Tomorrow will year since I graduated and misswobble said back then that I was a beginner, she was right and a year later I am still learning.
I have completed a 10km (Maastrichts Mooiste), I have run in some wonderful locations - Bridgetown, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and only a few weeks ago in Toulouse along the banks of the Garonne. I am slimmer, I can catch busses and trains (within limits), I feel confident, and approaching 50 doesn’t scare me.
The body no longer feels that it is being lugged around by an over optimistic brain. It is treated to a variety of intervals, week day runs, long weekend lopes and the acceptance that sometimes an extra hour in bed is actually what you need - sorry guys, yes, sometimes I DON’T run!!!
But I love it. I no longer want to strangle Laura, she has helped me to be something I could not have imagined, I would still gladly trip her up in to a damp pile of leaves though.
I have also found the running that works for me. I enjoy the solitary time, one foot in front of another, repeatedly. Running in organised events is not for me, you can’t run your own pace, too many people in the way (yes, I get grumpy!) and I haven’t yet got in to off road. I like a constant pace, rhythmic and unbroken, I also don’t like being covered in mud!!
To run is more than I thought of a year ago, it is also to see the ducklings turn from balls of yellow fluff into floating, quacking things to run around, it is to watch the swans turn from grey to white, to see the world evolve from winter to spring and the trees and bushs to come to life. And of course to see the shut down that occurs now. It helps me make a connection with the world, discussions on topics from littering to climate change become more personal.
I am now in Luxembourg and have my shoes and podcasts with me, I could not have imagined this a year ago, Laura and C25K does change your life.