From one who struggled with C25k to you all.

[Realfoodieclub]

Got to love Facebook and its reminders. Today it put a little post to remind me it was four years ago today since I graduated.

I thought I would share this because the date I started was 7th June 2013. A lot more than nine weeks. Originally I had a 5km planned for the 12 September but I was nowhere near ready in September, I only covered 3.5km on my graduation runs.

I still can not do 5km in 30mins but I can and have done a triathlon, a few 10kms and two Half Marathons. Please don't think I am boasting about these, it is that to some other forums I am not a good runner, because I am slow. I was so pleased to of found this forum and become part of this amazing place that supports and helps people like me.

Because of that support I am a runner and I feel like a runner. I have found a new passion in my life that as a side effect makes me very fit and healthy. It has afforded me wonderful things in my life just by being so fit and healthy.

So if you are struggling and not hitting the 5km in 30 min or you have had to repeat some weeks don't worry, all that running can offer you is still there for the taking as it has nothing to do with speed just perseverance.

Happy running to you all.

[GrannyO Graduate]

Great post - I loved reading it! Thank you - a big encouragement to me as most of my runs have been 3.5km and my next run is my graduation run. There's hope for all us snails!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to GrannyO]

So exciting, Graduation, running 3.5km is a great achievement and it is a great starting place for the wonderful journey you have started. Have a lovely Graduation run. 😀.

[GrannyO Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thank you 😊

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Happy 4th Runniversary RFC 😊....

The plan gives us the tools to find our inner runner.The forum provides the encouragement and motivation to keep going... and find that passion..

Lovely people like you pave the way...

Thank you for doing a wonderful job, keeping our forum a nice place to be.

Happy running😊x

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you. I really do love the forum, it helps keep me motivated and enthusiastic about running.

[damienair Graduate]

Brilliant post. I loved reading this story. I have tried so many times in the past and gave up. I only graduated this time because of Parkrun and this Forum. This forum kept me motivated to keep going and graduate. Now it is motivating me to do 10k. Thanks too to you for making this such a warm, friendly and supportive place to visit.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to damienair]

Thank you. I'm glad you got to your graduation this time, it will give you many happy years running back in Return.

[dubnde]

This is a very good post. First time I tried I gave up because I thought it wasn't working for me because I was too slow. This time around I did a lot of reading on this forum before I re-started. Standout read for me was never to worry about speed and distance. Time was the crucial part. And I graduated as a result. Now I realise the speed and distance is coming. When I say speed I mean snail pace for me. Thanks for this post. I have to keep on telling myself to take it easy with bits of challenges at a time.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to dubnde]

Thank you. I'm glad you came back and redid it again. I like to have a little spurt at the end of my run, over time that has helped me increase my pace a little. I find as long as I go with what I am Capable of I'm happy with my running.

[CB27LJ10]

I also feel that way sometimes, but I've found that a snail's pace keeps me going longer and breathing is easier! So if I have to carry on being a snail to run a 5K, then that's exactly what I'll be lol 😂🐌🐌

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to CB27LJ10]

That's great and 5km will always be a 5km no matter what the pace is.😀.

[Pc59 Graduate]

What a fantastic post especially for all of us that haven't reached the 5km in 30mins!! Even when i reached the 5k in 44mins i felt id achieved so much like winning the lottery😂😂it felt amazing!! However as i never felt i was "progressing " to faster i thought I wasn't any good at running & after a fall i found it so hard getting motivated! But im back & see if i ever get back to that magic 5k in any time il be ecstatic!! 😉 so well done for a remarkable achievement 4yrs running is brilliant well done & enjoy running at whatever speed works for you🏃😊🏃

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Pc59]

Thank you. Glad you have got over your fall and are back to running again. You will be back to 5km before you know it. Happy running.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

This is the strength of this forum. Posts like yours Realfoodieclub , remind us that we can't all be Mo Farah, but we can all be runners. Out on your own, or reading the big boy's running forums we could all feel like failures.........but we don't use that word, do we?

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

No never, it really is a word that makes you feel bad about things you don't have too. 😀. Any run is a good run isn't it?

[mfamilias Graduate]

Happy runniversary, RFC! Thank you for the timely reminder that our success can only be measured against our own track (haha) record, not against others, and that we should be proud of what we have achieved.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Talking of running tracks. One of my best moments running was coming into the stadium at the end of my triathlon, I felt like a star, here I was runnning on the exact same track that Usian Bolt had run on, did it matter I was slow, no not at all, I am not even sure my feet touched The ground 😀.

[SuzyKK Graduate]

Wonderful post - think it really only hit me recently when I was unwell & couldn't run & then when I did, I had to take a step back... & then it hit me... it's not a step back, it is a different day & a different run... that's all, nothing more, nothing less... & my runs, are just that, my runs... so not going to stress (too much) about speed even, or increasing time or distance (tho all those would be nice)... I run... generally 3x a week, & including warm up/cool down walk, about 45mins to an hour... and really, for now, I'm really happy with that.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to SuzyKK]

That is so true, once you own your runs then you make the rules, well said. 😀

[Hidden]

It's great to read your story and be reminded that speed is only one definition of a runner. I much prefer your observation of being fit and healthy, that is the true definition in my view.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I just love my runs out. 😀

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

Happy 4th Runniversary! Thank you for your encouraging post. What matters is being out there and loving it. The rest - speed, progress and all that - is all entirely optional.

Thank goodness for this forum and the healthy attitude it promotes.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to HeleneCorsa]

Thank you. I like the thought that the forum has a healthy attitude. That is great 😀.