Back again and regraduation again

[Valcart]

Last summer Laura got me through c25k and I loved it and kept on to 10k graduation. I don't really know what went wrong in the autumn, apart from the clocks changing, but I just stopped running. I've always preferred early morning runs at 6am or so and perhaps dark mornings and wet or cold weather killed off my enthusiasm. I sort of felt I had lost a friend as I had really enjoyed running and the milestone achievements gave me a real buzz.

So Laura and I are friends again and she's got me back through it again. Just completed week 9r1 and when I got to 30 mins and 4k I just said come on old girl get to 5k and you'll feel great. So I did and I felt blooming amazing!

So not giving up this year and wimping out in the autumn again.

Anyone got any tips for me to keep going all year round?

[Fifie]

Well done you! I am in a similar position- trained for a 10k Race in July and continued to run 8-10k weekly with a few 3-5k runs thrown in. Was enjoying it, had gained fitness, lost (some) weight and was feeling good.... and then a calf injury during a parkrun in September happened which made me rest up for a few weeks, and then during those weeks my mum was in a horrendous car incident which she is so lucky to have survived from (but has life changing injuries). Cue hospital visits and evenings spent speaking to solicitors and insurers on her behalf, and before I knew it, I hadn’t run for ages, winter had set in and I tried the odd time, but it was too cold/dark/wet and I just didn’t get back out there.

Last night I finally made the step, and loved it, so hope I keep going!

I don’t have a great deal of advice, I just wanted you to know you weren’t alone.

I used to run in the winter (years ago), and found weekend mornings were my favourites, as i ran just when it got light, so very few people around but not dark.

Winter sunsets are also a thing of beauty if you can time it right!

Invest in winter running kit- I hate having cold hands so wear gloves, and like to keep my ears covered with a headband. I get so hot when running that I don’t need full length leggings, but a lightweight jacket (reflective) is a good purchase. (I’m still trying to find one with zip up pockets, in my size, with reflective elements, but not too thick or heavy, which is waterproof, and doesn’t cost loads...)

Good luck on your journey!

[Gillma Graduate]

I want to know too!!!