Hi Off the Couchers.. Here we are again. Into March, which has, where I am, certainly came in like a lion...We have had snow, hail rain and wind... but, we runners do get out there when we can!
So...how is it going with you all? Just a quick reply or a longer one to let us know , where you are and how you are feeling!
As the title of the post asks.... why are you doing this? It might be useful if we add in our replies the reasons we have, for starting this running lark?
I started because I felt sluggish.... but then... well then.... I discovered a whole new world and not just running. It recharged my creative batteries and I discovered that for me, running and rambling, ( I won't call it writing), went hand in hand... or foot in foot
Sometimes, when we begin running, we may at times lose our motivation, or our confidence... and focusing on our reasons for beginning this may sometimes help.
I use my rambles as a diary of my runs... I have kept a record since I began in 2015, and some times if I am struggling, with my runs or life generally... I look back at the same month, a year or so ago... I read how I felt when I began and it gives me a real lift to see how far I have come and what I have seen in the four years and 4 months since I began!
So I am going to share a run I did three years ago... at this time of the year...I warn you, it is a long one
Here goes!!!
"The view in this photograph has not changed in nearly 53 (56 now), years.
I used to swim in this bay, with my Dad, every morning of our breaks and holidays, before 8 a.m. come rain or shine. One morning we had to swim on the other side of the jetty as the sea was rough, it was raining hard and the small bay was sheltered. The raindrops were like icy needles, and getting into the sea, a welcome relief…we swam, laughing and splashing in the cold waves, the rain running down our faces mingling with the salt on our skin; then out, racing for the towels, shoved out of the rain under the rocks, and my dad, heedless of the rain and the chill, rubbing me so hard with a towel ( yellow with coloured fishes all over it), to dry me, until I glowed , then racing for the car, towels under our wet cossies and heading back up the hill to my Mum and Nan, and a hearty breakfast.
What has this to do with running… well, on Friday I ran. A run with a difference; I ran back, through time and back through memories, to those moments; and having run, ran on again, to where the run began. I am lucky, very lucky. I have fulfilled a dream; a dream where I run by the ocean, along a beach, shingled and sandy, the white foam breaking gently in a bubbled softness over the shore. I have read posts on here, and looked longingly at photographs of runs like this and wished I could do that!
We have sold the tin-tent; (our camper van, for those who are, luckily, unfamiliar with my rambles) and have bought a very modest little holiday home overlooking Cardigan Bay at Criccieth. And on Friday… I got to run…for the first time… by the sea…and it was wonderful.
Setting out early Friday, the excitement welling up inside me was almost unbearable. I knew the area; the highways and the byways, years spent there as a child, with my family, and later as a teenager, long, long, always hot summers, ( :)) just me and my Nan…and then with my then to-be husband and later with him and our own children…but running a route there, well that is different.
Out into the morning, and a pale sky, dove-grey streaked, stretching empty and limitless to the infinity of the horizon. My feet echoing on the narrow, slightly uneven pavement as I headed down towards the town and the crossing for the shore. Silent sleepers, oblivious and unaware in their white-painted houses, of the importance, for me anyway, of the day. Glancing to the left of me, the view over the couple of fields and grassy mounds between me and a stony beach was breathtaking. I made the small railway crossing in good time. I had no music, no podcast, and just wanted to soak up the sight, the sound, the scent, the very essence of the place. Over the little crossing, past the crossing cottage, (the inhabitant, required, no longer, to manually open the gates at whatever times the train might deem to arrive).
No one in sight as I rounded the corner and set off along the Esplanade…past a new and smart restaurant, located in what had been the Beach Café; ice creams, ginger beer, candy floss, and coffee. The shop end of this originally named establishment, held a veritable treasure trove for every small person; a plethora of buckets, spades, flippers, and beach balls; sand shoes, sunglasses and lilos. Now, made over and modern, the huge glass windows blankly gazing on the tireless sea, over an outside decked sitting area, awaiting the outdoor tables of summer, festooned with strings of lanterns.
Running across the esplanade, past the empty car parking spaces, an early morning dog walker, coming up the ramp from the beach called a good morning, I do not know who was more startled, but his smile was welcome. Running along the front, my breathing was good, my pace even and light, and I suddenly realised, that my thoughts were outweighing my running. I was not even thinking about it. I felt relaxed and happy as I headed towards the Castle and not even the thought of Castle Hill marred that feeling. Along past the shuttered B & Bs, the restaurant overlooking the bay and up past the RNLI station…the original lifeboat long since replaced by a bright, buoyant and bouncy saver of souls… up towards the Castle. Past Cadwalder’s Ice Cream parlour, shuttered and silent, waiting for the spring and summer visitors, clamouring for sweet delights. The hill was steeper than I remember, but that is just my age, up, slowly and steadily with short, light steps, past the most amazing Fish and Chip shop in the world, the Castle bakery, still closed and cold and without the tantalising smell of fresh baked bread, and a brief stop at the gate to the Castle, before turning back down the hill towards the shore.
