Ten things I have learnt about running...

[Gwenllian1]

I started c25k in January this year. I thought I would die when I started but here I am, ten months later, still running. I have learnt a lot in that time both about myself and from the wise and wonderful people on here so as I was running along this afternoon I thought I would try to capture some of it:

1. You can do it. I thought I couldn't do three minutes, then ten minutes, then twenty and thirty but I could. Trust the programme. Trust yourself. Don't think about it too much and don't look too far ahead. You can do it. I still haven't run 10k and if I am honest with you, I still think I can't do it, but I expect if I keep on going, I can.

2. Don't wait until you feel like it to go for a run. If I waited until I felt like it I would probably never go! I have found that deciding at the end of one run when I would do the next one and putting it in my diary really helps me just to get out there and do it. That might be just me of course but for me, when it is a run day it is a run day and I try to just do it.

3. The right kit really helps. When I started I wore a pair of trainers which I had bought to go the gym They were hardly worn so you can tell how well that went! I also wore an old pair of jogger bottoms and a black t shirt. I was hoping for invisibility I think. I promised myself a proper pair of running trainers when I ran for twenty minutes and at the same time I bought a proper running bra. They changed my running life! Proper running leggings don't flap around and a nice top makes you feel like a runner. I had a running watch for my birthday so if nothing else I feel that I have invested in so much proper running kit now that I can't stop running!

4. There is no such thing as a bad run. This is definitely something I learnt from this wonderful forum. All miles in the legs are worth having. If you were not a runner before, and I certainly wasn't, it is all very new to your body. Even runs where you struggle to catch your breath or where your legs feel like lead are all helping your body adjust to being a runner. It's all good, even when it isn't!

5. It does get easier.

6. But not all the time! I had been running for months before I had my first magic sensation that it was effortless and flowing and altogether wonderful. It lasted for about two minutes that first time and it comes and goes now but it is never as sloggingly hard as it was in those first weeks of couch to 5k when I wondered what on earth I was doing to myself. Gradually, magically, you learn to run.

7. The fact that the first ten minutes are dreadful does not mean you should go home. In fact they have a name, the "Toxic Ten", and there is a scientific explanation. It is what happens to the body when you ask it to do more so that it needs more oxygen. There are some great explanations on this forum. It happens to everybody so it is not just you (or me!). That gets easier too.

8. Remember what you are doing it for. My mother and my grandmother both died of heart attacks so that was my first drive to do something about my own heart health. So I am doing it for them, and for myself, and for my lovely husband in the hope of having more happy and healthy time together, for my grown up children, because I love spending time with them, and for my grandchildren because I want to see them grow. Since I started running I have lost weight, reduced my blood pressure and my waistline. Nobody else will look after me. It is my body and my responsibility. When I feel like giving up I think about all these people and that keeps me going.

9. It is not a race it is a run. I am slow, slow, slow, and always will be. I was so slow at school I gave up as soon as I could and hid behind the bikesheds when the cross country run set off and lay in the grass trying to improve my tan. Why did it take me so long to realise that it really doesn't matter if I am slow? I still haven't run 5k in thirty minutes and to be honest I don't think I ever will. I got quite excited the other week when I managed to run 5k in less than 40 minutes! I am always near the back in parkrun but I tell myself that it is a run not a race, and there is a special cheer for the slow ones!

10. Running makes life better. I feel better, stronger, brighter, sharper, younger. And who wouldn't have that for free? (well apart from the running gear....)

[Sp81 Graduate]

Truly amazing post. 🥰💕

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Sp81]

Thank you! What a lovely thing to say!

[Sp81 Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

I found myself agreeing with so much x I also got my daughter to read number 7, as this is her loudest gremlin and regularly gives up and wants to come home at 9 minutes. Xxxxxx

[Sp81 Graduate in reply to Sp81]

I started to run to lose weight, then began losing weight to run. After a while I realised my mental well being was improving and that I enjoyed it. My daughter started running a couples months later because she wanted to be happy like me x 😱🥰🤩

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Sp81]

Oh wow ! That is wonderful, both what you are doing for yourself and the fact that your daughter is doing it too. My daughter has been a runner for a while and for ages it didn't even cross my mind that I could do it too. Since I started to run I have found her a real source of encouragement and good advice. She runs long distances and surprised me when I was talking about the awful first ten minutes by saying that she often has to run for twenty minutes or more before she feels that she is enjoying it!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

What a great post Gwenllian1.

