Doing the programme from scratch for the second time is an interesting experience. So much less trepidation and uncertainty. I know what to expect - the highs and lows - and that I am, Hip allowing, perfectly capable of getting back to the 10K level and beyond.
I also don't give a rats about being 'seen', going 'slow', how I appear or any of that. Total joy in being able to get back after three months wipes out any self consciousness or silly things like that which I carried with me first time around.
The hardest part of the programme this time is having to have absolute discipline in following it properly. I hate the walking breaks. I hate that I can only run for the minute or whatever before stopping to walk. I hate that my run takes me only once and a bit around the Park route instead of my former 'usual' five time plus. I hate that its going to be about three months before I am where I can do the route through the nearby Compound...and even hate that I cannot pant, puff and obscenely swear my way up the Dreaded Hill Route
The 'original' day one and day two of week one saw me on day one almost being put in an ambulance because a passerby saw me doubled over and literally with a blue tinge in my face. Day two was hardly any better and my ONLY ambition then was to someday, somehow, get as far as MAYBE the end of week three or even a bit into week four
I started June 1st 2016 having literally never run more than a hundred paces in my life. Twisted foot bones, two types of Asthma and at that time being about thirty pounds overweight, having only a year or so before given up a daily twenty plus cigarettes habit of almost forty years...only reason I even tried Day one was that I was bored out of my skull. SERIOUSLY bored beyond belief adn knew how dangerous for me that was..
Desperation got me started in running - sheer joy has kept me going
Any new member here who, short of going against qualified medical advice, has finished day one in any kind of state - that is, still alive - can graduate if they just keep going out the door on the Run days and respect the Rest days. Forget about graduating in 9 weeks with 5K if need be. A poll we had here last year showed that less than ten percent graduate on time/with distance. Just keep it fun on some level, keep going out that front door...and I promise that you too will see 'Graduate' beside your name also and the heck with how long it takes
The other 'Old Timers' here know my story and its all in previous posts so not going ot belabour the point - but if you are still unsure that you can run, believe me,,,there are a few of us Graduates here that are literally still gobsmacked that this is not all a weird dream every time we go from the warm up walk to Running
Wishing you all the many happy miles that await in your futures
Written by
Irish-John
Graduate
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I also did the whole thing twice. My (second) injury was boiling for weeks but l ignored it, of course. Then l had to stop for three months coz l got injured properly on my graduation day, as idiots do.
Yeah, very interesting 'deja vu' experience. Look, at least we nailed it, no bluffing here, only hard foundations. Dear lord.....
Another gobsmacked runner here! I remember your graduation well (and mine, with the musketeers)... and my first run outside the garden holding your hand! The never ending journey. ☺Keep on keeping on young John 😚
I remember you and the musketeers. You graduated a few days before me I think - and all waited on the finish line until the last one came in. I loved watching that day as the reports came in one by one until you could all claim your badges together
I am also repeating c25k john after my hip injury last year and its taking a while! I had got as far as wk5 about 10 days ago but since then have not run due to having miserable cough/cold/sore throat. But I know as soon as I am well enough I will be back out there, and also don't worry as much this time that I will have lost all my fitness. I know I will be able to pick up more or less where I left off . So we will get there again John, although it may be a slow journey! 😊
I wasn't a too unfit 55 year old when I started c25k but remember those first few weeks as being lung splittingly hard work (until I too realised I didn't have to "run" but just jog). The first bit is always the hardest. Get thro the first few runs and things start to happen. Jog slowly but surely. John is right...it's hard to see where the joy in running comes from when starting out but all of a sudden you are a runner and don't have to force yourself out of the door! Getting to the 30mins target is a great accomplishment as are each of the milestones from week 1 run 1. Be careful though, it's an addictive, cheap habit that's good for you!
Well said Lordi! It does get to be fun, it is addictive, you don't need to run 'fast'...and you you do need to be a bit careful in your enthusiasm Great summation Lordi
Thank you Brian, I appreciate your kind words. So many people helped me become a runner 'despite myself' when I washed up on these rather surreal shores...and its my hope that I can in turn pass on what inspired me
Slow and steady absolutely - but hopefully a bit of madness and mayhem and bizzaro - routes also Thank you Millsie and congratulations! I've just now seen that you have been co-opted onto the 'Board' hear Great choice by the Admins, and well earned by you
'Accomplished' = "might be past (well past) upper age limit on jigsaw puzzle age recommendation guideline. - but he DID open the box without spilling all the pieces again!"
Well travelled' = "could never hold a job, pissed of every neighborhood he lived in."
'Milord' - that was not me, that was the beaky old guy with the wig whom I was 'splaining (yet again) to why I was (yet again) in a Dock ( and not the nice Supermodel-Crewed Yachty kind of Dock either).
LOL
I am sure you are exactly what they were looking for Millsie - congratulations again
For me, a lightbulb moment was when I realised that if I’m planning on running regularly long-term, then repeating runs or weeks in the earliest stages matters not a joy in the big picture. Far better to be out there doing an extra week 3 run and building up the strength and enjoyment to continue, than to force myself, get hurt, and give up.
