W6 R3 (Baking of a Runner)

[BeaglesEnd]

I often start these posts with something of a cliff hanger. Will he make it? What challenges lie in wait? The usual narrative hooks. With this post I thought I'd change tack a little; release some of the tension; concentrate on how I've just become, according to my program app, a runner.

For, yes, I completed the 25 minute jog and did so with something to spare. Even the Princess (Tiny Tears) of the Roller Coaster Post (Yes, Jane, I'm talking about you!), would struggle to insert any drama in to this run.

So, what analogy from my daily life could I shoehorn in to my tri-weekly brain farts?

I've always loved the kitchen. I'm lucky enough to have a mother who is an excellent cook and an auntie that was a patisserie chef. One of the ways I show love is by cooking for the significant people in my life. It is also one of the few activities that soothes my hyperactive brain. However, baking bread is a new addition since lock-down. It maybe a little cliched, but my kids don't mind the results.

The dough for almost any bread consists of same five basic ingredients. Much in the same way us, as C25K'ers, are all the same. The quantities and ratios may differ, but fundamentally we are similar. If we are the ingredients the basic principles of making the bread are the C25K program. Each stage is as important as previous and is as important as the next. The time taken to complete these stages can differ, as the ingredients and the environment dictate, but the end goal is the same.

Bread is one the most important components of human history. It signified the start of agriculture; it was the basic food stuff that kept the poorest fed. Running, is as important and stretches much further back in human evolution. For it was our ability to run such incredible distances without stopping and our social intelligence to work as team that led us to the pinnacle of the food chain.

Bread is the result teamwork. The farmer for the grain; the miller for the flour; the brewer for the yeast; and the baker to bring it all together.

And, this how it has felt for me. I've not become a runner on my own; I've had help and encouragement from many different sources. The program, my podcast buddy, my family, my friends on C25K, and me.

All the best five ingredients combined in right way, with the time to develop, have produced a runner.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Great post, and as I bake our bread, I see the appropriateness of this

My Nan always referred to it as the Staff of Life

What a great pity it is that in our current situation we cannot seem to blend all our ingredients together well, work out the doughy problems and all rise to the occasion together!

Huge well done ...runner.... and baker

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you. It was a lovely run today. It didn’t hold much of the drama that occurred on the interval runs. So, I need to add a little more thought in to the post, and it seemed appropriate to combine my two lockdown activities. And it’s great to get the support!

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Congratulations on becoming a runner! I don’t expect you can quite believe it. I really enjoyed your comparison to the ingredients and baking of bread, it’s a thoughtful reminder that we haven’t done it alone. Well done, indeed! - Julia

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks, Jools (or do you prefer Julia?!?). Self motivation only gets you so far. You need other ingredients to combine to get towards the that holy grail.

Your posts are always so honest and it’s amazing reading them. Sometimes I hope I can be honest with myself as you are! Great inspiration.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to BeaglesEnd]

Why, thank you! Julia is fine.

[Mojojojo71 Graduate]

That's a magnificent post.

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Mojojojo71]

Thank you! One on my favourite reveries whilst running is coming up with ideas for the post. It helps in so many ways.

[Foxyblue]

Great post and well done on the run!!

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

Thank-you. I love that you run with your 14 yo as well. Unfortunately, my daughter is not quite as committed as yours but she is already pretty fit (keen football and basketball player) and dips in and out. Normally takes the mick out of my pace!

[Foxyblue in reply to BeaglesEnd]

Sadly my teen has abandoned running in favour of the glamour of cycling with his dad and younger brother instead 😢

He said he actually hated every run but came for my sake to keep me safe (bless) and motivated on our early morning runs. I don’t think I would have got this far if he hadn’t been willing to keep me company in the beginning but I’m happy he’s found something he enjoys too. To be honest I quite enjoy the solitary aspect of running now, I have a busy household and a highly stressful job so running alone brings me some much needed breathing space.

You’re bread looks amazing btw 😉

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

I’m in exactly the same situation. There are six of us. All the kids are between 10 & 18, so with me working from home and my other half only going in to School (SEN Teacher) two days a week, it has been manic!

So, the solitude is wonderful. My 14 yo is brilliant when she does come out. We both have our headphones on and it’s really just like have a pacemaker as my mins/km are way better when she is with me.

Thanks for praise on the loaf! As you can imagine it barely lasted the afternoon.

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

To keep you safe!

Just love that! 🥰 💙

What a treasure he is

[Needtoescapepo20 Graduate]

Great post and a massive well done on completing w6!

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Needtoescapepo20]

Thank you! Yes, I’m pretty shocked I’ve managed to get this far.

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

Wow! Matt

What an awesome post! 👏👏👏

You’re so clever how you make the linkages- I get it!!so clever 👌

I need to speak about the bread first 🍞 before I move on to congratulate you on the run...

I love freshly baked bread!.. I have serious dough envy!

It’s brilliant! I’ve worked in a baking manufacturer for many years and I tell you now- that would hold it’s own against all our experts! 👌

You have certainly taken to the bread making as well as your journey on C25k 👏

The opening few lines confirm your now and official runner!! As if it was ever in doubt!

Super chuffed tho just the same- well done!

And you had something left in the tank!

Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?

I actually got a teeny bit E-Mosh reading the last few lines!

Sounds like you have a fab supportive bunch around you ... not forgetting your forum family too... without family and friends the journey would be harder wouldn’t it.... not forgetting my Michael in my ear... support is amazing!

Just Loved reading it

Can’t leave without saying

🙌 whoop whoop - you made it to week 7! 👏👏

See you there 👍

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

Thank for the encouragement and the love of my bread! There is something pretty special about cutting in to a loaf you’ve baked and seeing a crumb as good, if not better, than some of the shop bought offerings. And, the kids love it eating my output. I’m just hoping one of them picks up the mantle!

And, it’s true, the there are quite a few things that need to come together for us to succeed, we we all possess. We just help getting the putting it all together.

I’m lucky that my family at home is as supportive as my friends on the forum. It makes a huge difference. I’m so hugely impressed with those that do this without the support at home; that’s where we have to step up to the mark and help fill the void. If my posts help anyone else then I’ve done my job.

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to BeaglesEnd]

Absolutely!

I see it as our job to embrace newbies and cushion them in their journey ..

People did that to me and I’m so grateful ... so I’m paying it forward

Can’t wait to hear your week 7 journey

👏👏

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Tinytears60]

Well it started today and, well, it was tough!

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Well done you’re officially a runner 😊

[BeaglesEnd Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

Cheers, my man. It feels good. I’m really looking forward to the runs now. Can’t wait to get out there!