Love it! You are so clever! And if it wasn’t for your mantra of slow and steady I would definitely not have graduated! You make it ok to run like a snail 🐌 xx
Hi Floss I am sorry to hear you are feeling down my friend. I wish there was something I could do to help. You’ve been a steady source of inspiration to me and thousands of other runners on this board. I still follow your light touch advice in my head. 😊 Please know that your presence here makes this a better place to be.
Indeed - if you’re going to have a mantra, you may as well make it the most useful/important mantra of all - which for most doing the C25k programme is “slow and steady”.
Now come on hon! There are thousands of people here who love you to bits. If you cut my arm off it will say "Slow and Steady" just like a stick of rock. You are my hero!!!!
Made me smile.... I ran today and lost my little bit of self pity... I dropped it on the coastal path ..thank you!
Oh no! You are the best - WHO has upset you? Sallenson & I will go & sort them out - Team EJB to the rescue! Not trying to be flippant - just trying to make you smile. I really hope it wasn't my comment about you getting cross about the "F" word (fail) You do a great job and I have been very grateful for your help & advice. Please don't let it get you down.
You could never upset me.. you are doing wonderfully
It was just a loaded and snide remark.. and it caught me completely wrong-footed yesterday morning. I just took it too much to heart..from someone who has not posted previously and seemed to know little about the programme or us... and now seems to have disappeared again !
Maybe @sallenson and you scared them off... I am not usually so wimpy...but one or two things just conspired and it was a sort of last straw!
Thank goodness it wasn’t me! Not that that makes it any better! I know what u mean i had a similar experience last week at work. Why do people have to be so nasty? I guess it says more abt them than it does abt us! Onwards & upwards. Glad u r feeling a bit better.
I apply your mantra of "Slow and Steady" (ahem) to many aspects of my live. In fact, I was saying that to MrsMarkyD just the other night, but that's TMI
You are just great Oldfloss and inspire and guide so many of us. Adored by all. The gray day will pass, sometimes just need to give low feelings an airing. Big hugs
Yes.. bad reaction and not really like me.. caught me wrong-footed...We just try our best and sometimes.. it goes pear-shaped..but.. I ran today and the world seems back to normal!
Brilliant post Oddfloss. Just completed Counch to 5k, Week 3 Run 3. Very slow and very steady, but hey I have done it,. I am determined to reach Week 9 this time around. Cathy xxxx
If someone doesn't want to listen to your sage advice, well intended advice - more fool them!! Unfortunately the world is full of ignorant pigs (most of whom always seem to be in the car/aisle/queue in front of me). But the majority of us on here are incredibly grateful for your caring, ever-positive, funny, upbeat, wise comments. And I am sure so very many of us would still be sitting on the couch without your guidance and support.
You rock OF, don't let anyone tell you otherwise xxx
P.S. Fab poem and a great cathartic release I am sure
It was a release..but I felt I should really not have responded straight way.. I was just feeling sneeped.. and had to let it out
Thank you my friend... your support is much appreciated.. and after a run this morning..and a day in the mountains.... I think normal service will be resumed xx
Sad to hear you’re feeling down Oldfloss, personally, I love your posts and your advice has always been both positive and encouraging. Keep doing what you do, and carry on pointing us all in the right direction. 😘🏃♀️🏃♀️
I have had a grumpy day too, mainly due to lack of sleep and a very grumpy grandfiend! Onwards and upwards (to bed) we live to fight another day! It is reassuring to know our heroes have bad days too, thank you for being there for us, despite it all. 👹
Yes, thanks. I managed a 20 minute run yesterday, so feel better for it. I will try driving to a flatter route on Sunday for a gentle 30mins. Not much improvement on the grandfiend front though. Only 12 more weeks before they go home, if the builders stay on track!
