Hands up if running has changed your life!

[RebeccaSK]

Another week of runs behind me! I have started to mix my runs up a bit and push myself a bit further and I'm loving it! Monday is my short run - 2.5k but with focus on form and pushing myself and tackling some hills.

Wednesday is running club. This week was fartleks. I was, by far, the slowest but, as my coach said, as long as my running intervals are faster than the walking intervals and as long as i'm pushing myself, my actual speed is not important. Hill training too. They promise me that I will see progress from this work and I think I am already.

Saturday is parkrun. I look forward to this all week. I've tried a number of different parks/runs but am now valuing the extra 15 minutes in bed that going to my local one gives me. My local one is tough - narrow paths, slippery in places and there is more uphill than downhill. Two things have happened recently. This parkrun (Clair) is, for the vast majority of my running club, the closest run. My running club is huge and I am only in the beginners' group (only about 6 or 7 of us each week) but people recognise you and they encourage you as you run - it doesn't matter to them that their time is sub 20 minutes and yours is barely sub 40 minutes - the support is still there. The second thing is how running club has given me more self-belief and a lot of the forum members will know this is something I have struggled with. I have now completed my ninth parkrun, four at Clair. I cannot run all of the uphill yet but each week I make myself run a little more of it - even if it's only an extra 10 metres. And, something amazing is happening. The hills are gradually becoming less of a struggle. Each week my time has improved. I am getting closer to my 5k PB which is something I'm hugely proud of as that PB was set on an entirely flat course.

Running has changed my life. I look forward to my runs and I especially look forward to Wednesday for running club and Saturday for Parkrun. I've lost weight but more noticeably, my shape has changed. My mental health is massively improved. I deal with stress and work pressure so much better and benefit from the cut off that running gives me - three times a week I find myself focusing on running (and how much it's hurting) and when I'm doing that, I cannot think about targets, HR issues and my horrific workload. It's now more than six months since I started running. Of course, running through winter is going to be difficult, especially as I live in the country with no street lighting and lots of country lanes, but I figure that if I can make it through the winter and still run then that's it, it's a habit for life!

I found the period immediately after graduation the hardest - the lack of structure was the hardest bit. I carried on running but it felt like I had nothing to aim for, even though I knew I wanted to continue to progress. However, I wasn't prepared to let the progress I had made in just getting to graduation go to waste. I'm so glad I kept running!

[dubnde]

🙌🏿 I hear you.

[Wantorun2013 Graduate]

Fantastic post very motivating well done. lm W2R3 and loving it and already have noticed a change in my mood levels energy etc can see how addictive it may be 😂 and never never thought l would say that. 👍

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Wantorun2013]

Well done! Good for you 😃👍

Running up and down hilly, undulating terrain is so good for your core. You can feel yourself getting stronger. You only need do them slowly too 🏃‍♀️💪✔️

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to misswobble]

All my running is slow. When I used to run uphill I would find myself bending right over at the waist, inadvertently restricting my breathing. It is amazing how much the right posture can help. I need to do work on my core, I really do. Once the clocks have changed I think I'll be pushed back into the gym more - and I'll do it then. I'm just clinging on to the last few light(ish) evenings!

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Wantorun2013]

Me neither. I've never been able to run before and suddenly, at the age of 45 I can run 5k!!! My husband has noticed how running has improved my mood and outlook on life - I really try not to sweat the small stuff now.

[misswobble Graduate]

Yes it's easy to slump when tired. I kept hauling myself up yesterday. I felt like Alice, shutting up like a telescope 🙂😃

Slow runs are fine for building up that bod. I don't do gym but do Jillian Michaels dvds at home. My big telly is now repaired so I can get going again 💪😃. It's my birthday soon so I am going to ask my husband to buy me a gym membership or transfer his to me as he never goes 🙄I would love a go at spinning and Pilates, not to mention aquacise etc 🙂 It's only down the road

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to misswobble]

I adore spinning - and it really helped me build strength in my legs when I first started running. Minimal impact - maximum exertion, enormous calorie burn! I found the aqua stuff wasn't challenging enough - but then most of the people that go to that class were much older and were doing it for the social aspect rather than the exercise. I got told off by one for "going in her place" in the pool. It's a swimming pool for goodness sake!

[icklegui Graduate]

Can't put my hands up, I'm having my post-run tea! Love reading how much it's changed your life. It sounds especially great that you're doing all these parkruns and the running club. Very inspiring!

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to icklegui]

It was the second running club I tried - the first one was not for me. People want different things but the first one was literally just running with other people. I joined the beginners' class but it wasn't aimed at beginners in my opinion - more intermediates. It was massively demotivating. I was on the verge of tears. It took a while to pluck up the courage to join this club after I was encouraged to by a friend who is a very capable runner. They label themselves as the friendly running club. They split beginners into "learn to run" which is basically C25K, beginners (which is me) and improvers. It means everyone is close(ish) in ability. They have a rule that when we're running to a specific point, the first to finish have to run back to join the slowest. It means you don't feel under pressure so much and you don't feel like everyone's standing waiting for you. Nobody gets left out. It's brilliant!

