Finally saying hello and thank you!

[BexJogs]

Hello!

I’ve been lurking on the site for the last 5 weeks, too nervous to write anything but today is the day!

I just completed W5R3 and I’m so pleased with myself for doing it especially with the heat (going early helped).

I used to run quite a lot but stopped when marriage, work and life got in the way. I felt a bit like doing C25K was “cheating” because I have done 5k runs before but this community has reminded me that actually it’s for absolutely anyone who needs a boost. And even Week 1 was a proper challenge, serving me right for thinking I’d be fine because of long-ago experience, haha!

Can’t thank you all enough for the posts and replies that have been incredibly helpful in motivating me to get out there.

Onwards to week 6! Anyone else at the same stage as me? And any other “lurkers” out there who want to say hi? 😂

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate]

Welcome to this forum. I wish I had started posting earlier so I could have looked back to see what I thought on day one.

It doesn’t matter that you are a returner to running, you are back at it.

I will look forward to your next post now that you aren’t a lurker 😃

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to TotalNewbie1]

Thank you! I am going to enjoy life as an ex-lurker and post about all the good (and tough) things that come up! So lovely of you to take the time to reply.

[girlsjustwannarun Graduate]

Well done! I have W6R2 as my next run so pretty much at the same stage as you, congratulations on completing W5R3 especially in this heat! As much as I love running when the sun’s out I definitely find running in the cool much easier 😅 Got my next run tomorrow and although it won’t be anywhere near as hot it’s still forecast 23c so i’ll be out early also to avoid the heat.

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to girlsjustwannarun]

Thank you!! I love your handle, I'll have that song in my head forever now! Great to hear we're at the same stage - Hopefully we can share a graduation week and cheer each other on :). Good luck with the heat - I managed to set off at 6:50 this morning and felt (a) smug and (b) not tooo hot! Hope W6R2 is brilliant for you.

[girlsjustwannarun Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

Thank you - was trying to think of a handle name and this song came on my playlist and it came to me 😂 definitely - always nice to see others who are at the same stage as you to push you on! Completed W6R2 this morning - left at 9am thinking oh it’s only 18c it won’t be too bad but turns out it’s incredibly muggy! Looking at the forecast next week I think I need to start getting up earlier ☀️

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

congrats on your w5r3, that's still my highlight from the programme 😁

Keep on going, far from cheating, it's bringing you back to fitness safely 👍🏻😉

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you - great way to look at it! Also feel a little bit starstruck that you replied after reading all the posts on here for the last few weeks!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

aw thanks ☺ yours jumped out due to the w5r3 bit. Reminds me of when I started and I used to get excited if Oldfloss or Ianodatruffe answered 🤣 but we're just people too! I'm struggling to get much time here just now due to work and fighting the black dog but more than anything running helps hold everything together 👍🏻💪🏻

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks for replying! Glad to hear running helps you so much - hope you can carve out the time and reap all the benefits. It’s so much more than fitness isn’t it?!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

It really is! 👍🏻😁

[Hidden]

My first post! this morning was W6 R3 but didn't manage the full 25 minutes as it was so hot, even at 7:30 this morning, plus I did a fitness class (online) yesterday, first one for months, so that caught up with my legs!! Still so pleased with myself as never been a runner (still only a jogger) and on W1 R1 I only managed 4 of the 1 minute runs, so proud of myself. Now just need the cooler weather back please!!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yay! Welcome to the ex lurker club!! Massive well done on going out this morning - it was already warming up when I finished around 7:20 so I'm impressed you managed to run at all. Sounds like you're doing well with fitness classes and everything. Really impressive! And yes - never thought I'd be wishing for the rain but my favourite ever run was when it absolutely tipped it down, and I got completely soaked!

[Hidden in reply to BexJogs]

Managed the full 25 minutes this morning, much better temperature, really pleased with myself

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Brilliant!! Well done!!

[Blue_biffy]

I am also a self confessed lurker! Haha! How helpful is it reading all the amazing posts?

I sadly didn’t manage to complete week 5 run 2 today and was gutted! I ran the first 8mins and was so proud of myself but stupidly started walking at the half way bell instead of when she told me too and so put myself all out of sorts and then couldn’t get back into it! However from all the posts on here I know it’s ok if I try again. I know I can do it, so determined to. Hopefully I won’t be far behind you! Well done for doing so brilliantly!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Blue_biffy]

Hello fellow lurker! Totally agree that these posts help to put every run in perspective. It’s not a failure, just extra practice! I can totally imagine myself making that mistake with the half time bell too! Hope you crack the run next time and that we can cheer each other on to graduation!

[Blue_biffy in reply to BexJogs]

Hi Bexjogs! I’ve managed to crack run 2 on second attempt and now just got back from doing Week 5 Run 3 on 1st attempt! I am amazed! Hope I’m not too far behind you now and definitely looking forward to cheering each other on to graduation

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Blue_biffy]

Well done that's really brilliant!! I'm on W6R3 tomorrow - 25min non-stop! Definitely going to follow your posts and replies and cheer you on to graduating!

[nowster Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

I thought for a moment, "How did she get two runs ahead of me when she was one ahead last week?" And then I remembered I'm doing W6R2 tomorrow. Doh!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to nowster]

haha easily done!

[Blue_biffy in reply to BexJogs]

You’re doing amazing! Enjoy today’s run! Week 6 run 1 for me tomorrow so I’ll be a week behind you, I’m relying on you to spur me on haha! X

[nowster Graduate]

Congrats on W5R3. It's definitely a milestone passed. Do you realise that you've run for a shade under three hours in total now? (More if you've repeated days.)

W5R3 is next for me tomorrow morning.

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to nowster]

That’s amazing when you put it like that!! Love all the different ways people think of to celebrate achievements on here! Best of luck for W5R3 tomorrow. Slowly does it! Hope you enjoy it (or at least the sense of achievement at the end!)

[a_in_gsr Graduate]

Yay!! I'm exactly in the same place as you and successfully completed w5r3 today! I also had run before and was pretty competent; but after illness + just being lazy haha my fitness was back at minus 1 - w1 was tough I must say.

let's hope week 6 goes well!!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to a_in_gsr]

You sound like my running twin! Well done on W5R3 - Bit of a milestone! Hopefully the rest will go just as well for you too 😊