Week one, I've done my first run!

[RunawayBetty]

Just here to say hello and thank you to all of you in this wonderful community! Yesterday, I did my very first C25K run after meticulously preparing it with the aid of the FAQ pages and all those other helpful posts.

I must say that I have never felt more supported in my whole life. School had basically teached me that I’m not good at sports at all, and while I have done a little bit since (especially dancing), I always felt that running was not for me.

So I felt very nervous yesterday and even prolongued the warm up walk because I didn’t want to start running with too many people around. Then Laura said „you can do it“ and I started to run and literally began to cry out of sheer relief. The sentence „you are going much to slow, try harder“ had been in my head for so long, and here I was running and even being encouraged to take it veeery slowly.

I went as slow as a snail, knowing that if I went any faster I could easily spoil my first run, and all through the way there was that silly happy smile on my face because I was finally doing it (oh, here come the tears again!).

Then I thought: That's it! For me, it’s not about reaching any other goal besides being healthy and happy. It’s not even a goal, it’s the way. If I keep on running, I want to have that silly happy smile on my face no matter what.

For the rest of the day I felt as if the volume of my lungs had suddenly doubled and there was oxygen everywhere in my body. In the evening, browsing through the forum, I realized that I had just discovered the Japanese „slow running“ mentioned in some posts.

I’m looking forward to my next run tomorrow. Again, thank you so much!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Great for getting started. It really is amazing how c25k and this forum can make you feel . Just keep it slow as you are and make sure you're drinking plenty water 7 days a week not just on run days, about 2-3 throughout the day .

C25k is an amazing plan and really does work you'll get lots of encouragement and support on here good luck 😊😊

[RunawayBetty Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you, and thank you for the reminder! Seems ridiculous, but drinking is the thing I am most prone to forget ...

[Hidden]

Well done for getting started and overcoming those demons. This program is so addictive and you’re going to have so much fun completing the runs week on week. Keep us posted and keep smiling!

[bananahead Graduate]

Well done Runawway Betty (great name btw!). Thinking about it is worse than actually doing it! An encouraging post for anyone who is thinking of starting this programme.

Enjoy the next run.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

What a lovely post and great preparation our first run was laughable as after about 40 seconds one of us was bent double trying to breathe and the other one sounded like a sick train breathing, you have started and that is the hard bit, that grin is priceless you can’t get it in any other way because it comes back every time you run

Enjoy your journey to fitness

[steviej99 Graduate]

And it only gets better that's the great thing!

[MummyTum Graduate]

What a delight to read your lovely post!

Welcome to the forum - it’s so good to have you here. This is such a supportive place. Enjoy your journey 🏃‍♀️

[Debston Graduate]

Well done, RunawayBetty - you've done the hardest bit now, taking that first step and getting out there!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Welcome aboard! Sounds like you've started just right!

Do have a look a the guide though

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

And enjoy your journey! The programme is amazing and will take you far👍🏻😁

[RunawayBetty Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you! Yes, I did read the guide several times before going on my first run, and I keep returning to it. I think it was THE crucial thing to do, because it kept me from making mistakes that would otherwise have turned my first run into a desaster (And I would have ended up by saying "See? I told you running was not for me ..." )

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to RunawayBetty]

Sorry, I missed that! You get a ⭐ for being a good student!

It is crucial and it's great to refer back to when questions come up again later as there's so much info it's impossible to remember all at once 👍🏻

I hope you find the programme as inspirational as I did 😁

[Annieapple Graduate]

I was so heartened by your meticulous preparation. Knowledge is key in understanding how the plan works!! Your first run and after glow are exactly how W1:R1 should be if you have read all the information!! A massive well done to you!!! Enjoy your rest day and you will be running away to W1:2 . Welcome & thanks for such a lovely post!! 👍🌟🐌😁🎈

[RunningChocoholic Graduate]

What an absolutely lovely post! Well done on getting out there for W1R1, that’s truly the hardest part. Embrace your inner snail and enjoy the programme. Keep checking in too so we can encourage you! 👍🏻🏃‍♀️

[Ssasqueen]

Wow, well done you. You should be very proud- that was me back in January and I’m still running and still enjoying it.

[tiggs1 Graduate]

That was a delight to read and I can almost feel your excitement and joy. Well done and enjoy the journey

[NewRunner4 Graduate]

Fantastic. That first run feels great, doesn’t it?! Enjoy your running journey through C25K, you’ll never look back.

👏👏👏

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

I know the feelings you describe, I started on Monday, also snail like and I don’t care what others think..... Well done for being brave enough to give it a go. That barrier is down now, roll on the next run!

[RunawayBetty Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

Thank you so much! I know that you just started - I read your posts before I went on my first run and took them as an example. They showed me that it really matters to go slowly. So thank you again, you helped me a lot! And enjoy your upcoming week 2!

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to RunawayBetty]

Thanks for your kind words. I was encouraged by all the other lively people on this forum, their advice is invaluable and encouraging. Keep going, we can complete this together!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

Glad you read the guide before you started.

Enjoy your journey.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[RunawayBetty Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, and thank you for that splendid guide! It's my bible right now.

[shrinkingjaz Graduate]

Posts like this make me so, so happy.

Keep riding that high! Your first run is an incredible achievement and you should be so proud!

Speed is one thing. Building up endurance and strength and actually enjoying it is another!

Keep it up

[RunawayBetty Graduate]

Wow, let me just say that I am completely overwhelmed by your warm and welcoming responses!

I have to admit that posting to a forum was the big other thing I had never done before, and doing it in English made it even more challenging (I am not a native English speaker, so please excuse any mistakes in my posts).

Thank you so much for your support! :-)) (And yes, I did my second run today!)

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to RunawayBetty]

Your written English is better than many native speakers........no trace of an accent!

[backintime Graduate]

Well done for overcoming 2 hurdles...running and the forum

Both will help you enormously.

Your English is excellent, please don't worry about it

[Yogaandrun Graduate]

Great post, it's a brilliant plan.

Keep it nice and slow, drink water and just have faith in the plan.

Keep posting 😁

[Tiredgranny]

I always feel so energised on run day... Housework... Gardening.... Cooking.... Can't stop zz