feels weirdly frustrating at times ...in fact I avoid it unless I've got my neighbours dog with me ! Even then ,I usually take her to the footpath I did my Weeks1-9 on and we run together .

[Hidden]

I'm only up to week 3 but I find your story very inspirational! I'm a little different to you in that I've grown to dislike exercise as I've gotten older. So I'm really enjoying getting my teeth into this and hopeful of what's to come

Thank you for sharing xx

[Carolecal in reply to Hidden]

Thanks spiky ...and best of luck with the best of the programme

[no-excuse Graduate]

A fab post, well done, you deserve to feel pleased with yourself! I find it such a surprise that many of us who hated sport at school have started enjoying this so much. Happy running and do keep posting x

[Carolecal in reply to no-excuse]

Thankyou no-excuse......quite a few hours down the line and I'm still glowing x

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Carole, what a fantastic post. You epitomise everything that is great about this programme and the life changing effect that it can have. Congratulations on the 10k - still some way off for me!

[Carolecal in reply to Ullyrunner]

Wow,Ully...thankyou so much ! I'm blown away by these lovely comments x

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Wow, that's fantastic,I remember going for our week5 run three in the same week. Your doing so well. Your definitely a runner.

[Carolecal in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Aah Rfc...thankyou x

I can't tell you how much your brilliant idea of the quests has helped get me to this point .I was really struggling to find a purpose to all this at one stage...I missed the challenge of the C25K plan,sort of lost my way a bit,but each quest has helped me reach my little targets.

Something you wrote on Monday really struck a chord with me too,about enjoying the ' before' and the 'after' bits...so right

[Hidden]

Amazing! Maybe I should aim for a 10k this time next year....now there's a thought I never thought I'd have...

[Carolecal in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou henpen...it's good to have goals...you go for it ! x

[carole01 Graduate]

That is fantastic, you had it in you and you went for it ! Well done Carole. It is also good to have the structure first with the podcast. Almost like getting the training bit out the way and then using the time after to enjoy your run with your own music, self and thoughts. Lovely post and I am sure you will inspire many others to do the same. By using a good run to its full capacity will always achieve the right results - as you did!! Good luck for many more x

[Carolecal in reply to carole01]

Hey namesake ! Thankyou , your recent posts have been really motivational and truly helped spur me on...though I seriously doubt I could ever match your achievements , but I suppose it's a case of 'Never say never' maybe

[carole01 Graduate in reply to Carolecal]

Hi again It is just a case of a few weeks- thats all! You got here and you will increase weekly - remember it is just what you have already done ..twice! You will do it. look forward to your 20k post! Good luck - not that you need it x

[Jaqs99 Graduate]

Inspirational post. Thank you. I love the idea of a 'warm-up' browse of this forum before getting out of the door! Maybe the next edition of Laura's podcast could include time for that , to nice background music for 5 mins.

[Carolecal in reply to Jaqs99]

Good morning Jaqs ...yes that 'warm-up ' browse ( great expression btw!) is perfect....it works in two ways for me -motivation.....or guilt

Happy running x

[Carolecal]

Thankyou KittyKat,for kind words and taking time out to reply . I 'm so happy to think I've inspired anyone at all by posting this....I've got so much from the motivational posts of others ,it's just nice to put something back .

Good luck with your running...keep posting your progress x

[c4ts Graduate]

CaroleCal

It is lovely to hear from you again, completely know how you feel, I have struggled to got further than 5K but my friend (who got me into this caper in the first place) made me start at the running club back in January, this has gradually built up my distance, and then my stupid competitive spirit made me sign up for my 10K this Sunday in Glasgow. Hope I get your new legs at 8k because yesterday when I did my first approx 10K they were getting very tired towards the end!

Keep running and hope the headache sorts itself quickly now.

[Carolecal in reply to c4ts]

Hi c4ts,thanks for taking time to reply to my ramble.

That new legs thing ...all in my head , it really is mind over matter this running thing !

Lots of luck for Sunday...you'll be fab ,make sure you enjoy it and let us know just how much x

[kickibro Graduate]

Lovely post! Ramble away as I really enjoyed reading your post. Full of admiration for your long run and it gives me hope I can improve on my distance and hopefully enjoy it too

[Carolecal in reply to kickibro]

Thanks kickibro you sound like you will definitely get there.

I don't know how I missed your lovely post, but congratulations on your graduation this week

[kickibro Graduate in reply to Carolecal]

Thank you, Carole xxx

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Bonjour Carolecal. Ca Va? A lovely post. It really gets into you, this running thing. Anyone who completes C25k has the power to inspire others. Just look at where we were a year ago and how much more we have all achieved than we ever dared dream of. I will be running my first 10k race next week and headphones are not allowed, so I think I will drive myself on by recalling all those on this amazing forum, who have inspired, motivated and amused me over the last 11 months. Three cheers to you and three cheers for C25k!

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Carolecal in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Ah, bonjour Tim...Oui,ça va merçi Thanks for your lovely reply.Yes, it's really amazing how we can build on that 9-week plan and what we can achieve.

I never thought I'd be so absorbed by all things running when I tentatively started on 1st July !

Hope Mme.da Truffe is well and still enjoying her running.

Lots of luck for your race next week....post about it ,won't you ?

[Treemouse Graduate]

That is just amazing, and so motivational for the rest of us! I shall be thinking of you when I do my R4L and this will spur me on to keep pushing that bit further. Fantstic story, especially for those mornings when it's raining and the duvet is holding us hostage!

[Carolecal in reply to Treemouse]

Thankyou so much Treemouse . I will most definitely be thinking of you on that day ...actually,I may even be there ( spectator ,not taking part ) as we are planning a visit for my Mum's special birthday x

[ju-ju- Graduate]

well done...thats fantastic

[Carolecal in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks JJ...you have been a massive inspiration to me right from the start,with your panthering larks

Have a lovely day

[seenthelight Graduate]

That's wonderful and really inspirational. I love reading posts like this, really makes me want to improve.

[Carolecal in reply to seenthelight]

Thankyou ....and Well Done on your recent graduation !