I always have this temptation when going downhill to fling my arms out and race down willy-nilly, like I did when I was small… far too sensible now… sadly, but fortunately. Gentle measured pace and over the patch of green above the jetty and down onto the beach. No longer a need to get wet crossing the clear water coming from the hill, thick beams placed side by side, mean dry feet, as I headed towards the edge of the sea.
Running on the beach was not quite as I expected… it was much harder, and as the tide was not far out, the shingle was slippery and tricky. I need to ask ju-ju- - for tips and aliboo70 , because, as do many of our friends on the forum, they run on beaches and probably have advice for me So not the run I expected; a vision of me, a runner gliding through the edge of the waves, with an easy motion, head held high, running free, with the smooth flowing steps of confidence. More… a slow but steady, (as ever), stumble, trying not to lose my balance, or turn an ankle… an inelegant ballerina, teetering, light-footed across the seascape.
Looking ahead towards the purple cloud-tipped hills across the bay, a chill breeze whipped salt spray into my face and my eyes watered as I ran for the ramp back up to the Esplanade… Still going strong, I felt this was one of my best runs ever, since coming off the IC… my legs felt strong, and despite the wind, my intention of walking back up the hill and home vanished like a sea mist… and yes, I ran up the hill. Cars were now heading towards the town, a post van and a lorry, builders unloading blue Welsh slate from a van, ready to repair a roof… another cheery wave…and up the hill at a good pace now and home.
Turning to catch my breath, my heart was full; memories of my lovely childhood and my parents and my Nan… days of sunshine, swimming, sand, sea and laughter…days which, our daughter and her family will enjoy, and sometimes, wonderfully, will be shared with us. My mind drifted, not surprisingly, to our new small granddaughter, who I hope, if it is her wish, may, one day, run along this same shore, and think of her Grammy, with love."
So there is one of my reasons for this running... what is yours?
Please let us know how you are... where you are and why you are
Oh my. What a fab post. I have recently completed C25K and am just enjoying my new found abilities. I’m 41 and a sahm to 3 children. I’m trying to lose weight, become a healthier/happier version of myself and set them a good example. I am also really really enjoying my child free time whilst running to just be alone with my own thoughts. Interested to read everyone else’s stories x
This is great...how many of us use the running for so many different reasons, but how many of us, like you, use it for our own thoughts and our own special time
You are one of our awesome Mamas; bringing up your small ones in a fantastic way and showing them a great role model... go you!
What a excellent and detailed post from you Oldfloss, wonderful details of that wonderful run.
You ask at the end of your post how, where and why you are, not sure about the why, the how, I feel very well thank you, where, in Scotland, why you are, ha, you got me on that one, anyway, I am taking part in the Vitality Running World Cup, I am part of the Healthunlocked Team, yesterday I was No.16 on the list, this evening when I looked, I was down to No. 49..
Wow what a picture you painted. I'd love to run by the sea one day. I'm mainly running to get fit & hopefully help me finally quit smoking. Also been trying to get my son out with me who has autism & struggles with group sports. He got to week 4 but somehow deleted his progress which threw him so I'm working on getting him back out with me
This is great, and the reason many of us begin to run. To try to increase fitness levels and stay heart healthy! How is the non smoking going?
It is good that your son is trying to join you. I specialised in Autism and know how challenging life can be for our young ones. Hopefully you can tempt him out again...slow and steady and with the idea of a small reward at the end of each week?
You are doing wonderfully, onward and upward? x
Oh Oldfloss, what a beautiful post. Full of nostalgia, it conjured up memories of my own and almost brought a tear to my eye. You painted such a beautiful picture of Criccieth that I felt I was running with you, although I have never been. Your rambles are a real talent and a treat for the rest of us.
Where am I now? I ran the last run of week 7 today, finishing on a real high which made up for the hard run 2 earlier in the week. Week 8 starts on Tuesday.
Why did I start this C25k malarkey? My journey started last spring, inspired by a mum of one of my former pupils, who now comes to me for for tuition after school. She dropped him off and went for a run, returning to pick him up an hour later. She was hot and sweaty but glowing and smiley and we just got talking about the positive impact running has had on her and her fitness and well-being. I thought to myself' "I'm going to get myself some of that!" Fast-forward to now, nearly a year later and I would never have believed how much I get out of running. It lifts my mood and it makes me feel so good - my whole family notice the difference between when I'm running and when I've been laid up on the IC. It's helped me cope with the winter doldrums and I am now looking forward to running in the spring sunshine, of which there were glimmers on my run today.
