RUNNING HAS CHANGED MY LIFE

[Virginia60]

Running and following this programme has completely changed my mindset about running and exercise in general and joining in with people at Parkrun is great fun. Without the C25K I would never have started running or continued for so long. I have also done 4 Parkruns now and I have just finished Week 7 going onto Week 8 Run 1 on Saturday! Have a go at one they are really great. To start with I just ran for as far as I could go and then did a very quick walk to recover and then started running again. My first one was 44 mins 50 secs, but still not the last one to finish, second one 39 min 27 secs, third one 38 mins 21 secs and the last one before my holiday a week ago was 38 mins 5 secs . I love them and it gets a nice long run/walk done early Saturday morning and then you can get on with your day. I know some people found it disheartening with so many very much faster people finishing and passing me before I have even got half way!! I found it the opposite and am really fighting against my own time each week. I have only been running since April and I did repeat a few weeks now and then, I had a holiday in Australia for 3 weeks but ran/walked nearly every day there (running round the harbour with the Bridge and Opera House in my view at sunrise was just thrilling), and now I feel I am really ready to get to the end. On my holiday to Spain last week I was running or walking every morning and did my first 30 min run along the promenade by the sea. Running has changed my life, if the words 'going for a run' or 'going to the gym before work' had been said by me before April no one would have believed it! I now do some exercise every day and enjoy it. I no longer fear people I know seeing me run as several have said I look like I am enjoying it so much smiling and singing! There is no going back now and only 6 more runs until I graduate. I am still an outdoors running person, not sure how the cold, wind and rain will feel like at 7am but nothing will stop me now!

[rolysmate Graduate]

wonderful post and I think so many of us feel similar

[ju-ju- Graduate]

This is a wonderful post and has made me smile... keep enjoying, it really is a life changer

[Wantorun2013 Graduate]

Great post very motivating x

[damienair Graduate]

Well done. I'm with you. I love Parkrun, have done 16 so far. Great way to start the weekend. I'm addicted.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done...

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Great, init?

[Coddfish Graduate]

Well said Virginia

[Hidden]

An outdoor runner, well done you and I am one too, as are many of us. It is life changing truly...

[PippiRuns]

Another addict! Wonderful story. And winter running can be quite enchanting and lovely.

[misswobble Graduate]

Don't stop me now I'm having such a good time, I'm having a ball! That's you! That's it with running, you can keep doing it and there's no end to it

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeha! Go you!

[Virginia60 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

It is so funny you quoted that song! I belong to Rock Choir, another of my great loves, and I often have their songs playing as I am running. Killing two birds, singing to my downloads and running and that Queen song is the first one I learnt at RC and is still one of my favourites! Such an uplifting song and so appropriate to running!! xx

[misswobble Graduate]

Rock music is a perfect accompaniment to running. A marriage made in heaven 😃

Mind you I country is quite good to run to. Tammy Wynette, Dolly, and I love Pussycat's Mississippi 🙂

[Djraw Graduate]

Awww - great inspirational read!!!

[skysue16 Graduate]

What a great post! Inspiring and uplifting. You are doing so well with your running and how wonderful that you have been able to run around Sydney harbour! 😀👍

[Virginia60 Graduate]

Truly a memory I will never forget! I have vowed to now run on every trip I make and every holiday I go on!

[misswobble Graduate]

If you love running then winter will not stop you 😃 You acclimatise to the weather very quickly. I think you will find you always run on hot once you become a runner 👍🙂

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Lovely post...how you doing now???

[Virginia60 Graduate]

Doing fine thanks. Going to do Week 8 Run 3 tomorrow, Thursday, and then start on Week 9 at the weekend!!! Eeek!! How are you getting on now you have graduated? x