Rambling to Old Friends

[melly4012]

Just at a glance, it's so wonderful to see some old, familiar names still here (as well as many, many new ones of course)! I was giving some advice to a friend who had gone on their first run earlier today and one thing I emphasised was how much this forum got me through Couch to 5k. Then I thought, why heap praise on you all to others without telling you all directly. So here I am, wonderful Couch to 5k Community!

It was my 4 year runniversary a couple of months ago (I started Couch to 5k on the evening of the London Marathon in 2016 - so sad it couldn't take place earlier this year) and in just over a week it will be 4 years since I graduated. I'm still running (slowly!) on and off, I've actually not long returned from tonight's seafront run. It's easy some days and still difficult on others. I have had months of not running (feeling lazy, finding excuses, etc) but am glad to say that I always get back on it eventually, usually after a stressful day or if I need to clear my head. My first lockdown run was wonderful; being outdoors with just me, the stars and the sea with hardly anyone else around after being stuck inside for 2 weeks was bliss. I have run through work stress, through the anxiety around whether my October wedding will be going ahead with the virus, when I lost my darling Grandad a year and a half ago. He was always so proud of my running and used to regularly ask me about my runs. It's so sad to not be able to tell him about my runs but now he runs with me, particularly the last 800m of every run when he encourages me to run that little bit faster (his race was the half mile when he was younger). When I have a period of time without running, I'm glad to say that muscle memory kicks in and I always seem to be able to run for 30 minutes without much difficulty. In that way Couch to 5k really has given me a skill for life.

Anyway, I'm sorry for my ramblings and I'm sure none of this will be helpful to any of you pushing through the programme. Just know that anyone can do Couch to 5k and it WILL change your life. You WILL get through it and you WILL become a runner (yes, you!). I thought of all of you, old friends and new recruits, on my run this evening. I hope you're all well and still running. Thank you for getting me through it and helping me to fall in love with running. I'd love to check in more regularly and perhaps, in those times when I forget to run, you can all remind me how wonderful it is.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

While I arrived well after your graduation, I always loved this kind of post... I found it very encouraging to read that it was much more than a couple months!

One of the big questions here is “does it get easier?” and yes it does, mainly... sometimes it’s tough... and reading that from experienced graduates like yourself here has always made me feel so much better about the days my run really sucks.

Many thanks for coming to tell us your story... and if your friend is here we shall treat them just as well as we always do... they have a great coach available in you too.

Happy running.

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you, it's nice to know it's not just useless rambling! I just felt compelled to address the forum tonight to say thanks. The wisdom each newbie receives from others gets passed on when they graduate and the wonderful cycle just keeps repeating. A quick browse of recent posts shows me that the community sentiments are still the same - encouragement on the difficult days, celebration on the successes and no f word allowed!

I think one of the things I learnt post graduation is that there will always be another run. There might be mini goals set along the way but there is no 'destination' or end point when you're a runner. So if you have a bad run (or even a good one) the next run is always waiting for you. I wouldn't have liked the idea of that early on but now I find it one of the nice things about running.

Thank you for the usual warm welcome back to the forum.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to melly4012]

Yeah... some people don’t like to think of their finish line as the next start line just yet... but they’ll get there 🤣

[McFitty Graduate]

Melleeeeeee! The person whose shoes I coveted! I remember your treadmill stories and how you eventually went out along the seafront (so jealous, I was). I was inspired by you then and your encouragement made a huge difference to my c25k journey. Like you, I'm on and off with the running but it is so true that C25K changes you and once you're a runner, you're a runner. So lovely to see your post and so sorry about your granddad. Biggest hugs xxx

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to McFitty]

McFitty!! I'm so glad you're still here (hope you're still throwing epic graduation parties!) and still running. It's so nice to see the names of old friends popping up and when I was thinking about you all on last night's run it could have been 2016 all over again. Lovely to hear from you and hugs right back! xxx

[Gannet1 Graduate]

Lovely, inspirational post! 😄 I aim to follow in your running shoes when I graduate too. 😊 Had no idea what a stroke of luck it was to find this programme and especially this forum when I started! The whole experience has filled me with joy in uncertain times and I find myself recommending both to anyone who’ll listen. 🤣💗🐢

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to Gannet1]

This forum is so wonderful and the programme really is magic! It's mad to think that I went from someone who wouldn't run for the bus to really enjoying running and, even when I haven't been out there for a while, I always love the feeling of getting back to it. I've just seen you're only six runs from Week 9 - you're well and truly a runner now and so close to that 30 minutes! Keep going, you'll have graduated in no time and before you know it you'll be four years in and encouraging those doing to programme.

[davelinks Graduate]

Hiya, yep, I'm still around, still trying to run! 😁

You running on the coast, which one?

Am going to start (non) Parkrun in the week, so more motivation there, hoping the real Parkrun returns soon, then I will go for my black t shirt.. 😊

Keep on running! 😉

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Hi Dave!! So glad to see you're still running. I'm down on the South Coast, Portsmouth, where it all started. So lucky to be able to run by the sea. Hope you're not missing Parkrun too much. I'll confess, I still haven't given it a go! Mainly because evening and solo running is my bag - I've never had a good morning run and the thought of being up and running by 9am on a Saturday exhausts me! But maybe I'll try it one day as everyone says it's so enjoyable. I will keep running, for sure, and you too!! xx

[davelinks Graduate in reply to melly4012]

Hiya melly, great to hear from you, I understand where you're coming from with running earlier in the morning, I struggle with getting out for Parkrun sometimes, and think it would be better if it was later in the day, and probably why it's taken me so long to do 63 Parkruns, 😁 but mostly it gives me some motivation.. and sometimes see some family & friends there..