My goal for now is to graduate. I don't want to tempt fate much beyond that as graduation has been a long time coming. However I do look forward to joining my husband on my first Parkrun sometime in the not too distant future.
What a fantastic reply, and so , so interesting! We need to get more Mums like that to get other folk on the running track!
It was truly serendipity, that bought her to you, and you are having a heck of a time
You are going to love Week 8; this is where the newly forming legs begin to find their own happy pace. They know what to do, and in the lovely longer runs, we just have to try to relax and let them do their thing.
You are heading for that podium in style, and you are going to cruise in, where we will all be waiting to cheer you home !
Wonderful post! In a previous life I taught creative writing, amongst other things. You now have my undying admiration (if you didn't before.)
Something I've not shared, but one of the reasons I started running was because I needed to keep myself emotionally strong to support my oldest friend after the sudden loss of her gorgeous daughter. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I also did it to run away from the situation. I didn't realise that at the time, but I do now.
I carried on running because it makes me feel alive. I ran my longest run this morning, 12.6k and the thought popped into my head: running is such a joy. There's horrible news every time I turn the TV on, my son and his partner are worried whether their wedding in five week's time will go ahead. Those things don't go away but running is still such a joy.
Oh, and I'm much fitter than I was this time last year.
Many many of us have found running so, so useful in tricky times, me included. I think running for joy is the very, very best reason... getting pleasure from your run, that is absolutely perfect!
And fitter too, well, that is clear.. 12.K...brilliant! x
Your post is beautiful and carried me away to a lovely and unknown place.
We are nearly hunkered down here from the coming coronavirus. I have not had time to run and am frightened about running outdoors, : ( , but was so inspired to think about running because of your post. It occurred to me that on rare occasions, I run out of the supermarket with a cart full of things and then think, while running that people might glance at this 70+ year old woman RUNNING to her car with a cart full of purchases and wonder at her craziness.
Hold fast my friend. many of us are finding the issues over the virus very worrying, although Health England is still not advising folk to avoid public areas, or gatherings etc etc, It is hard to know exactly what to do?
I love the idea of you running with your trolley! Crazy is good... better than boring, by far.
And our US CDC, the government, and a local university are not acting like this is so dangerous either. We are admonished to "wash our hands" well and avoid touching our face (although one source I've read said this is very difficult to do and that the average person touches their face 23 times an hour.) People here do not seem to be worried. The general comment is, "It's like the flu." But it's not--the death rate is 20 times that of the flu. If everyone in our country came in contact with the virus sometime this season, I figure about 5 million people would die. Yikes! That is not like the flu! And there is little information about purchasing products, such as food, from affected areas, whether that is unwise, etc. I have a lot of questions. For example, I get my mail from a box on the road. What if the mail person is sick? Do I need to sanitize my mail before bringing it in? What if the stocker at the grocery store is sick? Do I need to wipe off my groceries? etc., etc., etc. (Our CDC says that although the virus is transmitted mostly via coughs and sneezes in the air, it can also be transmitted on objects....)
Hi there! I am so sorry that you have been feeling like this, although I think your feelings are perfectly reasonable!! This is a scary time for sure.
The recommendations about not touching your face (nose and mouth especially) I do understand are very tricky - I have been really conscious since this all started just how often I touch my face!!! But hand washing is the key part of the advice given by both CDC and the UK NHS - it is far safer to touch your face with hands that you have washed for the recommended 20 seconds.
With regards to contact with items such as mail or groceries, I would suggest that you wash your hands after handling these items. You can rest assured that most of these items will not be contaminated - very probably none of them are. But hand-washing is a very good habit to keep, and if you think about it, I am sure that you always wash before you eat a meal, for example!
About the cigarette smoke, please don't dwell upon this idea! The particles in smoke are very small, light, and dry, so they can travel quickly over surprisingly long distances, therefore your nose can detect them even from a car fleetingly passing your house. The particles from a cough or sneeze are much bigger, heavier, and are encased in water, so they cannot travel nearly as far as the smelly smoke particles.
Keeping your distance from other people when you are out will help if you are worried about their coughs and sneezes - 6 feet has been recommended. So why not take yourself for a run outside when it's quiet? If you see someone you know while you're out, give them a wave and carry on. You sound like you could really use a little 'me' time! Exercise is so good for both our physical and our mental well-being.
Feel better, and remember we are here to listen xxx
We are all a little testy in our self-imposed quarantine! My son, home from his university and doing online classes, is bugging me about making ice cream for my "dementia" husband so he will not feel compelled to go out and hitchhike for it on the roads. (Also, he would have no idea how to get to the store anyway.) I'm thinking about making soup and also bread for supper....
Despite people telling me it's safe to go outside, I am still fearful. The consequences of a wrong decision on this could be bad.
