✔My first charity race/run!✔

[Mayanow]

I woke up at 6:30, had my tea and a banana and off i went. I could not believe the amount of people running: half marathon, 10k, 5k and kids' 1k = total 1146 runners!

I knew i had to go slow and steady so off we went but at 1k my pace was... 6.40 instead of somewhere around 7.50ish!!! So it is true you get carried away from the others' pace.

That was a tad too fast which i paid for later on. I got tired at all inclines and did some of them with a brisk walk. Couldn't be helped.

I definitely prefer running in the afternoon and did not enjoy the sun burning me most of the way!

I also tried to be careful with the hydration: had some water early on and none during the race. Unfortunately, after 3.5k i really needed the loo. Had to do some mind control to get through the race!!! Awful! It's never happened to me on my regular runs!

Anyway the atmosphere was wonderful throughout and despite my little hurdles, i managed to finish in 37 minutes!!!👍🥂 whaaaaat?! and... not last (although i was prepared for that!) : I finished 267th out of 371 5k runners and 71st out of 148 women! Which is FAN%#@TASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

I then sat for a cold coffee at a cafe right by the finish line and watched them come in. And it was the first time i saw a race and i was part of it!! Yay! I have come a very long way...

*The half marathon winner did it in 1:21 !! Now that is amazing!

But so am I! Hahaha And so is everyone on c25k cos we made this extra-ordinary decision, stuck it out and really transformed our lives!

So CONGRATULATIONS to everyone here. I thought of many of you while i ran who supported me before i went out there. Thank you so much! 🎵🎶

...You can tell i am very happy right? 😁😁😁

[Lissy24 Graduate]

Fabulous. I'm beaming with happiness even though I don't know you. It is true we're doing amazing things right now. Well done ☺

[Mayanow in reply to Lissy24]

Thank you lissy!! It is a loving community isn't it? It's because we KNOW what this means! I feel so happy with other people's achievements too!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

A MA ZING!! Knew you could do it! Very very well done! 👏👏👏 Bet you can’t you wait for your next one now! 😀

Hope you’re suitably proud of yourself! 😀😀🥂

[Mayanow in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Hi cheeky!! I think i might be over the top proud but who's judging?!!! 😍😍😍 i did better than i thought, it was amazing.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

Well there’s no such thing as too proud or too over the top, so go for it! You’re awesome! ❤️👏👏👏👏👏

[Mayanow in reply to cheekychipmunks]

How right you are cheeky!!! 💋💋💋 (those are happy kisses!)

i can always climb down from my happy cloud tomorrow!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

Nah, stay a few days! 😅😀🏃‍♀️👍

[Hidden]

Well done you! I told you you would do well! And you did 😁. Luckily you didn’t wee yourself 😂.

But seriously well done. I bet you’ve got loads planned now haven’t you? 71st out of 148?!? That’s really good. Are you sure you’re not a professional?? 😂👍🙏👍

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Ahahahah ok dave. How much is.my.mum paying you?

It is good isn't it? And i thought with all those walk breaks i would be last but i did well!!! Uphill still is a struggle for me. But you know what? I won't set a target. I'll just do my runs and watch my progress. And see what happens!

You believed in me more than i did. Thank you!

[Hidden in reply to Mayanow]

😂shes paying me loads!! 😂 yeah it’s better just go with it and see where you get to. I’ve not been for a run in around a week. Trying to take it easy on my knee for a bit. 😢. I’m feeling the achey need to go out and run though. It does feel great when you’re out there huffing and puffing along doesn’t it!?

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Is it still bad your knee?

Yep it's wiser to let it heal otherwise you risk a much longer break from happy huffing and puffing!! You could do a bit of swimming if you reeeeally must work out.

...just saying! 😴

[Hidden in reply to Mayanow]

Yeah I could do swimming. Not really having the time may be an issue 😬 I can’t just nip out for a swim like I can a run. Unless it’s in a muddy puddle 👍.

Have you looked for your next park run yet then? I didn’t realise you get a medal!! I definitely want to do it now !

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done you.

