Whatever you think right now, you CAN achieve ... - Couch to 5K

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Whatever you think right now, you CAN achieve the impossible!

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate
30 Replies

Hi everyone. I used to lurk, contribute and cajole here for a long time. They called me The God of Hell Fire (go look it up in the archive). I started C25K in February 2012, graduated in the May and been running ever since. I now have my own couch to 5K group that has put 85 people through the programme in the last year.

But yesterday I did something I never would have believed. From jogging 30 seconds in week 1 - and at 60 years old - I did my first marathon. A week ago, I wasn't going to turn up. But I thought of C25K week 7 - you know the one. Nobody thinks they can do that. But they do. I didn't think I could really do a marathon. But I did.

youtube.com/watch?v=Z71F7IM...

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Malcy profile image
Malcy
Graduate
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30 Replies
IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Well done Malcy. It is great to know that you are still hard at it. You are just a few months older than me and your parkrun times were always the ones I wanted to emulate.

Many congratulations on the marathon.

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Thanks. My parkrun tmes aren't so good these days ... Is Aftab still going? He caught then overtook my PB.

Pat184 profile image
Pat184Graduate

Hi Malcy I remember you, been keeping up with you and Sue and a few others on C25kers on FB, this 76 year old is still out there but more walking than jogging .Pat

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to Pat184

Hi Pat. Nice to hear from you. Walking is good - I did a lot of that on the marathon :)

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

Aw, thanks for sharing that malcy! I love reading these inspiring stories and so great that you are now helping others change their lives so positively😀

Makes my goal of doing a humble 10K seem very achievable😀😀

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to Sandraj39

A 10k is just as possible as 5k. You just need to do a bit more building up to it and, like C25K, take a deep breath and give it a try.

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate in reply to Malcy

Now I have graduated, I can really believe that! thank you😀

davelinks profile image
davelinksGraduate

Well done Malcy! From another 60 year old, who graduated in July 15...😀

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to davelinks

Thanks Dave. 60 isn't so bad, is it?

Jeleybelly profile image
JeleybellyGraduate

wow, that's amazing - you should feel so proud

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to Jeleybelly

I do admit feeling rather smug right now :)

AnnieW55 profile image
AnnieW55

Congratulations Malcy.

Glad to see the fire is still burning.

All hail the God of Hell Fire!

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to AnnieW55

Still burning bright!

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

I remember your posts, hello and welcome back but more importantly massive congratulations on your marathon, that is a great achievement.

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to Realfoodieclub

Thanks

smiler61 profile image
smiler61Graduate

Congratulations on your Marathon Malcy! I used to follow your posts back in the day you were very inspiring and it's no surprise that you have motivated so many to complete C25K. I was a couple of weeks behind you on the programme and did the Birmingham Half Marathon on Sunday.

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to smiler61

And well done on your half. If you can do that, you can do the second half too!

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate

Well done Malcy -you are an inspiration.

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to ancientrunner

Thanks but I really don't think I'm anything special. I just want to let people see that if they want to do something then - as long as it's physically possible - they can. So many of my childhood friends were told not to get any fancy ideas, but my parents told me to fly. That was really unusual in the 50s. But where my friends went down the mines like our dads, I ended up doing all sorts of interesting things, teaching at university and now I'm a marathon runner! So I owe it to those childhood friends to encourage other people to want to fly as well. Soppy, huh?

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate in reply to Malcy

Not soppy at all and actually - at the risk of sounding rude(!!!!), it's because you aren't "anything special" and have achieved this you can inspire other ordinary folk.

Getting 88 people through the programme is a different matter altogether and your parents taught you well.

TurboTortoise profile image
TurboTortoiseGraduate

Wow Malcy, that's awesome - inspirational running coach AND a marathon... seriously brilliant! Are you on the FB C25K forum then?

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to TurboTortoise

Thanks. But no, I'm not in the C25K facebook community. I am on fb though, and mainly it's running friends. I'd be happy for younto become a friend

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

MALCY!!! How nice to see you here again :) And super congrats on your marathon. I've been lurking on your webpage so I've been following your progress, but missed the actual thing because I was away. Well done on your achievement, and on your time - brilliant!

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to Anniemurph

Thanks Annie. I miss your pom poms!

PastyMan profile image
PastyManGraduate

Good man Malcy! I'm still a very regular runner but couldn't imagine doing a marathon. Very well done :-)

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to PastyMan

Neither could I. A week before, I wasn't going to take the start. But I did a try of the distance & found I could do it after all.

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Absolutely fantastic Malcy ! You are a complete inspiration !

Well done and Many Congratulations to you !

I am the God of Hell Fire and I bring you -Fire !

Live it . Love it Ha ha ! :-) xxx

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate

So good to see you here again Malcy, you were always a huge inspiration for me and well done thats a fantastic achievement...

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate in reply to ju-ju-

Glad to see you're still running too. And your son?

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate in reply to Malcy

Yes he is really going strong and training for a triathlon. His PARKRUN time is 21 minutes now!!!!!!!

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