So I graduated today and I just wanted to write this one pretty obvious thought that occurred to me in the last few weeks. It's this: I've tried getting into the habit of running several times in my life, each time setting out quite regularly to 'learn to run' and doing this by - no big surprise - going out and running. But it has never really worked or stuck or become a habit before and I've been wondering why. The answer - which probably everyone here already knows - occurred to me and it's pretty simple. Every single time I went out running in the past, I would run until I couldn't run any more: I would run until I had to stop because I was exhausted. So every single time I went running - and it would get to the point where I could cover a fair few kilometres - no matter the distance, the experience would inevitably and inescapably end in a kind of failure because I would always end with that 'I'm exhausted & I can't run any more' feeling. And that's basically a pretty bad feeling.
But Couch to 5K has been different. Every single run - from the first minute long runs in week one to the 30 minute seeming marathons in week 9 - has ended in a 'success'. And success feels good! Every time I've been running over the course of the last two months, rather than a series of experiences where running effectively beats me every time, there's been instead a series of little personal success stories. And that's been great.
Week 9 Run 3, Graduation 🎉😄🎉
Week 9 Run 3 in the bag!!
Week 9 Run 3! Graduate 😀
Week 9 - Run 3 - Graduate
Week 9 Run 3 - Graduation! 🎉
That is a great analysis of what this programme is all about. It’s a carefully thought out , tried and tested plan to help you become a confident and happy runner.
Thank you!