If it's can do this, so can you!

[Bonkersbrit]

Like EleanorL who posted her amazing story earlier today, I too watched the London Marathon back in April and the accompanying MIND documentary and was inspired to start C25k the very next day. After nearly five decades of being an asthmatic absolute non-runner, the people on this wonderful forum and St Laura of course, led me by the nose through nine weeks of adventure, exploration, frustration, joy, self-doubt, elation and every other emotion known to man. I graduated without injury in late June and the first two weeks after were great, three runs a week around 5km and 30 mins. Then something happened, I struggled to run and when I did I was sooooo slow. Legs felt like lead from very first step, took extra days off to see if I just needed rest but things didn't improve. Probably would have given up but by then I was registered for a race. No biggy I hear you say, wait and do a later one, but here on the island of Newfoundland, this is an annual event, no ParkRuns, no Run for Life and and fewer runners than reservoirs in Italy right now! So I stretched, every two hours from 8am to 10 pm on days off.

Today is my 48th birthday, my first as a runner.🎉🍾🥇 And today, I got up at six and ran my first 5km road race the Commander Gander Road Race. And today I did it in 29'44", a time I am more than happy will stand for the next year before I can improve it😀. In all the excitement, I forgot to stop my Strava at end, but hey, of all the newbie mistakes I could make, that's not the worst. No bling😞but I did get a tshirt and running number. Found out later that I would have needed a 29'05" to get bronze medal in women's 40-49 category. So, I haven't got as far as EleanorL ( we started together), but my journey continues.

So why the post? It's not to solicit birthday wishes or congrats on my achievements, it's to let you know what I've learned from all this.

1. Running helps you feel things very vividly ( be they good or bad!), in a way children do, but adults seem to have tempered for some reason.

2. No one can ever tell me I can't do anything ever again

3. The bad bits are there for a reason, to make the good bits feel even better!

4. Always, always, always take your rest days, listen to the real experts (not me) especially Oldfloss, Rignold and InnodaTruffe, and stretch, stretch, stretch!!

Sorry for such a long rambling post, happy running to one and all🏃🏼‍♀️🥇🏃🏻

[SueKen Graduate]

Dear BB - you have 6 months on me and the same time (roughly) on C25k, so I stand in awe of your sub 30 5k! Very well done (and happy birthday too!).

[Jaxdreamer Graduate]

Inspiring post, fabulous time and wishing many more happy birthdays and fabulous runs 🎉🏃‍♀️🍾🎉

[Maggie700]

Well done and what a great achievement on your birthday . My work colleague and I were talking about running the other day and how it helps you with other areas of your life . You have shown through sheer determination you carried on when not feeling too great . Well done

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Happy, happy birthday and a MASSIVE WELL DONE!!!!!

What a super post! You are an inspiration to those on this journey!

Wow!!!! What a run! What a journey! Where next I wonder xx

[EleanorL Graduate]

Fantastic post! Congratulations on your super fast 5k.

Love your line "no one can ever tell me I can't do anything ever again" !

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Well done to you. I thought about you and looked for your post 🙂 That's a great time too, you should be proud of that one. Hope you had a great birthday yesterday.