One year on...

[ajwyld]

About a year ago, I downloaded week1, dug my old trainers out from under my daughter's bed and started the programme ! The journey to graduation took almost 6 months due to dodgy knees and then viral labrynthitis but I am so pleased I did it. Since graduation, I've been working on stretching my distance, first from my graduation distance of 3.5k to 5k, and this morning I did 7k for the first time. My goal is to run in our local 10k next June and complete it in a non-embarrassing time. (Am working on getting to the distance first, then will work on reducing time.)

I am so pleased to have discovered running, and the help and support from all of you on the forum has been fantastic.

Today's run was in the sunshine and took me along our local river in the shade and I really enjoyed it. The run ended at McDonalds where I met my family for a restoring egg mcmuffin...

Although I haven't lost weight (well obviously not, what with eating egg mcmuffins and other such nonsense) I feel fitter and and generally trimmer. My bloodpressure has also dropped into the normal range and I am off medication. I also find myself doing strange things such as reading the Guardian's running blog... and surprise my husband by knowing about running related stuff !

happy running everyone !

[Vixchile Graduate]

That's a great post! Congratulations to you for running for a year. That is one of my aims to keep it up. 10km in June next year you will smash it! Your at 7km now. I found that a running plan with pace targets has been helpful for my 10km prep. Congrats once again.

[paul727 Graduate]

Interesting comment about the blood pressure, I have been on medication for 2 years for high blood pressure and have noticed that although I am still taking it that the readings are lower since I started running. I have a review at the end of the year and am hoping that I can come of the medication then.

[no-excuse Graduate]

I am sure you will be fine with a 10k in June. I found when I built up to 7.5 that the increase came quite easily after that. Mind you, I wasn't breaking any speed records! Isn't that great about your blood pressure! So many positive benefits. Nice post , thanks for sharing x

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Congratulation ajwyld on yor anniversary. Really interesting as I also had viral labrynthitis since taking up running, coincidence? Maybe just shaking things loose.

10K is within your range if you can do 7k. Trouble is you then want to keep doing it

Enjoy your post run relax.

[ajwyld Graduate in reply to GettingFitter]

With hindsight I've had labrynthitis type symptoms on and off for several years. My physio thinks that my inner-ears must always have been a bit "below par" and then the virus came along and made everything worse. I have found that running helps (or walking on days when I felt too wobbly to run).

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Happy running anniversary - its just great to discover all these unexpected benefits isn't it!

[Thp42 Graduate]

Super post. Inspirational to those of us who haven't achieved that shiny badge yet. Super news re your blood pressure.

[Lavender1962 Graduate]

Happy running anniversary! An inspiring post. It's great to still be running after a year.

Good luck with your 10k training!