Decisions, decisions...decisions!!!

[Oldfloss]

This post is mainly for the new Graduates, or the almost new Graduates.But anyone on the programme may read it and find it helpful

Hi everybody....

Just to let you know that over the next weeks, you may notice one or two, or maybe even more posts from some of our awesome Graduates from the other forums.

It is noticeable to us, in the Team, that when some folk Graduate, or are almost at Graduation, there may be feelings of uncertainty...

We have so many choices.

We may have started this programme, (indeed, I know I did), only intending to get to the end of the nine weeks and that would be it; never imagining that we would mange to complete the programme and, even more surprisingly that we would want to go on!

We have so many suggestions and links in our pinned posts, we have started a new Quest on here for the new Graduates and indeed, our What Next post compiled by our

IannodaTruffe .. gives us even more choices and suggestions and ideas!

But for some of us, it may be a bit like negotiating a maze...and we may set out on a track only to find it comes to a dead end... or we start to move on too quicky, forgetting that this programme has only just started the running process...this may end in a drop in self-confidence or even injury.

So... a call has been sent out out to some of our Graduates from Bridge to 10K and Marathon and Half Marathon Forum, to pay us a visit now and then and to share some of their experiences and running adventures, from C25K and beyond.

Please...do read them. There are names you will know well and many you may not... but what folk have to say is worth listening to.

It may inspire you, motivate you, reassure you, give you ideas...hep you set your goals for the next stage of your running. Beginning , maybe by joining the Quest on here

Yes, we are all different., yes we all want something different from our running, but it never hurts to look at the different paths folks have taken after Graduation

I know that I continue to draw strength and motivation from the folk on here.. and that includes all of you. Reading your posts, sharing the victories and feeling the setbacks... I read about awesome successes and imagine the day I will achieve them...Little did I know, that one chilly day in March... a few days before my 69th Birthday I would, nearly three and a half years after Graduation..be running my first Half Marathon... and all my friends on here, who had got me to that cold blustery finishing line in Derbyshire, all ran with me.

Watch out for our friends, and welcome them.

[backintime Graduate]

Thanks for this, I am loving reading the posts and I do draw inspiration and motivation from them

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to backintime]

Brilliant... we are all here, all running together

[Nanarunrun Graduate]

Thank you, I love reading all the posts, they truly inspire me! It's so lovely to belong to such a friendly supportive group, and I Never ever thought I'd be mixing with 'runners', they are people I've watched and admired from afar, but I was never going to be one!! 😂😉

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Nanarunrun]

... and yet... here you are...you RUNNER you xx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I remember when I graduated the names who inspired me and helped to give me a focus. I came to do one particular event and after I had done that there was a big question, What Now? Reading how everybody else kept going was so useful.

Thanks for this Oldfloss so inspirational and helpful.

Rfc x

[Tbae]

This post and your rallying call post the fabulous Floss is what will sustain the fabulous forums.It is just not enough for an individual to give themselves the gift of running you need the support and ideas, everything really, from the magic running forums, Health Unlocked.

👊💥🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️⭐️⭐️👏👏

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Tbae]

Just hoping plenty of our new runners our about to be Graduates and our newest Graduates read the posts x

[Tbae in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi Floss,

You can bring a horse to water🤔, but you are right on the money, yes the water has to be there.

You and Tim/ IDT have and are making sure of that.

Perhaps because as a novice pensioner, I remember my consolidation time months, I did a huge amount of reading only on Health Unlocked.I remember following the journey and material on pinned posts back many years to conversations, articles and links historically.

Just wanted the comfort of ideas, options, wisdom and the guidance rules on overuse, training regimes.It was all there.

Ironically Floss there was still the desire, passion to try out a few things for myself.The bridge and marathon experience is a huge safety net also.

I hope I have not misunderstood,will go back and read your rallying call, did I understand correctly that your quests are the place for ideas, options, consolidation possibilities,🤔

Keep up your good work Floss.

👊💥🏃‍♀️⭐️👏👏

[Hidden]

Hi Oldfloss. Thank you for putting the request out to the experienced forum members on our behalf. I’m looking forward to reading the posts.

[Debston Graduate]

Thanks for this, Oldfloss. There's some real inspiration out there and, although I'm not feeling lost (yet), I'm wondering what my next goal is - 10K? run faster? just keep on keeping on? I love reading everyone's stories and it really helps to keep me going.

[Pianism Graduate]

As a relatively new graduate myself, I'm so looking forward to reading the stories of people who are further down the road than me. And I hope my little posts help those who are following behind too.