Not sure if you would get my post to John below.... All of our district libraries are closed and all of our schools. The first few cases of the virus have arrived here. My son's university is now running its classes online as of this coming Monday. We are trying to stay housebound, but I must say, tempers were flaring yesterday. My son insisted that my husband wash his hands. I had to get in the middle of the altercation; my husband complied with me washing his hands with a warm, soapy washcloth....
Oh ..this is so hard for you... and being inside is going to be doubly hard for you. I think as time goes on it will settle into a routine.. are you able to go outside in your garden?
Try to stay calm... cigarette smoke has a very pungent aroma... and it carries.
The jury is out on the airborne aspect at the moment..likewise the time of life for the virus...
Just do what you are doing and take the action that YOU feel comfortable with; there is so much conflicting advice right now.. everywhere.
Try to get into a routine.. with things to occupy your time... and indoor exercises if you can...I am going to put a post up tomorrow with some ideas for staying fit inside
Hang onto the thread... I am still right here at the end of it xxx
Dear OF! I greatly look forward to your indoor exercise post!!! Thank you for being there at the other end of the thread. You are right--being indoors is quite hard. It is easy to take being outdoors for granted. I do miss the fresh, cool air and invigoration.
You shouldn't be afraid of running outdoors - that will only be an issue if you have symptoms and aren't well enough. You won't catch it if you're running on your own and not in close proximity to other people. It's not an airborne transmitted virus. Here is the your the CDC info:
I've seen the CDC writing about this. Much is not known about this virus even so. If I can smell someone's cigarette smoke on the road when they drive by, I should also be able to get the virus from them if they have just coughed or sneezed as they drove by. Doesn't that make sense?
We have reached a level of seriousness in our city. All of our public libraries and schools are closed. My son's university now is running online.
John, here's something I found this morning: "Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of HCoV-19 is plausible, as the virus can remain viable in aerosols for multiple hours and on surfaces up to days." (breitbart.com/politics/2020... They further wrote, "These findings mean that containment of the global pandemic known as the novel coronavirus, or, officially “COVID-19,” could be far more difficult than previously believed."
Thanks, John. I appreciate the video. Here's what I have been thinking: indoors there is generally no wind and not much air flow compared to outside. So how about when you are outside and there are 10-20 mph winds? Those drops containing the virus are not as likely, (I'm thinking,) to drop as quickly if they are caught up in some wind.
Does UV light destroy any carried by the wind before it goes very far? That would be illuminating, but I don't know how fast sunlight destroys viruses.
A lovely ramble Oldfloss-it makes me want to pack my bags and visit Criccieth and run along that beach with you.
I am running (when I get off the IC) to stay healthy and keep me off the meds. I also love parkrun and Saturday mornings have become sacrosanct. I never realised when I started this running lark that it would bring new friendships, both virtual and real.
Lovely description. I am running at the age of 63 because I suddenly felt really unfit and thought if I do not do something about it I was going to decline into old age not able to do much at all. I have now completed W2R1. I run not that far from you. It is lovely here isn’t it?
I’m not an off the coucher (i don’t think) as coming up to our first runniversary but had to drop in and say what a lovely place to be to read and to run
Thanks Oldfloss for such a great post, I could feel your enthusiasm gushing out of every sentence and your great memories did bring a tear to my eye. (I also loved the comment about running downhill with your arms outstretched like you did as a child. It's great to see the joy children get from simple pleasures like that, why do we lose that as we get older?)
So, where am I? I've just re-done W5 R1 after starting C25K last September but having a few delays along the way (the latest being a nasty head cold & cough). How am I feeling? I'm feeling well, but still haven't shaken off the cough completely yet. More importantly I'm feeling good about myself. I'm 63 and was never (ever) sporty or athletic in my life (I was always the last person picked for the playground football team). I've kept myself active by playing squash at least once a week for the past 40 odd years but would say that out of the group of mates I play, I am of the lowest standard (but that really doesn't matter). I'm already feeling physically better, and happier with myself thanks to C25K. I'm also generally happier (especially during the day that I've completed a successful run on) and I'm sure I'm mentally more agile too. The final question was why am I doing it? I started C25K just after my birthday. I'm fortunate not to have too many heath issues, I have slightly high cholesterol (a hereditary thing) and slightly high blood pressure (which is being controlled with a little medication) but I was thinking that I ought be doing something to help myself along. I didn't want to join a gym as I would feel (stupidly) very self-conscious surrounded by younger, fitter & more active people, then one night after playing squash, one of my mates started talking about the Park Run he does every month. I said "I wish I could do that but I just can't run". (I don't know where it came from but I'd developed a phobia about running. If I decided to 'run to the next lamp post' after a few steps, my chest would tighten up and I would have to stop. If I had to run through a car park in the rain to get to my car however, I could do that!) He