Beating Cancer with C25k – twice!

[Altair2]

Hi! I’m Mike, I’m 75 and I’m a newbie here. But I’m not new to C25k. I have an incurable (but treatable) blood cancer that has twice brought me to the point where I could barely walk from the hospital car park to the consultant’s office. The first time around, I started C25k as soon as my 6 months of chemotherapy were over. It took me 12 weeks to complete the programme, but I went on to take up regular Parkruns, and gradually got my 5k time down to under 37 minutes.

I committed myself to doing a sponsored 10k run, but in the meantime the cancer reasserted itself and I found I was unable to run more than 2 or 3 km without walking. I eventually gave up the Parkruns and became gradually less fit while I waited for the next round of treatment.

This is where I got lucky, because a new drug was approved that does not require chemotherapy. Within a few days of starting the treatment I began to feel better and very quickly I became frustrated by my poor fitness. So I started again on C25k, just 3 weeks after my low point. On my first run I had barely enough muscle strength to manage to jog, my ankles felt weak and unstable and I struggled to complete the session even at the slowest possible jogging speed. But C25k worked its magic. I got through the week and have kept to schedule (apart from an enforced 1-week layoff due to a side-effect of my treatment), so yesterday I comfortably completed Week 6.

Where do I want to go from here? I have a series of 4 targets. The first is obviously W9r3, to be followed soon after by a non-stop Parkrun. Then I want to do a new Parkrun PB (I should be able to because my cancer limited me last time, and I don’t see why being a couple of years older should be allowed to hold me back!) and finally I want to do that 10k without stopping. After that, who knows….?

Can I offer encouragement to any self-doubting newbie who has read this far? Yes – if you can do Week 1 run 1, no matter how slowly or how many attempts it might take you, you can complete the course. My experience (now twice!) is that it gets easier with every passing week, and the sense of achievement at the end will make it all worthwhile.

[TigerBiscuit Graduate]

Wow, Altair2. I’m speechless. What fabulous determination and brilliant achievements. Good luck on your running and your health.

[NewRunner4 Graduate]

You are an inspiration, Sir, and I’ll be thinking of all you’re achieving when I inevitably have doubts as I progress through the programme.

Look forward to hearing how you get on with your targets.

Take care of yourself!

[Carowood]

What a story - I feel embarrassed 😞 to ever complain about getting up to do my C25K.

Absolutely brilliant and keep well.

[PixLau]

Wow, you are so inspiring! Good luck to you with your targets, with your positive mindset I’m sure you will smash them. Looking forward to seeing how you get on 😊💕

[Debston Graduate]

Inspiring post! Sounds like you are doing brilliantly.

[Happyrunningfeet Graduate]

Well done for not giving up. And ur 4 targets I'm positive u will achieve them as u have the mindset to go and get them. Keep going we are all with u on ur journey.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

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

Enjoy your journey.

[Altair2 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you Iannoda. I read and enjoyed the guide, and all the links it contains - I agree it's essential reading. I would just suggest that as well as being for "a training plan for absolute beginners, or those who have not run for many years", C25k could be promoted as something for people recovering from - or coping with - a medical condition - or maybe that would need too many caveats to include it?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Altair2]

As someone who is still undergoing treatment for cancer myself, I can see your point of view but it doesn't really matter what the reason is for wanting to start or restart running and as you say it could become weighed down in detail that is only valid for a very small proportion of C25kers.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

What a inspiraing post from you Altair2, great ambition for the four targets, firstly to run, run 3 of week 9 again and then after a few parkruns, run a non stop 10K. As you have already graduated from C25K I don't see the word Graduate next to your username ¶¶?.

Good luck for all your future runs.

[Altair2 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Hi! I wasn't aware of this forum when I first did C25k, so not technically a graduate. I hope to rectify this next month!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Altair2]

👍

[JaoJao]

Thank you for sharing your experience with c25k. You are beating the sh*t out of cancer, I love your attitude and wish you all the best with your running goals! 👏

[Chris141 Graduate]

Well done! Very inspiring

[FormulaRun]

What an inspirational post. Well done you - I think we can all learn from your positivity and determination. Genuine admiration and total respect.

[emmat7]

Fantastic determination

[Katiepops Graduate]

Total respect Sir. What a story and what an inspiration. Good luck with everything, health, life and running.x

[Hatman Graduate]

You are amazing Altair2.

More power to your elbow.

I hope that you get all the happiness that you deserve.

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

You’re not only inspiring newbies Altair2! I’ve had time away from running regularly for lesser reasons. Getting back into a routine of running can be a challenged. I’m so inspired by your post. You’re so right, the sense of achievement is so worth it! Happy running and achieving!! 🤩😍❤️

[Myzinnyboy Graduate]

What a fantastic uplifting post, if that does not inspire a newbie I don’t know what will. I think you are marvellous to get out there and get running. I’m 66 with excess baggage, my daughter thinks I’m mad, but my o h does encourage me. Thank you for putting your post up for others to read, I want to know how you get on with your future runs!

[Altair2 Graduate]

I'd like to say thank you to all the people who complimented me on my positive attitude. It's true that many of my friends and family consider me "determined" (I think that means the same as "stubborn") but the real credit should go to C25k. If I had written this post just 8 weeks ago, it would have been far less confident in tone, but getting to Week 7 has changed my outlook. C25k does as much for your brain as it does for your body!

PS Just did w7r1 - as slowly as ever, but now I'm confident of finishing my 25 minute runs every time. The magic continues!