Picking your days for running really does help and you're right about having the running top / bottoms and when you put them on you go into running mode it's the way it makes you feel like a 'proper ' runner.

When you eventually realise it's not a race and your pace is okay even if it's slow it takes a lot of pressure off.

Running does make things / life feel so much better and if we are doing something that makes us happy then that can only be a good thing.

Keep being happy and enjoying your running 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Thanks Buddy! It is funny to realise how long it took me to stop feeling that somehow I am not a "real" runner because I don't do marathons, or even half marathons, and am never going to be speedy. It is my thing, for me, a run not a race!

[Buddy34 Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

When I started c25k I thought 30 minutes of running would be impossible then on the other hand I new I would do it as I don't give up on anything. I struggled a few times but after posting on here and getting replies that are so supportive and encouraging I just kept going .

I believe this forum running along side c25k is one of the best thought out plans ever. 🤗🤗

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Yes, I have struggled too from time to time with feeling too slow or finding it too hard but you are right about the forum. It picks you up and keeps you going. It is just marvellous!

[Kg68 Graduate]

What a lovely post to read. You are inspiration and great tonic to the group. Look forward to reading more of your post. 🏃‍♀️😀

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Kg68]

Thank you. I am a bit stunned at the idea of being an inspiration! I am just a cheery snail!!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

A cheery, inspiring snail! 👍🏻😉

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Brilliant post! Well done, you really have gotten the maximum benefit from the programme, and that's what it's all about 👍🏻

I love no.8; you're so right, we actually forget that it's our body, and we really are in charge of what happens to it and we have the power to change it dramatically if we want to do something about it 👌🏻

Wishing you many happy decades of running and great health 😊🤞🏻

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you Jo and I wish you the same! It is quite daunting to get your head around the idea that you only have one body and one life and yet somehow quite liberating too, if you know what I mean!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

I know exactly what you mean! I think it's a definitive "growing up" moment, probably one of the few real "adult" moments! 👍🏻👌🏻😁

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

You have it exactly: a growing up moment. I think it is no coincidence that mine came after my mother died and I was left realising I was the older generation now! Time to do the best I can!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

I've had it in stages; once in my thirties when I realised my mental health was my responsibility and no one was going to fix it for me, secondly when my Dad died suddenly 5 years ago at 56 from a bleed on the brain which I believe only happened because of blood thinners that he was on following stents and blocked arteries from his love of meat and cheese, and another, final slap last year when my mother died just 10 days before her 63rd birthday. Alcohol and tobacco were her addictions of choice.

We can treat our bodies like trash cans/old bangers or we can treat them like performance cars with the right maintenance and fuels. 👍🏻💕

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

It sounds trite I know but we have to treat our bodies as though we love them. In fact we have to love them. They are where we live after all!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

We do indeed and they're all we're gonna get 👍🏻😊

[Smelliepoo Graduate]

Thank you so much for this gwenllian1, it is such an awesome post to read as I am on my way to the last 2 weeks of c25k. This is very insightful and inspirational and has made me think about what I am doing this for!

I like the rules! I may have to pinch them in some way!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

Thank you. Would you be happy to tell us what you are doing it for? It is always fascinating to read! And most of these are more thoughts than rules I think but the ones that are pieces of advice are things that people have said to me on the forum I think!

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

Sometimes when I was walking I just wished I had the energy and ability to run, but hated it so much at school and disliked the teachers immensely, so vowed that I would not do it, mainly because my experience at school had shown me that I could not do it.

My father is ill with parkinsons and is near the end of his life. Part of the swiftness of parkinsons taking his ability is his lack of regular exercise in his life in general. He was fit and healthy (probably the only reason he is still alive at the moment) but did not exercise other than walking the dog.

I know that parkinsons is not meant to be hereditary, but I have a lot from my father, including restless leg syndrome, and I do worry that I take after him too much. If I keep fit and healthy with regular exercise now, it would help to elongate ability if debilitating illnesses, like parkinsons, hit.

This year my sister in law raised somewhere in the region of £500 for parkinsons uk by completing the Cardiff half marathon, and I am so proud of her for doing it. She is an inspiration to me and the child in me who wanted to run but was told she was no good at it screamed IWANNADOTHAT!