told me about the C25K plan and how it worked. Brilliant, this would be a simple way for me to improve my fitness levels, without costly equipment or memberships and it could be done flexibly to fit in around my lifestyle, as an added bonus I should also conquer this silly running phobia too. Within a couple of days I'd bought myself a pair of proper running shoes and innocently expected that in 9 weeks time I would be doing a park run as I was going to be able to run 5k, then I tried W1 R1... I've had a few hiccups and setbacks along the way but thanks to the help and support from this great community I've got past them. I have learned a lot about myself, as I said in the last sentence I have enjoyed and appreciated the support from here, and I've also enjoyed offering my support to others. OK so C25K is going to take me much longer than 9 weeks to complete, but that doesn't matter, I know that I will complete it, but am doing it at my own pace. I get up early in the morning Monday, Wednesday & Saturday to do my runs without it affecting the rest of my (family and working) life. Initially another motivation for that was that I knew that no one would see me, I felt so self conscious about what I must look like, now I don't mind. In fact with the lighter mornings I was happy to see and acknowledge a number of dog walkers and fellow runners (hark at me? 'fellow runners'!) when I was out for my run on Saturday. So my goals are simple, to improve my health and well-being (which I am doing) so I can enjoy the rest of my time on this planet. Hopefully our son will at some stage will provide us with grandchildren who I will be able to chase around & annoy, and I will continue with going out on my own for at least 30 minutes, 3 times a week either listening to comedy podcasts (as I do at the moment) or simply enjoy looking around (as I'll be running in daylight) and clearing my head. Thebenefits of this running thing are not just physical.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would attempt to run, don't think I will 'run' I would be happy with a slow jog 😁🏃♀️ I'm only on week 1 and it's my 2nd attempt at c25k. My reason? Have watched my son join in park runs in various locations and what a great atmosphere and great crowd wherever it was 👍 my husband then spotted c25k and suggested we give it a try 😲 so we are trying. Who knows I might join my son in a park run one day that would be amazing! 😁🏃♀️
So we (me and slinky) got out this morning, have to get back into the habit getting out earlier, not done it for a while.
Once out and going, it was fine, old memories of c25k come back, and the Sun came out for a while, just irritating that a guy coming the other way on a narrow pathway running pushing a double width buggy and made no attempt to slow up as I did, he said good morning as he went by, we said nothing back, I think he got the message from my silence & daggers!
Anyway, it was good to see many other runners out getting in a run before breakfast.
Then at the end of the run and into the 5min cool down walk the wind whipped up and the heavens opened, so had a good cool down! 😊🚿
Am looking forward to w3r1 over the park, as long as we can avoid all the dogs! 🙂
W3r1 went very well for me & slinky, just about avoided some rain, as usual the noodle piped in beforehand saying oh, have to run for 3mins, gasp! we tend to make more of a bigger deal out of the coming runs than we need to.
I couldn't believe we had finished the run and thought we still had another 3min run to go until I confirmed it with slinky, it seemed to go by so easily & quickly, maybe because I've done it before and haven't lost as much fitness for running as I thought. 😊
Thanks Oldfloss for sharing such a beautiful story. To start with I am a young guy in early 30s. I have been diagnosed with T2DM last December`19. I have not been in best of health throughout my life so far. My immune system is very weak. I get sick very easily and this diagnosis completely shocked me to the core and shattered my interest in life. After wandering for few weeks, gathered myself and decided to not get defeated so easily and started running 100...200...1k...5k...10k steps slowly and steadily every day. Once in that process i found this beautiful app and posted help required for lifestyle and diet changes required to reverse T2DM. I was overwhelmed with responses in diabetes India forum. Gradually i found couch to 5k and started following it. Now i am here in last week of 5k plan and training to do 10k by May`20. By the way i became free of medication, great reduction in hba1c levels and physically super happy, feel energetic throughout the day, have positive vibes permeating through all the time. Everything has changed in last 4 months amazingly. Thanks to all you lovely guys and people who care and support each other here in other sub forums as well. I have no other choice other than to be fit and not be a burden to anyone in my life going forward. So there you go. Hope that my story can help others and can raise a tiny bit of hope in their life. Thank you for bearing so lengthy post. Keep moving folks.
Thanks you so much for sharing... and what an inspirational story, and , indeed, would be so useful if you were willing to share it on the main C25K forum?
What a beautiful post! Your memories took me not only into your running routine, but offered stories from another era and a way of life so distant from mine.
I started running (just over a week ago) to deal with my depression and anxiety. I'm not a big fan of physical exercise, and I never thought of myself as a runner, but I've been enjoying going to the park. Testing different times, it is a delight to notice small differences with each session: how the lights fall on the trees throughout the day, for example, or how certain birds choose specific times to rest by the lakes.
I don't know if I will actually be able to reach the end of the programme, but I have been trying to see beauty on the journey, and not just tiredness, doubts and my physical limitations.
