That Moment! W4R1

[Angelpoppy]

So today was W4R1. When I started 3 weeks ago tomorrow, I couldn't even run for a minute, today I managed 2 x 3m runs and 2 x 5m runs. I don't mind sharing that I ran the second 5m run through my tears, tears of joy that I could do it! I had THAT MOMENT, the moment of knowing that I am a runner and how much I love that feeling 😊

I'm nearly 48, was hopelessly unfit and yet here I am today achieving what felt impossible even a week ago! The programme is great, all the way along I keep reminding myself to trust it and it's not let me down yet. I'm a slow runner thanks to learning about Japanese Slow Running, though my daughters who run with me said I am running faster than I was.

Top tips that helped me today:

Drinking 300ml water about half an hour before setting off.

Making my 5m warm up walk more energetic by swinging my arms around more 😁

Listening to music-why have I never done this before??!!

Thanks to everyone on here who gave me these great tips 🙂

To anyone else about to do W4R1, you can do this! I hope you too get your moment, I can't stop smiling right now!

[RAH1]

Well done , I have my W4r1 Tomorrow.

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to RAH1]

Good luck, you've got this! If you're feeling nervous, don't be, you'll be surprised, your body is ready for it 😀

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to RAH1]

Let me know how you get on 😃

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great running! It gets emotional out there sometimes... why can’t we cope with seeing how awesome we are?

Slow running really does make us faster... when I looked at my first year of logged runs I really noticed my monthly average pace creeping up, and it wasn’t my 5k time that was doing it, it was my comfortable paced runs, improved fitness was making conversational pace faster with no extra effort... so it’s not surprising at all to me that your daughters can see the difference.

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you, I'm still emotional about it now several hours later, I never knew I had this in me! Funny re the conversations, part way through my first 5m I found myself having a conversation, I was amazed 😂

I love your username btw, that'll be me by the end of this, well, already on my way there I guess!!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Angelpoppy]

You’ll amaze yourself lots!

My username was chosen as I smoked my last cigarette and got ready to sleep and start running the next day... it served well as a reminder to myself as to why I was doing g this.

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Brilliant! You must be super proud of yourself too, rightly so 😃

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Angelpoppy]

I did alright... now I have a new addiction to battle against some days, I really hate it when my running plan says “rest day” but at least it’s a healthy addiction this time!

I draw so much inspiration from this place still... it’s 2 years nearly since I arrived and I wouldn’t have achieved many things without this forum. When I’m up against a tough run and feel like stopping, I just think of everyone here, from the ones who graduated before I arrived to the ones really struggling to get started, and then I just run to my finish line.

We are all awesome... we can all beat this plan... and we can all achieve anything we want to. In many ways the hardest of those three things to recognise in ourselves is the first bit. You feel like you do today... just imagine how you’ll feel when you run 30 minutes straight in a few weeks. I can’t wait to read about that.

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

That's so inspiring! Fantastic you're still here two years later, my aim is to carry on long after I finish the programme so it's good to hear from people who have done just that. Today has given me a taste for how I'll feel when I get to the 30m run point, it's a great motivator!

[Beatlesforever Graduate]

Brilliant, well done! And thank you for the encouragement, I'm starting week 4 on Monday 💪

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Beatlesforever]

You can do it! Let me know how you get on 😀

[Beatlesforever Graduate in reply to Angelpoppy]

Thanks! Will do 🙂

[Newbie59 Graduate]

Well done! I was worried about Wk 4 running for 5 minutes but so far I have done 4/1 and 4/2 and managed the 5 minutes all right. I would not have believed this 4 weeks ago!

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Newbie59]

It's amazing isn't it? Such a great programme when I think where I started from. Great to hear your 2and run went well too, we can do this!

[Hidden]

I really love this. Well done you! You deserve to feel proud.

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much, that'sso kind of you!! I think I may be a little bit addicted to this running lark 🤭

[Hidden in reply to Angelpoppy]

The people on this forum are all right behind you. This journey is brilliant and what you will experience in the weeks to come will be joyous. Triumph over adversity all the way. Keep going because you deserve what's coming!

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I wouldn't have got this far without the forum, from the invaluable tips to the kindness of people like you who are so encouraging, to the inspiration of reading others' stories. It really is the most brilliant programme and forum, I love how everyone is so supportive 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Please read the advice in the guide on hydration..........300ml an hour before your run is not doing a huge amount to address your general hydration and getting it right makes a huge difference you your body function.

Enjoy your journey.

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, I promise I read the guide thoroughly back in Week 1 (where I learnt about Japanese Slow Running!) I make sure that I hydrate constantly, both on running and none running days, I have always been good at drinking plenty of water anyway and I've upped it now too to make extra sure that I'mhappy enough. The 300ml half an hour before going out was in addition to my usual hydration. I'm always a bit nervous about drinking lots just before I go out, being a woman of a certain age who has had two children 😬 but that amount was fine for me and did help.