On the morning of Sunday 2nd April 2017 I started C25k. I had not run for many years. I had gone from an active job to a sedentary one over the years and had gradually become overweight and unfit.
When I started W1R1 I had spent the past 3 months doing 15-25mins of HIIT exercises 3-4 times a week, So I had lost a lot of fat and was beginning to look more toned. I had not however, built up my cardio-fitness, so although I could exercise for short bursts, I had no stamina. Also, HIIT is pretty brutal and I needed a change.
I found C25k by accident, but I liked the fact that it offered up to 30mins running. This would be nice and manageable in any busy lifestyle. I signed up prepared to commit to 9 weeks of running x3 per week, fully expecting to move on to something else when I had 'graduated'.
In the end the programme took me eleven weeks as I had managed to injure my knee, which cost me some time back on the couch, or the IC as I had taken to calling it from my time on here. This forum, by-the-way is just as important as the programme itself. The advice, guidance and general support got me through so many of those runs.
Graduation was nice, but it wasn't the great satisfaction I had expected. Mainly because within this time something more special had happened. I had become a runner. This wasn't the end, it was just another running week. I had experienced the highs and some of the lows of life as a runner, and it had just become part of me and what I do.
I joined Park run. I signed up for a race, but mostly I ran alone. Running in groups is great fun, but running on your own is the best. Just you and the road/track in front.
I was adamant for a long time that 5k was my limit. All I had time for was 30mins of running, and I had never got to the end of 5k and felt that I wanted to (or even could) run more.
However, my daughters both started running. They joined the local junior parkrun, and have both joined me (and I them) on man runs since. So other than improving my health and fitness it has had a knock-on effect of improving theirs too.
Unfortunately, last Autumn my knee injury made a return visit. My GP told me that I would need to stop running for at least a month. I was gutted. It made me re-evaluate a few things. I decided that when I got back to running I was going to take the opportunity to prove something to myself. I decided to run a HM!!
Well yesterday I did it, less than a year after taking up running, I ran a HM. It has be a wonderful life affirming experience taking up running. I don't always have good runs, I certainly have plenty of days when I'd rather stay indoor than go out and run, but I never regretted running, not once. The HM was the most demanding physical experience I have ever had, but also one of the best. I will be back next year. I never thought I would say that; I never thought I would feel this way about running. But thank you C25K plan and forum - I owe you more than my limited vocabulary can possibly express.
One of my favourites
The things c25k can do to you!
Hello! Missed you all. Update on Post C25k life 
Thank you C25K!
8K run in the sun... thank you C25K!
My C25k Story (for those who have had to try more than once) 🏃♂️
