To those starting out!

[CrimsonMama]

October last year I started this program c25k. But after just a week I got shin splints and had to stop! I was six stone overweight and my body couldn't even manage wk one!

I spent the next six weeks just walking 30 mins a day. Getting my strength up and my shin splints gone.

I came back to the program so much fitter than in week one and found week two and three easy!

Fast forward and I graduated in February this year. I have been running three days a week ever since and have lost six stone in weight! I once posted asking if I could wear a crop top to run because of my tummy.... Now I wear a sporty crop top AND shorts!

I love running and this program gave me a love for exercise for the first time in my 40 years of life!

Now guess what? This morning I ran 10k!

I wanted to come here to tell you all... This program can change your life! If I can do it I know that every single one of you can too! Some runs are fantastic! And some can feel like a chore. But remember each and every run is awesome for your body! And your mind and spirit too! Every time you complete a week proves what you can accomplish when you set your mind to it!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Great Post from you CrimsonMama, great time and pace for that 10k run, I ran my first full 10k on Wednesday in almost the same pace and time as you, my pace was 7.18, yours 7.15 and my time was 1.13.03 against your slightly better time of just under 13 minutes, well done. 😊 🏃

[CrimsonMama in reply to AlMorr]

Yay! Racing twins lol. I am only 5ft 1inch so my stride is not long so other runners always seem to outpace me! But I don't care too much about speed. My mum says "we are built for endurance not speed" in our family so I tell myself "slow and steady" as I go!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to CrimsonMama]

👍 🏃

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate]

What a week you're having!! Fabulous stuff CrimsonMama, you are a LEGEND!

[AliHC Graduate]

What a beautiful and inspirational story! Very, very well done with your first 10k...just must feel on top of the world 🌍 Keep on, keeping on ❤️

[MelGC25k Graduate]

Wow well done! At the moment its hard for me to even imagine 5k, your post is inspiring!!

[Ping-pong Graduate]

Fantastic achievement all round, you've completely reinvented yourself. You must feel you can do ANYTHING now and you probably, no definitely, CAN. Go you 🏃‍♀️😀

[Elisabeth3 Graduate]

Not even a year, and you can't recognise your old you? Fantastic achievement! ☀️

Keep the good work!

[Elisabeth3 Graduate]

I can only echo what you say.

The program helped me a lot, too.

[Richard7 Graduate]

Wow what a year - super. Your achievements are inspiring not just the running but the amazing weight loss. You can be very proud of what your have achieved. Enjoy your running going forward 👍

[Icandoit2019 Graduate]

Amazing and inspiring!!

You have achieved so much and smashed all your goals well done 👍

[Blackcat66 Graduate]

Fantastic post! Well done on your spectacular achievement, and happy running!

[ChoosingHappy Graduate]

What an amazingly inspirational post! I've just completed c25k so this is my first week of running as a graduate, the thought of crop top and shorts is dreamlike to me, but if I keep up my 3 runs a week, who knows, maybe that will be me next summer, and my stomach has NEVER seen the light of day in my 40 years! 😀🏃‍♀️👍

[CrimsonMama in reply to ChoosingHappy]

My legs were like that! Even in my twenties my hubby and I wore trousers/leggings on beaches abroad! Too ashamed of our British white legs lol.

Hopefully mine will get a bit of a tan from running and I won't mind showing them in a non-running environment too!

As for my tummy.. it's not flat but it's not as big and I just don't care what ppl think anymore. Comfort is more important and I get pretty hot running! Plus I actually don't believe ppl care enough to comment anyways.

[ChoosingHappy Graduate in reply to CrimsonMama]

I had an interesting breakthrough moment early on in my c25k journey, week 2 I think, I was walking back from the park after my run, purple faced, sweaty, when a whole year group of teens were walking towards me on the bridge. My immediate thought was oh god. This will be awful. But not one of them batted an eyelid as they passed me! Then I thought, wow, what was I worried about? And realised that it turns 40 year old me cares a hell of a lot less than younger me about what people think of me! 👍🏃‍♀️😀

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

A wonderful story. No excuses left for any of us now! Thank you for sharing, inspiring and encouraging. Hope you have some beautiful autumn runs 🍁🍂🍄

[Myankles]

So inspirational. Well done and thank you.

[Hidden]

Congratulations! What a fantastic and inspiring post, I know you will encourage lots of people. What a fabulous achievement all round. 🥳

[Kia12]

Well done

[Hidden]

Congratulations, your patience paid off I hope I can keep going after Injury take care.

[M1ck]

Congratulations......inspiring...

[Iilacdeb271061 Graduate]

Wow. What an amazing achievement.

Massive congratulations to you.

I have been running 5'km for a year and still find it a struggle.

Debby

[Evol Graduate]

Wonderfully inspirational. Huge congratulations

[SirVillian Graduate]

Congratulations CrimsonMama, fantastic post telling of your brilliant achievement in running 10km. Superb effort and determination in doing things step by step, and increasing gradually especially at the beginning with the walking, really well done👍🏼. Blessings and best wishes for your future running🙏🏼✅

[Puppy-love Graduate]

What a wonderful, inspirational post. Thank you and well done for all you have achieved so far. 👏👏