[Gabby08 Graduate]

I’m with you - especially the workload bit. I’ve taken on a new role but they haven’t recruited a replacement for my old one yet so I’m currently doing both. I’d have gone mad by now without the running.

V. envious of your running club adventures - it sounds like great fun!

[Lottie_C Graduate]

Great post. You have given me some good ideas for structuring my running after just graduating. Happy running.

[misswobble Graduate]

Ha ha,,you're in my place ner ner. Some peeps ey 😃

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Great post RebeccaSK ...you are a busy runner!! I know that feeling after graduation but I’ve now found C25k+ which still has structure, I felt like I was floundering after graduation as I’d finished what I was aiming for, at the moment, I’m happy running for 30 mins 3 times a week with the odd parkrun thrown in, I haven’t tackled hills yet as I want to carry on building my stamina & strength...your post is very inspirational....my hand is well & truly up...as high as I can get it, my life has def changed & so have I....🏃🏼‍♀️😉 x

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Mummycav]

You see, you are doing something I am not - 30 minute runs. Because of the hills at parkrun I never run for 30 minutes non-stop. Running club is stop-start with drills and speed work so never 30 minutes non-stop (although more than 30 minutes of running overall) and, obviously, my short run is not 30 minutes. I worry about that but I believe I could still do 30 minutes non stop because I feel like a stronger runner than when I graduated. I will find out in a couple of weeks - other commitments mean I will be running a different parkrun which is largely flat so I'll be hoping I can still do the 30 minutes continuous running. Yesterday, at parkrun, I did something I've never done before - although I've been encouraged to. Coming up to the finish there was a lady about 20 metres in front of me. I was slowly drawing closer and I thought I'd give overtaking her a go with a "sprint". Unfortunately, as I drew level with her, she realised and put on a spurt of speed so I didn't end up overtaking her but I did accomplish a sprint finish. I must stress this was not a sprint as such, just a noticeable increase in my own pace!!!!!!

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate in reply to RebeccaSK]

I’m sure you’ll be fine at 30 mins RebeccaSK ...all that stamina & strength you’re building will make sure of that...managing a sprint finish at the end of a park run too, now that’s hard!! I usually go mega slow on the 500m’s before the finish so I can at least look like I’m holding it together when actually I just want to collapse in a heap under a pile of leaves!!!! 😂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You and countless thousands of others, Rebecca.

That such a simple activity, which most of the population can partake of if they wish, can have such profound impacts on physical and mental health and general wellbeing, still astounds and delights me.

That vicarious thrill of watching so many, just like you, just like me, overcoming initial doubts and discovering the real joys of running, is the main reason I am still here, four years after graduation. Second hand endorphins are great............but they don't beat the real thing.

Let's hope we all keep running and smiling for many years to come.

[Hidden]

You have an uncanny knack of encapsulating so many of our feelings, hopes and fears when you write and I recognise a lot of what you describe. Well done for keeping going and finding a running recipe that works for you.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

A great post, as ever..out there, doing it and enjoying it... perfect

Thanks for this.. it really does help folk moving on :)x

[MarkyD Graduate]

👣🏃👍🏻🙋🏻‍♂️

[Rhodalewis Graduate]

Fabulous post thank you...and just what I needed. One week after graduation I know my biggest challenge is the mental one to keep going. This is so inspiring. X

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Rhodalewis]

Congratulations on graduating!!! It is difficult immediately after graduation - I drifted for a bit. At least once a week I'd listen to MJ again to at least give me some structure. It's taken a few months for me to settle into a running routine that I'm happy with so don't worry if you don't have that routine yet - just keep running so as not to lose what you've achieved. I really recommend parkrun (if you're not already converted) as it's such a feel good activity. I always finish near the back (because it's a tough course, it's pretty much only proper runners that do it, very few walkers - some weeks, no walkers at all) but I also make sure that I hang around until the finish because I know how much that applause and encouragement means when you're a new runner. And if you want to, and there's a good, friendly and supportive club near you, join it!

[Sarahb18 Graduate]

This all sounds so familiar!

Running has had a massive impact on my life and my family too!

They are full of pride at their mama at 59 now runs and looks better and much calmer too 😁

I'm grateful that I physically can do it and full of determination to improve!

I've enjoyed my parkrun escapades and laughed so much with others doing so .

All I need is a running club like yours ,it sounds fantastic and so inclusive.

The simple things in life are so good 😊

Well done 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[RebeccaSK Graduate in reply to Sarahb18]

well, this was my second attempt at finding a running club so if you don't find one that works for you first time, try another! I really recommend it - it's really, really helping my running!

[EleanorL Graduate]

Love your posts. You seem to write what I am thinking most of the time! Like you, I have found the lack of structure immediately after graduating the hardest but having a goal to aim towards helps me.

Keep posting and well done!