Does it get easier.... ? Or ..this one was for Sallenson...

[Oldfloss]

A question asked many times...and latterly by our young friend, he who is famed in song and story , sallenson

Does it get easier....? Maybe.. perhaps...not always... sometimes... if we are lucky?

There is no definitive answer... but..what is true is that, if you follow the programme... if you take each run steadily and slowly at your own pace... you do get stronger and stronger.

As you learn to run, you listen to your body... you learn to recognise the signals your body is giving you...you heed the messages and the warnings...and you revel in the relaxed moments when your body simply finds its own happy pace...

I posted a day or so ago... about speed or rather, the need for the lack of it

Of the need to take care and to ensure a safe and injury free running path to Week 9.. and thus, achieve the relaxed style of running which will take you on to Graduation and beyond.

Today.. I intended to do a long, 12K run, sallenson was coming with me... ( he did not know that ). I went out early..but not early enough. The weather was hot by 7.30 a.m. and very humid. I completed the first few kilometres very coolly and comfortably , in the shade of some huge trees, in the shadowy, dappled depths of the lanes around Cricceth and Llanystumdwy. A few more Ks under my belt and I was out into the sunshine , where already, the air, thickened by heavy blossom was slowing me down a tad. So... I listened to that voice which does not use words...

I pull back gently, relax.... move lightly, land lightly and slowly until , by 6K... my legs are simply carrying me along, without me even thinking about them...They know what they are doing..they are strong. I breathe gently... I relax my hands and my shoulders... I feel the warmth on my back as I turn towards the coastal path and the sea. I am strong, and I am getting stronger with each and every run, short or long.

Down to the sea and the fresher air, but still the humidity and the heat... along the coastal path at a steady and an even pace... the ping of my Garmin marking off the distance...hedgerows heavy and the dusty path... the sea, like the proverbial millpond stretching seamlessly into the blue. My pace will not win any races, my pace is not fast, but it is my pace...my happy, easy pace

Turning and heading homeward... I know I have just over two more kilometres to do.... but I also know , it is getting even hotter... at the moment I am comfortable, I feel like I could run and run... and I know, also, it is for me, time to stop. The Esplanade stretches before me.. the last lap before the hill home. I do stop... my intended run is not complete... I am 2 K short... am I unhappy ... ? No.

This was a good run, a happy run.... and there will be more.

So, maybe there is an answer to, will it get easier? Yes, if we just follow our plans, but listen also, to our body and maybe, just let it happen ?

PS

Sallenson is, already, doing wonderfully

[Jullaly Graduate]

I love this, its given me the opportunity to reflect and realise how far I have come from those first couple of weeks of 'panic' running, too fast, panting too hard. I know im slow as that snail but im at my happy pace, breathing comfortably and enjoying the journey.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jullaly]

You have done and are doing wonderfully!!

Slow is happy... and yes, there will be times for many here on the forum, when the speed does become part of their running... but building up really is the key, and for me.. relaxing into it

Well done you

[Jay66UK Graduate]

I love that approach. And having read it I feel intensely mellow and relaxed. Thanks for sharing x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Thank you... hold that feeling as you move through the day. I often repeat to myself, in all situations.. slow and steady! x

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

You have responsibility for half of the words in my running mantra - Low and Slow. 😘

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Brilliant

[18Windmill Graduate]

Lovely stuff. Feeling chilled before bed now! 👍👍👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to 18Windmill]

I hope you slept easy Thank you x

[JaneE71]

I love your writing Oldfloss, sincere and calming words that are felt by us all and lift us to a better running place in our minds.

Myself and my wonderful daughter wouldn’t have got this far without listening to you and making our runs slow and steady.

In fact, we had an amazing run today-relaxed into our pace for 25 mins and felt very happy afterwards-we put the world to rights on the way and even managed a quick bit of exam revision for her!

Running is cathartic,it’s therapeutic, it’s free, it both challenges us all here and builds us, we can be of any age, and from anywhere. We can all find our own pace as the runs belong to us however snail like we are 🐌⭐️

[Nannalyn53 Graduate in reply to JaneE71]

Thanks for this and the other replies to Oldfloss’s wise words. I have recently begun to believe that I can do this, having graduated a few months back but only recently crept up to 5k. I’m now starting to tackle hills which have been my nemesis, but this morning I managed a circuit involving several long inclines which have forced me to walk in the past. Not today - by really slowing even more I was able to keep running the whole way. Oldfloss is right, every run makes you stronger in body, and in mind too if you can let it.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Nannalyn53]

Very, very well done you x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to JaneE71]

Thank you.. you are doing wonderfully... and the fact that the running impacts our lives in so, so many ways is a real bonus

PS

Hope the exams are going well

[HoagyM Graduate]

Wonderful post OldFloss, thank you! You described exactly how I feel about running, but much more eloquently and poetically than I ever could.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to HoagyM]

Well done.. you' have got it It is a terrific feeling isn't it... thank you

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

You are awesome Floss, taking a 10k run in your stride... a brilliant role model and not too much snail either😆xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you my friend.. and another one tucked away..not quite what I had in my mind but so so pleasant xxx

[Razouski]

What a wonderful post Oldfloss, and a marvellous relaxed run. Love the photo. 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Razouski]

It was.... thank you. Yes.. i could not resist...