I really don't think you know how much your advice means to us all. It's the one piece of advice that I pass on to friends starting the course and my OH who's doing this with me but isn't part of the forum, so needs schooled on these matters. In fact that was the lesson for our last run, he wouldn't listen, thought we needed to increase the pace to achieve 5K in 30 mins on graduation day and stepped it up. He's listening now! It's so kind of the admin staff, mentors and graduates to stick around you teach us newbs from your own experience, and dare I say, mistakes. Not that we always listen, but you do your best, just as parents do with their children and watch them make their own mistakes and dust them off for the next outing. I wish I was as poetic as you to try to voice my appreciation for you, and the others. I hope some of these words reach through your fog and pick you up as you pick us up when needed. Blessings xx
That is so kind... and much appreciated.. I did not crave thanks from the post..just hoped some folk.. might see what we are all of us here, trying to do... A chance remark just hit me hard and maybe wrongly, I responded... but.. feeling loads better now and ready for some more replies x
Glad to hear you're on the up! I'd like to think that the person did not mean to be nasty, that it's a misunderstanding, but then I am ever the optimist. If nothing else, it's given us users of the forum a chance to realise the human side of the mentors and an opportunity to give back. We all take something away from this site and it's not always possible to give something back and hopefully leave it in a better place than we found it. You've given us that opportunity with this post, so thank you once again. The C25K can be a bit of fun, but for a lot of people it's life changing so it must be fantastic to be part of that. With life changing things comes supercharged emotions too, so sensitivity around the forum is a must. I feel we can all take something from this post and hopefully be better for it. Again, blessings to you and the team xx
Oh OF, I if someone is touchy enough to be offended by your advice of slow and steady, thats their tough s—t. 🤬 You have no idea how slow and steady helped me complete c25 and without your encouragement I would never have started the 10k without your belief in me that I can do it and I am. Thanks OF love the poem too. X
Thanks, thanks , thanks... Ali... back on the case today... I was just a bit oversensitive... and a run has cured that.. along with all the support from the great folk on here xxx
I try, but I do love campanulas - I'd like to hold the national collection!!! We have very damp gardens, my neighbour stuck his head over the fence yesterday with a shovel ful of the things. He has taken to using salt but I can't bring myself to do that.
Ooh I love Campanulas too! They're one of my favourite plants. Funnily mine do well and don't get eaten by slugs but I think it depends on the type. My "Loddon Anna" got devoured the first year I planted her but then last year she thrived! What's that about?
If you get to hold the national collection let me know and I'll be there 🤗
We're just back from a few days in Kent - saw Sissinghurst and Pashley Manor. I asked the gardeners in both how they deal with slugs and snails. At Sissinghurst they deal with them early, ie February when they are breeding and they use grit. At Pashley they use nematoids which is where I'll go methinks if I need to. I love lupins but have stopped growing them because they never even make it to the flowering part!
Sorry Floss, this post has gone way beyond running! x
Ha! - nematodes were on the doormat when I got back from Parkrun this morning. Probably a bit late for this year but I shall give it ago. Went to Highgrove recently and they also said nematodes, plus leaving it to natural predators. The man at the local community allotment said crushed egg shells but only if you bake them first. That and a copper ring seems to have kept a courgette safe but it is in a pot. I bought 8 punctata type campanulas , they've had a go at them all and demolished 4 of them.
Oh well - we'll need to set up a separate support group!!
That sounds like a lovely outing. It must be a beautiful area to run in.
Will see how they go - starting early next year will probably be abetter test. At least the Campanula I bought at Hadrian's Wall after the Great North Run has escaped their munching.
Blinking slugs.. although I watched a feature on tree slugs which was fascinating...!
Thanks you.. I over reacted to a remark.. a bit pointed... I think it just touched a nerve... fine now.. a run and a day in the mountains has worked its magic.. and the support from my friends here...xxx
You probably don't realise how much you support and inspire people. The thing with this forum is: I have been on here for five years now and it has changed a lot in that it is so much bigger, but people's worries and questions remain the same. I haven't achieved as much as a lot of people who have come through after me but it is the only social media I do and if it wasn't here I think I would have stopped ages ago. I am inherently lazy, and if I go too long without a run, reading about other's exploits drives me out the door. I know a lot of people disappear off to Facebook after qualifying but there are also people who haven't been keen to have rest days or are chasing times from the start or want to run for longer and you rarely see a graduation post. I like to think they are now super-duper club runners who didn't need the programme, but I suspect it just all fizzled out. I haven't really explained that properly but the support on here from you and others for those starting out and, who like most of us that have been around a while, never dreamt we would run is quite extraordinary. Glad you are feeling better. xx
If I hadn’t of read yours and IannodaTruffe’s posts I’m sure my time doing this programme would have been over in W1 as left to me I probably would have been ignorantly running to race against myself and others posting on the forum instead of acknowledging that when you start to learn any new craft, it takes time.
I’ve taken more than 1 rest day at times-I probably would be graduated by now-but my knee needed nurturing so I took a week off as well as extra rest days between runs and doing this has meant I’ve not had any further trouble with it fortunately so have kept on running.
