Look at me!

[MagicandCastles]

Week 1 run 1, I was hoping not to see another person, felt embarrassed to even be trying this. Head down, don't make eye contact, cross the road to pass the guys laying a driveway. Took a couple of weeks to run into my neighbor walking the dog, I sped up passed him head down, pretend I didn't see him!

Week 6. I now want to grab every stranger I pass and and shout 'Look at me! I'm actually doing this!' Head is up and my neighbor and his dog even get a smile as I jog passed, he even shouted after me 'this circuit is a mile long, keep going!' Turns out their not against you after all! 😝

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Who knew............

[Mimirossi Graduate]

I know what you mean MagicandCastles ! I started off feeling embarrassed, a bit paranoid and feeling that everyone knew that I was not really a runner and that they would be laughing at me. Now I am on week six and so pleased that I am doing it, I don't mind what they think! I smile and say good morning and they nearly always do the same back. I have decided that other people are not as judgemental as I thought and that even if they were, it doesn't matter to me any more.

[Bek2000 Graduate]

Love this! Keep going x

[Polly2810 Graduate]

Haha my first ever run and I saw a bloke from my office....didn't even know he lived in same town! Following week saw another co worker, now I just think whatever!! I don't care...I like the knowing smiles of other ladies of a certain age looking at their phones willing the minutes to pass!! 🤣

[rolysmate Graduate]

When I decided to do this I picked out a 5k run that was over 9 weeks away ( it was 11 weeks) and went public telling folk that I was going to do this run for charity.

From day one I've put reports/pictures on facebook and the support I've had from friends, family and other runners (notice other runners) has been wonderful.

I currently have £410 in sponsorship and Puffin Billy as I've named myself has now gained quite a little following, so me well I've stood tall and proud from day one but then again I also knew just how proud Mum would have been

[MagicandCastles Graduate in reply to rolysmate]

👍 well done you! My eventual aim is the Great North Run, the last conversion I had with my Nanna years ago was that I wanted to do it one day.

[rolysmate Graduate in reply to MagicandCastles]

There's a good chance I'll see you there

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

They never were!! You are a runner... they are amazed... Well done you!

PS

Never grab strangers

[Cazza73]

Well done I'm exactly the same i ran last night in public around the busy streets I had a few stares but you know what who cares. We're all beating those sat on the couch thinking about running. Well done.

[Irishprincess Graduate]

And now you'll be wearing really bright neon-coloured running kit to make sure that EVERYONE notices you 🤗

[MagicandCastles Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Yey!

[mfamilias Graduate]

I say it till I'm blue in the face here... you are just another nutter in trainers for most people, and although we all felt like it was emblazoned across our foreheads, nobody knows that it's "that runner" 's first few weeks.

[Hidden]

Amazing isn't it I always thought the world was divided once I'd started running. Between those that ran and those that laughed at us... now I see most of the non-runners are truly amazed at us doing it. And those that aren't we don't need to know anyway.....