For FlickM3 ..... and for anyone that wonders ... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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For FlickM3 ..... and for anyone that wonders about it...

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate
57 Replies

What I hear you ask is slow?

Not sure I can answer that

But I'll tell you what I know.

Your slow is not my slow

My slow is not yours

Because we're all so different

And that is great, of course.

Some folk they may speed along

Without a single thought

The seasoned ones amongst us

Know they don't do what they ought!

By keeping steady steps, and slow

The podium you will see

You'll make it to the end, you know

And do it injury free.

Your run should be at your own pace,

Your breathing comes with ease

And not with a frantic struggling gasp

That brings you to your knees.

Compare yourself to no-one,

Just go at your own speed

But if you'll take a tip from me

A warning you will heed.

As one very well-known wordsmith wrote

Way, way back in the past

“Wisely and slow” please take it

“ They stumble that run fast “

Just a little bit of fun... but please note... running slowly can take you to the most amazing places :)

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Oldfloss profile image
Oldfloss
Administrator
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57 Replies
zobles profile image
zobles

Haha love this. Snails weren't a favourite thing of mine till I started C25k 😂

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply tozobles

I am the Original Grey snail!

Polly2810 profile image
Polly2810Graduate in reply tozobles

No neither mine, now I have great respect for them snails 🐌

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate in reply tozobles

Yes, it really does depend on pace, running at snail pace is OK for some, I do notice looking at results of 5k and 10k races that "the snails" as you call them complete the course in over 50 minutes or 1 hour 40 minutes respectively.

I notice looking at the results of some races that more than 20 or more runners are in that category, it does not really matter, you have been running, not walking, (although of course, you can walk briskly in that same time) congratulations to all who complete it.

Snodi profile image
SnodiGraduate

Love it! 🏃❤

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

PS

No prizes for knowing which wordsmith and which play :)

Blitzy profile image
BlitzyGraduate in reply toOldfloss

Romeo and Juliet 😉

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toBlitzy

Yeay!!! Well done you... that quotation reverberated round my head the winter I graduated in the dark, dark mornings :) x

Blitzy profile image
BlitzyGraduate in reply toOldfloss

I was a Drama teacher so it was familiar!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toBlitzy

I should hope so :) x

Blitzy profile image
BlitzyGraduate

This is perfect, Oldfloss, thank you!

A cautionary tale: my Running Buddy had to go without me yesterday, as I was laid low; she ran too fast and now has a dodgy knee. I knew she was itching to go faster and she is really regretting it now!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toBlitzy

I am sorry for your friend..... but.. go you!!!

Thanks Oldfloss, just what I needed. I ran for 30mins very slowly today and it was the first time I did it without being ridiculously out of breath, so I actually enjoyed my run in the moment, which I don't usually. For me, slow is the way to go!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to

Yeay!!! Well done you!

lardofale profile image
lardofaleGraduate

Great stuff! By the way, my boy, 6, has just got a pair of giant African snails as pets. I can't persuade him to name one of them Floss though, he claims they're both boys anyway!! 😡😁😉

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply tolardofale

Shame... I fancy a snail named after me.. :) Just a bit of fun really! :)

lardofale profile image
lardofaleGraduate in reply toOldfloss

😀 I'll name one after you anyway, our secret! 😉

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply tolardofale

Thank you xx

Fishypieface profile image
FishypiefaceGraduate

Brilliant!! So true. Running's a whole lot nicer when it's slower :)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toFishypieface

Ain't it just :)

Hahaha. Very well written. Though I will stress once more, I didnt ask for comparison, but curiosity, and a slight worry that i might be slow because of my impeded breathing. I cannot describe the enjoyment Im getting from doing c25k,at whatever speed, though it would be nice to pick up speed for the sheer enjoy ent of it once in a while.

Im going to shut up now before I protest too much 😊

I.ike Wilfred Owen too, btw

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to

Just a bit of fun... :) You are doing brilliantly!!!

in reply toOldfloss

Im happy to be doing it at all after over 50 years of not being able to. I strongly suspect that the reason I now can is that any tissue in my knee that would have swollen is now gone!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to

That is terrific!

Joruss profile image
JorussGraduate

I love this. Start of week 8 for me tomorrow and only 6 runs until I graduate. I’m not the fastest but running a 5k is now well within my grasp. I had my doubts at the beginning but I have loved every step of my journey so far - even when the going got tough

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toJoruss

.. and you are doing wonderfully! Enjoyment..is what it is all about :)

Elfe5 profile image
Elfe5Graduate

Love the rhyme, - so true.

Love the snail too - that's me, only less stripy! 😃

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toElfe5

Ahhh but.. I was a very Grey snail until.. one day... I became a yellow stripey snail.. courtesy of aliboo70

You just wait !

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70 in reply toOldfloss

You deserve your yellow snail status floss 😊xxx

Wizziewood profile image
Wizziewood

Lovely ... thank you for that.

Your words go with me on every run.

Happy running!

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Lovely Floss, you are a fine wordsmith yourself...and such an encouraging and kind mentor😊x

I love this poem it sums up the ethos of the c25k journey perfectly, and finishes with that amusing twinkle I imagine you have in your eyes😉...

