First post-to say thanks

[Karen_greg]

I have not posted on here before but have followed everyone’s stories with admiration-I just didn’t think I had anything interesting/inspiring to add. But I am about to embark on my final week and felt I needed to post something to say thanks before I graduate. Everyone seems to have bad/hard runs and I’m no exception. I had often thought I must be mad and having some kind of mid-life crisis when getting up at 5.30am to fit in a run before work. But I would be reading all your posts and realise I wasn’t the only one and took inspiration from knowing I also wasn’t the only one having good and bad times. But W7 was by far my worst and best week. To explain a bit more, part way in to my C25K journey-i can’t remember exactly which week but it was on a morning I was feeling particularly ‘high ‘ after a good run-I signed up to do the race for life 5K - thinking I would have completed the program-however I turned out it actually fell on W7R3 🙈😬 (I put the miscalculation down to my age😝) I was trying to remain positive but W7R1&2 were the worst I’d ever had, (not sure if it was nerves about the impending 5K or my mental state-stressful week at work!) but I came back after R1 and cried for half an hour not wanting to run ever again!!! I ended up on here reading your stories and feeling fresh enthusiasm picked myself up and set out on R2- which turned out to also be bad!! I only just managed to run the 25mins but my breathing was off and my lungs felt like they were going to implode,my legs felt like lead and my face looked like it had been boiled!! Wondering why I was even bothering, as normal I came on here to find some solace that I wasn’t the only one who had off days and to soak up all the positive support that everyone gives. I had a moment of realisation that 7 weeks ago I could barely run 1 min without feeling how I had after this last run, and despite how awful I had felt I had actually run for 25mins!! So I decided I would just treat this as my W7R3- I would run at least the 25 mins and if I had to walk the rest it was still going to be an achievement! So on the day I set off with Laura in my ear, my freshly renewed positive thinking from the posts on here and off I went . I’m not sure if it was the fantastic atmosphere (& knowledge of the good cause) the glorious weather and the fact we were running along the prom by the side of the beach, but before I knew it Laura was saying we’d finished, I felt surprised enough to be able to run the 5min warm down, with the promise to myself I’d walk after that. However buoyed on by the fact I was still breathing and running -I kept going. I did have to drop to a walk for about a minute in the last 1K to recover my breathing as I wanted to be sure I would be able to run over the finish line, and so I completed my first 5k in 38.59mins 😆🏃‍♀️So this is my first ,& apologies for the somewhat lengthy,post to say thank you for all your unknown support and good luck to everyone on their C25K journey-you CAN do this x

[Ambr456 Graduate]

Wow! Well done!

[Karen_greg in reply to Ambr456]

Thank you 😊

[cobrien]

Well done

[Karen_greg in reply to cobrien]

Thank you ☺️

[ccarter100]

Excellent job!!!

[Karen_greg in reply to ccarter100]

Thank you 😊

[Hidden]

What a lovely post Karen, thank you for sharing your story. Now you have been here, don't be a stranger. Maybe you will be able to use your experience to cheer other people on!

Medal looks great btw

[Karen_greg in reply to Hidden]

Thank you-was so surprised I forgot to get one taken after so did it when I got home 😊

[Hidden]

Good for you I ve puffed and panted my way round a 5 k course couple of times a few years back but the one thing I found was the other runners encourage you as the run past you ( even with pushchairs ) . I m just coming to the end of week 3 so am apprehensive on doing week four but not ( hopefully) going to let it beat me .

[Karen_greg in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, hoping to do the local park run once I’ve graduated this week. Stay positive and remember how much longer you have managed to go each week 🏃‍♀️ You will be fine 😊

[Hidden in reply to Karen_greg]

Thank you . Well done on your achievement too 👍

[Hidden]

Fabulous! I’m glad I’m not the only one whose face looks like it’s been boiled. Respect to you for going for it.

[Karen_greg in reply to Hidden]

Definitely not the most glamorous look haha 😊

[wyersmith Graduate]

Fantastic! Well done. Better late than never with your first post! Good luck with the rest of the plan. Sounds like today have you your mojo back!

[Karen_greg in reply to wyersmith]

Thank you, yep this week has been so much easier, actually looking forward to my W9R3 tomorrow 😆

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Congratulations!

[Karen_greg in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you 😊

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Welcome, wow and well done. 😀 If this is a mid- life crisis then we all need one!!

So W8 & 9 - no worries- you know that you can do it! 😃

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

PS - boiled face - yep, I have several t-shirts!😀

[Karen_greg in reply to Elfe5]

I thought the old hot flushes were bad but OMG by the time I’m finished I’d make a lobster look anemic 😝

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Well done Karen , that is a lovely post. It’s amazing what you can do , especially when there are others around to run with. You have done brilliantly today and I hope you’ve raised lots for cancer research too. Be proud of yourself and continue the journey towards W9R3. Well be waiting for you. 👏🏃‍♀️🏅

[Karen_greg in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you, I was so worried I didn’t tell many people but luckily managed to beat my target by 130%. But will definitely apply to do the next one and promote it a whole lot more-such a good cause

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

A great post.

Let's hear some more.

[Karen_greg in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, hopefully my next post will be confirming my graduation 🏃‍♀️😊