I’m doing this with my 15 year old daughter and we run as a team so we literally run around our commitments meaning each run is something to be celebrated whatever shade of purple our faces look like at the end of the 30 mins.
From your excellent advisory posts, we run slow and steady reminding each other to slow down. We don’t worry about distance either as getting out to do the runs however slow is a sense of achievement in itself.
You make C25K achievable for all of us out there who maybe have never dared to have thought themselves as runners. The admin team on this fantastic forum between them have the skills and experience to get us through....we just need to be prepared to listen and learn.
Thank you for being there with your support 😊🌟🏃♀️🏃♂️
It is and a run this morning... improved things greatly... a day in the mountains too and the support fromall of you has made a real difference..thank you!
My profile has a "mantras I love" section and yours is top of the list! It got me to the end of C25K and got me up to 10k too.
Yeah I want to go and improve on what I have done but it has always been more important to me to finish the run than to go fast and for this I know that going slow and steady will always win over fast and furious. Thanks for your support and encouragement to me and all the other runners and would be runners on here.
Your post above might be a tad "whiny" but you can get away with most things in prose. I think you need a good long run to cheer yourself up and to send us all one of your lovely picturesque posts. 😉 Hope you don't stay blue for long.
Thanks Richard.. I am not usually a whiny sort but I felt sneeped.. better now and with the support and watching the progress you folk are making..how could I stay down for long... x
Hi Floss, sorry to hear you feel a little deflated, your poem says it all...
we have been through those early runs, so know what its like and are just trying to guide and help with tips and our own experiences.
You wrote a super post a while back explaining that everyone's slow and steady pace is personal to them and how they perceive that to be. Finding that happy pace is the secret to success and so many people continue to run after finishing the program by following your mantra.
You are a brilliant Mentor and always give inspiration and encouragement to everyone. As Fishypieface says you rock, and I hope seeing everyones lovely replies cheers you up...
PS OF just got back from run 1 of week 3 B10k, you were with me every step of the way. Thanks again. Reading all these replies I think you know now how much we think of you 🦋 🐝
Brilliant... go you!!!! Very well done.... the support from the forum friends is priceless :)x
I hope that you are feeling more chipper today OF. Reading all these messages must lift your gloom :). Slow and steady is the best way and you have been an inspiration to so many. I doubt I would have made the grade without you. So don't be downhearted and don't let other people pull you down.
The replies have lifted me so much.... I had not really looked until now, as I ran this morning to shake the negative feelings off and then a day in the mountains of Snowdonia, have helped a lot.
Folk are so kind ans supportive and it is good to reaffirm that the unpleasant folks are few...
Hi ya hope you are feeling a lot better today you can have some of my joy and happiness today even though I can't walk until tomorrow as I am at work today and I have decided to switch off the distance part in my brain so I can walk as far as I can when I go out.
Hope you’re feeling better today, OF. This running lark is full of ups and downs. I’m not feeling the love much at the moment, but I will keep plodding in - I just have to remind myself of the benefits.
Slow and steady is good - even though everyone seems to want fast and furious. I’m getting slower (but steadier!), but who cares? Just me, so I have to learn not to care - and you help there!
Thank you my friend.. yes, I am feeling better.. a slow and steady did it for me this morning and then reading all the kind replies from the forum friends has sealed the recovery...
Hope it all comes together for you... and yes, the only way is, one slow step at a time.. and just look where it gets us xxx
Aw Floss I'm sad that you're feeling ☹️ But look at the responses here! You are much loved, admired and listened to. There are always going to be a few here who don't listen and think they know better but we all know what usually happens to them!
I've said this before, this place just wouldn't be the same without you and you do an amazing job.
I hope you have a brilliantly happy run today. I'll join you (tentative jogette after two weeks on the IC 🙁)
I feel better...much.. and this morning, and as ever.. you always run with me.... the support from the friends on here is incredible..I feel very humble !
I hope you enjoyed the run.. we did a short one then a bit longer then a short, finish off... it was gentle though...
Thank you for the support you have always given me, in all things, not just my running xxxxxx
Hope you're feeling better today. Just wanted to say how much I have appreciated your input on this journey. I am naturally inclined to go way too fast and push myself way too hard and while I might not always heed it, your "slow and steady" mantra has been a great help to me many times.