I also value some solo runs as sometimes there can be as many as 500 runners at Parkrun,😩 as I see down your way at Southsea Parkrun there can be that many, although looks to be a very nice run along the esplanade by the sea and then there's the Lakeside Portsmouth Parkrun which looks to have less runners, so a good choice there..

Yes, keep at it! X

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to davelinks]

I can see the Southsea Parkrun start line from my window and it's part of my usual running route. I do think I should have a go at some point but, yes, an afternoon/evening parkrun is a great idea - I wonder if that's something that will ever be considered?

63 Parkruns is so impressive!! Bet you can't wait until they return again so you can keep clocking them up.

xx

[davelinks Graduate in reply to melly4012]

I think there's a few on here that run that Parkrun.

Must be a great sight seeing all the runners from your window when Parkruns on, it's a great institution, I've also volunteered over 25 times as well at both senior & junior Parkruns, as photographer, Marshall and tailwalker, but when it comes back on I shall be running it more, if I can get out to do it early in the morning that is, it's just that initial get up and go that's missing sometimes, but once there the senses start to wake up and maybe look forward to a coffee afterwards..☕☺️ X

[Issywhizz Graduate]

Lovely post. Thank you! I really do love reading posts like this, it’s very inspiring. It’s so good to hear how running has impacted positively on people’s lives. Equally your post made me feel quite emotional, it’s tough times we are all going through. Thank you for the inspiration and it’s so lovely to hear that, four years post C25K, you are still running 🌈😊

[melly4012 Graduate]

Hi Issy! Thanks so much, I'm so glad 'new friends' could take something from my post too. Crazy to think it's four years on and it will be for you one day too! I've just seen that you're one two weeks from graduating, well done!! You know you can do it now so enjoy those last couple of weeks. Don't worry about needing a couple of extra rest days now the runs are longer, definitely listen to your body. You'll be graduating before you know it and I'll be looking out for your graduation post in a couple of weeks! Thanks so much for your reply, this forum and the folk on it, old and new, are genuinely wonderful.

[Neverhare Graduate]

Thank you for your inspirational post, I am sure I am not the only one who shed a little tear over your Grandad running along with you.

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to Neverhare]

Oh thank you, Newbie (although not such a Newbie now - Week 8 is pretty much an old hand at the Couch to 5k programme! You are SO close to that 30 minutes now!).

I genuinely do 'feel' him running with me. Sometimes it's a younger him I imagine running next to me, other times it's him as I always knew him in the distance cheering me on. It's when I'm struggling or in those last 800m that I feel it. The very first run I went on after he died I was thinking to myself how sad it was that it's the first run that I wouldn't be able to tell him about it but a thought immediately popped into my head ' but it's also the first run that he can do with you'. It's been that way ever since.

Good luck with your last few runs! You'll be a graduate before you know it!

[RunaroundSue]

I think you must have been graduating just as I was taking my first steps of C25K. My 4th Runniversary will be next Wednesday, 17th June.

Like you I could never have imagined that I would run once, never mind 3 times a week.

I built up to running one 10K race and have done that distance a few times but 6 to 8k suits me better.

And of course parkrun, addicted to that, love the tourism.

The only non UK parkruns I have done were in Australia but I always take my running gear with me and I have run in Sicily and am a member of Lanza Road Runners so run with them every February/March when we visit Lanzarote. But we have been all over the UK, well England. Scotland and Wales.

We were hoping to do the parkruns in Orkney and Shetland this year but unfortunately that will need to be postponed. We did run last time we were in Orkney, with a small fun run Scarpa Loop group. As often seems to be the case they didn't start the parkrun until after our visit

Nice to read your post, I hope it will encourage those just starting out and working through C25K

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

Hi Sue,

You have been super busy since graduation! I remember commenting on your graduation post. Who would have thought back then where we'd be now!

I also LOVE running tourism. I haven't done Parkruns but have run in Macedonia, Montenegro, Myanmar and also did a Central Park 5k in New York a couple of years ago which was always on my bucket list. I have always felt that you notice things ever so differently when you run to when you walk or drive so I love seeing a new place by running it.

So glad you're still running and I hope it won't be too long before you can get back to your Parkruns and your running tourism!!!

[Irish-John Graduate]

Lovely to see you again Melly

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Hi John!! Nice to hear from you and glad that you're still here (and still running like a champ!)!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to melly4012]

Running yes, like a champ - debatable lol.

Hoping you stay and run regulary with us again Kelly ❤️

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

I will try to! I am a solo runner when it comes to going out there but running with forum folk is always the best kind of running company.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to melly4012]

Definitely

We might run on our own, but we don't run alone

[Dreambird Graduate]

Such a lovely post - right from your heart - bought tears to my eye. I’m just on week 8 now run 2 next and it’s a wonderful feeling to run with all these wonderful friends supporting us on this forum. Let’s keep on running - thank you 😊🥳🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏽

[melly4012 Graduate in reply to Dreambird]

It has always been an amazing forum and it is clearly the same four years on. Inspirational people and advice and encouragement by the bucketload. It's got so many through the programme and to the point where they are runners who love running.

You are so close now! Looking forward to seeing your graduation post shortly!!!