A late afternoon run yesterday and I couldn’t shake the nervousness all day. I kept telling myself that I have done it twice already.
It was lovely and cool and I enjoyed my quiet warm up walk which helped me to relax after a busy day.
My route is a lane just down the hill from where I live and it is usually quiet. However at the moment it is part of a diversion so as it is quite narrow I often have to move onto the grass verge when a car passes. Because of this I don’t wear my headphones the whole time and haven’t had much luck with the app recently so instead dip in and out of my own playlist.
The run itself started off well and I managed to get to through the 10mins without too much trouble. I tend to accept this is hard now so just distract myself as much as possible.
I have lots to look at... the Cows have moved from their usual spot and were hiding so took me a few moments to spot them. The vineyard is quiet and the dogs can’t be bothered to bark today. Half a dozen Deer are gathered in the corner of the Sheep field. The Bluebells have now all disappeared. I miss that wonderful smell on the early morning runs.
I get to the end of the lane and I touch the signpost for luck! and turn around for the route back. This is the point I tell myself I can stop if I really have to but I have managed to resist today.
When I first moved here four years ago I would rest here on a walk(!) When I started C25k I remember saying I would just like to be able to run to the end of the lane. Here I am running back too!
The run back was good and I actually started to enjoy it. I managed to get to the end of the lane well before the 25 min mark so started up the hill of doom in good time. It was so tough and I was joined by two slow bike riders (not cyclists - no Lycra or indeed helmets!!) so there was a bit of distraction.
The last 4 mins are mostly downhill and I got to the end thinking I could even go a bit further.
I don’t think it has really sunk in but I am excited about my next run. I think, unbelievably, it feels like I can enjoy them a little with no pressure.
I am one of those people who on my first run and just about managed the min run thought I was going to pass out. I sat in my car and cried because I thought Running just wasn’t for me.
If this is you now, keep trying. Even if you, like me, need to repeat and repeat to convince yourself you can actually do it. You will get there and the plan DOES work.
This girl can... run 30mins 💪🏻
Written by
Maddie82
Graduate
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🎉 Congratulations! 🎓 What a wonderful, positive post! 🎉
Enjoy settling into your consolidations now - I found them relaxing too. I ran tech free with just my normal wrist watch to keep me on track and found it quite liberating.
Wow that’s fabulous well done! 👏👏 Congratulations 🥳 🥳
it sounds like a beautiful route and how lovely that you can compare how fit you are now compared to how you used to struggle to even walk half your route! And tackling the hill near the end is very impressive!
Being at home so much has made me appreciate it more. I always felt I couldn’t run here because it was far too steep and I used to drive to a park. I now realise that stopped me getting out as often and having lots of people around at the park made me very self conscious in the beginning.
Yes you’ll find you get lots of support here, where your friends might start rolling their eyes as you chat endlessly about running, only runners understand the elation. 😂
What an inspirational post. Thank you!
As someone doing the third run of week 1 I’m full of trepidation and anxiety.
Your post has made me excited to go out right now! X
A lovely post from you Maddie82, a little cry from you, no harm in that, a fantastic achievement 🏃🏾 👍 🎓
To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message on the May graduate post in the pinned posts on the right side of the healthunlocked C25K home page and tell the administrators that you have ran W9R3 of C25K and graduated 🎓 🏃🏾 👍, now go and celebrate 🎉 🎓.
👍🏻, Ankle still swollen and can’t put much weight on it but hopefully it won’t be long and I will be back running soon 🤞🏼, keep us updated with the running now you have completed it 😊
What a fantastic post - I am so happy for you. You sound over the moon with how far you've come. Now its time to pick up the badge of honour - you've really earned it! Check out the Consolidation Club too for next stepscongrats once again and keep running!! 🥳🎖🎊🤸♀️🤸♂️
What a lovely post, it was like reading the chapter of a book, I could almost see the cows in the field. A belated congratulations on graduating sounds like you had quite a journey.
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Fish, chips and mushy peas!
Hello all - 71 years old and hoping to run!
