What have you seen on your run you wouldn’t ha... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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What have you seen on your run you wouldn’t have seen otherwise?

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate
38 Replies

Hello folks- my first post here. I’m only in week 1 and am going to ‘fess up that I deeply dislike running! However, cos of how my body is this is one form of exercise that may be open to me. I have chronic pain in my hands which means anything that involves upper body - including would you believe Tai Chi (hand waving), swimming (resistance of the water), cycling (holding handles) etc etc isn’t an option. Even clenching my fists running can be a trigger.

However - I wanted to write a positive note to start and ask you what you’ve seen running that you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Because I don’t like running (did I say that? :) ) and my body won’t let me set goals (can’t use willpower to over ride body) I need other,maybe less tangible rewards to keep me interested.

So last night, in the dark, I was running (well, walking- running it’s only wk1 !) past a lake in a nearby park. The moon was almost full and as clear as could be, the lake was glittering with the moonlight and it was absolutely delightful. As I ran around the lake the moon shifted, so that the water at the edge of the lake was caught in a line of silver. Magical.

I wouldn’t have seen this otherwise.

So inspire me with your moments of gorgeousness!

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Treewoman profile image
Treewoman
Graduate
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38 Replies
Erddig profile image
ErddigGraduate

Fields of crocus and snowdrops in the Country Park.

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toErddig

Yum! I’ll have to do a daytime one!

molly1973 profile image
molly1973Graduate

Recently I ran in some woods without headphones for the first time and heard woodpeckers! I have seen some beautiful views too: winter sunshine and the odd sunrise 😊

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply tomolly1973

A friend suggested no headphones (but he’s already a committed runner) I can see the appeal ... one day perhaps I’ll be able to do so without needing Sarah to tell me when it’s ok to walk!

molly1973 profile image
molly1973Graduate in reply toTreewoman

Yes I was on a consolidation run so that helps

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply tomolly1973

What’s a consolidation run? (I read consolation run!)

molly1973 profile image
molly1973Graduate in reply toTreewoman

It’s when you finish C25k and consolidate by repeating 30mins 3x per week if you can. It’s keeping the routine going and building stamina to then go further/faster if you want. Therefore I wasn’t using the app. Consolation is certainly possible though!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Huge well done you....check out some of my past rambles...so much to see..smell..hear and feel...truly..like tour run..magical..😊

damienair profile image
damienairGraduate

I run a 5K loop and part of it is down along a river. Some days and evenings I see a crane fishing along the river bank.

Knittingrunner profile image
Knittingrunner

I run along the sea front and through a park. I’ve seen rabbits, geese, swans, beautiful skies and heard some amazing bird song when I run naked (no music). Plus of course the sea. I never get tired of it’s changes. Now I’m looking out for cignets. 🤞

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toKnittingrunner

Y’see, when you say naked running ... my mind goes to when I was visiting Brighton and a whole naked running group- I mean properly naked - went by me on the sea front. 1. Only in Brighton lol 2. Felt very sorry for the policeman on the motorcycle at the back.

Knittingrunner profile image
Knittingrunner in reply toTreewoman

🤣🤣

ButtercupKid profile image
ButtercupKidGraduate in reply toTreewoman

Probably safer staying behind them. The view from the front must be quite something 😂

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66Graduate

I have only been running since May, so my experience is limited to 99 runs (100 tomorrow!). I run on the fringe of woodland on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, and try to get out early in the day; occasionally I have an evening run. What have I seen, or, I see it, encountered? Birds are the starting point. At this time of year with the Sun often low,in the sky when I run everything (Bull finches, wood peckers, long tailed tits, blue tits, great tits robins grouse pheasants and so on) looks freshly painted and illuminated. On the ground I have seen foxes, rabbits, deer, and stoats and have run amongst cattle and sheep(by accident but there you are!). Then there are people; other runners, walkers or people just out for the day. I like the apres run in the cafe. I had a wonderful chat recently with a lady, probably in her seventies, who told me about her fairly recent trips to Everest base camp and the Inca Trail. I see and here so much by getting my running shoes on and just getting out there. Simple things for sure, but it really change how I feel. I am sure the endorphins from the running help too. I guess for me it is about lots of little things rather than the spectacular😊.