Just finished W6. I started because on Monday 2 February I was at home, and felt really angry. I have a good idea why, and won't say too much about the reasons, but I really wanted to lash out at something. I downloaded the app, put some trainers on, opened my front door, and started to run. It worked.
I'm still at it because I want to lose weight, improve my heart and lung health (I have asthma) and because running 5k is on my bucket list.
Just about to do W5R3 tomorrow. I’ve got a few reasons.
My whole life, I have said “I’m not a runner, I hate it and I’m bad at it”. Then a gal I follow on Instagram (who in my head was a natural runner), posted about her mile time and how it wasn’t fast to most but it’s her fastest, how she was always slow in school and she’s proud of herself for proving that voice in her head wrong. I thought to myself, “do I hate running? Or have I just always been bad at it and accepted that narrative in my head?” Once that occurred to me, i couldn’t stop thinking about it. And so, I started Couch to 5K.
Other supporting reasons include:
- I needed a new cardio routine as I was getting very bored at the gym.
- I’m in my last semester of school and pretty “over it” so having an outside goal to work towards is good for me
- I’m about to move to a new city this summer and am hoping to do park runs/join a running group to meet some people
- the city I’m moving to is $$$ so it would be nice to have a free form of exercise when I start out there (esp. since I love exercise classes, so running with an occasional class is much more affordable than relying on classes only or classes and a gym membership)
I don’t know if I love it yet, but I am chugging along and determined to conquer it! After that I can evaluate my feelings about the whole thing at a minimum I don’t hate it like I always thought I did.
All this is sounding extremely positive!! I really hope you let the feeling of not hating, develop into liking it... I think you will and... do pop across to our Strength and Flex forum, where there are loads and loads of FREE exercise ideas.. I posted a Top to toe series, for our running body! Exercise for every part of our body! FREE!
Thank you for a really beautiful post - you really conjure up the most lovely image of your running journey.
I signed up to this programme as colleagues at work were putting together teams for the marathon relay towards the end of May. I had been thinking about getting more active and losing some weight as I spent last year mostly working from home being really sedentary. So joining the team (signing up for the shortest leg of 7kms, I might add) has given me the motivation to get going and stick to the programme running 3 days per week. Tomorrow I will tackle the final run of week 6 and I am really looking forwards to the progression that this will bring! I know that I've put a lot of pressure on myself to get to doing 7k by third week of May, but I figure that nobody is looking to break any land speed records and if necessary, I can always walk part of it. But I'm feeling really good about it and think I should have time to work up to that distance.
I'm in Scotland and my inspiration comes from a colleague of mine who has been a runner for about 10 years. It was the same marathon relay and other colleagues that got her going from zero to hero! Since then she has run many 10k events and was incredibly fit and healthy. But then, completely out of the blue, she was struck down by meningitis. She very nearly died and the doctors said it was her cardio fitness that enabled her to survive. However, she ended up with two below knee amputations and was in hospital for several months. She has since become a total inspiration to everyone who knows her. Throughout her recovery she remained positive and determined and quickly learned to walk again using prostheses. Just a few weeks ago she posted a video on Facebook of her learning to run! Can you believe it? I have no doubt that she will be back to running 10k's at some point in the future.
I often think of her and her sheer determination to become physically active again when I go out for a run. When it is crap weather or I lack motivation to get out there; when I'm puffing away for those first horrible minutes - I just think how lucky I am that I can do this without having to learn how to walk again first. I have shared her story because there are a lot of people on here who started extremely overweight, in poor health and may have had a higher mountain to climb to get to fitness than I have had. I think we need to be thankful for whatever our various starting points might be and believe that we really can achieve whatever we set our minds to - the Olympic team might not be calling any time soon, but we are all champions every time we head out that door!
I love the outdoors and am always walking, but was quite unfit in spite of hiking up and down the fells.
Last year I suffered a small scare with Atrial Fibrillation, Ectopic beats and Supraventricular tachycardia (a fast heart). I was put on a beta blocker which has helped, but it seemed to slow me more - if your on them, you'll know what I mean. Anyways, a scan of my heart found no issues, although I've remained on the beta blocker as a precaution.
Personally, I put my health scare down to stress. My dad is in his 80's and hasn't been so well with his heart. My brother was diagnosed with bowel cancer, with secondary in his liver. My wife had just undergone spinal surgery. All family members are now on the mend ☺
One day, out walking with my sidekick (Poppy the Cocker Spaniel) I got the urge to run. I've no idea where the hell it came from.
I checked with my Doctor and was told that running woud be good for my heart. I'd heard of C25K through friends, and decided to give it a go since the urge to run seemed to happen every time I stepped outside.
So, due to that urge (and at my age I'm learning to follow up on urges because I don't know when the next one will come along lol) I decided to give it a go, in trying to improve my heart and lung health (I have asthma too).
