Pull up a chair, and I’ll tell you where it all went wrong, as these things so often do … 😉
Utilising the experience led advice offered by my friends from this very community, I tested out some route planning software, so very much different from my Garmin route planner for my SatNav that has guided my bike across thousands and thousands of miles of continental Europe, anyway, my chosen weapon was the Sports Route Planner at mapometer.com Easy to use, and it has the ability to help you plan your routes on the map, the satellite view, or on the actual Ordinance Survey Map … great, what could possibly go wrong ….
How on earth can a piece of software interpret a footpath, one that I know well, that leads across a field near me, as a dead end … it wouldn’t blooming well go down the path … ☹ a bit of jiggery pokery and some IT magic that I can’t tell you about because it would dissolve the mystique behind IT support … and I was up and running, (sorry 😐), well not yet anyway. My run was planned for early evening, still got stuff to do … unfortunately, it was man stuff, clearing out the garage and cleaning my bike …
Right, jobs done, time for a shower and try out this great pink nail polish that I picked up in the pharmacy … 😉
The designated hour for my run was fast approaching, nails done, and most importantly, dry … on with my gear, the pink was chosen to match my new running top, black and pink … just tying my laces … what the heck is that noise … it was absolutely tipping it down, there was no way I was going to run in that lot … oh no thank you maam … In a bit of quandry now, what a to do … there was nothing else for it, I would run tomorrow, Sunday. Off with my gear and on with my jeans and a shirt … well, I’m like a cat on a hot tin roof aren’t I, at first I thought it was my Restless Legs kicking, a bit early but its not unique, but no, it wasn’t that, I so wanted to run today, I was bloomin well going to, I packed my bag and jumped in the car …. We’re off to the gym … I didn’t want to do the long run there, but, hey ho, needs must …
Got to the gym, it was still bucketing it down … got signed in, through the barriers and into the changing rooms, stripped off, I don’t know what the guy on the next bench was more shocked with, my pink nails or my pink knickers … lol, I just kept going, emptied my bag … where the hell was my running top – on the back of the sofa, where I left it … damn, this third run is tough to complete … 😐
I got dressed, again, and thought, that’s it, Sunday is run day now, and I nipped into ASDA for some bits, and a new jumper, as you do, I actually went in looking for a shirt … 😉 So I got home, resigned to the fact that I would not be completing Week 6 tonight, saw my shirt on the back of the sofa,, saw the clock said 6:45, quick maths, Gym shuts at 8:00, I can be there for 7:00, plenty of time … I was off again …. More determined than ever before … The girl on the desk was real surprised to see me again, and complimented me on my determination …
Quick change, all the gear this time … phone, headset, we’re off ….
The walk was just the walk … blah blah blah Michael, yadder yadder yadder … can we start now … he said to start slow and make it to the finish … 7.8km/h and 2% incline, it was my normal run, I can do this … five minutes in, hardly felt a thing, not sure what was on TV, Incredible Hulk I think, no sound, but it helped pass the time, REM belting out in my headset … 10 minutes, 12.5 minutes, what’s that, a bead of perspiration …. Arrrgggghhh I know that once that starts, there is no end to it … still, 15 minutes gone, have a little wipe, 20 minutes down … Night Swimming on the iPod … Michael says we are doing great, and I think he’s right, my pace hasn’t changed and we are now approaching the last 60 seconds …. And Michael says, you are doing great, why not up the pace and finish on a high!!!! … two clicks on the speed … 8.0km/h that’s it, no more ….
That’s it, 25 minutes, I have actually run for 25 minutes solid. What, did you think I wasn’t going to do it … ☹ I’d had enough let downs in the day, I was definitely finishing Week 6 and moving on … I got the warm down walk out of the way, just in time to collect my stuff and depart. I’ll have to drive home in my sweaty gear … but what do I care …
I did it, this running program means a lot to me, and I’ve put a lot of effort into it. Its thanks to the guidance and support, from you people, right here in this C25K community that has helped my through. Helped me through the running, and given me the confidence to carry on, its not all been plain sailing, there have been some tough times in the gym, but you were there, right there with me. You also helped me at a time when I really, really, needed some strength to carry on, coming out to you, as Christene, was a massive step for me. One that I wouldn’t have been able to take if I wasn’t sure of the supportive, caring, safe environment that you have built here. The C25K community sewed a seed in me, and when I checked the community database, there were no other communities for people like myself, people with Gender Identity issues. Well, I resolved that shortfall, I spoke with HealthUnlocked and the NHS Choices people and with their help I have created a new community healthunlocked.com/genderid... its a little short on membership just now, in fact there is only one member, me, but hopefully that will change shortly. NHS Choices are planning an advertising campaign using my story, the story of Christene as the basis of the campaign. The hard work starts now, getting the word out, and that’s where you people can help, yet again. If you are aware of a person who is struggling with their gender, their inner person, point them in our direction, hopefully we can emulate C25K and build a safe environment where people can come and express themselves, and between us, we can get the help and advice that we seek. If I can help just one person, my short time on this planet will be validated …
Thank you for reading, and …. ROLL ON WEEK 7 😊
Christene x
Fat boy is a runner! (W6r3)
W6R3 and a personal milestone
Post run bowl of fruit 
A run full of firsts......
W6R3 - OFFICIALLY A RUNNER!
