Anniversary-ish

[AllieG]

I started the programme just before Christmas 2014. I was 2 stone heavier then, and had never done any running at all, other than The Colour Run (which I walked most of anyway). I started the programme to join in with my husband who is a committed runner, we hadn't been getting on too well, so I thought (and I was right actually) that it would really help if we had some more interests in common.

It took me a while, an extra few weeks mostly due to shin splints, and no I couldn't cover 5k in 30 minutes either. It took ages for that to happen, and I can get under 29 now if I really push. I'm happier, healthier, thinner and apparently look younger than my 47 years. I can see muscles in my legs I didn't know I had. I'm protecting my body against lots of nasties that come along with middle age. And I can eat the same amount and not put on weight.

I haven't posted on this forum for a while, because I felt it wasn't the place once I was running further and faster (purely my feeling, it doesn't mean I'm right, it just didn't feel right for me) so this post is just a massive THANK YOU to the programme and to Laura, and to encourage all of you out there who may be struggling a bit. It doesn't matter if you can't do 5k in 30 mins. It doesn't matter how long it takes you to complete the programme. What matters is you're doing it and if you want it, it will give you the best basis to build a life-long love of running and a really good base level fitness to go with it. On Sunday I did my first ever half marathon. Never in a million years did I think I could do that. I ran for over 13 miles and I LOVED every step as you can probably tell! So HAPPY RUNNING everyone where-ever you are 😄😄😄

[Tomas Graduate]

Wow, huge congratulations with the HM Allie. It's amazing what c25k and a bit of follow-on self-discipline can do, isn't it? You've done us all proud!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Happy Runniversary Allie and that's brilliant about the HM. Very well done to you. And that's a fab photo too. You are beaming!

There is another forum for graduates (bridge to 10k) and there are lots of people there who have/are running HM's and full marathons. And JuicyJu has created another forum for marathoners so you could check those out. But I do think that all runners, regardless of where they are distance wise, love reading about others' runs!

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Great photo Allie and well done on the HM! Super advert for C25K.

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

That's one happy lady in the photo Well done running a HM. It is always great to hear from people who have been running for a while now and see how well they're doing.

[goonkeepgoing Graduate]

Congratulations ☺

[Hidden]

Superb well done and happy runniversary Allie I remember your journey through c2tk .

You have done a H M outstanding achievement , hats off to you

[Neverrunmum Graduate]

Thanks for posting, it's really inspiring to us novice runners to read! Many congratulations.

[poppypug Graduate]

Woo Hoo Allie G !!!!

Look at you Missus !! You look AMAZING !!!

You have done BRILLIANTLY !!!! Well done , and its good to see you back on here

Fantastic !! xxx