The journey begins...: Week 1. Day 1. This isn... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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The journey begins...

13 Replies

Week 1. Day 1.

This isn't the first time I've tried to complete the C25K program (more like the tenth...). I usually get to Week 6 and just stop. Not because it's too hard (even though it is super hard!) but because the routine doesn't stick.

So, this time around I'm going to use this discussion board to make myself more accountable. And, to make things more interesting, I'm also going to write a little short story as I go.

Here's hoping it sticks this time! ;D

Episode One:

Her eyes were bright with excitement as she gazed over the tumultuous sea, her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath. Jem loved to run, she just wished she was better at it. Behind her, the outline of her footprints in the sand were washed away by the spray of foamy water. The sea was warm as it rolled over her feet and between her toes.

In Darwin, the beach was not a place for sandcastles and swimming; too many threats lay below the surface. Crocodiles, jellyfish, hidden rocks and underwater caves. Only the very brave, or very stupid, dared to swim in its murky waters.

Instead, the locals found something entirely different to enjoy while walking along Darwin's unique beaches; the sun.

Every evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon far out over the water, stunning reflections and bright colours illuminated the sky to farewell the day. Stripes of orange, pink and purple moved in layers through impending storm clouds; lightning regularly striking to remind those who witness it of the fierce beauty of Mother Nature.

A frown creased Jem's delicate features as she looked out to sea. What was that? Something metallic had flashed across the horizon so quickly that she had almost missed it, but she didn't miss what happened next. None of the hundreds on that beach could have.

The ground trembled. She held her breath. In the distance, a chorus of sirens filled the silence. An earthquake, Jem thought in disbelief, in Darwin? Suddenly, countless sand particles jumped into the air and hovered at eye-height.

"What the...?" Jem breathed, her fingers reaching out to feel the coarse layer of impossible sand. Almost immediately, the sand dropped to the ground as physics demanded. Far out to sea, the strange metallic object shot back across the horizon, then came to a stop ten kilometers off the beach. Hundreds of witnesses on the beach pointed and gasped.

"Impossible." Jem whispered, worrying her lip between her teeth. Then, because Jem apparently hadn't been shocked enough, the unidentified flying object opened and a powerful beam of blue light shot down into the ocean.

The sonic boom was deafening, and a powerful gust of air sent Jem and everyone else on the beach flying backwards. She grunted as she collapsed on the sand, her body aching.

Well, she thought as she pushed herself up with her elbows to study the UFO, that was unexpected...

13 Replies
Nibor5 profile image
Nibor5Graduate

Welcome to the forum. I like the idea of your story, now you have to make it to week 9 and beyond. Good luck.

in reply to Nibor5

Thank you so much! :D Here's hoping I make it that far!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Well done... many of us keep diary logs of our runs...!

Start gently, listen to your body and follow the programme with no hurry at all :) Take your rest days without fail and other exercise on those days is useful too, for building up both strength and stamina.

Keep posting your successes and setbacks, and get loads of support and motivation too!

Welcome.. to one of the best things, ever!!!

in reply to Oldfloss

I can already tell that this forum is going to be an amazing help! I can't wait to see where it takes me. :D

CookieM profile image
CookieMGraduate

Well done for starting again! This forum is a great place to post about each run - it makes you feel that you have to do the next one so you can tell people how it went! So keep posting and we'll keep supporting 😁

in reply to CookieM

It's amazing - I had no idea there would be so much support! I'm very grateful and have a good feeling about this attempt at C25K. :D

So Day 1 a UFO lands, this story is going to have lots of twists and turns, looking forward to episode 2 already. Btw just so I'm sure you did run didn't you? 😉👽👽👽👽

in reply to

Haha yes I don't even know what will happen! I'll just have to keep running to find out. :D

icklegui profile image
ickleguiGraduate

I've been loving different people's tales of their running in other lands - now we have some sci-fi too! Keep it up - both the running and the writing :)

in reply to icklegui

Thank you! :D I thought a bit of sci-fi might help me stay motivated. Haha. Hope it works!

Tricky2836 profile image
Tricky2836

Hey Gemma just done W1 about to start W2 so come on mate and keep up..... You can do this😉

in reply to Tricky2836

Haha yeah! We got this! :D

Tricky2836 profile image
Tricky2836

Yes we have mate x

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