What a week !

[PlymBorn]

I’m still thinking back 🤔 to W1R1 on 27th May and the feeling and worry 😟 I had after running for 1 min of whether I’d finish the program 📖 ... from an ability, fitness and commitment perspective.

But here I am on 9th August, just having completed consolidation run 11 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️... a total of 38 activities completed since the starting C25K.

This week saw me achieve things (not always as planned 🤷‍♂️) that I wouldn’t not have believed possible on 27th May:

- Monday - my 1st 10% plus time run of 39 mins covering over 6km 🥇

- Wednesday - my fastest run covering 5k in under 27.30mins 🥇

- Friday - my 1st 10km in just under 62mins 🥇

- today a sedentary 30 min restorative run with a pace of 7min/km 🏆

Add to this, I’m a stone lighter, at my NHS BMI ideal weight for the 1st time in over 20 years 💪, have more energy 💪, have some great supportive chats with fellow C25K’ers on the forum 👋... I can honestly say the C25K plan has been nothing short of excellent.

I wonder what next week will bring ! ... 🤔

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

I hope you will fit in some nice slow paced runs to build your stamina further.

[PlymBorn in reply to IannodaTruffe]

That’s thus weeks plan ... steady slow 5k’s.

[VPOLLIE67 Graduate]

This is so inspiring. Just started the programme last week and reading all the wonderful stories on this group is so encouraging. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[PlymBorn in reply to VPOLLIE67]

Congratulations on starting ... well done 👏👏👏 ... the plan is well designed... pushes you but not to the extent of being too harsh ... also, focus on the fact it is an ultimate 30 min running aim ... you might do 5k in that time, most don’t ... so don’t get hung up on it ... and enjoy the forum and it’s support ... we’ve all been there at W1 .. and have lessons we’ve learned and share ... go for it !

[SJ60]

What a great achievement! 🙌🌟🥇

[PlymBorn in reply to SJ60]

Thank you ... next week is nice and slow runs

[PhoenixRise Graduate]

Loving 🥰 everything about this post!!! Great 5K time! 💪 Great 10K time! You are now officially my inspiration!

[PlymBorn in reply to PhoenixRise]

Thank you so much !! I simply found an exercise plan a) I’ve stuck to b) works for me c) introduced me to running ... next week is a series of slow 5k’s to restore stamina

[Jools2020 Graduate]

We’ve all come a long way! I was thinking about the first week yesterday, after my 60 minute run. From struggling to run 60 seconds and wondering if I’d made a terrible mistake, to running for 60 minutes yesterday and not even being out of breath! Nothing short of amazing! I’m already a lean running machine 😀 having lost a lot of weight before I started the programme, but I feel so much fitter. Not to mention the mental health benefits. My future is still uncertain, but I’m on the way to coping with it in a better way. I’ve been able to make plans and to focus on me, whatever the future holds. I have to give credit to the forum, too, for the part that my fellow C25K’ers have played in supporting me through the worst time of my life, sometimes without realising it.

Your list of successes is nothing short of inspirational and you should be very proud! Weight loss as well! Health benefits priceless. It is an amazing programme for sure - we are all going from strength to strength! Long may it continue!

A huge ‘well done’ to you for your list of achievements 👏👏👏👍. The programme is great and the forum support is fantastic, but it was still down to you to put in the hard work! 😀

[PlymBorn in reply to Jools2020]

Julia, many thanks for those kind words ... I think I’m blushing ☺️

Cannot agree more ... the benefits of this plan are exceptional ... fitness, energy and definitely mental health ... a real positive sense of self worth, achievement and calm for me when running .. in this day of connectivity 30 mins to oneself is rare ... running gives this to me.

To think we’ve both run for 60 mins when we struggled with 60 secs ... what a way we have come in a few weeks ... and where will it end ... that’s in our hands !

And note, I did a slow run today ... given you said you’d be watching me !! 😂

[Ruby69 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Well done for slowing down 👍🏻 I really think that’s the secret. I’ve started eating less and healthier(I’d fallen into v bad ways) and determined to lose weight as I get fitter and healthier.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Well, although I agree with almost everything you said, I had a look and didn’t see anything that I would consider ‘slow’ 😂

[Ruby69 Graduate]

Well done you. Inspiring post. How long did it take to see any weight loss? I’m in week 3 but only lost couple lbs 😳

[PlymBorn in reply to Ruby69]

Hi Ruby, the weight has come off gradually over the nearly 3 months I’ve been doing C25K... however I would add, I have been eating healthier and drinking less during this time ... I started C25K to get fit, so at the time decided I’d eat less “junk” too ... so would say it’s a combination of the 2 ... not just the running.

Thank you 🙏 for your kind words.

[Ruby69 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Sorry replied to this post above. Duh!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

It's amazing thinking back to those early days of the program isn't it 😬

Seems we all felt the same , !

Some great achievements here with a great 5k pace .

A 10 k

The weight loss as well !

I had lost 2.5 stone before starting this journey, (through a healthy diet)

But then put 1/2 a stone back on !

But I have now lost that again , and like you, I'm back in my healthy BMI range for my height.

It truly is a great program, and like others have said, a great forum with great people !

We all have different backgrounds and stories , and in most cases have never met , but we support each other and that is priceless !

Well done with your achievements 👍

[PlymBorn in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks Ian ... cannot disagree with a thing you said ... although blushing with the praise !

And the forum is superb ... I have profiles on other social media sites (twitter, insta etc) .. and slightly disheartened by then as they seem to be a forum of hate and nastiness (some good too) ... but HealthUnlocked is nothing but positive and friendly .. how social media should be !

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

I agree, I use FB and Twitter but now spend more time on here 😬

[Roxdog Graduate]

Wow! Quite a list of achievements! Well done you!

[PlymBorn in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks 🙏 Rox ... slow and steady this week is the plan

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

I can't sleep so I'm playing catch up on here and i came across your post!

I don't just like it... I bloody LOVE it!

What a positive read!.. can hear how chuffed you are jumping off the screen at me!

Well done Mister - awesome effort!

That 10k you did on Friday was just incredible! - what a fantastic pace!

next week will bring more of the same! and i look forward to seeing it

[PlymBorn]

Thanks for such kind words Jane ... It was a week I am so proud off.

This week will be simply running 5ks .. no speed record or distance record ... as one of the admins IannodaTruffle advised! I shall be fitting some nice slow paced runs to build stamina further. So boring post alert for this week!

[Tinytears60 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Well I’m sure you can bask in the glory of last week for a few weeks - it was brilliant so it’s allowed 👏👏👏