I haven't told her I am doing it yet, I am going to call her the second I graduate and she will be the first to know that I completed it (with the possible exception of my husband!)

There are the other general ones like loosing weight, more energy, mental health benefits, etc, but I think they are a bit more of an added bonus.

That was actually quite therapeutic! I don't think I have really said much about my reasons behind doing this before! Thanks!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

Oh this resonates with me in so many ways. My father died of motor neurone disease and seeing his physical capacity diminish and then disappear was very hard. He had been a very active person throughout his life. So partly that made me feel that things can strike you very randomly and partly it made me feel I should use what I have while I have it, almost in honour of his courage in the face of MND if you know what I mean. And my husband ran the Cardiff Half Marathon this year, having started from scratch with c25k with me in January! I still can't bring myself to think I would ever run a half marathon but it was a stupendous event. I loved it! Good luck with your journey. How wonderful to have embarked upon it!

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

Never say never! That's brilliant that he did An HM so soon! I am thinking about it in the future, but I want to get some experience and strength in my running first (and confidence!)

Thank you gwenllian1. And good journey to you. X

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Absolutely super post thanks! 😄

I agree with 12345678910 😂

... and “effortless and flowing and altogether wonderful” makes my heart sing.

Go you! 😄👏👏👏

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

Effortless and flowing doesn't happen all the time but it is worth waiting for when it does!

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Great post 😁

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

Thank you!

[runwithdog Graduate]

brill !!!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to runwithdog]

Thanks and I love your name! Do you really?

[runwithdog Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

yes,we have run all the c25 together (well,i run,they hardly get out of a trot haha)

we do agility and i thought i was letting the team down so i started this running thing ,then i thought ` why am i running then taking the dogs for a walk,when i can do both at the same time? `

they enjoy it so much and i may have given up it it wasn`t for them

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to runwithdog]

That is great! I suspect the agility must help in that the dogs are used to doing something with you. We don't have a dog but have lots of time looking after the four dogs who belong to our various children (we are dog care option of choice so it is surprising how often we seem to have a dog in the house!) I think one of the four would be a great running companion as she can totally be relied upon to be more interested in being with you than anything else. One is too old to run now although she would give it a go. One would run with you covering twice the distance and one might well disappear if anything more interesting showed up!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

What a lovely post it echoes so many of the things that i run for, 5k in 40 minutes or less i dream of, our best so far is 47 mins and very pleased with that

The best for me is running in summer in shorts but running in the dark cold and rain is especially good also

Thanks for sharing your journey it’s very inspirational and i hope lots of new runners read it

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

I think the absolute best for me has been running while abroad. I have run (very slowly obviously!) in Florence and Galicia and Salamanca and Madrid. When I go on holiday now I pack my running stuff and it is an amazing feeling to run a new place!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

Oh yes you are so right we ran in Menorca and it was amazing, not like us to get up early so we could run before breakfast

[Fairy220480 Graduate]

Fantastic post, thanks for sharing x

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Fairy220480]

Thank you. I just really wanted to make it clear that running can be wonderful even if you are not athletic, not fast, never going to compete in anything, just for itself!

[Fairy220480 Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

That’s me too!

[Aspire24 Graduate]

Did I write this, no it wasn’t me, but it could have been👍. You speak for lots of us. Nice inspirational post😀🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Aspire24]

Oh thank you and I am glad to know there are others on here who are on my wavelength. It is a bit of a hobby horse of mine. You can run, you can walk, you can do yoga and all of those things are wonderful. They are for you, they are not a competition. You can see that school sport from back in the day nearly scarred me for life!

[Kingfisher29 Graduate]

I agree with what u say completely although I’ve only just “Graduated” and my 30 mins is slow but it’s 30 mins I couldn’t even begin to think I’d do 9 weeks ago so I’m well chuffed and intend to continue and look forward to a time when I can enjoy every one of those 30 minutes not just the last few ! But thank you 🙏🏾 for an excellent post 👍👍

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Kingfisher29]

Congratulations! That is a great achievement! I found the transition from running under the umbrella of C25k to running by myself quite a challenge. There is a lot of support on the Bridge to 10k community so it is really worth taking a look at that. Good luck with the next stage and keep posting because it really helps!

