Against the Odds

[BarbaraH4]

We are in our sixties, overweight and have arthritis in knees.

The nurse at our Doctors surgery suggested the NHS couch to 5k plan. We thought no chance! but after downloading the app and seeing the comments, we thought maybe we could give it a go.

After agreeing to do a 2k Santa run for charity at Christmas, we hoped to reach halfway through and would have been pleased at that.

Week 1 and 2 seemed tough in our local park but we did it, before it got too muddy. Weeks 3 and 4 we tried local woods which was nice but then became slippery on the leaves.

Week 5, the big one, we ran to a local pub which gave us the incentive to carry on for 20 minutes!

Having run the 2k, we then thought we might just be able to carry on. It got harder but we managed to keep going.

For the final weeks, we changed our route to Southend seafront, 5 miles away, and it was lovely running on flat ground and seeing so many other runners which surprised us.

We graduated today and include a photo taken after our run which a passer by kindly took.

Thanks to all of you who inspired Andrew and I with your wonderful posts that kept us going through the aches and pains and wind and rain!

For everyone out there on this journey, good luck and hope you enjoy as much as we have.

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Congratulations! What a lovely story and keep running 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️!

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

Thank you, We intend to run twice a week to keep fit, and a Park Run every few weeks.

[Deepestblue Graduate]

Amazing!!!!! Very inspirational 😁

[Knittingrunner]

Well done. What a wonderful achievement. The sea front was a bit bare this morning but I saw lots of oyster catchers on the southend Park run. Keep going now. 🏃🏻‍♀️😊

[AndrewH13 Graduate in reply to Knittingrunner]

Thanks, hope to join you very soon on Southend Park Runs

[Knittingrunner in reply to AndrewH13]

You will be very welcome. And no real hills. 😉

[Snuffy_T Graduate]

Brilliant, what an amazing achievement !I'm showing my husband this post to inspire him. He would like the run to the pub 😀

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to Snuffy_T]

If it gets him starting running, then it's a good thing, even if its to a pub as long as not too many drinks to spoil it.

[BirdyRose]

I LOVE THIS

Well done to you both.

My partner and I often run southend seafront too!

Hope you continue to run and enjoy it ☺

[davelinks Graduate]

well done! me and the wife did c25k some years back, at 60 and 61 we also have some arthritis (a lot do)but keep going, go for it but slow & steady is the way! see the link for some essential reading... healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thanks. Andrew actually thinks it has helped his knees, much to his surprise.

[Size4]

Well done 👍 I have just started, this is a real inspiration!

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to Size4]

Well done for starting, keep it up. Its so rewarding.

[suziefb Graduate]

Lovely post and picture and well done. You should be really proud of yourselves. I am 52, overweight and on week 8 so nearly there. It is such a good way of getting fit isn't it. Well done and happy running,

suziefb

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to suziefb]

One week left for you. Congratulations as well.

[DiverIzzie Graduate]

What role models for a lot of us - shared with my hubby in the hope it knocks off a few of his “reasons not to...” well done and congratulations!

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to DiverIzzie]

Music that we like in IEM's helps us along the way.

[Nita49 Graduate]

Fantastic job to both of you 👏

This is why I love this programme and forum. It's just the best!

Thank you for sharing your success, and enjoy the rest of your running journey xx

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to Nita49]

Thanks. Yes Forum posts have kept us going.

[jayval70]

Aw well done both of you. What a lovely place to run. Wishing you lots of healthy, happy future runs xx

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to jayval70]

Thanks, In Autumn we ran closer to home in the park but now enjoying the dry pavement and view!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many congratulations on your graduation fellow runners.

This guide to post C25K running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Age is a number.........

Keep running, keep smiling.

[AndrewH13 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks, printed off, ready to read over a celebrational drink tonight!

[BarbaraH4 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks, posts on this Forum have helped so much.

[Wimborne]

Wow that’s such a fabulously happy photo of you both. Huge congratulations. ⭐️👏👏🥳

[ANewMe1 Graduate]

Congratulations, that's wonderful. Such a lovely photo

[Ethelbert Graduate]

Fab story Congratulations!

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Wonderful! 😄 thank you for sharing your story - yaay for you both! 👏👏👏🎉🎉

Enjoy the next part of your running adventure! 😃

[Linhert]

Absolutely brilliant. Just shows you what a person can do. It helps to run with someone with similar aims. What an inspirational story.

[Kimbov Graduate]

A truly inspiring story! Well done guys xxx

[ktsok Graduate]

Ah, that’s wonderful. A moment to treasure indeed! Congratulations to both of you and I hope you have many more happy pub runs to come 😊

[Biddy62 Graduate]

Congratulations! 😃

Great achievement! Enjoy your running from now on 😊