This is Bill (pictured). Bill does not take it easy out there. Don't be like Bill ;)

[Irish-John]

Programme from scratch again....

The App version of C25K I use is the same as last time - "Fitness 22". nominal cost, no music (that I know of) and you do the 5K in 8 weeks and a 35 minute run.

I worked most of today on ladders affixing various bricks, holdfasts etc. I am no Fred Dibnah - that's for sure LOL

Got home and straight out the door to the Park. D3/W1 (again). Five minute warn u walk then 8 one minute runs alternating with one and a half minute walks, then five minute cool down walk.

Tried Compression socks for the first time. they felt uncomfortable - wont repeat that I think

Anyway - I know I was dangerously bored when I originally did C25K. But today I got a wee shock as to just how desperate I must have been to 'wake up' and 'do something'. During the third running segment I really felt the heavy legs, heavy breathing, tight chest etc....it was hard to believe I actually graduated from this programme! I was not running 'too fast' or anything either - its just my muscles starting to get a work out again even though I have lost very little actual fitness after the three months layoff.

It just seemed rather 'strange' and even a bit 'ludicrous' that I was running, hard to describe it and not at all pleasant. I think its 'Lizard Brain' wanting to get me back safe on a sofa...but it also knows that I know I am not going to quit short of injury. So, it was a half-hearted effort by LB to begin with and it passed quickly enough

Again - if you are new to this programme please understand that just about EVERY graduate here has felt like you - at times a wee bit 'I can't do this'!!! But, we did and so can you

There will always be days and runs where you will feel like quitting...but do keep going I went from not having run more than a hundred aces in my life due to Asthma and screwed up foot bones to graduating from the 5 and the 10K Programme and before my injury in November was very nonchalantly doing 38 minute 5Ks without too much trouble So, if you think the Graduates are somehow 'different' than you - no we are not. C25K and this forum are not for 'Natural born Athletes', its for us 'cannot run' folk who wish we could run. And that desire is eminently attainable as long as you just go out the door and put one foot in front of the other one running ste at a time

Wishing you all the many happy miles that await you in your future

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Week 1 done already!

How is your hip feeling John? Ditch the compression socks, you didn't need them last time.

What are you doing up ladders again..I thought your hard grafting days were behind you.😊xx

Onwards and upwards my friend...

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Socks will not be donned again Hip is OK - tomorrow will be a good indicator between waking up to whatever develops during the night and its going to be really hard graft on the job site - many buckets of mortar need to be mixed, carried and slung for this job...

Back on the ladders because of a combination of boredom and economics. Need some cash flow to go to Ireland and UK in May, cannot abide sedentary work (and it does not pay anything like this does LOL ) so - chimneys that need repair and restoration.

And I firmly believe - based on the relatively paltry heights I have only been up in comparison- that Fred Dibnah was not of this Earth, Nope, no way, never. : /

[IgaT Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Good to hear that your hip is better and you're back on the running path

Good luck! And as always onwards and upwards!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to IgaT]

Thank you IgaT ☺

[midgetdisco in reply to Irish-John]

IMHO Fred Dibnah was a God. It never ceases to amaze me watching the old videos of Fred climbing the chimneys with such ease, stopping for a fag break half way up and defying gravity all the way.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to midgetdisco]

Those ladders...held on with a couple of dog irons and twine.... I simply could not do it, and how he did is a total mystery. DEFINITELY not of our makeup 😯

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Yes but you WILL do it John Boy, because you can.

I have one pair of compression socks...... they have been relegated to the bottom of the draw because they are such a nuisance to get on and off. There is a danger of breaking my sparkly nails........ that cannot be allowed to happen, a girl needs sparkly nails LOL.

Take care up and down those ladders!

Is a Parkrun planned in Ireland John?

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

I'm worried about my sparkly nails also!

Barring hip popping out again, I will go as far as I can eventually. And yes, those compression socks are uncomfortable

Park run in Ireland, would love to do one and will be trying to set up for one, right now though total nightmare trying to figure tickets and itinerary, lots of variables have to be worked in.

But, all will be well I'm sure

[Badrunner]

Thank you so much for this post. It reminds me that I can do it... because others before me I have done it.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Badrunner]

Yep - I literally had a blue tinge around my eyes and lips after day one, and with everything else there was "no way" I could do the programme. My only ambition was to see if someday I could do week three, I'm serious.

The programme works You will graduate, just keep doing the hard bit - gearing up and those few steps that get you out the door

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

That is not Bill in the picture. It is me, on a school night, after work, trying to keep the troops in order.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to HeleneCorsa]

...if we had met in time, you would have been the love of my life! 😀 LOL 😂

[HeleneCorsa Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Haha!

[Simmypie Graduate]

"Again - if you are new to this programme please understand that just about EVERY graduate here has felt like you - at times a wee bit 'I can't do this'!!! But, we did and so can you"

"So, if you think the Graduates are somehow 'different' than you - no we are not. C25K and this forum are not for 'Natural born Athletes', its for us 'cannot run' folk who wish we could run."

Yet another inspirational post John!

You are a wonderful person! So encouraging all the time

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Simmypie]

Thanks Simmy If you ever need a Hit carried out...erm, I mean if you ever need any hints or anything...let me know

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Great post Irish-John ...I agree with everything you’ve said...we are no different to the newbies our lives have just been changed for a little bit longer!!! Love Fred Dibnah...I have mental images of you shinning up chimneys!!! The only socks you need are running socks coz you are a runner & a Flippin good one at that!!! Hip hip hooray you’re back (pardon the pun!!!) 😉

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Mummycav]

Thank You MC - I don't like heights AT ALL, but we all have our demons Fred was definitely wired differently than most. The famous Indian Tribe over here would have climbed with him - but never with the sheer enjoyment and lack of fear he had If you want to test your mental fortitude - watch a movie called 'the Walk'...on as big a screen as you can I literally was cringing no matter how many times I watched the wirewalking sequnce.. youtube.com/watch?v=eiie7vQ...(Not working as expected?)

[Irish-John Graduate]

Thanks again all. A very rough day at the chimneys today - but I feel fine! I am beginning to think that I have been very lucky and that the Physio stuff actually works! Going to Yoga in a while, then D1/W2 tomorrow

Life is looking up