Beginner.....Hopefully not an April Fool

[Schmeeley71]

Hi, I completed D1W1 yesterday on 1/4/17. I'm hoping that I am not going to fool myself into giving up C25K. I haven't really run before and I need to find some form of exercise I can enjoy.

I've had gym memberships on and off for over 25 years, and I been every size from 8-18. Dieting and gyms made me miserable and I decided to give up orgarnised dieting about 5 years ago. It didn't make me thinner, but it stopped me being unhappy and helped me to learn about my relationship with food on my own terms.

My relationship with exercise is another matter...l'm not afraid of the actual exercise, I'm afraid of starting and failing....AGAIN! I think this is more to do with using a gym and feeling pressure (my own!) to go and therefore I think/hope C25K, being something I haven't done before, and exercising outside at any time I choose, may be the thing that helps me find my mojo again.

I've been reading your posts on here, newbies and graduates, they are all very inspiring and more so educational, in that they each tell a real story of progress and set backs, so I am hoping to learn from them and be realistic in my approach and enthusiasm to this.

I look forward to getting to know a few of you.

Thanks for reading my rather long(!) post. 😊

[Lauracorin]

Welcome! Remember to run slowly, then slow down if things get tough.

I honestly didn't expect to enjoy running. I don't think I really believed that anyone did! I thought that they did it out of duty or masochism. I got to week 8 before Christmas, then had to take time off for injury. I'm back at week 7 again and really enjoying it.

Good luck!

[Schmeeley71 Graduate in reply to Lauracorin]

Thank you.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Welcome to the forum and for choosing a brilliant way to get fitter and healthier. I graduated about 18 mths ago now and although I ran when I was very young, nothing prepared me for how much better I feel physically and mentally now that I have running in my life. Take each run slowly, as has been said already, and remember that the rest days are 'holy'! - as much a a part of the programme as the runs. As you work your way through the programme, there may be runs or weeks that you feel you need to repeat before moving on and that is fine! Listening to your body is so important. I took much longer than the 9 weeks to complete the programme as I was unlucky to get injured at week 8 the first time round. But this being a 'change for life', I just worked my way back and remember that graduation day so well! Where you take your running after graduation is entirely up to you of course - some like to keep to 3 x30 mins a week but many of us have been bitten by the running bug and have gone on to longer distances! Whatever you choose to do, this is a great place to share the journey and seek advice. Good luck🙂

[Schmeeley71 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you.

[Minxygirl]

Good luck! Looking forward to hearing how you get on I'm just about to start week 3 x

[Schmeeley71 Graduate in reply to Minxygirl]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Hello Schmeeley! and welcome to the gang. Good for you for trying this. You know this is a perfect way I think to have some quiet time,while exercising . Running is a great way to help you think,enjoy the world outside away from all the hustle and bustle of your daily routine,just for a little while,as well as get to become fitter!!!! And it's free .There's no gym fees to pay . The only outlay is running shoes,and running gear .

So stick with it ! I'm on to W9 and my second run is tomorrow. I thought I wouldn't get there but I'm almost there so don't give up,keep going.

You will have bad runs but please ! don't give up. Just listen to Laura,take every run nice and steady,remember your breathing and always remember to have your rest days. Keep running!

Look forward to reading more of your posts😄😄

[Schmeeley71 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

The nice thing about running - there is no fail! Only practice runs. Just the fact you get out there is a success, and as you say you can run in your own time. If you have a free half hour you can go for a run, no pressure. The programme is great and many people need longer than 9 weeks - but so what? This is a change for life and you have the rest of your life to get through the programme and beyond. You are only competing with yourself and once you learn that running is not always competition, but just a way of staying fit, feeling better in yourself, running off stress, me-time - the list goes on - then you won't want to stop!

Good luck on your journey - we're looking forward to reading your posts!

[Schmeeley71 Graduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thank you

[Irish-John Graduate]

You have found your people.

Welcome and good to have you running with us. While might run on our own around here, we never run alone

[Schmeeley71 Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Thank you

[SavageMyrtle Graduate]

Well done for jumping in Schmeeley. I've paid for plenty of gym memberships in my life but the only thing I've ever been able to stick with is running. Not that I've ever been a gazelle - in fact, most of the time when someone says to me, "Oh, do you enjoy running then?" my stock answer has been "No, I hate it!" But I'm not sure that's true any more. After nearly 5 years of no running and not much exercise at all I'm starting Week 7 tomorrow and what I'm most looking forward to is graduating and having running become just "something I do".

I know what you mean about being afraid of starting and failing. The thing is, with running, you can't really fail. You don't need to go anywhere special, you don't need special equipment (apart form a good pair of shoes) and you honestly don't need much time. Half an hour three times a week - anybody can find that. Just walk out your front door and off you go. Trust the programme and it'll get you where you want to go. 7 weeks ago I was struggling to run 60 seconds. On Saturday I ran 25 minutes without stopping! And I sprinted at the end! Still can't get over it :)))

Welcome to the group!

[Schmeeley71 Graduate in reply to SavageMyrtle]

Thank you