W10...flying solo

[MickGJ]

Over the last few weeks I've come to regard Michael Johnson as a close personal friend but for my first "post graduate" run I decided to leave him at home. It was a wrench but I didn't want to get into that waiting-for-Michael-to-tell-you-it's-nearly-over thing, just listen to the music, concentrate on the running and not worry about the time.

It's an absolutely glorious and sunny day here in London and Brockwell Park was at its very best with great views over the city. I don't know what I was doing differently but everything seemed to come together--I felt at times I was gliding along on wheels rather than running.

So when the the half hour was up I decided I might as well keep going for another song or two, and what can I tell you--Couch to 5k in 10 weeks and 5 days. And I really do mean "couch".

I can't tell you how pleased and proud and grateful I am--thank you NHS, thank you BBC, thank you Michael Johnson and above all thank you all the wonderful people on this forum.

If I can do this anyone can. I'm 57, overweight, with dodgy knees and hips and every exercise programme I've ever contemplated before has either petered out or never even got started.

Tell your friends, tell your family, tell random strangers at the bus stop. Let's start a revolution!

[VictoriaRuns Graduate]

Wonderful post! Well done!

[siobhp Graduate]

Gliding along on wheels in the sunshine sounds wonderful, I could do with some of that! Lovely inspirational posts like this are what keeps me going out and running. Thank you and congratulations for your 5k!

[Pm3eak Graduate]

Top post. Top effort. Top result. Top man.

[Sue1421 Graduate]

Well done 🙌🏼

[MikeJones68 Graduate]

Excellent! I misread that as Michael Jackson!!

[Hidden]

Brilliantly done - Mr Smooth was my coach of choice too, and I felt so proud when I'd done the 9 weeks. I still use him just to hear him say he is proud of helping me...

Well done you going solo. Happy running

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Just keep up those three runs a week Mick. The number of people who lapse is surprisingly high, but I think I detect addiction.

If you keep visiting here then you won't dare let it slip.

keep running keep smiling.

[Hidden]

Awesome post, so inspiring. Well done. I think you have earned some unicorn leggings🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄

[Chairmanoftheboards Graduate]

Very well done , inspirational 👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Brilliant post.. well done you! This is the kind of revolution we want.. a Runvolution

[Lizzisforliving Graduate]

Wow! That sounds so great! Well done. I too have Michael Johnson as my best friend and running mate, and when I watched Sports Personality of the Year I was surprised to see him. Almost like, 'Oh, he didn't mention he was doing it!'. Than i remembered he doesn't actually know me...

Keep running and posting - I aspire to be like you and all the other lovely graduates.

Love Lizz

[TJMazz Graduate]

What a lovely post. Sounds like a wonderful run. Keep enjoying the running 🙌🏻🙋🏻😀

[Meeshe43]

Great post and an inspiration for all of us who have never run for 30 minutes and can’t believe we actually will after 9 weeks!

[Anthie Graduate]

Love your post!! And well done for running, I mean gliding beautifully! Some runs are like magic. I wish you a lot more like this one Glide, fly, unlimited (but always at your own pace)!

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

Well done, and what a fabulous post! I wish you many more happy runs in the future.

[Lillybeth30mins Graduate]

Lovely happy post! Well done!

Liz x

[tfcmagpie Graduate]

Well done you! Same age as me so I know how you feel. Really enjoy the moment and keep on running!

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

That is fantastic, Mick! And sounds like a wonderful run. Also, I know Brockwell Park well, and it has slight hills, so well done! (My brother in-law helps out at park run there, and I used to live opposite the park - it’s a beauty).

Happy running to you, Sir!