Too true Rainbow One of my biggest regrets in the weeks after Graduation was that I 'rushed' through the programme. I did not 'push' in the sense that I skipped or -god forbid - ignored Rest Days, but I was far too much focused on ticking off the boxes. With hindsight I realised that 'barely' getting through any particular stage was not really a great way of 'completing that' day'. So - this time around while I find it AAARGH! to only run the short days, I also am very confident I will be a far smoother and fitter and better Runner down the road than I would be if I had not had to restart like this
That '9 weeks' thing attracts a lot of us unbelieving newbies - but it can kind of be a bad thing too in that it 'changeless' us. Thank Goodness for this Forum - if I had not found it early in programme I would not have accomplished anything like I have, and probably not even graduated!
Just back to walking 20 minutes a day after a knee injury and four weeks on the injury couch. Graduated for the third time and was consolidating, comfortably doing 40 mins. Thanks John for putting it so eloquently, its back to week 1 for me too soon. Happy running all you newbies and oldies!
John, it's like you've been reading my mind! Thank you for this post. I haven't run consistently for a long time thanks to a mixture of asthma and migraine and have lost my confidence. I've been thinking about restarting but I never even finished w1 of c210k so don't know where to start. I want to do a 10k in May and your post has given me hope. Thank you so much and all the best for the next run!
I hope it was not me on your mind that gave you migraine - though I have been accused of that by many people over the years LOL
But seriously - I am not the only 'Unlikliest of Runners' here. There are a few of us who literally defied extremely heavy drawbacks both physically and mentally to get to graduation and beyond.
The fact that most of us are still running is even MORE miraculous - graduation was a goal, but for some of us it was seen as a challenge to overcome only or an 'impossible dream' to add some colour to our lives. The concept of incorporating running as a permanent - and so enjoyable part - of our lives was literally inconceivable.
If you read my early posts you will see that this programme works. Anyone who - as long as not told by a genuinely qulified Doctor not to, and even then get a second opinion -finishes Day one, Week one in ANY kind of shape (read my Runaversary psot about my first day LOL) can do this programme. NOT in 9 weeks, NOT with 5K - less than ten percent of Graduates in a poll last year did that - but with time and sensible running, graduation is EMMINENTLY possible
The hardest part is going out the door. I started June 1st 2016 in 100 Deg plus weather, I ran through minus awful degrees in Winter. The WORST part is simply putting on the gear and walking out the door - and that is STILL a drag, but the drag only lasts for microseconds now in my brain
Does Running get 'easier'? For some of us it never will be truly 'easy' - I never got to where I could 'hold a conversation' or even not have to inhale air with 'Thomas the Tank Engine' puffing..but I got to where I also graduated from the 10K and was aiming at ten miles continous running before my hip popped out...and wanting the ten miles achievement not to brag or feel 'smashed it!' - but becuase running is FUN and I want to keep running further for longer
So - barring some disqualifying medical reason - you can do this FR Dont thin of '9 weeks' or '5K' - put on your gear and go out the door. You can always turn right around and walk back in then if you want...but once you are out there, believe me very soon you will realise that the actual run takes care of itself, all you had to do was gear up and show up
Wishing you the many happy miles that ARE in your future
As one of the "Old Timers" (we started at about the same time), I just want to say that you are right. As you say you do not have the same anxieties - you may not get the same highs either because it will not surprise you when you manage what once seemed impossible. But I am sure you will enjoy it. That's if you don't burn your feet first
I am also sure that we will all enjoy your posts -old timers and newbies alike. You have always been such an inspiration for us all.
thank you RAS - and as for the 'Highs', man - I am still getting the best of them! might not be the SAME highs, but just being able to run at all and really understand what a huge bit of luck that is makes it all even more fun
Hopefully we will be running together still for a long long time to come Sue, running is only part of the enjoyment - my forum friends are the other part
Great post as always IrishJohn. I have no doubt whatsoever you'll get back where you want to be though.
I, too, got to the end of the programme in December 2013 (took longer than 9 weeks) and then buggared up the ligaments in my left ankle end of January 2014! Took 4 months before I could go back to running - I was SO angry with myself!! I seem to remember starting back again about Week 4 which with hindsight was probably a bit stupid but I got away with it on that occasion.