I am so glad that you are feeling stronger and are running! Glad too , that your family are healing also...Just follow the plan... keep up with some rest day exercise too alongside your dog walking. It will all help!
I run for heart health too, as there is heart disease on my paternal side, and it is a joy that I not only love the running, but also it is doing me good!
Weather fine if a tad dull and breezy, good for running.
When finished we were doing some stretches and I was pushing on the back of slinkies car stretching calves and I heard someone chuckle from behind as they went past, and it was a guy that I'd seen quite often walking, who uttered "don't steal it!"
to which I replied "I'll try not to!"
made me & slinky chuckle! 😆
So, you see, there is fun to be had while out running!
Thing is, there's a police station nearby, so he may have been an off duty police officer! 👮😊
I love your post it made me feel I was running along side you : ) and the mention of Cadwaladers took me straight back to my Mum. Her family went on holiday to Criccieth every year back in the 1930s, she'd tell us all the town and especially about the ice cream.
I'm just starting on week 5 and know I wouldn't have got this far without the help, advice and support from everyone on here.
In October I retired early, I'd been mulling it over for about a year and had various things I wanted to do. In most of my jobs I had walked a lot - 15 miles on a busy day, so I was a bit worried about lack of exercise, then my dog developed arthritis in his spine so didn't want to go on the long walks I love. I do yoga regularly am a healthy weight but knew that my fitness levels were't that good and without some action would get worse. I'd always liked the idea of running, getting out at the crack of dawn just me and the birdsong, but it was the effort to get there that was the problem.
Then a fellow dog walker told me she was doing the programme and in her words " if I can do it so can you" so off I started.
Why did I do C25K? It’s not something I thought I would ever do. I hated PE at school, always one of the last to be picked. I’m 46 and I haven’t done any regular exercise since leaving school. All my hobbies involved sitting down.
I’ve had bouts of clinical depression since my teens. After Christmas I had a bad period of depression. I knew that unless I did something radical, nothing would change for me. So I decided to try C25K because I’d read about other people with depression finding a benefit in running.
I started on 1 January. I graduated from C25K on 8 March. I found it hard but also exhilarating. After a few weeks I started to enjoy running and the high I got from it afterwards.
I’m determined to make running a part of my life going forwards. It’s one of the strategies I’m using to keep my mental health under control. If I get fitter and I lose weight, I’ll consider those as bonuses 👍
What a lovely essay Floss - and as fine an example of "we can remain forever Young in heart" as I've ever come across.
Brilliant!!!!
Why do I run?
Well, in truth - and this is the honest truth - I never expected to live this long. Combination of past career, a medical misdiagnosis when in my teens, a long string of proven inability to "settle" for the nine to five, a gift for being in the wrong place at it's most bizarre times, finding out (thankfully) at age 22 "The World's" awards didn't make me feel happy or fulfilled, being on "good money" didn't do it either, no interest in being a "Leader and Mover" and so on. Tried a few times to settle with the wrong women, failed to recognise the right ones, was most successful in employment I was not too happy in, not so well in the work I did like. Outlived a lot of friends and compatriots, lost touch with a lot more.
And then I did, unlikely enough, " live too long" - and my worst fear was realised.
Nothing to do.
Bored beyond belief and no "outs" seemed possible. Bored with a suddenly limited world, having been forcibly retired from the one thing that had kept me going for a very long time.
So - at a certain point, not wishing to take the "easy way out", I remembered an old tactic. When you are absolutely neck deep in crap, with absolutely no way out - do the most insane thing you can think of. It could jolt some seemingly inexorable juggernaut off it's path by shocking the fabric of reality - or at least you will have done SOMETHING rather than just be a headlamped rabbit
So, I decided to try this obnoxiously over-promising app I had stumbled across on a new cell phone.
Me run 5k EVER? Gave me the first chuckle in forever seeing a promise like that - and in 8 weeks?
Sheer desperation brought me out the first day, sheer fear of REALLY having no other options brought me out for a few more days...then curiosity brought me out some more - just how many days could I do? Maybe finish the week three, POSSIBLY, with months of trying, get halfway through week four?
And then one day, lurching panting weaving slowly along the park pathway and trying to simply breathe...I suddenly realised
"Damn - this is fun!!!!"
And while I still lurch, pant, gasp and move slowly - it's been fun ever since.
Because it's something I
can do :
without depending on "other people, other things" to be in place
That can be as challenging as I wish
But can also be as random and varied as all heck so never "same old same old" - I never know what's going to happen once I go out the door.
It GETS me out the door - couch and Netflix some of the most dangerous goes I've ever had...
I travel to different events and make new friends.
