With him all the way

[GingerBohemian]

Got to the hotel tonight to find roads closed due to a half marathon. Previously this would have really pee'd me off due to hassle of parking etc etc.

This time I found myself sat in my hotel room watching folk.

How were they running? Were they heel or flat or toe? Were they side to side arms or back and forth?

And then he appeared.

A 'slightly portly' chap in a one piece spandex type thing with a beetroot face and a 'shoot me now' expression.

And he was walking and using his last dying breaths to place one foot in front of the other.

I don't know this guy and I never will but at that moment, unbeknownst to him I bonded with him. Inside I cheered for him. Mentally I shook his hand and hugged him.

Years back I scoffed at people like him thinking 'give it up mate'.

Now I understood.

He was doing it for him. He was out there putting one foot forward and repeating. Speed didn't matter.

Bloody good for him.

This C25K should come with a life changing warning

To all you spandex 'portly' plodding joffler's out there.

Here's to us.

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Im with you on this one for sure! We are doing so well! 😀👍🏼🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Totally rocking it

[mfamilias Graduate]

A perfect post. Thank you. And here's to all runners, and to the grit and determination it takes.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Amen to that

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I have just commented on how running has increased my empathy and you come up with the perfect example.

Here's to us indeed.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

I know exactly what you mean...when I see people running now I think 'Go on girl...keep going!!' Or 'Crack on lad!!!'........and I keep saying this to people...if one person is inspired by seeing you out there running, be it fast, slow or in between, you have to be proud of yourself...if that fella knew what was going on with you while he was out there, he'd be amazed...but he prob doesn't feel like that!!! I love all this 'connection' stuff ...we all know what we're all going through & are there for each other...even folk who aren't part of this forum...we are right there with them...LOVE IT!!!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

I love this post. Never did we think, when we took that first painful step, that we'd end up in such a special world 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Brilliant ain't it

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

The best thing ever, Floss 🤗

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Oh yes!!!!! Great post

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

I love, love, love this post! Amen to every last word of it, GB!

I saw some runners this morning as I was on my way to work and couldn't help beaming at them. I was mentally cheering them on and thinking, "I know why you do this"! It even goes beyond that respect you (should) naturally have for seeing someone making an effort or trying to better themselves - it truly is a special type of empathy.

[Theziggy Graduate]

S U P E R B, that's why I like to watch events like the Great North Run and the London Marathon and marvel at the range of competitors - it is also why I love to volunteer at Parkrun, I get to see the total gamut of the runners and every one is doing their best. In fact volunteering at Parkrun really fills me with inspiration and motivation - "if they can do that, well, so can I ! "

[GingerBohemian Graduate in reply to Theziggy]

It's a shame they don't have Parkrun here in Czech Republic

[Hidden]

Agreed anyone having a go at this is doing a great and wonderful thing.so much better than being a 'sofa sneerer'