FInding your feet again...

[Runon]

So last year I ran the Manchester 10K along with the delightful Poppypug amongst others and carried on after for many months with never a twinge of injury and then everything came at once - viruses, groin strain, plague of locusts etc. Went for physio and told to avoid running for a bit. Started going to the gym and for months did anything and everything but actually run. Finally after a few false starts I thought 'lets get back to basics and start C25K over again.' SO did that and re-graduated about 4 weeks ago - I was working in Shepperton and staying in a hotel by the river and my re-graduation run took me along the wonderful riverbank at 7.30 in the morning - during the 5K, I passed only one person and that's in a town just a few miles from London - amazing. So now I'm running 7.5K and working back up to 10K. On the days between running I'm gyming and have never felt so good - all down to giving up smoking and starting running a couple of years ago... So to anyone who did C25K and then fell off the wagon it's really quite easy and fun to do it all again.

Now I was hoping to be in Manchester for the 10K this year and either run or cheer my friends from this forum along. But fate (and work) have forced me to have to travel abroad tomorrow for a few days to a little place pictured above right - 10 points if you can guess where it is! So apologies for not being in Manchester to support, cajole and scream but really good luck and have a wonderful run in a great city - and for those doing it for the first time, the atmosphere is tremendous and you will have a ball.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

The White Restaurant in Batumi...

Great post by the way....and poppypug is an absolute delight isn't she... i will be following her progress this weekend too!!!!

[Runon Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Wow - that was quick! Dix pointes it is - do not spend them all at once. Poppypug is to running as fish are to chips in my mind! I'm sure she will make Manchester go with a bang - that's if she can find her running pack

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Runon]

I will spend frugally!

She is the absolute best thing! She will do it... I am sure of it! There is a whole gang of the C25K running!!!

[Runon Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I really sorry to miss it and the gang. I live in Southport and there's a direct train into Manchester which arrives near to the start line which I took last year to avoid parking. As soon as I got on the train I realised I was not alone - many runners filled the carriages - it was like a pre-run party and just added to the enjoyment of the day. I'm still grateful to all the wonderful people from the forum who contributed to the Alzheimer's charity I was running for.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Runon]

Wonderful!

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Runon]

Ha ha David , you are so kind, yes I know where my race pack is, its in the box behind the sofa ..... Oh no ... wait ..... xxx

[Runon Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Runon:

'Thank heavens you posted its whereabouts on the forum!'

Poppypug:

'Oh what forum was that?'

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Runon]

Ha ha , When did I say that ? Are you sure it was me ? xxx

[Runon Graduate in reply to poppypug]

I think so - there were a lot of Pugs about so must have been !! xxx

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Aw Oldfloss , you are so kind to me ..... Thankyou ((( ))) xxx

[misswobble Graduate]

Hi Runon Good to hear from you again. Glad to hear you're ok now and running again

Lucky you jetting off. Where's that then? Florida p'raps. I wouldn't know, never been. LOL

Have a lovely time

[Runon Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thanks Miss Wobble - lovely to hear from you. Batumi is in Georgia - the one near Russia - I haven't been to Batumi before either - I believe it's sort of the Las Vegas of the East! But it has a promenade by the sea which I aim to run along!

[misswobble Graduate]

Georgia! Crikey. Isn't that where folks live to great ages. Might be sommat in t'watter. A prom! Even better. Must admit, feeling a tad jealous. It's bucketing down at the minute and I have to turn out - again. Bah!

[Runon Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Yes I think they invented wine there and it keeps them going! It's bucketing down here too but splashing in puddles is all part of the fun (honestly!)

[Hidden]

Hey Runon great to see you back ☺

[Runon Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Hi Slow Rob - great to see you still up and about running. You've done incredibly well with all those Park Runs and what a brilliant time - nothing slow about it

[Zev1963 Graduate]

Welcome back Runon

[Runon Graduate in reply to Zev1963]

Many thanks and great to hear from you Zev - It's great to be back running - I'm lucky to be only 2 minutes from countryside - yesterday I ran down farm tracks and a little Shetland Pony decided to start running alongside me in it's field - I think it wanted to race!

[poppypug Graduate]

Hello David ! How are you ???

It is really lovely to hear from you again and Im so sorry to hear of your injuries and wotnots but great that you have graduated again. Absolutely top notch !

