Graduate C25k - if I can, you can

[Newoldy]

Hi all,

I’m not a great poster, but want to say a big thank you to all the posts you make that I have followed and have helped me through to this unbelievable milestone. So my turn to tell my story and hopefully help others as you all helped me.

Today, I completed my graduation run with my dog. It wasn’t a great run, it wasn’t 5k and I wanted to give up at least twice throughout but Jo Whitley wasn’t going to let me do that. Thanks to Jo and you all for being with me for the last 9 weeks.

I am 57 and had lived the life that is typical of a lot of middle age men. Fit in my youth, tried to hold on to that in my 30s and 40s, but children, work, easy living, love of beer and food put paid to that. Weight went up, fitness went down and it was all so easy to be content with that.

Then 50 arrived and the old man health check appointment arrived in the post- outcome was too fat, bp too high, cholesterol too high and blood sugar levels at diabetic levels. Most of men I know get similar results!!!

After several half hearted attempts to do something about things, including dieting, running and various exercise routines; I found Michael Morley’s Blood Sugar Diet in November last year. 6 weeks later, I met Jo and the C25k routines seemed to fit the HIIT that Michael was advocating.

Switch forward to today and I’m over 2 stone lighter, diabetes free, bp is normal, sleep like a baby, energy levels are through the roof and I’ve just done 3 lots of 30 min runs, one of which I extended to a 31min 5k.

As the title - if I can, anyone can - with the support of everyone on this site. Thank you all very much 😊

Now a few weeks of consolidation, Park runs and enjoying my dog and then hopefully bridge to 5k and jo jo’s magic plan plus plankety plank thrown in for you measure.

If I can.........

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

This guide to post C25k running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling.

[MartinKH Graduate]

Absolutely brilliant, many congratulations 👍👍👍👍🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

What a great story, I can certainly recognise a lot of those pre fitness things that have happened to me too as life goes by.

Good for you for doing something about it, and now look at you.

Well done again, and happy running 🏃‍♂️

[Newoldy Graduate]

Thanks both- I am determined not to slip.

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

That’s magic - very well done, as Laura would say 🥇⭐️⭐️⭐️ !

[mom24uk Graduate]

What a fantastic story and a brilliant achievement! Well done 👍👏🎓🏆👟🥳

[MrWomble Graduate]

Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing your story, always super inspiring to hear from people who have made it.

[Ferrygirl Graduate]

Fantastic 👍

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

Congratulations Newoldy - that’s a lovely post and just what we like to see! It really is a great feeling when you reach the end of the programme isn’t it?! You must be feeling proud - and so you should! Enjoy those consolidation runs- onwards and onwards!👏👏👏🏆

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Many congratulations on your graduation and on improving your health! A very inspirational post 👍😁🏆🎉

[dieOR5k Graduate]

Thanks for sharing with those of us in the journey and daunted by the week ahead.

[Maz1234 Graduate]

Congratulations Newoldy. Happy running.

[Fionamags Graduate]

Great to hear of your success - in running 5k at whippet speed and greatly improving your health into the bargain! Don't stop - we oldies need to keep moving. Speaking from experience, if I don't do any exercise I become a complete lard magnet Go you!!!