Hello all. It's been some time since I posted on here, but whether you're just starting out or on week 9 or somewhere beyond, I think I can offer you some positive news that demonstrates just how incredible the human body can be if you just give it a gentle nudge with the C25K programme as I did less than three years ago.
Last Sunday, I ran and completed the London Marathon.
I'm not fishing for compliments (I've had plenty this week!) but I thought that any of you currently struggling with Week 5 (I remember that....) or finding the going tough, that you can be sure that you can do this. I promise you, I am nothing special. I'm in my early fifties and not long before I started C25K was overweight and had never run in my life.
Oh, and I've had a hip replacement too. Coincidently I had my bi-annual check on that on Friday. They told me it was in great condition (9 years post-op). You should have seen the doctor's face when I told him about the Marathon..... That's some NHS we have there people - they produced a Marathon finishing hip joint. Incredible.
The London Marathon is everything everyone says it is. They shut the roads just for you and there's 26.2 miles of people you've never met shouting your name. I'm not saying it's for everyone because the hard work is not in the final 26 miles, it's in the four months of real hard training that precedes it. What I am saying is this. Stick with the programme and be strong. You will be a better person for it and you never know where it will take you.
Rob.
Written by
Rob_and_his_westie
Graduate
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Wow Rob thats amazing! 😊😆just brilliant, congratulations! A few from our run club did it and my friend Lisa did it as her 1st one on her 48th birthday too! She said it was fantastic! Bet your wife and westie are really proud!😊
The Westie (Bailey) came with me. I printed a small sticker from one his photos and stuck it on the back of my number. Couldn't have done it without him.
Thats a great idea! maybe I can use that for my HM, stuck George dog on the back! I was wracking my brain to think of your dogs name so thanks for solving that! He was obviously a good luck charm 😊😆
Seriously impressed! Can't imagine that I could ever do something like that but then again I never imagined I would be able to run 5K either and I have managed that. It just shows how amazing the body and mind can be.
Totally think that is the months of training beforehand that need to be celebrated as well as finishing the race whatever distance. Unfortunately, not many people get to witness the hard work that goes into preparing for a race i whatever the weather throws at us!!
Here's a summary of my training, so that you know what you might be letting yourself into....
17 Weeks; 65 Runs 404 Miles; 6.5 mile average run length; 22 Mile longest run. 15 Gym/swimming sessions.
8 Personal Records on the way - 6 Distance records (15, 16, 18, 20, 21 and 22 miles); a PB at 5 miles and a PB at Half Marathon.
5 Races - 4 at 10k plus a Half Marathon and 2 Fastest runs in a year – 1 at 5k, 1 at 10k.
Hard work, but the biggest challenge is a single mental issue. Once a week, after every long run you get about 10 minutes to pat yourself on the back before you realise that you have to hit the "reset button" and do it all again, and more, the next week.
Genuinely, I wasn't looking for compliments. The spirit of this forum is that we gain inspiration from the achievements of others. I don't think you can get much better than a marathon from someone who understands the effort required to get going from the couch. I'm not the first and I won't be the last. Good luck to all of you. Nothing is impossible. I know.
I'm quite sure that without the forum I wouldn't have graduated. It's been an amazing source of advice, info, 'virtual running partners', inspiration etc. I would love to think that with a couple of years under my belt that I could consider 'bigger things'. I have genuinely appreciated you coming back and showing us newbies that 'folk like us' can achieve what we set our minds too. I just have to say it again, sorry!- Well done
Fantastic!! Thanks for sharing Rob, the forum is encouraging anyway but post like yours really give it that extra credibility. I'm so impressed, huge congratulations to you 😃😃
Lovely, lovely post and massive congratulations on what you have achieved. As a recent graduate now of 10k, I am not sure I would ever be marathon material😮 but I love that this programme opens up so many opportunities and the chance to really learn what we are capable of. Fab pic of your well earned bling too! 😀👍
Congratulations on completing the marathon! Can't see myself running a marathon 3 years after graduating but it is great to know I possibly could manage it.
Oh whoa Rob, what a story! Fantastic you. A Marathon! to me it is the impossible. You must be sooo chuffed. I envy you.
Actually I was wondering what happened to you, I will always remember you because of the Westie and I will always remember your wife because of those lovely finger nails. (I think it was your wife?)
You are right to tell us about your achievement. It is a fantastic boost to our moral.
Rob, many congratulations, that's amazing. You kept that quiet - over on Facebook the C25K Beyonders group was tracking all our London marathoners on the day, wish we'd known! That is wonderful news about your hip joint too, and something I find very encouraging. So much so, I might have entered a certain ballot...
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