💥Aha! moments of my C25K-er to ultramarathoner journey 😊

[roseabi]

Heyup!

My friend Oldfloss asked me to come back here and give you a few ideas about what people do after graduating C25K. I thought about it, and it occurred to me that in the years since I graduated I've gradually moved further up (in more ways than one!) until I've got to the point where I can easily believe in any possibility!

I love running on hilly trails, and one of the best things about it for me is just stopping every so often and being amazed at how far I've come! There's nothing like it 😊 And it's a bit like that when I look back in time to when I first graduated in January 2015. Here are those special running 💥Aha! moments that I can remember:

💥 When I first graduated I wasn't actually interested in running further than 5K, but I definitely wanted to be faster! I found that with training, and also by increasing my longest runs to 10K I was able to achieve this, and I LOVED getting my parkrun PBs 😄

💥 I really enjoyed planning new 10K routes to explore my new home town of Brighton & Hove, and I realised that if I could enjoy running 10K so much, I could enter and run a Half Marathon! First HM: Milton Keynes Winter Half, December 2015.

💥 As I went further on my runs, I discovered and fell in love with the South Downs. Then somehow or other I heard about the Beachy Head Marathon, which is one of the hilliest marathons we have in this country, and only a short drive from home. With its generous 9-hour cut-off time I thought - I can run that as my first marathon! And so I did, in October 2016 😊😊😊

💥 I became more and more interested in endurance sports, inspired by reading books by the likes of Scott Jurek and Dean Karnazes. I also became an admin on the Marathon Running and Race Support forum - check us out! Some people have referred to us as "big school" but I don't like that idea. We're not one bit like school, we're a bunch of adventurers who come together to share our experiences - good and bad. And we talk all areas of running, so come and join the fun!!! 😊😊😊

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

💥 After Beachy Head, I knew I could run a faster marathon (which I did, Brighton 2017). I branched out into triathlon (also Brighton 2017) and I know I'll get to Iron Man one day 😄

💥 And finally, I'd learned from all my reading and experiences that I could, and would, run an ultramarathon. So last year I went a bit nuts and ran five marathons, two of them ultramarathons 💥😅

So, take a look back through your running achievements to date, and then think about where they will take you next 💗💗💗

And if you're wondering what my collage relates to, and have a spare hour (my race report posts are always MASSIVE), have a read about my trials and tribulations upon my return to the Beachy Head Marathon at the end of 2018!

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

roseabi xx

EDIT: nb if you do visit the Marathon group please be assured that I don't usually post there FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY!!!! Just had a bit of catching up to do 😊😊😊

[RunRunRun13 Graduate]

Such a great read and thank you for posting this....gives graduates like me something to aspire too and know that we can all achieve our goals/dreams in time and get great advice and motivation from our fellow VRB’s ! 🏃‍♀️

[roseabi in reply to RunRunRun13]

Yep, you can do it!!!!!! 💗

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Wow so amazing and inspiring! And you just started with C25k like me and so many of us, wow. Clearly I need to perfect my hat running technique, I’m using a visor but maybe I need to think of ways to layers them. ..

[roseabi in reply to Couchpotato2]

I often wear two hats in winter - three is a personal best 😊😊😊

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to roseabi]

I challenge you to 4! Is it because you can’t decide which to wear?

[roseabi in reply to Couchpotato2]

So many hats, so little time 😄

But I'm afraid the boring answer is that my ears get really sore when it's cold, so I sometimes double up the protection 😊

[Couchpotato2 Graduate in reply to roseabi]

you are probably running too fast and creating too much wind

[roseabi in reply to Couchpotato2]

If only 😂

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

That's what I love too, looking back across the expanse covered and thinking "I did that! (And for me "all by myself!") 🤣

It's true too... I felt I didn't "belong" on the marathon board but it's just some of the same people and few more who've already moved on and up from c25k. Nothing to be worried or nervous about! 👍😁

[roseabi in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

🎵🎵 🤣💗

[Debston Graduate]

Wow, amazing stuff! Will have a read later.

[roseabi in reply to Debston]

Thank you! xxx

[Tbae]

Wow, so interesting Abi and very motivating and useful in highlighting personal opportunities.

👊💥🏃‍♀️⭐️👏👏☄️

[roseabi in reply to Tbae]

Thanks Tbae 💗💗💥

[RunBrianRun Graduate]

Truly inspirational Roseabi 😃👍 I still haven’t run further than 12km a year ago. When I’m done with my aerobic training it will be something for me to aspire to though.

[roseabi in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thank you! And that sounds excellent xxx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

What a lovely write up and achievements.

It all starts with that first step out the door and C25K.

I look forward to your Ironman report.😀.

Great inspirational post.

Rfc x

[roseabi in reply to Realfoodieclub]

He he - thanks Rfc!!! xxx

[Biddy62 Graduate]

So enjoyed reading that! Thank you 😊What an inspirational journey! And brilliant achievements.

I love trails and hills. A recent trip to the Lake District has me very envious of the fell runners.

I will look back at your posts for more inspiration. Good luck with your next challenge!! 😊

[roseabi in reply to Biddy62]

Thank you! I have my sights set on the Lake District... 😊

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Awesome. Absolutely Awesome. What more can I say, roseabi, but thank you for helping us all along the way in addition to all your running.

[roseabi in reply to Dexy5]

It's my absolute pleasure xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Decker]

Awesome!! You've had an epic journey so far Abi and have always been a huge inspiration!

[roseabi in reply to Decker]

Aw, Decker - you have always inspired ME xxx

[Lordi Graduate]

Abi the Marathon Forum Yoda is! If you are progressing through C25K then it's perfectly OK to check out the B210k and Marathon forums too, to see what running longer distances is all about and ask noobie questions (we have all been there).

[roseabi in reply to Lordi]

Answer them we can 😊

[Rachelcanrun Graduate]

Wow that’s totally amazing and inspiring! What a success story C25k is!

[roseabi in reply to Rachelcanrun]

Isn't it fabulous!!!?! 💗

[Rachelcanrun Graduate in reply to roseabi]

Yes totally and the forum is amazingly supportive. I’ve tried a variety of running apps and this beats them all hands down 😊

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

I challenge you to 4! Is it because you can’t decide which to wear?

[roseabi in reply to Couchpotato2]

You're on! 😂

[TailChaser Graduate]

Blimey roseabi, that is one amazing and truly inspirational journey! 😅

[roseabi in reply to TailChaser]

Thank you! 💗

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Thanks You... an inspiration to me and hundreds more xx

[roseabi in reply to Oldfloss]

💗

[backintime Graduate]

I just found this, your journey is amazing. Thank you for sharing that.