Then and Now

[sTrongFuse]

If you were to ask me what the weather was on any given day last year then for 364/365 of them I'd be guessing. The exception was 7 May 2019. To narrow it down, it was about 5:30pm on that date. It was raining.

Why is this fact etched so firmly in my mind?

Quite simply, 7 May was the day I'd been building up to for two and a bit months. I'd been psyching myself up to it over the last few runs. May 7 was the day I was going to graduate from Couch to 5k; and it was raining!

Not heavily, but it was definitely wet. Having been building myself up for as long as I had, I wasn't going to let some trifling precipitation dampen my spirits so I so off. I got to 30 minutes having covered 3.8km and, of course, I kept on running; running until I got to the fabled 5k mark. It took me 39:20.

Yes, I broke the rules. The 10% rule was never going to hold me back that night. I'd graduated and I'd run 5k and I was supremely chuffed with myself (it would take another 40 5k runs before I got the distance inside 30 minutes, but that's neither here nor there).

I've done a lot of running since then; just over 1,100km if anyone is interested. Tonight's run was my 151st since this time last year. That 151 runs has included 4 half marathons. 5 ten miles, 36 10k, 85 5k and a number of shorter runs.

To commemorate the first anniversary of graduating, I ran exactly the same route tonight as I did a year ago. It wasn't raining tonight, and I did it in a time of 29:54.

Assuming I'm able to do the same again next year, it'll be interesting to see what, if any, improvement I can achieve over the next 12 months. I can pretty much guarantee I won't be knocking another almost 10 minutes off my time though.

Stay safe and happy running.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations, that is an amazing achievement for you in a year since you graduated from C25K, well done. 1,100 km, wow, I hope you and your family are very proud of you. 🏃🏾 👍 🎓

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Nice one.

You will have to rein in the expectations for the improvements in the next year............probably...........

As you prove, get the miles on your legs and the times come down.

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Congratulations sTrongFuse on your runniversary. What you've achieved is amazing and to think this all started with 60 seconds of running. 🥳🥳🥳🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[Timotea Graduate]

Fantastic! I realise it’s going to take me some time to do 5k in 30 mins so that’s comforting to know.

[Workingathome Graduate]

What a great post, very inspirational, thank you!

[Banana12 Graduate]

Morning Strongfuse. Great result! I’m from your neck of the woods but am stuck in Portugal. We were meant to travel home mid March, but that all went a bit pear shaped, so here we remain. It’s not so bad. I’ve graduated which, for me, is pretty mind boggling. I never imagined I’d ever run at my age let alone achieve 6k (yesterday). But then I never thought I’d be stuck abroad. Strange times. Anyhoo sorry for rambling. The point of this is that my worry is on getting back home that there’s no good route without getting in a car which, for me, defeats the purpose. I was wondering where you are running on the two maps. Is it the railway walk? Or is there another path you use? Thanks in advance for info.

[sTrongFuse Graduate in reply to Banana12]

A lot of my running is on the railway path but there are lots of tracks and trails between Pencaitland, Ormiston, Glenkinchie, Macmerry and the Saltoun.

The particular route starts at Huntlaw Bridge, take the low path past the playingvfield to the Makings, the railway path to where the new houses are being built, back down Lenpockwells Road and into the woods after the nursing home. Run through the woods to where the Tyne Water and Bring Water meet. Back through wood following the river to the bridge. Cross the road and then do the loop around between Winton Castle and the road.

If you're on Strava, take a look at my profile strava.com/athletes/38379227 and you'll find plenty of local route. Also maybe follow the club Winton Chasers. Between us we crisscross most of the locality.

[Banana12 Graduate in reply to sTrongFuse]

I’ll review as you suggest. Many thanks.

[sTrongFuse Graduate in reply to Banana12]

Good luck when you make it home although I can think of worse places to be stranded.