Hello from the other side! (3 years down the l... - Couch to 5K

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

BethC profile image
BethCGraduate
13 Replies

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

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BethC profile image
BethC
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13 Replies
runlikeagirl profile image
runlikeagirlGraduate

Fantastic achievement and inspirational. Thank you for posting.

BethC profile image
BethCGraduate in reply to runlikeagirl

Thank you!

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate

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 profile image
BethCGraduate in reply to Sandraj39

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

Devonwalker profile image
Devonwalker

Thank you for this inspiration Beth x

amygill1990 profile image
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 profile image
BethCGraduate in reply to amygill1990

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

Ched profile image
ChedGraduate

Inspirational post, good on you.

JaySeeSkinny profile image
JaySeeSkinnyGraduate

Brilliant, thank you for posting!

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

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 profile image
BethCGraduate in reply to Anniemurph

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

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate

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

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate

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

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