Thought I'd check in and ask how everyone is doing?

[Fingalo]

There's probably no-one left who was around when I did it but you never know. Also it's good to read a few posts and see the same old fears and triumphs repeated. Bottom line is, it's a fabulous programme and everyone can do it.

Good luck to all.

[Wristy Graduate]

ah now I remember seeing you around the first time I had a go at c25k on the treadmill! good to see the place is still in your thoughts!

[Fingalo Graduate in reply to Wristy]

Always check in now and again, I think I'm looking for inspiration to start again but it's a long way off yet. Do I take it you're doing it for the second time?

[Wristy Graduate in reply to Fingalo]

I am. I started first time in the gym in Sheffield as I was worried I couldn't handle the hills. Tried to go outside post-graduation and got a bit disheartened about it all and gave up. Started again in London this year (running outside only!) and now I am hooked!

[ancientrunner Graduate]

I remember you!! Not being on face book I have stuck with the folks here and they keep inspiring me to keep going, but I haven't got too far.

[AnnieW55]

I'm still here (although I had quite a long period of not checking in). Doing 10ks and half marathons now, mainly on my own, just the occasional 'proper' race as they are quite expensive to do regularly.

Go on, get started again - you know you want to

Your posts will be much enjoyed.

[Fingalo Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

Hi Annie. I feel deep down that it's in me, however I've been feeling that way for ages now and have nothing like the motivation yet to actually begin.

[AnnieW55]

Put a pint of the black stuff at the end of the prom in a cool box and run for it!

[Fingalo Graduate]

Ha ha! It's the getting up at 4.50 am to run that I'm having trouble with and it's really about the only time I can run.

[Fingalo Graduate]

Very impressed at the distances you're doing these days. Bravo!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

So if you are contemplating a third go at this thing then you must have some belief in it and you know what to expect. Motivation has to to come from you to start, complete and persist with the running habit.

For me, it was seeing so many of my mates, just a few years older than me having to have heart surgery and then be put on drugs for the rest of their lives, along with the awareness that my stamina was slipping. In two years I feel I have gone a long way to reducing the risk of heart surgery and I am just generally happier and fitter than ever before. I will be 60 later this year and look forward to running for as long as I possibly can. Every time I run, I am just so smug that I can do this, covering distances and speeds that I never managed in my youth.

Don't keep putting it off until you have a health scare. You know C25k works and once the habit is ingrained it is just one major part of being alive.

[Fingalo Graduate]

I only did it the one time but I get your point. The thing is, for the months I was running and continued after I graduated, I never actually felt any better in myself. Proud at what I'd done, yes, just no sense of improvement in health other than I could run further.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Fingalo]

It is difficult to be subjective about this, because you can't know how you would have felt had you not run. Most of the medical evidence suggests that running is a good way to develop a healthy cardio vascular system, so long as you don't overdo it and at my stage in life, seeing some of my unhealthy and unfit contemporaries, I am so glad that I started when I did.

If you don't enjoy running, and you are in a minority of active members of this community if you don't, then maybe you could try some other activity, eg. cycling or swimming which might excite you more, but still keep you active.

[Fingalo Graduate]

That was my issue with it. I liked that I ran, I just couldn't find a way to enjoy the runs. To me it was the challenge that kept me going, I just made the mistake of not realising that and by the time I did, it was too late to set myself another one. I guess I'll have to find another way.

[Tish1970 Graduate]

Hi Fingalo, I remember you! Just been talking about you on the c25k FB group. A lot of the old gang have moved over to the dark side! We miss your hilarious running antics. Come joing us! Tx

[Fingalo Graduate in reply to Tish1970]

Hi Tish, post a link, there seems to be a few on FB.

[swanscot Graduate in reply to Fingalo]

I'm on my tablet at the moment and can't do linky things from the app,but will send it tomorrow from my PC if you don't find us before then using the group name I give below.

[swanscot Graduate]

Hi Fingalo. As Tish says, a lot of us old gang (HU class of 2012/13) now tend to post on Facebook, and only pop in here very occassioinally if at all. Today we've had a bit of a reminiscing going on and your name came upon as one who's posts many of us enjoyed and remember,

It's a shame you still don't enjoy the actual running. I love it and (touch wood) have finally managed to enjoy 6 month of unbroken running 3 or 4 times a week, without getting a running injury. I enjoy running both road and off-road and have found I love races.

If you're interested we post in a Closed Group in FB at Beyond C25K. Ask to join if you wish and I or others will admit you.

[Fingalo Graduate]

Just requested to join. It will either inspire me to go again ( I was saying to Mrs Fingalo at the weekend how I'd love to start again but am miles away from having the same motivation I did the first time) or depress me as to where I could be now.

[Tish1970 Graduate]

Great that you have joined us. We'll have to do some introductions as names are s bit different on FB. But read Liz' post about the old gang and you might remember a few of us 😊

[Tish1970 Graduate]

Don't be depressed. We are all at different stages. like riding a bike, those legs don't forget!

[Fingalo Graduate]

I just introduced myself. Will look for Liz's post.