I am healthier so screw you Corona Virus
I get to hang out here with all my VRBs - the most positive environment I've ever been in, and certainly the best people
My kiddos think it's great their "old Dad" runs up to HMs (and hopefully a FM in future) so we have chats and fun about that, unlike a lot of my former world where they didn't know a lot for good reasons, and what they did wasn't always fun.
Christmas Day afternoons and evenings used to be, for very good reasons due to very bad memories, times I dreaded. Now, I go for a long long enjoyable run and look forward to that in the weeks coming up to it It reminds me to be happy that I'm "still standing" and there are lots of good things to be happy about, and the bad memories are just ghosts that I don't have to entertain when they knock on the windows
And when I run and am in the "zone" - that's when I feel really alive, a feeling I thought I would not experience ever again and is worth every occasional "not so great" run day I've ever had.
Physical and mental health, a boatload of fun, a circle of running friends, events to do and to look forward to, legitimate pride in achieving new running goals and healthier body looking far better than it could, having a heartfelt appreciation of hot showers and cool drinks after strenuous runs even!
And if the world goes on lockdown over this pandemic - solitary running will still be an option, unlike a lot of other sports and pastimes
C25K AND this Forum - gifts from the Running gods - because very amazingly it's turned out to be a good life after all
What can I say.... this says it all...I do so hope folk take time to read this and know that the reasons we have for running are not always.... just to stay fit!
I love your rambles old floss. This one is absolutely fabulous and moving.
I started my c25k journey last year in February with my eldest daughter who was training to do a 5k charity run. I pulled on my trainers after saying 4 years previously that I was NEVER running again! Here I am, still running, she doesn’t run now. Sometimes my middle daughter ventured out with me too. Last year was a tough year, running gave me headspace to get through it. It also keeps me fit and has helped, alongside slimming world, to get me and keep me at a healthy weight. I run for me. It’s one of the only things I do truly just for me. I don’t know that I enjoy it at the time, but I now need it. I’m only on 5k runs now. 10K training takes too long and I get a bit bored! Podcasts have meant that I’ve run and learnt too. Thank you all for your own thoughts and inspiring posts. Keep running xxxx
This is fantastic and I an so thrilled that you are running and, more importantly, running for you! The way you want to and the way that is completely right for you..
We are going through some very difficult times right now and having the running for ourselves is so important.
A huge well done and keep running... slow, steady and because you can x
Oldfloss that was lovely! Why am I running? Well, in my teens I could probably have been classed as an athlete - I was in the school athletics team and had competed in several schools competitions. I was a bit of an all rounder in that I did 100m, 200m, 800m, high jump and cross-country so I ran a lot! Then I left school and did nothing. I had it in my head over the years to get more active, did a bit of dance, tai chi, swimming, cycling but never on a regular basis. My main activity was socialising which didn't do much for my waistline or my health.
About 10 years ago I ended up in hospital - I had an ovarian tumour which I had no idea was there - in fact, I just thought I was fat round the stomach and went to the gym to try and tone up and lose a bit of weight. Obviously it didn't work. I was OK and then within three days I was rushed into hospital. In hindsight, there were obvious signs that something wasn't right but I ignored them (moral of this tale - please listen to your body, be observant and get things checked out). I had 7 1/2 hour major surgery and it took me around six months to recover. Thankfully, 10 years on and all is well.
Taking up running now is partly something I should have done earlier after that experience but it's a way of keeping me on an even keel as, sadly, my husband now has terminal bladder cancer. I was made redundant in December so I am now looking after him - there are all the usual pressures and stuff to deal with both mental and financial. I will have to be very careful if I go anywhere as I don't want to pass anything on to my husband as he is in the very vulnerable group. I have found running to be a great release - I've especially enjoyed my early morning runs with the wind blowing in my face - it makes me feel alive.
And............all the support from my fellow runners on here is wonderful. I am confident that I can make it to the end.
This is such a positive post that I am, as I often am, on this forum, in complete awe of the strength and determination of our runners.
What an incredible running path.
You have come though your own horrendously difficult time, and recovered and now, I am so sorry, you are nursing your husband.
I cam empathise a little, as I too, am going through a different, but difficult time with my husband who has started on the horrible path of Dementia.
Running can help.. it does, not only help to keep us physically strong and fit for the extra burdens that these times thrust upon us, but does give us that mental strength, fortitude and amazing stress relief.
I too love my morning runs!
A huge well done to you seems so inadequate... but yes, well done, and you will do this; keep posting and know we are running beside you.
Running may not be the answer to all our problems but it most certainly is part of it. xx
Wow thanks for that I pictured it all word for word beautiful writing an beautiful memories ,it autally brought a tear to my eye, so perfect gooey u have many happy runs there,
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Week 5 run 2 completed! 
Week 9 Run 3, Couch 2 5 K, Done it - WoooooHooooo
New to couch to 5k, just started run 1 week 2!
Week 8 - Run 2 (Rain Rain Go Away)
