Impostor syndrome (**long post warning**)

[sTrongFuse]

Being able to run for 30 minutes is a huge achievement. Being able to run 5k is another huge achievement. Being able to run 5k in 30 minutes, well, I'm sure that will be a massive achievement too, if I ever get there.

Last night, in a few seconds shy of 80 minutes, I ran 10k. For me, that was a truly massive achievement.

I can't take running 30 minutes or running 5k away from what I've achieved over the past 4 months, but while I was doing C25K, I always felt like a bit of an impostor. So many of the people on the programme have either never ran, or haven't done so for many years, and they were getting out and going for it.

Me? Well, as a referee, I've been running for many years. Yes, it's only been short dashes of up to 100m, but it means I have a certain amount of experience of running in my legs, and an "above the couch" level of fitness.

Does that detract from what I achieved in completing the programme? No, it doesn't. But for those of you who truly did start from the couch and are progressing through the plan or have graduated or are now building up and moving on from graduation; you are truly inspirational. I know how tough I found it with my "advantages", so to start out from scratch, I cannot articulate my admiration.

But I always felt a bit like I was in the wrong place. This was somewhere for beginners, this was somewhere for people for whom running was totally alien; what on earth was I doing here in the company of of people who thought I was just another novice like them?

I know that's not the case. I know my achievement is as valid as anyone's, but I still felt like I was "cheating" slightly.

Last night has dispelled any remaining doubts about what I have achieved since I first laced up my running shoes back at the start of March. Bridging from 5k to 10k was a kind of validation of the work I put in over those 9 weeks. I couldn't have run 10k without first having got to 30 minutes and then progressing to 5k and then stretching that distance out steadily over the intervening weeks to the 10k I ran last night.

I'm not sure I could go as far as to say this programme has changed my life, but it has certainly changed my perceptions of what I can do, what I can achieve.

If you are currently bridging to 10k (using ju-ju- 's plan or some other approach), good luck in your endeavours. I'll be here cheering you on your way. If you have graduated and are consolidating, well done; be proud of that achievement. If you are progressing through the programme, know that you are amazing just for having started it, and you can go on and complete it and more. If you are thinking about taking the plunge and starting out, go for it; you have nothing to lose and everything to gain and you absolutely can do it.

It's been an amazing journey for me over the last 4 months and I have shared the highs and lows with a lot of fabulous people on this forum; both the graduates and administrators sharing their wisdom and experience, and my fellow "students" geeing each other on, sharing their successes and practices.

If anyone is interested, the total distance run so far is 201k. I'm sure there will be plenty more to follow...

[backintime Graduate]

I understand you said you feel like an imposter, but you really shouldn't.

There are people who have run half marathons or coming back from injury who use C25K to get running again. Your achievement is as valid as anyones. Could you run for 30mins when you started? If not, then well, you did the programme same as anyone else in my opinion...

Any, huge congratulations on your 10K, which is another great achievement! Well done!!! I am hoping to get there soon-ish (ju ju's plan - week 3 just starting).

[sTrongFuse Graduate in reply to backintime]

Thank you. It was a variation on a theme of something that started out as a hybrid of ju-ju- 's time plan and distance plan that got me there.

I know I've no reason to feel like an impostor, but I am genuinely in awe of those people who are truly starting from the couch. Everyone of them is a hero just for deciding to make a positive change to their lives (even if they don't know it yet).

I at least had, what you might call a standing start, if I had been sitting on the couch, I'm not so sure that I'd have even started.

[backintime Graduate in reply to sTrongFuse]

I used to do martial arts when I was younger (BC - Before Children, my eldest is 16 now) and at one point I was training for 13 hours a week. I was very fit, toned, etc *sigh* but I still couldn't run for toffee even though I could lots of other sport things.

Running continuously for a distance is different imo but if it makes you feel better I'll call you a cheat

[sTrongFuse Graduate in reply to backintime]

I was the same. Got as far as attempting to grade for black belt (shotokan karate) and then a series of illness, injury and life got in the way. Next thing I knew, almost a decade had passed.

I have a totally banjaxed knee from my rugby playing days, so being able to run at all is something of a miracle.

I had to do a yo-yo sprint test on Saturday as part of my referee's assessment and I was giving guys 20 odd years younger a run for their money, so I guess there's still a few miles in these legs yet.

[backintime Graduate in reply to sTrongFuse]

we'll call that yo yo sprint test interval training and say you did your interval training for the week?

[sTrongFuse Graduate in reply to backintime]

Definitely. It was ever faster reps of 20m out, 20m in and a 10sec recovery between them. Give me a 10k run over that any day of the week.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

No you're not an imposter😊you may have been fitter when you started but non stop running is a whole new level. Congratulations on your 10k that's amazing 😊

[sTrongFuse Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Thanks. And yes, I know. The only difference is that I had a standing rather than a sitting start. 😉

[Debston Graduate]

Well done on your 10k, you should be feeling very proud of yourself! We're all coming from our own version of the "couch", yes maybe the idea of running a bit was less daunting for you than for some of us but you still made that decision to push yourself a bit further and see what you could do. I always find your posts inspiring and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Bravo! ☺

[sTrongFuse Graduate in reply to Debston]

Aw, thank you. And I'm still working on those "glutes of steel" just for you...🤣

[Debston Graduate in reply to sTrongFuse]

😂 My own are a work in progress...

[damienair Graduate]

This running journey is amazing. I went from C25K, to 5K, to 10K, to sub 30 min 5K, sub 1 hour 10K and I’m still going and striving to improve my running. It has become a habit, a hobby and a bit of an obsession. I have changed my lifestyle and I’m fitter and happier and over 2 stone lighter as a result. I graduated 2 years ago, I’ve fallen off the wagon a few times and have had to restart and retrain a few times. But I keep pushing forward. Plus through a running group and Parkrun I feel part of an amazing community locally and through this forum I also feel part of a wider and broader community. Keep running and well done on your 10K.

Damien

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

A great post sTrongFuse! Having used the programme to return to running and having been althletic most of my life I felt the same way, but without this programme and these forums, I don't feel I'd still be running consistently years later and reaching great distances on some awesome trails. This programme and these forums are amazing!