Made it! A whole year of trundling along since I finished C25k in February 2019. Doesn’t seem possible, considering I kept the whole project secret for 4 weeks, in case it fizzled out along the way. 🤣 But it didn’t. And after years of watching the rest of the family run around, I’ve finally joined the pack - well, sort of. I jog along either on my own or way at the back, enjoying the scenery, listening to the birds, and generally behaving like an errant spaniel pup in a group of well-tuned greyhounds. But I’m still out there!
I’ve had to learn to take seriously the “Run your own run” mantra. I will never be speedy, it turns out, and I must just accept that some folks complain about a slow run at speeds I would be delighted to achieve! 😳 Oh well. It also turns out I have bags of stamina if I stick to my own pace. So I got to 10k in November. TEN whole kilometres. Without stopping. And not particularly tired. 🎉👍
I had to settle back in December - busy time, and slow runners have to find more time per run. But I’m back up to 9k now, and moving forward, and the days are getting lighter, if not drier. 💦🏃🏼♀️💦 I’m lucky to live in a lovely area, and it’s a total pleasure to just get out there and go.
So, New Runners, if any of you have got this far: keep at it! Find your own way through, without too many preconceptions about where you may end up with this running lark. C25k is a huge achievement in itself, but beyond it is a whole new world. Why, I’ve discovered I have a passion for zingy running socks. Who knew? A year ago I had only just learned there was such a thing as special running socks. With left & right feet, no less. 😳🤔 As I said, a whole new world.
And never mind what people say about Addiction. You can learn to live with it. 😊 And the head space, as well as the physical well-being, is worth many a damp and chilly exit from your front door. Most days are lovely once you’re going.
So thanks, as ever, to the great community of supportive runners here on Health Unlocked, and to all the brilliant Admins & Mentors who have kept me and all of us going, and who keep this the most delightful space on the web. 👏🏼👍🎉 I never would have made it this far without you VRBs.
Oh yes - and let me not hear any words about “too old” from any new runners on C25k. Not unless your birthday is before 1941 - and really, not even then! 😄 Happy Running, everyone. 🐢🎉
Written by
Granspeed
Graduate
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Congratulations Granspeed, it is my Runniversary this week too. Unfortunately I have not run for a few weeks because of a foot injury so cannot get out there to celebrate. I e packs 3 times a day and hopefully can get out again soon 🥂
Lovely inspirational post for a 60 year old with sore knees at the end of week 2😀
I've always disliked the idea of running as I thought I'd miss seeing the wildflowers and birds but I suspect my speed is slower than walking 😂 But from here I've learn thats just fine.
Hope you get some new socks too celebrate your fantastic achievement x
👍😄 Keep trundling along. Don’t push it, and usually the knees will sigh and give in to the inevitable strengthening! If you haven’t already done so, you could google Japanese Slow Running technique. There’s a good YouTube video. It’s a very low impact running style that has got many of us over various humps. 🐢
Yes thankfully I found a link to that technique and watched that after my first run and it made me feel so much better, it's just trying to keep to it while you're out there. Off to do some knee strengthening exercises now 😀
Congratulations on your Runniversary Granspeed, you are a ⭐️ and it was so nice to meet you in the New Forest last year. I love the way you kept C25k secret. My red face at the end of each run would have given it away.
Happy Runniversary! I love the inspirational post; as a newbie, it's lovely to hear everyone's stories. I hope I'll be posting a similar successful post next year 😍
You will, you will! One foot in front of the other, whenever Life allows. It’s the same - in that sense - for us all. Keep chasing those little runners - very good cross training. 😄
Thanks. 😊 I remember a post you did about positive mind set and remembering why you run. Just what I needed at the time, so thank you! Happy running. 👍
Yeah! Of course we shared podium week, mine was on 25feb. I remember the day!! I also had some set backs but today got back to 5km and will keep going as wow doesnt it make you feel good. I love it and love talking with you and all the others on the forum. This is what has made it for me. Well done you!!
Thanks, Virtual Twin (in graduation, don’t think about age 🤣). Such a different winter this year. Just proves running can help make a success of any sort of weather. 😄 This forum is indeed a lovely part of the overall experience. And it helps save me from being a full-on Running Bore in person. 🤣 Happy 5K to you. 👍⭐️
I can’t really see myself getting beyond an hour, mainly because if the body allows I’m not sure I could find that amount of time regularly to indulge! But then I was happy to get to 30mins, then 5k so I’ve learnt with this running malarkey to just go with the flow
Congratulations this is definitely to be celebrated. I think keeping the running up and advancing the distance is probably so much more important than the original 9 weeks. Well done.
Congratulations on your Runniversary and what a lovely post. I am currently doing the C25K again as I had a really bad bout of flu at Christmas and it has taken me a long time to get over it!!! Hoping to get back to 5k soon so that I can maybe do another Parkrun at some point. Happy running.
Sorry to hear about the flu, and I’m sure this soggy, windy weather doesn’t help! Take care and stay well. Spring is bound to come sometime. At the moment I am pavements/gravel tracks only, as the last time I went along a field path it was such bad footing I had to walk and still felt unsteady. 😱 Take care.
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