Mostly tortoise today!

[OldPossum]

I was a bit late off the starting blocks this morning, it was 7am before I got out of the door mostly due to tech issues 😬😬. Meant the sun was a bit hot by the time I reached the sea wall so this was a tough run for me. Am loving the new lidl gear though, although I lacked the confidence not to cover it all with my tunic.

Now I say mostly tortoise because I start and finish quicker than the bit in the middle. I set Runkeeper to give me my current pace today so I know this to be true, it's the overgrown section of path. That bit is tricky for a tortoise so the snail has to take over this section!

My slightly quicker tortoise pace meant I was still running when I hit the steep bit of hill 😱😱 The gremlins gathered at my shoulder and then Rod Stewart came to my rescue as he sung "What a beautiful morning " into my ear and I thought yes it is and bounded up the hill for the last minute. Well maybe not bounded but I found a bit of bounce !

So that's it week 8 in the bag and just another 2 minutes of bounce to find - I'm sooo excited 🤗🤗

And the icing on the cake - while I was out hubby completed his first week 1 run on the treadmill we have been loaned 👏👏. We are a C25K family now 😎

[Hidden]

Lovely post. You are so nearly there too. And it is hard running on overgrown paths. I get swiped in the face by tall plants at the side and a low growing one crept round my legs last time. On the plus side I managed to pick a raspberry as I ran !!

[OldPossum in reply to Hidden]

There's nothing as exotic as a raspberry where I run and I pretty sure I startled a lizard or something this morning. Adders have been spotted along that section which makes me very cautious even though I know they would hear me coming and flee in terror! Really worry about tripping up though

[Hidden in reply to OldPossum]

Ooh I think the sound of my heavy feet and panting breath would scare an adder. I hope so anyway. Where are you?

[OldPossum in reply to Hidden]

On the Blackwater Estuary in Essex. Sea wall is a bit misleading it is mostly salt marshes. Transformed when the tide comes in though.

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

You could say we are almost neighbours you got the sea I got the countryside over here in Steeple Bumpstead

[OldPossum in reply to MichaelH070862]

I wondered where you were in Essex. Neither of us live in the Essex depicted by TOWIE 😬 Although unlike you I am Essex born and bred - went away but came back.

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Unfortunately TOWiE maligns us I am I suppose an economic migrant as I was discharged from the RAF in Linconshire but with no work we came down here to give the kids better prospects and this was as close as I could get within budget but now my wife wants to run a self catering holiday style guest house so gods where we are going next

[OldPossum in reply to MichaelH070862]

Where you are told good husband😇😂

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

I have an idea it might be Devon so the draw of the sea again after living in Ramsgate when we got married

[OldPossum in reply to MichaelH070862]

I love Devon. If you end up with somewhere dog friendly you might have your first guests 😀

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

I am sure that would not be a problem

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Adders??? Are they anything like our Death Adders??? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commo...

[OldPossum in reply to Bazza1234]

😱😱😱 no ours are much less deadly thank goodness !

[MichaelH070862 Graduate]

Well done just 3 till you graduate and join the happy band double congrats with the hubby don't think it will be happening with my wife anytime soon

[OldPossum in reply to MichaelH070862]

You never know. I didn't think my hubby would guess he just didn't want to be left behind 😀

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

I doubt it she nows walks to work I do drop her off and collect at the end of the day but she is doing something I suppose

[Hidden in reply to MichaelH070862]

Ooh you graduate badge looks so shiny !

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks you you'll have yours soon enough and join the club looks like it could be a bumper harvest for August with so many so close

[McFitty Graduate]

Ooh lovely post OP. Only 3 to go! And we all know tortoise is the new cheetah Enjoy the run up to shiny badge ceremony

[lightweightkate Graduate]

Fabulous Sounded like a great run and good on hubby too for starting! Three more to go

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

Well Kate you could be joining the band hopefully by the end of the month.

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to MichaelH070862]

Fingers crossed - I am aiming for the Bank Holiday weekend

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

Good a time as any you might have to keep a eye on weather though as this is Britain I might give you a weather alert like I did with the musketeers

[OldPossum in reply to lightweightkate]

You are right behind me - I shall imagine you pushing me up that hill next week. 😀

MichaelH070862 is right. August is looking like a bumper month for graduation. Wonder what made so many of us start at that time? I was inspired to start by Sarah Millican onRadio 2 and Carol Kirkwood on BBC Breakfast

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Maybe it is people trying to get that beach body they can never show off in the UK

[OldPossum in reply to MichaelH070862]

