Long time no see!

[Pianism]

Well, folks, I don't drop in here very often any more, though I do keep up with the exploits of my friends and cohort of C25k, which was well over a year ago now. I was considering why it was that I don't post much nowadays, and I think it's because the fact that I'm a runner no longer surprises me! But when I look back at my story on here, I'm so proud, and so grateful to C25k and this running forum. Over the year and a bit I've been running, I've met some amazing people who I now class as lifelong friends, lost over 4 stone, gone from a 42 inch waist to a 32 inch waist and absolutely transformed my experience of daily life. I have more energy, I go out more, I see new people, I got out of a damaging relationship and met someone who I truly class as my soul mate.... wow! Just, wow!

So, enough of the self-indulgence.

In May, I realised lockdown had stolen my mojo. I'd been training for a HM and had a string of 10k races planned but it was all being cancelled and I had nothing to aim for. Anyhow, the clever people at the Great North Run had foreseen this and e-mailed to those of us registered with news of a virtual event. I've never been really motivated by these things as I prefer to do actual race events (though no-one would describe what I do as "racing"! haha), but I signed up to do 40 runs in 78 days. I also realised, that if I completed my HM during this period, I could also get the medal I would have received for completing the Great Manchester Run.

And today I finished. 40 runs totalling a full lap of the M25, a full lap of the M60 and once round town to cap it off. I've run on consecutive days for the first time (without injury!), and really got back to having running as a regular part of my life. And a whole host of my running buddies have joined in too. They rallied round when I did the HM to support me by running relay with me from start to finish and we've all kept supporting and encouraging each other through the challenge.

So, dear reader, I'm no longer surprised at being a runner. But I'm truly amazed at what being a runner means to me.

Good luck to everyone just starting out or trying to get back to it after a break. Boy, is it ever worth it!!

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Great to hear from you Pianism - what a series of fantastic life changing experiences - and wonderful running achievements.😄

[RunaroundSue]

Whoo hoo Pianism

We are so proud of you. All that work paid off and hopefully you will soon have some real races and parkruns to run.

Just one question - why on earth does your post have a related tag laparoscopy?

[Pianism Graduate in reply to RunaroundSue]

Haha, absolutely no idea!!

[Katnap Graduate]

Well done Pianism! Wow! 42 to 32 inch waist? Your wardrobe must be practically bare now 🤣

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Katnap]

I threw everything out and started again!

[JonathanP Graduate]

Well done Piamism - great achievement!👍

[Granspeed Graduate]

🎉👏🏼🎉🎵🎶🎵 Well done! Glad to know you are still out there running. 😊👍 Still keeping those spreadsheets? 🤣🤣

[Pianism Graduate in reply to Granspeed]

Oh, yes, indeed! Same spreadsheet but now with more columns.

[JetsNanna Graduate]

What a wonderfully uplifting post 😊

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Lovely post Pianism. What a tremendous change in your life. Keep running 😀👍

[nowster Graduate]

Hmm. The M60 is 56.7km in circumference (according to the roadside chainage markers). I must have already done that much running over the 9 weeks of doing C25K. Wow! It puts it into perspective, doesn't it?

[Pianism Graduate in reply to nowster]

It really does. I love turning numbers into something tangible. Like when I realised I'd lost a whole Basset Hound in weight.

[Comfortnotspeed]

Such a positive and inspiring post! It is so good to hear how you are getting on. It’s a very special achievement, c25k, and the people who share that journey become very special too!

[Papillon17 Graduate]

Well done Pianism, whilst not disappearing for as long as you my posts have also got further apart. Well done on your successes I must have been so lucky with my half marathon as that was one of the last big runs before lockdown. Just 5Ks for me once or twice a week with the many issues going on at present. Stay healthy stay running and don’t leave it so long.