[shrinkingjaz Graduate]

This is one of the best things I've read in a while. Lovely post 😊

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to shrinkingjaz]

Oh thank you! I was just running along thinking about it so I wrote it down as soon as I got in!

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

Gwen this is an awesome and very encouraging post! Every newbie should read and learn from it! Thank you for sharing so succinctly! 👏 🌷 💐

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Thanks Annie. I am sure there are many more things to say, in fact I keep on thinking of more things I have learnt since I posted this!

[Sook2 Graduate]

I love the “relentless positivity” of the running community! (That’s a quote from the marathontalk podcast, worth checking out if you don’t know it)

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Sook2]

I know exactly what you mean! It doesn't mean it doesn't hurt sometimes or that there aren't days when I don't want to go but sooner or later the positivity returns!

[TwigletChipstick Graduate]

Thank you so much. I’ve just arrived home after a very hard w3r2 and wondered if I had this in me. But I’ve just read this and looked my two toddlers and it reminded me that I’m doing this to be a better mummy!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to TwigletChipstick]

I am sure you do have it in you and what a great role model you are being for your children too!

[Purpleloulou27]

What a great post! Having a bit of a wobble at the moment with the rubbish wet weather and needed a kick up the bum! I can so relate to many of your points! X

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Purpleloulou27]

Oh yes, I have wobbles quite often but I am still going after all these months. Running in the wet and cold was my latest one but I have found I prefer colder runs to the heat and although I don't like getting totally drenched I don't mind a bit of drizzle so that helps!

[Purpleloulou27 in reply to Gwenllian1]

Yes I don’t mind running in the rain (light rain that is lol) but trouble is , where I run is all fields and woods so at the moment it’s like a bog and I can’t run on it so am running on roads and paths which hurts my knees more ! So am a bit miffed as was gradually adding distance but now I just about manage the 5k if that makes sense! I’ve decided I will stick to that distance for now and when weather improves will add distance then x

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Purpleloulou27]

Oh yes. My favourite running route is a bog at the moment so I'm casting around for alternatives. Much prefer paths to roads but might have to put up with them for now.

[Newbie12 Graduate]

I love this post, thank you so much. I graduated a few weeks ago and haven't really been out properly since. This has inspired me to start again and remember that I actually enjoyed it and had a feeling of achievement after each run.

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Newbie12]

It is that achievement which is the thing. There are not that many things we do where you try to do something hard and you can see very clearly that it has worked! Most of life is a bit more complicated! Running gives you a very obvious piece of evidence that you can do it!!

[2flatfeet Graduate]

What a fabulous post! This should be bottled and given free with every pair of trainers ever bought! 👍

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to 2flatfeet]

What a great idea!

[RunningMigster Graduate]

I love your post, thank you for sharing.

I can certainly identify with so many of your reasons for starting. It's for me, absolutely. But its also for my kids and for my wife, so that hopefully, we can all have more time together.

Glad you're enjoying your runs still. I have to tell you, one of the hardest lessons I've learnt, is to go slow. Even when I thought I was going slow, I was still going too fast. After 5 weeks, it's finally sunk in

Happy running!

[Gwenllian1 Graduate]

Well one problem I have never had is going slow! It is quite a revelation to me to find that I can go faster!

[Granspeed Graduate]

Lovely post. Such a pleasure to read, and full of really helpful experiences for newer runners to appreciate. Seems a long time since January, doesn’t it? Glad to see the hip issue seems to have settled. 😄👏🏼🎉

[Gwenllian1 Graduate in reply to Granspeed]

Thanks granspeed (I might adopt granslow!). I'm pleased that the hip is so much better and trying hard to remember to do the exercises which help! Not a discipline that I'm very good at!

[Granspeed Graduate in reply to Gwenllian1]

Tell me about that! I have a niggly arch that needs glute strengthening exercises apparently. 😨 Squats 😱 And others. And yes, every day. 😕 Ever onward...! Thank goodness the runs are fun. 😄👍 Well done you. I am trying to consolidate 9k before going for the great One Oh. 🤣🐢

[Chris--B Graduate]

Brilliant, it says it all. 😊

[Redvic97 Graduate]

What a great post. I can relate to all that you’ve said. I put the next run in my diary and fit it in and I always have my kit ready to go! It’s definitely a case of mind over matter for all sorts of reasons but exhilarating when you complete each run.