Never give up!

[richfromnotts]

I have seen so many posts in here where people have said they are struggling to move to the next week or couldnt finish a run. Earlier today I replied to a post from a person who was near on giving up. If you think you might not be able to finish the C25k program read what I say here.....

In April 2019 I weighed about 20.5 stones. I was extremely overweight and I felt rough. My wife showed me the program after she was at week 6. I looked at it and thought “I could do that”, so I did. Week 1 was tough to start and I even got out of breath running down hill! I think I even repeated week 1 for a 2nd week. And that was what I did through the whole program. If I wasn’t ready to progress, I repeated the week. If I got too out of breath whilst running I slowed down. But the one thing I never did was stop. I was staggered at how my stamina built up and how I thought I would never be able to run without stopping for the prescribed times - but I did!

By week 4 I was really getting into it and bought myself a Fitbit which has helped me no end. And before I knew it, I was at week 9.

So my message is don’t give up, never stop, but do it at YOUR pace. If you’re getting tired slow down , don’t stop. If you don’t feel ready to progress to the next week, don’t move to the next week, stay where you are. Just don’t stop! The fact is if you don’t stop you will succeed. If you slow down you WILL succeed. It might take you 14 weeks but you’ll still succeed. And does it matter if it takes 14 weeks as opposed to 9? Sometimes it hurts, (it hurts us all when we push ourselves) but believe me the momentary pain is well worth the gain.

It is now nearly a year since I graduated. C25k has changed my life. In a year I have lost 3 and a half stones in weight - and it’s still dropping off. I don’t get out of breath walking up a flight of stairs. I have gone down 4 trouser sizes and it’s still reducing. I now run 7 km 2-3 times a week or cycle 25-35km. I can now get in a rollercoaster or fairground ride with my kids - I was too fat before. I am young again!

So if you think you can’t look what I have achieved because if I can do it, so can you!

DONT EVER STOP - YOU CAN DO IT!

[John_W Graduate]

Brilliant and motivating post.

Congratulations on your life change!

[richfromnotts in reply to John_W]

Thank you. I just want people to succeed in the same way I have done. C25k is the best motivator I have ever come across. It works!

[John_W Graduate in reply to richfromnotts]

It truly does.

[MarisaGuagenti]

Thank you Richfromnotts. Can you tell me how a Fitbit helps you?

[richfromnotts in reply to MarisaGuagenti]

As well as tracking my route my Fitbit just helps me see how many steps I’ve done each day, track my distance when walking and running, calorie burn throughout the day. The other things I find useful are heart rate and cardio fitness, and calories burnt when I do a run. I wear mine 24/7 so I never miss a step. The data I get from it inspires me even more. I bought a Versa which is one of the top end models donut gives you more data than the lower spec watches. Much cheaper than a Apple Watch which was why I went for got Fitbit. I love mine.

[MarisaGuagenti in reply to richfromnotts]

Versa, thank you. I'll look it up.

[richfromnotts in reply to MarisaGuagenti]

Marisa. Do look it up but please don’t give up. You can do it!

[Allstar1975 Graduate]

Well done. Never give up. It’s a great achievement when you complete something that you think you could never do. I have just started week 3 thinking I could t run for 3 minutes, but today I did! Ok I slowed my jogging down but I didn’t give up and I didn’t stop.

[richfromnotts in reply to Allstar1975]

Well done. I meant it - keep going because you can do it. I did it!

[Hidden]

What a wonderful and motivating post - thank you 😁 And you have achieved so much , congratulations on your achievements 🥳

[richfromnotts in reply to Hidden]

Thank you👍

[Gannet1 Graduate]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, it was a joy to read! You’re a total inspiration for every single person that doubts themselves and we all do at some point! 😊 Happy running! 😁👍🏃‍♀️

[Raspberrypink Graduate]

This is a fantastic post and yours is a great story. Wishing you lots of happy running in the future 👍🏼

[Jasper85]

Such a great post- really inspiring

[Angelpoppy Graduate]

Brilliant post, so inspiring and motivating. It really is the most extraordinary programme, here's little old me running for 28 mins this morning, with a big smile on my face, still astonished that I'm able to do it after starting off so unfit! Trust in the programme eh, it really, really does work 😀

[richfromnotts in reply to Angelpoppy]

Quite agree. It must be good. It changed my life and ME!

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to richfromnotts]

😊

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Excellent post. Thanks for sharing your amazing journey. It’s so good to read about running and healthy living making a real difference to your life, giving you wonderful family memories on those rollercoasters.

Happy running.

[richfromnotts in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you. I hope lots of people see this and are inspired to keep going and believe that they can do it too!

[AlysP Graduate]

Rich, you are amazing and that is the most inspirational post I have ever read on here. 🙏 X

[richfromnotts in reply to AlysP]

Thank you so much. I want to inspire as many as I can to succeed because my life has turned around through this program.

[EThomas Graduate]

What an inspirational post. Well done.

[richfromnotts in reply to EThomas]

Thank you.

[Eightpaws Graduate]

Love this post. Well done you!

[richfromnotts in reply to Eightpaws]

Thank you 👍