Miracles do happen -i’ve completed the programme!

[Elbmod]

I hadn’t run since the heady days of secondary school, being forced round a cross country route in winter or the athletics tracking summer. Hated every minute of it and as soon as I could quit I did. I used to say I wouldn’t even run for a bus after the appalling experience at school.

Fast forward 35 years and a realisation that I wasn’t getting younger, i wasn’t getting healthier, I was heading for an early grave.

Enter my wife, who back in July said she had decided she wanted to lose some weight and was going to do C25K. I decided to join her.

W1R1 was awful, as was the next, and the next and.... well you get the idea. I did not enjoy it at all. Flashbacks to school!

Some will say “you need to change your mindset” - well it’s not that simple. I’ve battled with depression and mental health issues for years. Telling someone with depression to cheer up doesn’t work. Telling someone to change their mindset doesn’t work. It will happen if and when the circumstances are right.

I persevered. I spent money on running trainers and sports apparel. Clothing helped, reduced the pain in my ankles and helped with the sweating. Still hated the running.

Fast forward again to today completed W9R3 - I finished the programme. How did that happen?

Well the answer is obviously complex but in essence I never enjoyed the running. Never had “runners high”. Never felt a sense of achievement from the running. I could recognise the accomplishments, but didn’t feel them.

What I did appreciate was losing weight (10 kg in 7 weeks). Not being out of breath after any light exercise. Putting on a pair of trousers that were a bit on the roomy side rather than on the tight side. Seeing sunrises like my picture on a regular basis. I definitely feel better in myself. My depression is lighter and i’m definitely more dynamic than I have been for years.

Now my 15 year old self couldn’t have dealt with this deferred gratification and wouldn’t have seen the links, but with the benefit of age I can and what a difference that makes.

I’m resigned to never enjoying the running part, but enjoying the benefits. It’s definitely been worth it.

So have I learnt anything along the way?

Yes.

This programme works, and works well.

The step up from challenge to challenge seem insurmountable but they are absolutely spot on.

The benefits may not be immediately obvious, but they are there in abundance.

So advice for others - do it and don’t look back. Don’t sweat about the feelings you think you should be having, just do it.

As for me, consolidation run 1 set for Friday at 5:30 am.

Pete

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

This guide to post C25k running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Elbmod Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, will do.

[MontyMooDog Graduate]

Brilliant post. Echoes of myself there👍😁 Many congratulations on your graduation 🎂🍷😁

[Elbmod Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Thank you.

[Week7 Graduate]

Congratulations on your achievement!.

You have expressed your journey brilliantly. I am only a few weeks ahead of you. If your post had been here when I first joined it would have been on my must read list for tough days.

[Elbmod Graduate in reply to Week7]

Thank you, means a lot.

[Pnegirl Graduate]

Wow, what a brilliant post. Very honest and helpful for those of us still partway through the process. A massive congratulations on finishing the programme and what a photo!

[Elbmod Graduate in reply to Pnegirl]

Thank you. Would like to claim it was today but was too focussed on the running. It is my starting view though.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Nice one Pete !

Congratulations on your graduation ! 😬👍👏👏👏

I can certainly relate to the being told to 'cheer up' when fighting depression !

Been there , had that response far too often .

I used to respond with , oh that's a good idea , why didn't I think of that 😂

I hope you continue to enjoy what the Running brings , if not the Running itself 😁

[Elbmod Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you. Wrote this because of exactly that experience. No one needs it. C25K probably!

[HennieR62 Graduate]

Congratulations 👏👏👏👏and what an amazing post. Like the benefits you’ve already identified (and a big well done for them too), you may find that the enjoyment creeps up on you. I’m 2 months into consolidation, and there are some runs I actually enjoy now!! Best wishes as you continue your running journey.