This does not look like an average parkrun to me. Parkrun is a worldwide movement providing free weekly 5k runs open to all comers, probably somewhere in your vicinity parkrun.com

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Mayanow in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you!

It is not. I live in Athens Greece. There is no such thing unfortunately... but there are many charity runs and just straightforward races you can enter.

I did check out parkrun.com but no luck. 🤐

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Mayanow]

I was looking for clues in the photo as to where you were. I should have guessed from your statement about the hot sun that you were not in the UK this weekend!

[Mayanow in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Ahaha nooo. But i wish i was!😍

We had about 30 degrees today. Not the best companion for a run!

[Mayanow in reply to IannodaTruffe]

*I changed the title as not to mislead!

[MVBrown Graduate]

Congrats and excellent running. You did us C25K proud.🙂🏃‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏼‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃🏾‍♂️

[Mayanow in reply to MVBrown]

Thank you so much!!! 😍

[Hidden]

Fantastic news!

I thought of you this morning, I’m so pleased for you that’s a great time 👍

Only five days ago you asked: “Will i be the fool that gives up amongst real runners?” Well those stats say it all. You are a real runner and you even look like one of those real runners that I am so envious of in your post picture! It looks like it was a great event. How exciting!!! 👊🏃‍♀️🏁🎉

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Ahaha thank you for your kind words. Honestly. I still feel like a 'fraud' cos i too look around and everyone is so ... RUNNERy! They look real and confident! 😂🤣😂🤣😂

Yes i did say that! You remember! And at some stage on the last 1k i thought i might not make it but then my inner voice (with all you lovely lot in it! and laura too) said: "nonsense! You can do this! Focus on the next step. Only."

And somehow i reached the finish line!

Thank you for thinking of me. I treasure all the support from this community.

[Taffywasawelshman Graduate]

Congratulations and well done!

[Mayanow in reply to Taffywasawelshman]

Thank you!! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[Cuig1975]

Congrats well done that’s a great achievement and great courage to take part

[Mayanow in reply to Cuig1975]

Yes it is! Thanx for the aknowledgement! It nearly felt like a dare !!! Ahahaha

[SANDI_runs Graduate]

Great run, well done!

Your post inspired me to register on the park run site. I feel like maybe I'm ready to give it a go.

[Mayanow in reply to SANDI_runs]

Oh sandi Definitely!!

So happy you felt this way! 😍 Go fo it.

[Hidden]

What a fabulous post! So inspiring. Great result too 🙌🎉🎉🎉

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much!! A friend who saw me there said i look SO fit. I could NOT believe the compliment. First time ever!!! Ahahaha

Yes i feel like i won the race!!

Good luck on your runs too!

[over61andstilltrying Graduate]

Well done! Congratulations! You look so great! Looks like you are making wonderful preparations for your forthcoming birthday. What a lovely present you have already given yourself and us for having the great pleasure of reading all about it and somehow feeling it with you! Wonderful! 🎉🏅🍾🥂👏🏻

[Mayanow in reply to over61andstilltrying]

What a lovely thing to say! Thank you SO much. I am very pleased with myself for not procrastinating anymore. I decided c25k and then actually did it! ALL the way! Wow... It IS a unique gift for my 50th!! 💟

I wish you all the best for your runs!

[Midlifecath Graduate]

Fantastic achievement! Just brilliant & wonderful & inspiring. Well done 👍👍👍👍

[Midlifecath Graduate]

Fantastic achievement! Just brilliant & wonderful & inspiring. Well done 👍👍👍👍

[Mayanow in reply to Midlifecath]

Thank you kathy!!! It's a happy day! 😁😁😁

[Hatetoloverun Graduate]

I love your post! Such a happy post which makes me equally proud for you and all of us doing this, I did today a 5k run at 42 mins! Can’t seem to up my pace ! I am waiting for the day I break my 5k in 30s 😬

[Mayanow in reply to Hatetoloverun]

Thank you!!!

I think 42m is veeeery good. I thought that yesterday with the inclined bits i would not finish in the 50m alloted! And i did it in only 37m with some walking! We are so harsh on ourselves...

You should continue with a gradual added difficulty. I know you will soon see results and progress!! It's amazing how much we accomplish if we set our mind to it!