Sat on the IC I’ve had time to ponder (a little impatiently) what C25K does for us….apart from the obvious improvements to physical health - toning of muscles and tightening of flab; strengthening of lungs; fitness; lowering of cholesterol; blood pressure; balancing of stress hormones; sweating out of toxins; blah, blaherty, blah. It clears, strengthens and trains the mind, helps us to cope and gives us a breather from the daily grind, our personal lives and things that life chucks at us. Allows us time to think - or not, whichever we need. It gives us discipline - a seemingly unpopular trait these days.
For me, all this is now a very welcome and hugely appreciated side effect to the original hope of simply to be able to run for 30 minutes and / or 5k. I never expected for one minute to get all these other benefits (well, I hoped I might get a body like Jessica Ennis, but that hasn’t quite happened yet….. Can I get my money back??), but I’d heard about the possibilities and hoped some of it would rub off on me. And it certainly has. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth the persistence and finding my own way through the difficulties.
What I didn’t expect was that I would actually find my own way. I had hope that I wouldn’t give up, but I also thought at some point I would give up. I wasn’t sure I had it in me. Ordinary, old (ish), overweight me, non-exerciser for many years, having tried different sports on and off, ultimately giving up it a big guff of shame… never really getting into anything or feeling like I could be a part of anything or good enough at anything and mightily intimidated by sporty-types, givin’ it large.
Then, with this programme, I do it. And I’m so ridiculously chuffed I could burst. And I start to build a quiet confidence in myself that wasn’t there before. I can run for 30 mins….I can run 5k…. I can run for an hour….I can run 10k (well, I could before the IC!), has all lead to a subtle new assurance that transfers into all of my life. Because I can bloody well do it, don’t you know 
. I am now doing things I never, ever thought I would - going to the gym, attending exercise classes, sticking my bottom up in a downward dog without trying to pull my top down over it at the same time (just not possible ) and not caring. This is huge. Yes - both my bottom and the fact that I don’t care. Yippee! I value myself more at work, my own worth and I have the courage to try and change the things that aren’t right for me anymore. And all of this as a direct result of putting one foot in front of the other for 30 mins.
This isn’t a ‘me, me look at me’ post (really, please don’t look at my downward dog); it’s to say that I am no different to anyone else who feels like they can’t make it or shouldn’t do it…. Having been that person for all of my life But also that the perks of running go far deeper than what we obviously know and see. Running: refreshes the parts other sports can not reach
We are never really too old, too fat, too unfit, too sportingly inept to achieve and succeed at this. For anyone starting out or struggling, yes it can be hard at times but it’s not impossible, our bodies are truly amazing at adapting once they realise what the hell is going on….and this forum is just wonderful to help you through…. it’s all about making it work for you, at your own pace (s-l-o-w-l-y of course!), in your own way. So many of us have, it’s truly possible x
AND THE C25KER ON THE POSTER IS.................
Well that's the 10% rule out of the window!
W9 R2 ✔️ ( I really just wrote that WOW 😝)
There is a voice that does not use words... Listen.🏃♀️🏃♂️🏃♀️ OFF THE COUCH GROUP... POST FOUR... Last Post of the Month.
Surprisingly tough and that's the first run!!!!!
