Week 9 Starts Tomorrow!!

[snack_shack]

Well, I genuinely didn't think I'd get this far. Exercise and I have never had a civil relationship and I apprehensively entered this one expecting the same disdain to me met between us shortly afterwards. If I was a betting woman I’d have put a tenner down for me not getting as far as W2, R3. But instead, a beautiful love affair has developed over the last 8 weeks. This is a complete shock to me.

Let me tell you why

Excuse No. 1.

I don’t like exercise (generally)

I don’t. I never will. I don’t like going to a class where I have to make small talk and inevitably end up next to the much younger, much more toned woman who barely has a hair out of place throughout the whole session, whilst I drip in sweat and look like I’ve aged 10 years since the beginning of class.

Excuse No. 2.

I try to eat healthy(ish) but I’m no angel

I would love to be one of those people who can boast a healthy lifestyle and tell you I snack on salad leaves and carrot sticks, but I’m not. Give me a Galaxy bar and I’m as happy as a pig in muck. I had it in my head that runners are super healthy and they are all stick thin. Since I’ve started C25K, I’ve noticed runners of all shapes and sizes and this forum has shown me there are many of us out there that are doing this to aid weightloss. I think my pre-conception was just another excuse to convince myself I wouldn’t suit the running fraternity.

Excuse No. 3.

I don’t have the time

I have a busy job and busy home life and I didn’t know if I’d be able to find the time to do a regular run. I am not a creature of habit but I do tend to lose interest quickly in something if it falls off the radar and I feared this would be the case with C25K if I let too many days go by without managing to get out for a run. However, I have found myself, on occasion, setting the alarm for as early as 5.30am just so I can fit in an early run… and it didn’t even feel like a chore. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Excuse No. 4.

I’d have been mortified if anyone I know saw me.

This is, of course, purely a confidence thing. I want to get fit and I want to get lean. I used to be a size 20 and I got down to a size 8 by attending a slimming club. Once I was a size 8 I got a little bit complacent and started getting back in to my old eating ways and gained some of the weight back – fortunately not most of it, but some. However, like most people, I am my own worst critic and what I see in the mirror is probably not what other people see. I have been completely fed up as I know I’m un-doing all the hard work I put in to lose the weight. With this comes a bash to the confidence but as the weeks have gone on, I’ve still got the same thoughts on how I look right now but I care less about what other people are thinking as my fitness has improved.

I know many, many people say this in their posts, and I join those in declaring “If I can do it, anyone can”.

If things pan out this week the way they are meant to then I should be able to complete week 9 on Wednesday, but by Friday at the latest. I am really proud of myself for getting to this point and can not wait to complete W9, R3 and share the news with you lovely lot. This forum is such a great support to us all and it’s lovely we can share each others highs and lows. I hope you’re all feeling proud of yourselves too wherever you are in your journey. You’re off the couch and we all have to start somewhere, right?

Thanks to you all for all the help and support over the last couple of months – and watch this space!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Great post snack_shack. Well said 😊and good luck with W9...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

YOU ARE A RUNNER!

W9 is waiting for you with a glorious graduation at the end of it.

Set up your grad run to be as memorable as possible.........enjoy it.

[rolysmate Graduate]

Wonderful post and thanks for sharing this with us and I look forward to "seeing" you scramble up onto the podium

[Indigogirl Graduate]

Tick, tick, tick and tick to all your excuses, I recognise them all...but now we're off the couch and doing something about it, and doesn't it feel great?!!

Fab job, and best of luck for your graduation week! 😄🍀👏

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Great post... good luck.. but you should not need it... slow and steady does it

[reluctantrunner76 Graduate]

Good luck for week 9 but your not gonna need it. Your gonna breeze through. Loved reading your story. I'm only a few runs behind you, it's been great having your journey to follow, it makes me feel like we are all running together but apart. It's weird week 9 is almost here !!!

[61trying Graduate]

Wow, a really honest and heartfelt post. You've got week 9 to look forward to and it really is a joy to run it! Keeping going, keep having confidence in yourself and keep posting. You're amazing

[Hidden]

Brilliant post and it is so good precisely because you are a normal person admitting to the things that normal people do and fear. I recognise each and every one of your excuses, except my chocolate poison of choice is Cadburys...

But for a few weeks now you have become a super runner.... and this week's podium climb proves it beyond measure...

your last pic had runner written all over it! Looking forward to seeing your graduate bling

[Hidden]

So many excuses and just one reason to run, because you HAVE TO. I am happy that you have fallen in love with running. Enjoy your graduation week....There is so much fun ahead