You take us to some amazing places with your 'ramble' run reports too..again just lovely😊xxxx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toBluebirdrunner

Thank you my friend... It was a bit of fun.. I am a bit overtired after a full on day with small runner in training.. and just needed to relax... so may posts again about how fast should we be running... I just had a little play around :)

Off to the coast tomorrow an hoping to do the 9K :) xxxx

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate in reply toOldfloss

Woo hoo...thats lovely, time to relax, spend time with hubby, unwind and.... go for a really, really, long run😄sounds perfect....

Will keep a look out for your post...😊.xxxx

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

Love it. 😀

Wise words indeed.

Rfc xxx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toRealfoodieclub

Just a little bit of fun really.... xxx

Richard7 profile image
Richard7Graduate

Great post OldFloss - I confess to wondering about my slowness at times. I have tried to stop comparing myself with others but am now comparing myself with me! Gentle run next.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toRichard7

Best plan... ! No harm in setting small challenges for ourselves.. and it is interesting to know what folks feel, yet without comparison :) Enjoy your run :)

scotinexile profile image
scotinexileGraduate

Very well put, wonderful, in fact. Thank you so much, I am the slow arthritic snail, but I did graduate yesterday. I am still on a high.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toscotinexile

A little bit of fun, makes us feel better :) Well..I was a grey snail when I started. I really was very slow. But..if we take things gently, the runs do evolve and suddenly your are travelling further and in a comfortable way...I must check your post.. did you ask for the badge!

scotinexile profile image
scotinexileGraduate in reply toOldfloss

I didn't know about a badge.

scotinexile profile image
scotinexileGraduate in reply toOldfloss

I've just replied to the link for a badge, thank you.

Decker profile image
Decker

Wise words as always Floss. Best of luck with your 9k too!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toDecker

Just playing with words...:) Thank you! Hoping to run at the coast... a change of scenery will be just the thing :)

Decker profile image
Decker in reply toOldfloss

It sounds beautiful Floss. Hope you have a great run 😀

Pc59 profile image
Pc59Graduate

Love it😊😊😊😊snails my favourite running buddy👍

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toPc59

Me too...:)

I have run with a fair few over my running time. The one in the photograph was heading across my patio... he could really shift!

Pc59 profile image
Pc59Graduate in reply toOldfloss

A bonnier snail than my one😂he id just trying to catch you & me up 😂

SaskAlliecat profile image
SaskAlliecatGraduate

Another amazing OldFloss post that made me smile 🙂. Wise words 🐌

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toSaskAlliecat

A silly rhyme really...I am always getting posts about speed, so thought I would have some fun :)

Pug1 profile image
Pug1Graduate

Thank you so much. Inspirational .. I am out there running? ... slowly. 🐌... others are not.

I ignored a niggle and ended up on the bench for 2 months... trying to increase my speed.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toPug1

Slow is sweet! I know... because I am... slow.. :)

mand3966 profile image
mand3966Graduate

Brilliant!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply tomand3966

A bit of fun. about something that works:)

RunForestR profile image
RunForestRGraduate

Whilst the Snail is apt - I've been outpaced a couple of times by some very aggressive types, also the old fable "the hare and the Tortoise" is very apt here too.

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate in reply toRunForestR

I regularly run 5K under 30min, long thin legs carry me through :)

Where I run there are guys who clearly do this on a more serious level as I can see a few of them sprinting hard, but not aggressively, I would even say 'gracious' as their style is stuff from tv.

Anyways, they overlap me easily (but with grace) and I asked one of them how many km he's done and he replied - 10K. I mean, he sprinted the distance. Then it turns out that he's a club runner, and 21. I'm not. I'm a lone runner and 53.

In other words, each to his own, at our own pace, comfort and joy. I will never run 5K in 15min (he can), or 10K in half an hour but I'm chuffed that I do what I do, slow or fast, in my age.

All is & all are good ;)

quirkybee profile image
quirkybeeGraduate

Oh Oldfloss this is a wonderful post and it's given me inspiration because I'm a right slow runner huffing and puffing. I see many runners with 6k pace etc and think gosh, I'll never get to that speed. Great if they can do it, but I cannot.

Thank you for posting this, I just wish I was able to get out there right now and run, but I cannot. Looking forward to either Saturday or Sunday this weekend, to run, run, run.

Thank yoooooooooou lovely lady, you've made my day, I love yoooooooooou, lol 😘🤗🤗😊😁🤣 xx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toquirkybee

Thank you..it was intended as fun..but I do really believe it works. A bit like you, I am sometimes overtaken on my lanes.. not often, as usually there is only me out there! nearly always, slimline beauties, running easily, fresh faced and pale skinned:)

I find myself thinking..." hmm you have only just set out and are just going out round the village, whereas I have already done 5K, and am doing another 5!! "

You have done and are doing wonderfully...this is your journey and it is important to do it your way.

I have not run since last Sunday! It is horrid..but... I shall hopefully be out on this Sunday.. if you manage it, we will run together :)

Take care of you xx

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