We do sometimes find whales on our beaches 😂😂😂😂

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

I thought we'd got rid of that fleet but what I find disturbing are those who attempt to squeeze into the wetsuits to go swimming in the sea

[OldPossum in reply to MichaelH070862]

I've never been into S&M so wetsuits have never held any appeal 😀

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Same here

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

I was introduced to C25K by my Doctor 😂 who told me it was time to do something!! Have to say I wasn't inspired to start with until I found this forum and read all those inspirational stories of people, many like me, who were achieving great things and now I am on end of week 6 - Wow to us all 😀

I'll be right by your side OldPossum cheering you on

[OldPossum in reply to lightweightkate]

Thank you. At least your GP has heard of C25K. Mine wanted me to join slimming world and a gym. Money money money and it would all have gone down the drain anyway. I've never enjoyed the gym. 😀

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Your Gp must be married to a slimming world consultant I did it because I had to chase down an ambulance after a courier had a brain haemorrhage will I was at work and the driver thought it was for me

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to MichaelH070862]

Oh dear You could chase that ambulance down easy now and probably overtake him!! Hope the courier was OK......

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

Unfortunately it ended badly but It made me seriously think about doing something

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to MichaelH070862]

Yes - these things do - I never realised that it would all catch up with me and that I would be 50 one day Being overweight and unfit in my 30's didn't seem much of a problem but it sure is now and I want to go on enjoying life.....

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

I think we are more aware now than when our parents were our age but being they were probably of the war generation like mine were they made up for what they missed and look what happens

[OldPossum in reply to lightweightkate]

RealisingI was well past 50 and approaching 60 was a shock for me. Like you say - just want to know you can be fit to carry on enjoying life. Sorry made a mistake - nearly forgot am actually now 5 years old. 😀😀

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

As fit as one anyway

[MichaelH070862 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Damm that make me 9 then

[RunaroundSue in reply to OldPossum]

I saw so many people paying hundreds to join a gym then hardly using it.

[dddd4 Graduate]

Almost finished now - well done. You can be coach to your OH now. Then you will be able to run together. Just in time for the dark mornings and evenings too. Wish him luck☺

[pollyp1 Graduate]

Happy c25k family☺ Good for Rod - nice to know he's around when you need him. One more week to go - 👏👏👏👏🌞

[OldPossum in reply to pollyp1]

Feeling badge envy today - so many new ones this week 👏👏😀

[pollyp1 Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Soooon...

[RunaroundSue in reply to OldPossum]

not long now. worth the wait

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Well done - making good progress🙂! I had to find a stick last week, to beat my way along a path overgrown by nettles ( I do like the road less travelled!). Great that both you and your OH are now doing the programme - good luck to both of you.🙂

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Lovely - you are so nearly there. And how great that you have inspired your hubby to start. Need to get him out on the road too!

[OldPossum in reply to Ullyrunner]

Hopefully he will join me in the sea wall soon. He has back problems so needs to be careful to start with 😀

[melly4012 Graduate]

Well done!! So close to that finish line (although it's a starting line really - the start of your life as a graduated C25k runner!)! How lovely that your husband has begun too. Nothing wrong with tortoise running!

[OldPossum in reply to melly4012]

Think I need to research what is the next speed step after the tortoise 😀 Always good to have goal to aim for

[Ellymeg Graduate]

Hurrah for you! OldPossum Hurrah! You are a "niner" wow, very happy for you. As you say just 2 mins extra X 3 and you'll be possum-ing across the G-line

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Fantastic, huge well done to all the family!!

[Suebguineapig Graduate]

Keep going, you will do it. Good work with the husband. And get that kit on show!

[OldPossum in reply to Suebguineapig]

Mmmmmm!

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

Brilliant and I love that MrOldPossum is on board with the running now. Careful running downhill. Quite a few posters had trouble with their joints because of it. I suppose we naturally run too fast downhill because it is such a relief. I know I do

[OldPossum in reply to boptillyoudrop49]

I start on a downhill and have to take it really carefully as it is also stony, loose and uneven. I usually try to make sure I don't have to run back up it though 😀

[poppypug Graduate]

Brilliant OldPossum ! Its the BIGGIE next week and you will be doing it in style in your new gear !

Good Luck, you can do it ! xxx

[OldPossum in reply to poppypug]

I know - might have to squidge a few gremlins this week though. At least I will look the part now 😀😬

[poppypug Graduate in reply to OldPossum]

Try not to give them headspace, easier said than done I know, but remember youre in control here .

Squidge away OldPossum !

Slow, steady, believe ...... xxx

[OldPossum in reply to poppypug]

I'm in it and I know you will all be there to help me 😎