W6R3 (and a bit of a back story)

[SubterraneanAlien]

I did it! I cannot believe that I just ran for 25min non-stop, with a tiny bit of a sprint finish at the end!

What makes it so amazing, for me, is that I have never run for that length of time without stopping in my entire life...

When I was a child and growing up, I had really bad asthma. It was uncontrolled, no matter what specialists we saw. I was hospitalised every 6 weeks at one point. I remember attempting to run the 800m in PE in around Y9 and my teacher stopping me because I was "starting to go blue".

When I went to university, my doctor changed my medication to something fairly new. I'm basically on a high-ish dose of a slow-release reliever and steroid that I take twice a day. My peak flow is still below what it should be for my age, height and weight, but it has actually changed my life. I rarely carry my blue inhaler, never mind take it. So, as my quality of life has improved, and I became inspired by other people I know who run, I thought, why not see what I'm capable of.

And what am I capable of? Well, that remains to be seen, except that MJ just called me a runner, and I'll definitely take his word for it!

Thank you C25k and thank you to all the supportive people on this forum. Xx

[Languid_Lil Graduate]

Absolutely fantastic achievement, there's no stopping you from here on in! Well done you xxx

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to Languid_Lil]

Thanks! I hope not!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

We are all capable of so much more than we believe.

Well done.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you. I'm certain that's very true.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

That’s wonderful... and MJ knows what he’s talking about. Just a couple of steps up to your graduation now... keep enjoying yourself and hopefully it’ll help your asthma to improve some more.

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Argh, don't say that! I can't possibly think if graduating yet! It's one run at a time for me! Yes, I'm sure it will help my asthma improve, now that it's under control enough to actually exercise properly.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to SubterraneanAlien]

Hehe... I’ll take it back 😂

[SOULY47 Graduate]

Amazing feeling isn't it.

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to SOULY47]

Yep! Did W7R1 today and just loved it!

[SOULY47 Graduate in reply to SubterraneanAlien]

Funny how every week we worried about the jump to next level and now we are running for 25 mins non stop. Graduation isn't far away. Then what?? I'm short of the 5k in 30 mins, tbh that pace is out of my league, I'd just like to run 5k non stop next. Keep posting how you get on

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to SOULY47]

I know! I reckon I'll sign up for a park run when I'm a graduate. Just consolidate for a few weeks and see how I feel. Maybe start bringing in the Strength and Flex programme. I'm not very strong - particularly upper body. I do think, now the asthma is sorted, I am suited to running. I'm small and light, just wasn't very fit. Getting there now. And love eating lots to keep my energy up!

[SOULY47 Graduate in reply to SubterraneanAlien]

Used to run or should i say run/walk parkun most weeks think ive done over 60 of them but i work Saturdays now. I will just enjoy running because I can run. I dont have to prove it to my running friends who always pushed me into doing races or upping my distance and I hated that.

[Marcia-H Graduate]

Well done!! It's amazing how we fear the longer runs and then they feel so good! We sometimes don't believe what we are capable of!

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to Marcia-H]

Thank you! I love the little icon on the app where you say how you're feeling before and after each run. I press the same two faces every time!

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Go on SubterraneanAlien!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 You smashed it!! 🤩🤩! You can certainly take MJ’s word for it and take ours too! Fantastic! 😁 Starting this programme must have taken some mental challenges given your asthma, but boy your body sure is saying “I like it”!! Who knew eh? 🤷🏽‍♀️ Well done!! Absolutely fantastic! 😁❤️

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

Thank you so much! You're give so much confidence to runners like me, with your graduate badge and your words of encouragement. X

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to SubterraneanAlien]

And so you absolutely know that I’ve been where you are and it wasn’t all easy....and it was challenging a long history of thoughts about me running, it was simply something other people do. 😵 But, I found the courage to go out anyway and you will too. 💪🏽 The best bit is it will continue to feel amazing when you’re a graduate too!! And I do mean ‘when’! 😉❤️