Hi plucky runners
So, I graduated C25K in Nov 17. I decided to give it a whirl just before my 46th birthday, when I suddenly realised that fitness was now something I had to work on (the fitness of youth being a dim and distant memory). Having spent my 20s and 30s vainly worried about how I was looking on the outside, the time to reflect on how my insides were looking (notably heart and lungs) was long overdue. I had quit smoking at 40, and have never been overweight...but still.
I huffed and puffed the runs in the first few weeks and then a miracle happened – the huffing and the puffing lessened, just a bit. I started to look forward to run day. But still, I did not see myself as a runner. I just made a firm pact with myself to finish the programme, whatever the outcome.
And finish it I did! Sneaky programme – by that point not only did I quite like running, I loved it. Spent quite a while just happily getting out there running for 30 mins three mornings a week, and feeling fitter with each passing week, enjoying the headspace it gave me. I then started to add a couple of minutes onto the run each week until I eventually got to 5k. Spent a while longer doing this, and slowly but surely my pace improved. I think it took me a while to want a new goal, but eventually I headed over to the "Bridge to 10k" site, and lurked there for a good long while, reading posts and imagining what it would be like to run that far. Bored with imagining, I finally signed up to the 10k programme outlined there, and completed that during the heatwave of 2018. Phew. But what a great feeling. I run long distances, and actually LOVE IT.
Fast forward to May 2019. Still running, but utterly, hopelessly addicted now. Have more running clothes than normal clothes, have a subscription to Runners World and a boyfriend who is utterly sick of me talking about running. I am out there pounding the roads and galloping through woodlands three times a week, one interval run – one 5km run, and a 10k+ run a week. In a moment of utter terror and delight I signed up for a local half marathon in September. WHO AM I ANYMORE? Not only that, but last year I added a Pilates class once a week to the mix, and recently swimming and strength training at home. I honestly did not see all of this coming...
So that's my running story. I look forward to hearing all of yours after you have completed C25K. Don't ever give up; you might suffer little niggles and maybe an injury along the way (I have, but you bounce back!) I have lost a stone in weight without really changing my diet, lost 3 inches off my waist and have hugely improved my cardio-vascular fitness and tackled some low-level depression. But most of all, I have found a sport I that I love and one that has made me not only physically resilient, but emotionally resilient too (running got me through my recent redundancy from a job of 20 years, horror of horrors!).
(I could go on for another 25 paragraphs, but I fear I may have lost some of you already!) I have three small pieces of advice to further bore you with:
1. Don't give up, ever. Be persistent and have faith in yourself.
2. Slow down! Speed can wait, it's not important now.
3. Strength training.
Sadie-runs xxx
Running again. I've missed it!! And I can STILL DO IT!! :-)
Well, it seems that I can run for 30 minutes...
If I can do this....anyone can!
I graduated today!!! 
