The Real Central Park - Revealed!!! - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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The Real Central Park - Revealed!!!

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate
62 Replies

OMG peeps it was amazing - Central Park 8K: Done! I've learnt to run (in secret), kept that secret for nearly 6 months and then revealed it to my beautiful daughter, Melanie, exactly as I'd planned!!! And boy was she surprised - just take a little peak at that picture captured from the video I sneakily took! She was also, shocked, amazed, gob-smacked, astounded, flabbergasted and so on haha :) Oh - and just a tad proud of her Mum ;)

Race Report: Well the forecast for the day had said 26c and 'sun & showers' - at first we were a little disappointed...but believe me when those 'showers' came down I was thankful - however they were so not exactly 'showers' more like monsoon rain never been as wet in my life - apart from bathing and swimming! When we got to the bag drop area I think I might have been hyperventilating I was that nervous (& excited) And dropping the bag I felt like a 'real' runner, this was getting serious folks...off to the starting pens..and a short wait for the 'ready, steady, go'...then we were off...Melanie kept our pace at a comfortable 7 minute ish k - and confess there were a couple of times when the hilly bits got too much for me and I had to have a little walk - but we finished the race in 1:04 which I don't think was too bad and we crossed that finish line holding hands with massive grins on our (wet) faces! :) :) :) So there you go folks and thank you so much for all your support getting me there, much love, Dee Dannatt from Grimsby (aka, CentralPark ;) )

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CentralPark
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62 Replies
Suebguineapig profile image
SuebguineapigGraduate

Fab, fab,fab!🤑 Such an uplifting account and HUGE congratulations. Of all the joy this running lark brings, the pride of our children and parents as we progress is just the best👏🏃🌟

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Suebguineapig

Thank you Suebguineapig - it sure was a great day! :)

melly4012 profile image
melly4012Graduate

THIS IS AMAZING!!!! Just look at her face!! I've been checking for your post since last weekend and was thinking about you last Sunday! Hope your Melly had a wonderful birthday (she clearly did just seeing her face!) and you had a great time away. So glad you were able to do it together and all went well. An 8k race too!! A completely brilliant success story of C25k!! Well done, Dee!!! You're simple amazing!! Xxx

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to melly4012

Awww thanks Melly4012 - I too was thinking about you guys during the run...gave me extra push power when those hills got tough for me! We had an absolute blast in New York - it was everything we dreamed and more :) xx

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

You did it !!!!! Massive Congratulations to you and Melanie !

Oh it mustve been just fantastic to capture her reaction, and Well done you for managing to keep it a secret for so long !

I am so pleased for you Dee, Couch to 8k , absolutely brilliant ! :-) xxx

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to poppypug

Thanks so much poppypug :) It was a tough secret to keep and I can't believe it came off just like I'd planned - and that I actually ran 8k in Central Park! :) xx

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate

Oh Dee how utterly amazing! I've been waiting for you to post. Everything happened exactly as planned! The look on her face - oh worth a fortune. Congratulations on your fantastic run and putting 'that look' on your daughters face. Superb. 😃😆😃

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to McFitty

Hey McFitty thanks so much - it was indeed worth the fortune it cost haha! We had an absolutely brilliant time - can't believe it's been a week past already! :)

Natasha-H profile image
Natasha-HGraduate

Love this:) your daughter's face says it all!!

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Natasha-H

Thank you Natasha-H - it was certainly a great reaction..the video is so funny...her voice just gets higher and higher! :)

OldWheezer profile image
OldWheezer

Absolutely brilliant. Really pleased for you and by the look on her face no one had let the cat out the bag. It must have been a wonderful experience. I've enjoyed reading your updates leading up to the reveal. Glad it all went to plan.

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to OldWheezer

Thanks OldWheezer - glad you've enjoyed the posts, you guys have been a great source of strength in this whole thing! x

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns

I have been waiting for this post and that face! Absolutely brilliant! I am so happy that everything went well in Central Park and love the fact that you ran and finished together! Fantastic! Goosebumpingly fantastic!

