Two years ago today, at the age of 70, on a dark windy evening in hilly Chipping Norton, I wheezed, panted and generally struggled my way through week 1 run 1 of couch to 5k. I staggered home, my face a mixture of lurid red and white, sides heaving, head spinning. It was a triumph for me as serious injuries to my left leg had brought my running to a halt in my late teens, and it was 50 years before a change in medical opinion meant I was able to start running again.
It’s been an amazing two years. The support from these forums has made a huge difference to me. I’ve done things I never dreamed I would do, culminating in completing Oxford half marathon this month; and being able to share the stages and bounce ideas and experiences off my friends here, has made the journey much richer. Especially this year when we’ve had a major town to town house move, a death in the family, Alzheimer’s in the family and also terminal cancer in the family, the loss of a beloved cat and the other one slipping gradually downhill towards death. Running has kept me up, enthused and connected with life.
The photo montage shows just a few of the wonderful experiences I’ve had.
I shall share this across Marathon and Race, Bridge to 10k and c25k, mainly to encourage others on the path - which has been one of my main reasons for all my posts. C25k people, public races are not obligatory: most of my runs are for fun, many off road taking photos, so if that’s your aim too, it’s a very satisfying route to take.
Not sure how this got tagged with gastroentorostomy - what even is that??!!
A wonderful read and I was surprised to see your age, you always seem so full of beans so clearly running is good for a positive and active life I am so pleased you started this journey 2 years ago, it cant have been easy but you have achieved so much now and you look so happy in all the photos. Happy 2nd Birthday!
Love both your montage & inspiring post! Feel for you in those multiple losses and sadnesses. How amazing that your passion for life is also your solace in time of need! Running truly adds something very special to our lives! Thanks for sharing & we pray that your adventures keep you going for many more decades! 💐🏃♀️🥰
Keep going, I’m heading for 73 now and still going strong. A man of 71 won one of the recent marathons (phew, lots of ones in that sentence!). Running is a gift that keeps giving. It’s certainly helped me through this year xx
It wouldn’t really work that way if I did hr training again, as it was time not distance based. I’m chasing up getting an MRI on my knee on the advice of my doctor, and see if they can do anything.
Aah what a lovely post Flick!!🤗 You have been a tremendous inspiration! And being so bright and colourful when you’ve experienced many challenges, makes you even more incredible in my eyes!! Congratulations on the 2 year Runniversary of an outstanding VRB! 🤩🤗❤️
PS: it was the great support on this specific forum that kept me going in those early days, when I was stressing about running three minutes without stopping! 😊
Flick your writing! 'Enthused and connected to life' ❤ You have just put into words why most of us run but so much more beautifully than I could! Happy 2 years day! (Or happy 2 years and 1 day....) I honestly thought you had been running longer!
Thank you Claire 😊❤️ The key to writing is to write as you would speak, put down what you feel. Anyway, your marathon report was a brilliant piece of writing.
Honestly, it feels like much more than two years. Running keeps me sane 😀 xxx
Well done on your HMarathon, I’ve been lurking around and following your achievements over the past while and silently cheering you on, so very well done. You are a real influencer and as I turn 70 soon I have been heartened to keep going by your experiences. Sunday week I will be attempting a self-navigated walking trail half marathon and even though I worked through C25K and Bridge to 10K I now find that I don’t have the necessary running breath. Buuuut, I can Jeff/walk forever, so if my running days are curtailed slightly, the desire to get out there in nature and move certainly isn’t, and what else certainly isn’t is the certainty that what you and other senior runners can achieve is up for grabs. Keep doing what you’re doing Flick and let us know what’s possible.
Thank you!
Nothing wrong with jeffing! Breathing can be a problem for me too, which is one reason I can run fast but not for long. I find an inhaler before I go out helps, and it’s better in summer. Getting out in nature is what it’s all about , and my favourite runs are always off road. I love races at Blenheim because they combine a race with amazing scenery and wildlife xxx
My goodness, what an inspirational post, thank you for sharing this! After dealing with shin splints I needed a bit of a push to go back out, and your post did just that!
I’m really glad if I helped you get back out there. Thank you. I used to get mild shin splints when I ran hills all the time - not bad enough to stop me running but painful sometimes. Hope yours are ok now.
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I am so pleased you started this journey 2 years ago, it cant have been easy but you have achieved so much now and you look so happy in all the photos. Happy 2nd Birthday!
My 2nd year Runniversary
One year runniversary and noooshooooos!
One year runniversary 
1 Year Runniversary ✨🎉😀