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoGraduate in reply toBeachcomber66

"Limited to 99 runs" 🤣

More than many people in a lifetime 😉😁

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toBeachcomber66

My apres run is me looking at my husband in shock - shock I went out and did it and shock I made it back :)

Kertesz profile image
Kertesz in reply toBeachcomber66

Good luck for your tomorrow run... may it continue to be a feast for the senses...! X

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toKertesz

Thank you! I’m thinking Thursday as grumpy hands seem to want another day off. I’m going to check with my hand physio tomorrow to see if he has clues as to why hands don’t like running. It’s not like I’m running on my hands!

Deals1 profile image
Deals1Graduate

welcome to the forum

You've started the program and that's the hardest part.... actually starting and getting out of your front door!! so well done!

You'll find lots of inspiring stuff on here.. and pics ( we love pics) For me its been sunrises and sunsets

happy running

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toDeals1

Was tempted to try a pic but thought if I stopped then would I start again!

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoGraduate

Moons; full, half, crescents in all shades of white, cream and yellow.

Soooo many stars.

Sunsets in all their glorious natricolour, rabbits and hares. Squirrels, deer... right on the trail at times, pretty creepy in the dark. Owls. Little mice or voles.

Flowers. People. Some very nice, some annoying. Beautiful houses. Lush fields. Livestock. Some closer than I would like!

Bats. Birds, so many different birds.

And that's just off the top of my head 😁👍

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toGoGo_JoJo

I read that a few times, just to make sure you hadn’t slipped in a bear or two ... got a bit freaked yesterday in the darkest bit of our local park by a man, sitting in a park bench all in Black with only his eyes showing. After a panicky moment I thought ... rough sleeper. Poor chap.

JellyJac profile image
JellyJacGraduate

I actually saw a Sinclair C5 (for anyone who was around in the 80's) in a Union Jack paintwork with a glow stick as a flagpole indicator - not nature based as I am an urban runner haha (Week 3(!))

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toJellyJac

Lol! Well, I didn’t say it had to be nature-based 😄

SeeJillRun profile image
SeeJillRunGraduate

I run late afternoon n recently it’s been the moon. Saw a rainbow a couple of weeks ago n a bullfinch last week. Only on my 4th week though so I’m sure I’ll see more lovely things soon 😊

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate

What a lovely question to ask!

I've see roe deer leaping ahead of me in the woods, a muntjac peering through a fence at me, alpacas in a field, startled horses trotting in their paddock, and red kites wheeling above me.

What's not to love about running!

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66Graduate in reply toTartancat

Maybe the kites were looking for signs of fatigue!!🦅

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate in reply toBeachcomber66

Well they wouldn't have to look very hard!

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate

A calf who had left his herd, it was before 06.00 and he was on an unlit country lane.

I like to think my call to the police saved the calf from injury and prevented a road traffic accident.

Also he was red and cream and rather gorgeous. 😊🐄

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toJell6

I used to be married to a farmer. We could’ve used you as a sheepdog supplement ...

Elfe5 profile image
Elfe5Graduate

Welcome! 😃 If you run very gently & slowly, you may gradually go from dislike -> tolerate -> enjoy at least some of it! Fingers crossed for you!! 😄 I will never forget the moment when I first thought “This is ok” - & slowly it became better.

I have run on crispy snow sparkling in the street lights at night. I have seen lots of sunsets, beautiful morning light, a cheeky black pony wrapped in a muddy red jacket rushing after me in hope of a carrot, ( he just looked at me in disgust 2 days later 😂) The thing I did NOT see was the wave that got me. 😂

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toElfe5

Mmmmm...! Snow in streetlights. Reminds me of when I was a kid, being walked to and from evening Brownie group.

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

On individual runs I have witnessed stunning sunrises and magnificent moonsets. Over the years I watch the seasons move inexorably onward.

Enjoy your journey.

J412 profile image
J412Graduate

Well done for taking the first step on C25k. I'm only on w2 myself, but enjoying so far. On this afternoon's run I was just thinking how pretty the daffodils and snowdrops were.

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toJ412

I work outdoors at times (I’m Treewoman as that’s my real life job, inspecting trees) and was stopped in my tracks last week by a garden absolutely full of purple crocus. A feast to winter-starved eyes.

ButtercupKid profile image
ButtercupKidGraduate

On my last run four red deer broke from the woods and hurried away. Only a fence between us. And if I hadn’t been running I wouldn’t have been out of bed by then, never mind jogging by the woods 😄

Treewoman profile image
TreewomanGraduate in reply toButtercupKid

(Bet they were walking between runs and really peeved they had to start running again 🙂)Sounds like a lovely moment.

ButtercupKid profile image
ButtercupKidGraduate in reply toTreewoman

It was - completely unexpected !

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