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to PippiRuns

Awwww IbenCopenhagen that's so sweet of you - we certainly did run together and finish together - it was brilliant to do that! :)

Well done, what an amazing thing to do and your daughters reaction was the icing on the cake. How on earth did you keep your running a secret? Congratulations 🎉🎉

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to

Hi Janec25k, thank you - that reaction was worth all the training haha! Keeping the secret was almost as hard as the training - and if you knew me well you'd know that me and secrets don't usually mix ;)

JaySeeSkinny profile image
JaySeeSkinnyGraduate

Love it! Brought tears to my eyes! A huge well done👍💐

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny

Mine too JaySeeSkinny, mine too! :)

OldPossum profile image
OldPossum

How absolutely wonderful. You are a star - no wonder your daughter is so proud of you. 👏👏😀😀

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to OldPossum

Awww thanks OldPossum - she did say she was proud of her Mum ;) xx

RunningGeek profile image
RunningGeekGraduate

Lovely, lovely post! Photo of your daughter is ace :-) Well done for finishing.

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to RunningGeek

Thanks RunningGeek - it's pretty good isn't it :) Worth all the training!

b275 profile image
b275Graduate

WOW what a great surprise!! Well done on your 8K

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to b275

Thanks b275 - that was a hard won 8k :)

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

One of the best running stories ever.......... beautiful!!

Keep running, keep smiling.

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Awww thanks IannodaTruffe - it was worth all the hard work and keeping my mouth zipped heehee - oh and I do plan on keeping up the running...I even bought myself a new pair of running shoes in a shop off Central Park...I'll do a 10k one day!!

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

What a fabulous post! I love it! So well done to you both and that picture just says it all really 🤗

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

Thanks Irishprincess - I think you're right - that picture sums it up :)

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate

Oh that's so good. Have been waiting for this post. So pleased you got a photo - and enjoyed it. What a proud story for your daughter to tell her friends. Well done.xx

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to ancientrunner

Hi ancientrunner and thank you - I'm so happy to be able to come home and tell you all it went as planned :) x

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70

Fantastic! Was just wondering how you got on earlier today! Brilliant scheming and secret keeping and lots of hard work! and what an amazing surpise!😊great photo!😆

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to aliboo70

Hey aliboo70, you're so right, the scheming and secret keeping was almost as hard as the training heehee - glad the cat's finally out the bag! :) x

LinaLamont profile image
LinaLamontGraduate

Awwwwwww this is lovely!!!! so happy you pulled it off!!! Well done 😊😊😊

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to LinaLamont

Thanks LinaLamont - it took a lot of planning but I did it - and the reward was that look and running that race :)

Ullyrunner profile image
UllyrunnerGraduate

Fantastic! You are amazing. I bet your daughter was absolutely bowled over!

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Ullyrunner

Thanks so much Ullyrunner - my daughter was certainly taken by surprise by her mum! Quite a birthday all round :)

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Wow, you did it... 😊😊😊 So pleased for you.. your daughter must be so proud of her amazing mum. GO YOU.

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner

Hey Jan-now-runs I certainly did - and now I can breathe - it was a great to run with my daughter and we're going to do more of it now :)

Polly2723 profile image
Polly2723Graduate

Congratulations x

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Polly2723

thank you Polly x

runswithdogs profile image
runswithdogsGraduate

Aaahhh! This is so great. What a great surprise. And great race report. What is the running plan from here?