You were first to respond to my first panicky post about the speed I needed to achieve for the Army. I was struggling to run for 3 mins then and the advice you gave me (to complete the programme and the speed would come later) has, of course, proved to be absolutely spot on. Thank you x
Firstly you are a fantastic role model for older runners (and everybody else)---if you are past 60 it can be hard to believe running is possible but you are really fit and run for long distances. It is inspiring so thank you for showing us that it can be done.
Also running is hard for some. Some can just go out and run fast and for a long time but for others ,including myself, have to work really hard to build up strength and fitness. Your message of "slow and steady" encourages people who can't run fast because it makes room in the running world for people who are not natural runners. That's a really good thing.
That is much appreciated...I am glad that the advice from me and us on our great Admin Team, is really useful;
It is truly amazing where slow and steady gets us... I know that every time I run... I still can hardly believe I am doing It. Onward and upward.. well done you !
Oldfloss your advise is the best, you may be sick of saying it but we sure aren’t sick of hearing it 😃 I for one thank you for being the snails advocate 😂
Love that.... Snail's Advocate.....thank you.. I am almost back to being me now and the support has been amazing, and humbling... I needed to get my sensible head on and should not have reacted as I did!!!
Fortunately....(or unfortunately for some I shall never change my mantra... If I can get from no running.....to training for my first HM.....then it must work !! xxx
OF don’t regret putting it out there. It’s ok to feel crappy sometimes without the downs we don’t appreciate the ups!
I’m sure the response has shown you just how much you are loved here and how many of us hear your words of wisdom in our heads whilst out running... that’s amazing!
They will keep coming....I have stopped feeling so sorry for myself and with the support from all my friends on here.. the only was us up.... slow and steady
I would have never got this far without your advice, I remember during one difficult run saying to myself 'old floss says slow and steady' over and over again..it got me through that particular run and more recently its been getting me through other difficult life events. As a matter of fact, slow and steady is a really sensible approach to all matters in the universe. I was rushing around like an headless chicken the other day and a friend looked at me and said its alright to rush but rush slowly. You Oldfloss Bluebirdrunner and IannodaTruffe are responsible for getting thousands of us off that couch and running, I didn't believe it possible and I didn't believe I would feel as healthy ..Thank you all.
Thank you.. all of us, really, really appreciate your reply....I just over reacted and was a bit silly... i should know better..but back to it, now, and having had a run today and been in the mountains all day.. I feel so much better!!! xx
Not an over reaction and actually it gives us an opportunity not to take what we have in this forum; in the form of our mentor and administrators for granted. Its greatly appreciated and I know you must all give up so much of your time.
Who's upset our lovely nan! I love you a little bit OldFloss... We need your sage advice, and you should be sooo immensely proud of the work you do and the thousands of people you have helped through this programme to find a new lease of life. x
I got a tad upset over a pointed remark. I really am old enough to know better...but.. the run this morning and a day in the mountains has worked and getting back to the support from all of you has just made it all seem right again! xx
Before I mastered Slow and Steady, I was Fast And Very Unsteady, and that didn't end up as a bundle of laughs, so thank you for all advise! Ignore random posts from people who won't understand/are unwilling to know/and care to offend.
Old floss you old sage, your advice has been so immeasurable in the last couple of weeks. Helping me as a complete novice to running not to give up because I feel too slow. It's the time running at whatever speed if important not the distance. But your slow and steady approach has got me running 3 minutes, two weeks ago would have filled me with dred and an impossible target. I have no real idea of week 4 will bring I don't check ahead but your advice is in every step slow and steady. I can only imagine how many people you have helped strangers beyond a screen but you have become a running friend. Always be slow and steady. x
I’ve been missing your posts, so I went to your page to see if I had missed any and found this post. I know you have heard it many times, but I will say it again… You’re slow and steady mantra has been so important to me and my success so far. Keep it up! And don’t let the Negative Nancy’s get you down 😇
Thank you very much. The negative remarks just hit me when I was at a bit if a low point..normally I would have just taken a big breath..but I let it upset me.
The friends on here;as ever rallied round and sorted me out 😉
Back on track now..doing my bit with the others and hopefully helping a tad. It is a real joy to me to share folks' adventures.
You are doing wonderfully..thanks for replying to me xxx
Slow and steady has helped me all the way. I regale all your advice to everyone, don’t let the buggers get you down! Many thanks for all your help and support 😍🏃♀️🏃♀️
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Week 4 - feeling a bit deflated
Hello Mr Mojo!!!! Great to have you back :D
I've done it, week 9 run 3 completed!
Only 7 runs to go!!!! W7R2 
