9 weeks ago I couldn't run 60secs now on the verge of completing week 9,3 stone overweight,suffering from serious mental health issues,fibromyalgia,psoriasis,IBS and other auto-immune illnesses,self medicating insomnia and panic disorder with alcohol oh and 20 fag a day smoker at the start..now I know it's not a weight loss programme and many question after a few weeks why they arnt shifting weight..well I was one of those and looked into it as the body starts a new regime weight can fluctuate at the beginning,but watching what you eat and regular exercise does pay off! As I say verging on 9 weeks completion today I popped onto the scales...I've lost 11lbs,my fibromyalgia has been the best it's ever been no flare ups in the last 6 weeks that's a record for the last 16 years! My psoriasis is almost clear for the first time in my entire life! My IBS has been nothing more than the odd bit of tummy ache here and there,I now have no more than 2 glasses of wine only on the eve of none run day and what's more important than anything..I've NOT had one panic attack or any bouts of agoraphobia,I've been out to places I've not been in a long long time due to my panic and OCD disorder,I'm wearing clothes that I haven't worn for years due to dropping size and yesterday I went to college and enrolled on an Art and Design degree that I've procrastinated about for 20 years! I still suffer insomnia but I'm now averaging 3/4hours sleep on run days which is a massive improvement I'm still a smoker 🙄 but that's been halved and will continue to go down as I keep focusing on discipline and project me!! I do believe that if I hadn't of committed to c25k these changes wouldn't of occurred.
Feeling great: 9 weeks ago I couldn't run 60secs... - Couch to 5K
Feeling great
Wow, what an amazing post, you should be so proud of yourself, I'm on week one run 3 this evening. Well done and keep going.
Thank you,I am proud and I wanted to share because life had become a constant battle and now I feel so much more in control. And if I can anyone can!!! I have taken photos of face and body each week since week 1 to look back on and boy not only do I feel a difference but I can see a difference it feels so good! Keep going you'll surprise yourself how much you will improve not only running but other aspects of life too without you really noticing. 😀
Well done Marie. 👏 we often talk about the benefits of our running on this forum, but your story is truly inspirational. You should be so proud of the progress that you have made in such a short space of time. This is the beginning of your journey. I wonder where it will take you 😊😎🏃♀️
So now for those pesky fags!
WOW you have been through soo much change in 9 weeks, amazing and well done you've soo well. Good luck with your degree.
Still so much change to go but feeling in control instead of worrying if or how I'll get through week1,week2,....3,4,5,6,7,8 oh hello week 9 ha!! I'm looking forward to following the 10K programme,I'm not even worried if it takes forever or how I'll manage because getting up and running over 25mins 3 times a week is already great,a small incline was once walking only and trying to catch my breath now it's a smile to myself as I keep my pace and not phased by it at all,small triumphs on every run,it's great saying "wow I just ran that hill without thinking about it" or "wow did I really just enjoy that" great feeling!!!
Maybe you're missing your true vocation, Marie - motivational coach/trainer/nhs 'buddy' to people struggling? It's astounding what you've achieved in a tiny amount of time, relatively speaking. Your description of it all and the happiness which shines out moved me to tears. Utterly inspiring!!👌🏻
👆🏻That moved me to tears thank you,not sure about motivating others but I am proud of what I've achieved so far and this really is just the beginning. I'm really looking forward to the next goals for "project me" with excitement now instead of doom and gloom of "I can't do that" or "what's the point" thanks so much for encouraging words and support it really means a heck of a lot x
Amazing post and so glad that running has had such a massive impact on your life. Good luck with your graduation run and here's to a more positive and healthy future as a runner!🙂
Oh my goodness what a change you have made in your life. Good luck with your final week. I have just started on bridge to 10k having had a few weeks of just running. Don't rush on to the 10k programme just enjoy what you have accomplished so far and continue with the running.
