Iโm posting to hopefully give all you recent graduates who are in the โNo Mansโ Landโ zone a little insight as to what to expect next. Itโs daunting, I know. ๐ฎ
First and foremost, I need to give a massive shout out to this forum, and its big brother, B210K. Without them Iโm not sure what Iโd have done. Brilliant advice, and talk about friendly! โค๏ธ
Anyway, I graduated in August 2018. It was euphoric, but the scary part was flying solo afterwards. I needed MJโs dulcet tones to guide me, and it felt odd being cut loose. But I trundled away and made it to 5k like a ๐ I posted about it, and got such a fantastic reaction it spurred me on. People suggested Parkrun - what??? ๐ณ But I tried it, and Iโve only missed a couple of Saturdays since. Itโs awesome, and Iโd wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. ๐โโ๏ธ๐๐โโ๏ธ๐ I take my dog. ๐ โค๏ธ
I consolidated solo 5k runs and Parkrun for a few weeks, then decided to dip my toe into working towards 10k! I could barely believe it. I used to absolutely hate running! Itโs where B210K became invaluable. I posted often (and I still do - sorry guys! ๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ ) Along with lots of familiar names from C25K, we were given all the help and advice we wanted. ๐
So to cut my (as always) ludicrously long post down, and without going into fine detail, I ran my first 10k in November, simply by increasing one of my weekly runs by up to 1k. Iโve since done ju-ju- โs Magic 10 Plan several times for fun, and Iโve recently been working towards running 10 miles next week to commemorate my runniversary of starting C25K on June 11th last year. Last week I did 15k. Next Tuesday will be the Big 10 Miles! ๐๐
So Iโm living proof it can be done. Iโm a 5โ3โ 55 year old woman, not built for running - or so I thought! Go for it guys, itโll change your lives. ๐โโ๏ธโค๏ธ๐
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Graduate
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36 Replies
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Thank you for your post, i just graduated last friday and am struggling this week although i did push myself to 5k this morning, but gremlims were trying to interfere, and i got hope feeling good that i done it but wondering if it ever gets any easier or am i just not made for running, certainly not built for it and sounds like u understand that!
Well done on everything you have achieved sounds like your in an amazing place right now x
Hi Shar! Huge well done on graduating! ๐ And good for you for getting out and slaying those gremlins. They visit us all, and continue doing so, although the more running we do, the better equipped we are to get rid of the little so-and-soโs!
You can do this. Youโve built up running legs and the running world is now your oyster. Have fun, and believe in yourself! ๐๐
Thanks for the fantastic advice. I've just come back in from running my week 9 run 2 and that was the very thing that was on my mind as I plodded round my usual route - what will I do next ....
I never expected to reach this point but now that I am here I don't want to let my progress slip. Thanks again for your inspirational words.
Thanks CCM, I love talking about running, and these forums are great because you canโt see peopleโs eyes glaze over, like my familyโs!! ๐ ๐ ๐
I found that, as much as I loved Michael Johnson, I felt liberated running without him. C25K was really hard, really hard, but now I know I can do it, I love running.
And for anyone feeling lost, keep using this forum. So many good ideas here on how to continue, and so much support. I don't know that I would have kept going without all the lovely people on here ๐๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ
Brilliant post as always cheeky. Yes it was the support of the forums which took me from 5 to 10k. But thereโs no rush to make that transition. I was glad I took a few months consolidating 5kms before moving on to jujuโs magic plan.
Absolutely Dexy. Everyone should take their running journey at their own pace. Personally I find endurance running more natural than going for speed, so thatโs working fine for me. Speeding up? A whole other story!! ๐ ๐๐
I've got a great photo op lined up for when I'm packing for my little jaunt southward... I've just written a packing list and about half of it is running gear, so I thought I'd line it all up and get some sympathy around my complete addiction!!
And you know youโll have endless sympathy on here! ๐
Iโll be packing to go away for a 10 day trip to France a week today. Top of the list is running paraphernalia - obviously! And thereโs me checking the weather forecast, not for beach purposes, but for running! ๐ Times change donโt they!? ๐ ๐โโ๏ธ๐
Thanks Deals! Yes tomorrow is The Day and Iโm getting butterflies! ๐ฆ ๐ฆ I have a feeling Iโm going to get wet, but thatโs ok, I quite like running in the ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ
Yeah I did park run in the rain โ on Saturday. Ended up still running in just lettings and t shirt... As I still got ๐ฅ hot!! ๐ So took jacket and cap off.
Iโm quite nervous this evening - almost as much as before the Bristol 10k! I canโt wait to get running in the morning! ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ
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