In September 2019 I started c25k having never ran since school days. I was sceptical that I would finish but kept going. Week 5 and that 20 minute run add me realise I could do it. Well in November I graduated! I’ve tried my best to keep going! I wouldn’t say I enjoy it as such but love the feeling after. Today I did my first ever 7k!!!! I am so happy I wanted to share with you that you can do it!! Who’s have thought from nothing to 7k!
One foot in front of the other. You are all smashing it!
Brilliant success story! Well done and thank you so much for sharing. ❤️ 7km is fab! If you need a new goal, there is a very good 10k training plan on the Bridge to 10k forum. It’s a lovely friendly place to chat all things running, too. 😊
Thank you! I’ve signed up to JuJus challenge which starts at the end of the month
Excellent! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did - it’s very do-able and so satisfying! 👍
Thank you for sharing, reading posts like these is inspiring!
Congratulations on your first ever 7k Raspberrycheesecake. You must be so pleased 😊😊👏👏👏👏
That’s wonderful, very well done & thanks for sharing. 😄
It’s interesting that you say
“I wouldn’t say I enjoy it as such... “,
I feel that I mostly “tolerate” or “cope with” the running itself, but like you, love the feeling afterwards and I really appreciate all the health benefits - but I do hope that eventually I might enjoy the running itself too. - I certainly enjoy it more than I used to, so I am keeping going with optimism! 😄
Elfe5 I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy exercise! Running has been my nemesis for years and years, I need to get it out of my mindset that I’m struggling because actually today I didn’t.
My run tends to start with “why am I doing this again, it’s not comfortable” then moves on to giving myself a pep talk about “having eased myself into it” if I’m going down hill I actually think “I love this, stick me on top of a mountain” the flat bits tend to be ‘relax you are smashing it, keep the pace, look how far you’ve come” the uphills “swear swear swear swear”🤣
Perhaps a bit tangential to the subject of this forum, but have you ever tried weightlifting? For a long time, I had a similar perspective that I genuinely didn't enjoy exercise but made an effort to do it for the sake of my health; then a couple of years ago I realized that what I really don't enjoy is most cardio. I hate having to self-evaluate on my pace, timing, distance, etc. when going for a run, but there's something really satisfying about going into the gym and knowing that all I have to do is complete a certain number of reps with good form, and that it doesn't matter how long it takes me or how heavy I lift as long as I hit that number and do it well. I think that's why Ct5K is working for me where other attempts at running haven't – I don't have to decide for myself how to structure my runs as I build up my endurance, I just go out and follow the plan. (To be honest, I'm a bit nervous about how I'll keep it up once the plan is over.) Plus weightlifting is so good for you! Just thought I'd throw it out there as a form of exercise you might enjoy more in case you hadn't tried it before 
Be sure to join the monthly consolidation club after your programme, but don't worry there's so many plans out there, you can just keep jumping from one to the next, or re-use c25k but run faster in the runs and run slowly in the walks 👍🏻
I've already bookmarked the "magic" 10k plan for some future date! Thanks for the suggestion for redoing Ct5K as speedwork as well – that definitely sounds like something I might enjoy.
😂😂😂 Think we are kindred spirits, - only I put comfort over pace!
I really struggle with feeling like if I'm not pushing myself as hard as possible, I'm "wasting" my workout. I know that's an unhealthy attitude and it's one I'm working on changing (especially once I'll be going into the longer runs at the end of the program). Though again that's something that's mitigated for me by weightlifting – I can always physically run faster even if it'll leave me huffing and puffing with my heart racing, but the weights I lift are the heaviest I can physically pick up without being unsafe, and that's actually what you're supposed to do when it comes to strength training haha.
I definitely respect your attitude of putting a priority on comfort over pace, and it's something I hope to achieve for myself too!
Apparently even top athletes don’t push hard for about 75% of their training, so maybe you could be kinder to yourself about the worth of steadier work outs. It’s still miles on your legs, cardio etc whatever the speed. 😄
7k is a good long run, and i bet you were telling people all day, i still tell people i ran 6 k on boxing day lol
Be proud you are amazing
Thank you! Well done for your 6k!
Fantastic! You're doing superb! 👍🏻😁 keep enjoying those achievements! 🏆👍🏻
Don't give up, you can do this
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
First Parkrun completed. You can do anything!
If I can do this you can too - slow and steady 
Wondering if you can do this?