Thank you,I took the c25k weeks to coincide with school breakup for summer,my graduation is Friday run and my daughter breaks up next Tuesday so I'm going to pretty much take each week over the holidays as it comes,if I only get out for 25 min runs a few times a week,if the B210k and myself gel and I get the time to do it then I'll follow that,either way I'm happy 😊
Getting out 'just' for 25 minutes is fine for the time being especially as the B210K starts with a 53 minute session (including warm up and warm down) so you need to have the time to be able to do it. For myself, I have the time to do two longer runs per week and a shorter time on a Thursday evening so I am going to take longer to get through the programme but it suits me. You just need to learn what is best for you.
I think that's the key now,not having to follow a programme just getting to know what's best for us and what will work long term. For me I've proved to myself I can do it and the c25k has proved to me that following it properly has helped me realise how important rest days and good technique are,I've been pretty lucky not to have ached or injured throughout so I intend to keep following the slow and steady mantra and build up my stamina rather than racing to deadlines. Take care enjoy your 10K journey however long it takes you 😉
Well done Marie..😊
Lovely to read other folks success stories...and so to graduation and beyond...good luck😊x
Wow that is brilliant. You have done so well and I am glad it's had such a positive impact. I hope you continue to go from strength to strength.
Thanks for sharing your amazing story 😀
What a great post you are inspirational. Good luck with your degree course and keep running g it is obviously good for you 👍
Wow! Great work 🥇
Wow! You are an advert for all the things that are good about the C25K programme! It's amazing that you decided to start, with all those things that might put you off. It's wonderful that you are seeing so many benefits coming from your new regime.
Keep running - it can only make things even better!
We all have our things in our lives that put us off or give us excuse/reason not to..but my take is the worse life is the less you have to lose for trying and the more there is to gain for just sticking with it(it's only 9 weeks,90 mins out of a whole week),I don't think of myself as an advert but I would certainly recommend following the programme just to prove both physically and metaphorically speaking you can break yourselves gently into a small but massively effective change. I'm not even that bother/excited about graduating this week,I was last and all the weeks before just wanting not to fail..but this week I feel like I've made enough change to keep this going for me not just to finish,the support on this forum has been amazing and I will continue to linger but the graduation badge for me is knowing I'm going out tomorrow morning just because I really want to. Xx
That's the kind of attitude that makes it a lifestyle change. Coming from a place where I had less physical challenges than you, but many mental stresses going on in my life when I started, I soon realised running was good for the general wellbeing. You are an inspiration to all of us 😊
Wow great work! Well done to you. You deserve to feel great 😊
Truely fabulous . I admire your honesty and the brave steps you've taken to address your health. It's not easy but you are clearly getting stronger. A massive well done 👍
Thank you. It's not a breeze but it's certainly and virtually a few mile away from where I was 9 weeks ago....😀x
I agree ... gives you the head space you need and the feeling that you are moving forward health wise all good take care😀
Your post made me a little tearful, Marie. What an achievement! You are justifiably proud of yourself and would make a great ambassador for the C25K plan. I'm so pleased that your health, mental and physical, have changed so dramatically and I wish you well in your college career. You are a total shining star.
I am thank you,I ran my last c25k run this morning and it feels great to have not only got this far but also to be in a position to just wanting to carry on because I can. It's not a chore it's not boring it makes me feel alive and it's doing me the world of good. Great to have had so much suppprt and encouragement from this group .
Fabulous attitude, what an achievement. You are very brave and honest, thank you for sharing! Keep it up!
Amazing achievements in every aspect !!! popping open the sparkling mineral water for you 🎉🎉🏃🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️
Mega well done! Keep working on the new you and really enjoy life 
Fantastic post Marie, you are rocking it girl...so happy for you particularly for all the positive changes that you are experiencing 😀 Happy running 🏃🏻♀️🎉.
You are amazing, congratulations! Enjoy graduating 😊
Well done, you are a credit to yourself and of course the C25k programme. Keep going forward.
Go you that's some turn around. Keep it up👍
You are awesome!! What an inspirational post.
What a great post! Keep it somewhere so that you can easily read it yourself should you ever have a bit of a slump & need a positive message. Really totally inspiring for old or new runners alike.
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