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Lovely post, as ever, Oldfloss , our bodies are amazing & can do amazing things, if we just listen....x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Mummycav]

Hey you... I hope your foot is feeling easier???

Yes..listening is one of the first things we have to learn isn't it.. and the further we go on this running lark. it is still important Thank you.

[sallenson Graduate]

Aww, hon!! No-one's called me "young" for a while., bless ya!

I loved running with you. That felt very special. And the Jelly Babies crooned along with us as we snailed our way down the Esplanade.

Running is best when you have a friend alongside you... xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to sallenson]

Thanks you.. you have got the idea anyway

PS

Bet you are glad we didn't do that extra 2K x

PPS

The last K ... was the fastest... mainly because it is downhill

[Ripcurlrana71]

What a lovely run you had - I felt I was running along with you! I think the C25k makes many including myself worry/obsess about the targets set on each run albeit time of run or distance/pace achieved. I need to shake that and try and relax and enjoy as you clearly do. Thank you for letting me join you. 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️ x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Thank you..this was one of my shorter rambles

I feel very lucky..not just to have runs like this, but to feel a part of other folks' runs too

[DeeRunning Graduate]

Lovely post and beautiful writing. You've just described a dream run. Looking forward to achieving that one day.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to DeeRunning]

I hope for most of us it will come... learning to relax for me.. was the key... thank you

[Birdsong53 Graduate]

In a word Oldfloss, inspiring. Thank you. 😘

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Birdsong53]

Thank you..just the way it feels to me... wonderfully

[LoungeLizaard Graduate]

Such a beautiful piece or writing. I was there in my head imagining it as a mantra.

Just about to hit W7 like a steam roller (and about as fast as one) and I’ve had glimpses of the happy place where my body just takes over...... unfortunately all of my various body parts are not in the same ‘mental’ place so invariably there are still a few complaints and a lot of wheezing at the end. Lol.

Great run and fantastic advice - thank you x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to LoungeLizaard]

hang on in there... let it just happen... and enjoy. Thank you and well done

[Flaraflarkin Graduate]

Thank you Oldfloss , this is just what I needed to hear before heading out on today's run - I was harsh on myself and felt defeated after I didn't complete my last run - oblivious to what I have achieved so far! I need to get back to "slow n steady" ~ I shall be taking you with me today 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Flaraflarkin]

Hope it went well for you.. and that you are feeling much more positive

[Bridget007 Graduate]

If I didn’t already run that post would make me want to start 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Bridget007]

Great... that is what we want... unite the world with runners xxx

[Hidden]

An inspiration. I am striving to be as experienced as you. Don't know if I'll ever get there but I'm in this for the long haul now. Fantastic post. Thank you.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Oh you will, you will!!!

I love to see the folk I have met on this running path, move on, way, way past me and achieve wonderful things and all the time having great fun

Like you

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Ha ha! Thank you but I don't think I will be passing you anytime soon!

[Eiralas Graduate]

Thanks Oldfloss, that was a beautiful post. I will carry this with me on my next run, trying for lightness and a gentle slow pace ♥️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Eiralas]

Go for it...but gently :)x

[Linbee50]

After my moan today of does it get any better.. I clicked on this link and read it through.. how very inspiring 😀 this is why I signed up for C25K, I want to feel like this! Thank you 👍🏻👍🏻

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Linbee50]

Thank you... enjoy your running... it is what it is all about

[DeterminedBear Graduate]

And another wonderful post by Oldfloss!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to DeterminedBear]

Thank youx

[Myrar Graduate]

The words of wisdom are very rare to find. I feel privileged to be able to get the inspiration from you ..Your a rare breed oldfloss ..long may your writing of wisdom keep us all going slow and steady ...Thank you x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Myrar]

Thank you.. your words mean a lot

[martinhermanus]

Yes ... yes ... yes ... yes ... I can run the same distance and time I did three months ago and not be so tired. Do I want to give up every run? Yes. Do I prefer to feel fit? Yes. I was truly exhausted after 5 km and remained on the couch for the rest of the day. Now I am fine provided I keep my heart around 180 😂☺😊