Thank you Nobby, good to be back and I am still chuffed about your nice comment about my last Race
As someone who is honoured by his old comrades in arms as being the popularly appointed 'Keeper of the Ritual Gasoline Can Which Starts the Massive Bonfire Of Doom' at our reunions (in the yard behind Luigi's Agricultural Implement Outlet Store and Dentisty Practice Office) a few times a year, I don't exactly get too surprised when bodily injury occurs. ( Sunday nights 'feet of literal flames' was a classic )
I was pissed a little bit at myself a bit, as usual pushed my luck too far - but life is for the living ultimately Every day 9 to 5 can be totally unpredictable at times anyway so the ups and downs are going to happen and sometimes it us and sometimes its something else
'Stupid' is often about as quantifiable as 'lovely'. Most of us here are 'unlikely runners' after all We might push our luck sometimes, but we at least give it a go. Now - if I run with a dislocated hip again...yes, they will have a 'stupid scale' finally...it will be marked in increments of 'Irish Johns' LOL
But even me..NEVER again will I risk being on the IC through carelessness, stuborness, pride or 'feeling lucky'
We all run together John, whether it's at your compound, or once round the park or 5 times round the park! Looking forward to sharing your comeback journey as you successfully complete the program again...And we Know you will😊xxx
You're so right John, I had a 5k to run this morning, had to wait half an hour while my phone finished charging, so read a few posts while I was waiting including yours and all the replies!
Fully inspired I went out in the drizzle and did my run. Knowing everyone in the forum is out there striving to do their best is enough motivation to keep me going...
Job called off today due to weather so am going for a long walk later. Day three week one tomorrow - looking forward to it already because I know how much I will enjoy it. First go around it was all 'OMG - I have to run for 90SECONDS!!!!" LOL
Ahh the old memories!! What?? I hate running!! Run for 2, 3, 5 minutes?? Are you mad??
Wow, if only I could run a mile...! What an impossible dream!!
What...?? W5R3 going from 12 minutes to 20??? (times might be incorrect, can't remember, I know it was a "massive" jump in time, didn't sleep much the night before).
Wow! The people on these forums are amazing! Kind hearted, supportive, funny! (think one of them might be a professional assassin, have to be very nice to him....) all gone through or going through the same trials and doubts...eat my dust gremlins!
The accomplishment of getting the virtual "graduate" badge!! Thank you very much, I'm speechless(!) I'd like to thank my....
Then running for 30 minutes, every time! (apart from practice runs!) (TM) (C) (R) Irish John Enterprises Ltd.
Helping to support the newbies as a wise and learned "runner."
And then....personally, gradually running less and less...
Dancing more and more, going to freestyles and dancing for 3 or 4 hours non stop, finish a dance, grab another lady, repeat....wow where do you get your stamina from? the pretty ladies ask...
Then 3 or 4 weeks later try out another treadmill run, don't want to *ever* be unfit again...
...have to run for at least 30 minutes to match my graduation....cover the time up...wow! I can still run for 40, 50, 62 minutes..!!
No motivation to run a 10k or even a half marathon but extremely proud and happy that I started the couch to 5k and didn't quit when it got difficult!
I may not post much anymore but I keep on checking in from time to time. Still think that guy is an assassin though...
Like they used to say - (point at head) Up here for thinkin', (point at feet) Down there for Dancin'
Would definitely be a Dancer if I had the coordination Simmy - there were guys I teamed with who would have hit me for a week continuously with rusty barbed wire if I had said I love watching really proficient Ballroom dancers (And NO - we were not Assassins).
Part of what I like about running though is the solitude - not loneliness, just being 'forced' to kind of draw down the mental chatter and come fully aware of self, surroundings, periphery, activity etc in the very present moment.
Dancing is kind of the opposite mental environment but equally liberating - and MUCH more 'intriguing' if you have a nice dancing partner I bet
Anyway, good to hear from you and that you are not on the Sofa or anything like that ( be warned - if I ever hear you are, you can expect a highly trained team of International Assassins to be kicking in your door...
Stay in touch Simmy, after all - at this point we are just about 'OG' status around here LOL But seriously, do swing by now and then OK
OG?? Own goal, own goat, old git, old guy, oi grandma?...Oh gorgeous!! We are wise with mountains of running knowledge to draw upon (well if you want to know how to run five miles)! The newbies tremble under the weight of our combined enlightenment! Oh and we are incredibly modest too!
When I dance I sing along with the music, a mix of very modern and older tunes, and forget my worries (not many thankfully) and the night is perfect. Some ladies are amazing and the dance goes sooo quickly and some are very hard to turn, stiff arms etc or like wild stallions, hard to handle and then it's four minutes of hell but I smile and carry on...
Hmmm...this is a running forum isn't it! Yay couch to infinity...!! X
OG - 'Original Gangsta" LOL Infinity - the possibilities that awaited us when we finally did get off the couch. Wild Stallions, Dancing, and Me - 'Wild Stallions would be lighter on their feet than that Irish guy!" LOL.
And Simmy - I am shocked...don't you know that its not SOME ladies that are amazing, it's MOST ladies are amazing
I am glad your worries are few and not stifiling your enjoyment of life, keep on Dancin' OP!. ( Old Pal : )
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W9R1 This morning. And do you know what? I actually enjoyed it!
Now i know why I'm doing this! 
I have graduated - now what (take 2)
First park run done - now I feel like a runner!
W5R2 completely destroyed what PMA i had
