Hello from the other side! (3 years down the line)

[BethC]

Hi everyone. I don't post very often but I do still lurk to see how everyone is doing every so often. None of my friends run and so I don't want to bore them on Facebook I hope I'm ok to bore you guys instead! Roughly 3 years ago this weekend I started my C25K journey with the Lovely Laura and lots of you lovely people. Plump (I think that's an apt description), never sporty in anyway, slow and in my late 40s this did not/does not come easy to me. There have been injuries (normal running ones - shin splints, tendonitis plus a spectacular flying over a loose dog incident involving blood, stitches and a broken wrist). There have been triumphs - completing the Oxford HM in 2015 being the best bit - despite being woefully (I know this now) under prepared. There have been scarily awful race finish line photos! Sadly no room for those on here....!

However this is for anyone just starting out and wondering 'how am I going to do this?' and 'will I ever get any better?' - I just want to say that this week I have knocked a minute off my parkrun pb and today I've just done my quickest kilometre and consequently mile ever!!! I also did my 2nd quickest ever 10km (and my quickest ever in training not a race) on Tuesday. It's all relative; I am still 'slow' but this is quick for me and shows me progress is possible. When I first began I was running 9 minute plus kilometres, today I did one in 5.58!

So stick with it! It's worth it. My fitness has improved no end and I am running (no pun intended) rings around my non running friends. I have lost some weight but mostly toned up. I am 50 in 2 weeks and I am running the Birmingham Great Run 10km to celebrate - that's something I never thought I'd be doing!! Plus hopefully the Cardiff HM in October.

Cheers everyone and happy running

Beth

[runlikeagirl Graduate]

Fantastic achievement and inspirational. Thank you for posting.

[BethC Graduate in reply to runlikeagirl]

Thank you!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

What a lovely post Beth and I echo everything you have said! I graduated 18 mths ago now and continue to see progress in so many different ways. At 51(now 52!) I completed my first HM a month ago and have another planned for the autumn, and all thanks to C25k and the great support of folk on here who are always so encouraging. When I read the posts of those just starting out and of those who are clearly getting hooked on this running game, I genuinely feel excited at the journey I know is ahead for so many. We are all pretty lucky, I think, to have stumbled across something that can have such a positive impact on our lives, not just physically but also emotionally. Here's to many miles on the road ahead and good luck with your upcoming races🏃🏽‍♀️😀

[BethC Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

And a lovely post from you too Sandra. You're spot on, we are very lucky.

[Devonwalker]

Thank you for this inspiration Beth x

[amygill1990]

such a lovely post - thanks for 'boring' us.

I've just began the c25k with a running group, and so far am loving it (week 2 run 2), posts like these are really inspirational

[BethC Graduate in reply to amygill1990]

Thank you Amy. Good luck with the rest of C25K!

[Ched Graduate]

Inspirational post, good on you.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

Brilliant, thank you for posting!

[Anniemurph Graduate]

That's brilliant, Beth, what a great post, and what a great running journey! I hope you have a fantastic time at Birmingham, and here's to many more years of happy running for you

[BethC Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

Thank you! Yes I'm really looking forward to Brum. Should be a great atmosphere.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

Happy runniversary Beth! Those are excellent improvements, well done you xxx

[AncientMum Graduate]

Congratulations on your 3 year runniversary, your Parkrun PB and your quickest ever km and mile, Beth - they're all things to be remarkably proud of. 👏👏👏👏👏

We started about the same time and it's so good to hear you're still going strong (in fact very strong). Take a bow, you definitely deserve to. xx