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to runswithdogs

Hi runswithdogs - running plan? Well to defo keep on running...throw in a few park runs...and build up to a 10k ready for the Grimsby 10k next year :) We're going to get all the 'secret' Facebook group who've supported me who can make it down to Grimsby for a Group Run to celebrate us all too :) x

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Graduate

Brilliant, huge well done 😎

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to ju-ju-

Thanks ju-ju :)

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Great story! 😊 you sure we'll crack 10k! No worries ☺

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to misswobble

Thanks misswobble - it took some doing ;) Looking forward to getting that 10 under my belt but I'm going to take it steady and follow the rules :)

dddd4 profile image
dddd4Graduate

It all turned out so brilliantly. Well done for pulling it off and creating such surprise and lovely memories for you and your daughter. Hope you both run together again.☺

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to dddd4

Hi ddd4 - thanks muchly, it certainly did turn out just fine :) Definitely made some memories for all time and we'll definitely run together again - Park Run for sure :0 x

Ellymeg profile image
EllymegGraduate

Simply amazing, to see the look on your daughters face! All that planning and it just goes to show....that - that girl did!!

What a fabulous time you had together - well done 🍾✨🍾✨🍾

✨✨✨✨Dee from Grimsby - what a star✨✨✨✨

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Ellymeg

Awww thanks Ellymeg - it makes me smile to think about it again :) All the years of talking and planning our New York trip finally came off - with extra added surprise bonus things too - memories made :) xx

heavyhorse profile image
heavyhorseGraduate

Great to read this, haven't been on here as much but was wondering how the surprise went! Well done for managing to keep quiet so long as well as for doing the run!!

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate

Hey heavyhorse - glad you caught the post :) It was a great surprise and a great run - good memories for all the hard work :)

pinkangel16 profile image
pinkangel16Graduate

Wowzers! That is just amazing, I love your post.

Big well done to you. You and your daughter should be extremely proud of you ☺👌🏃 x

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate

Thanks Pinkangel16 - it's certainly been a birthday to remember :)

mcgurranhouse profile image
mcgurranhouseGraduate

Fabulous report! Love the picture - she must have been so proud of you! :) What a buzz!

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to mcgurranhouse

Thanks mcgurranhouse - she said she was really proud of her mad mother! ;) And it was (and continues) to be a buzz :)

Eatcakeandrun profile image
Eatcakeandrun

Only just caught up with your news - congratulations! What an amazing thing to do with your daughter, who certainly looks surprised! It sounds like a great run, and a fabulous occasion.

Good luck for your future running adventures, and I hope you can return to New York soon, it's a wonderful city.

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to Eatcakeandrun

Hi Eatcakeandrun - thanks so much - it really was pretty amazing to be running with my girl - have to say on looking at the pictures now she looks absolutely beautiful in them all - even after the monsoon rains - whilst along side her I definitely look like I've been dredged up from the rain-swamped lands hahaha! I'm off out to buy a head band now ;) Oh, and New York really is a wonderful and beautiful city - not sure if I'll get back but my daughter definitely has it on her list for her and the hubby :) xx (and maybe her own daughter one day.....who knows, stranger things happen....)

jo4t15 profile image
jo4t15Graduate

Wonderful story and picture. I just got back from holiday and looked you up to check if you'd finally done it. This is the sort of story that is so inspiring and yet slightly frustrates me that that doctors, government etc don't get out there and sing from the rooftops what a wonderful free and healthy resource C25k is. Any journalists out there should be interviewing you!!! Well done. Amazing.

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to jo4t15

Awww jo4t15 I've only just seen your post, many thanks for your well wishes - it seems like an age ago already now - but oh the memories :) You're right without C25k I wouldn't be a runner now - it's such a brilliant idea and so perfect in the way it teaches each and everyone of us who've tried it just how to run - and kept us going so that in the end, despite the ups and downs and doubts and injuries we do become runners! xx

secan profile image
secanGraduate

Brilliant!

That must have been a great day for both of you and a fantastic reward for all your hard work.

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate in reply to secan

Hey secan - thanks so much - I'd locked myself out of my account - always doing things like that with technology - and only just seen your message - it sure was a great reward for all that hard work - still not sure which was harder the running or keeping my mouth shut and the secret safe haha! :)

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