I still look back with very fond memories of meeting you last year, what a hoot ! You, stood on the starting line between Stephen Sambu and Wilson Kipsang cos you were facing the wrong way, breaking the World Vaulting record for getting over the barriers , and running past and missing the World Famous Run In- Run On showers ! Ha ha

Ah 'tis a shame you cant make it this year, instead you will be hot footing it down a lovely promenade in Batumi . Fair play to you, and I hope you have a great time . Did you take that photo before you stopped drinking or after ? Ha ha

I am doing the Manchester Half Marathon in October , or as we call it in the sport " The Half Marra " I am running for Alzhiemers for my dear dad " Dave the Rave " Its a long , long way, its nearly as long as that beach you used to have !!

Take care my friend , catch up with you again soon xxx

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Haha poppy! I remember that about someone facing the wrong way. I couldn't remember if it was you or Runon! Hilarious it was! xxx

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Ha Ha Princess, oh no not me , I am far too sensible for that ha ha xxx

[Runon Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Erm - oh yes????

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Runon]

Well in my defence Runon, you were perfectly entitled to be lining up shoulder to shoulder with the Mens Elite runners , cos you most certainly are one !

* Phew, I think Ive got away with that one * xxx

[Runon Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Flattery will get you everywhere xxx

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Runon]

Ha ha I know ! It does ! xxx

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to poppypug]

I've missed the banter between you two. I said it last year and I'll say it again. You should have your own comedy show 😂

[Runon Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

We're working on it Princess. Once Poppers has found her race-kit!

[Runon Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Hey Poppers - the beach is still mine just renting it out to Southport Council for bit while I run down farm tracks and the pretty canal - the one surrounded by signs saying Private Property No Access !!!

Yes facing the wrong way was a bit of a problem for me in last years 10K - I thought I was at the back - which I was until the warm up chap told us all to turn around 180 degrees!!!

As for the photo - someone must have stood on their head to take it - they have a sense of humour in Georgia (they need it with Russsia invading them every few years!)

Really sorry to miss you but if I don't see you before I'll be sure to be at the 'alf marra' in October. Well done running that far - it's like to Mars and back without a space-ship. You are such a star and Alzheimer's is such a brilliant cause. Go for it Poppers. xxx

[Redfraggle1 Graduate]

Thank you for this, I've literally just posted about it...I graduated early last summer and ran 2/3 a week and was doing great, still not able to quite get to 5 k but almost...

Then the winter came, I'm asthmatic and just couldn't run in the cold...I was still going to 2/3 classes a week but no running, I just wheezed for hours after I tried...so I've not run properly since about 4 mths ago and am terrified of trying as I know I'll be almost back to square one again ...but your post gives me hope...and so what if I need to start again...I did it once, I can do it again...

Thank you

[Runon Graduate in reply to Redfraggle1]

Hey Redfraggle - go for it. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it again. The difference is that the first time round no matter how much Laura say's 'you can do this' you still have doubts. BUT second time round, it's like you say, you know you've done it once so you know you can do it again - and you will It was quite fun hearing all that 'interesting music' again - especially 'July'!

[Redfraggle1 Graduate in reply to Runon]

Hahaha Thanks Runon, that's so true...there shouldn't be the same doubting demons there this time....and who knows that I'm starting again except me..and you...and several 100 other readers...but hey, I'll start again around week 3 I think and see how I go...

I hate the music but unfortunately my phone hasn't got enough space to sync my music...hoping the new one will...then I can have MY decent music...makes a big difference I think...when I had graduated and was running 30mins I had my music playing and the time flew

Thanks for the encouragement....😊

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Hello Runon! How fab to see you back here again but I'm sorry to read you've had some niggles and not been able to run but that's this running business isn't it? One minute you're all fine and dandy and the next you find yourself on the old IC nursing whatever ailment us runners fall to. Still, once you do this programme you know you can always come back to it and you have! Great news and welcome back.

[Runon Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

And lovely to be back Irish Princess. I'm thoroughly enjoying the running. I think a new location and running 'off-road' on dirt tracks has helped to spice things up too. I used to be quite obsessive about the right type of running shoes and stuff and since re-starting I've not worried about 'gait' and cushioned shoes at all and strangely have had fewer or no problems as a result. Lovely to hear from you. XX

[aliboo70]

Hey how did I miss this post?poppy mentioned you'd been here and I was, what monsieur ru-non, my favourite French speaking runner!welcome back, have a lovely hols/work and come back and see us soon, we have had a great day and met the famous poppypug 😊😆