Week 7 Run 1

[tadornas]

Hello - first proper post here, but I've been reading along and absorbing all the helpful info here for a while.

Sometimes, this time of year (Christmas, New Year, plus my birthday in a week's time) can feel like a bit of a slog - just a stressful series of hurdles to get past and then hopefully get back to normal. This year hasn't really been the best, and all in all, I felt kind of low when I woke up this morning. But I'd planned to run, so I ran.

I really struggled a bit with week 6, and ended up doing the third run twice - but you know what? Today I had a really good run, despite the drizzle and the iron-grey skies (I quite liked them actually). I didn't feel like I wanted to stop and go home, it was peaceful and quiet, and some favourite songs came up on my playlist. Sticking to this thing, doing all those runs, has actually made me stronger. I know - weird, right?

Apparently, if you practise things, you get better at them - a lesson it's only taken me 42 years and 51 weeks to learn.

So there you go, a vaguely positive thing to take into 2019. Unfortunately I forgot to change the miserable face on the app to a smiley (or at least indifferent) one before I saved it but we'll pretend I did.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

I think once you are able to do the longer runs they make you feel really good and amazing that at the beginning we where only able to run 60 seconds 😊

[tadornas Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

it is kind of magic, isn't it?

[ktsok Graduate]

Ah, that’s a really nice post. Yes, practicing, when the practice is hard work/painful, doesn’t come naturally to many of us. It’s a discipline, I guess.

43 over here, and it’s OK 😉

Well done!

[tadornas Graduate in reply to ktsok]

oh no, I just realised I de-aged myself by a year! I'm already 43 and about to be 44... obviously in denial! (thank you! )

[ktsok Graduate in reply to tadornas]

Haha! If only it were that easy!

[AnnaKarenina]

Love this post. It is alchemy! I am on week 9 now and can't believe that I am so much stronger and faster. Persistence is absolutely the name of the game, especially when it feels hard. This is a post I will hold in my head on the days my legs are like lead (rhyme not intended!)

[tadornas Graduate in reply to AnnaKarenina]

Excellent, glad I wrote the post now! And alchemy - that's it exactly. It's genuinely fascinating seeing the changes that happen over time when you keep at something!

[Hamsta151]

Great post - keep it up!!

[Boots101]

Great post and well done on your achievement, it's not easy! I'm on week 5 and completed run 1 on New Years Day. I've tried C25K so many times and given up. My Birthday is at the end of this week, so I understand where you're coming from with all the hurdles to jump! Good luck to you 👍

[tadornas Graduate in reply to Boots101]

And to you too. I did start to feel a bit wobbly on parts of week 6 particularly, but it does get better, I promise! (And happy birthday).

[Boots101 in reply to tadornas]

And to you too! 🐴

[Berksrover Graduate]

You are not alone in feeling like that, take a look at RED January, a great way to start the year by doing some sort of exercise every day in January 'to beat the blues away'

[tadornas Graduate in reply to Berksrover]

Excellent idea, I will do.

[DebJogsOn Graduate]

I've found running is a great escape from the slog that ordinary life can sometimes be. I really appreciate the space it gives me. I've never really been one for meditation but can really describe lots of my running as 'mindful', outside in the elements and in my own head with no interruptions or demands from anyone else and the never ending amazement that I can do this thing!

And C25K was a real reminder to me at 48 that it's also never too late to find new experiences and challenges and enjoy them.

Good luck with your up coming graduation. Happy running 😊

[Runemmyrun Graduate in reply to DebJogsOn]

Love this post. I agree with you. I run to have a break from everything around me. It makes me a better person, mother and wife. Does wonders for my mental health! Week 8 run 3 next. Almost there. It’s hard but so worth it.

[DebJogsOn Graduate in reply to Runemmyrun]

It is so worth it. Good luck with your graduation week runs 😊

[tadornas Graduate in reply to DebJogsOn]

Absolutely agree with all this! Thanks!