Hi everyone!
I started couch to 5k 2nd week of January this year. I am an over weight 29 year old , gym yo-yoer who has never ran in her life and I have always shyed away from cardio based exercise. I remember running a 1 mile cross county at school when I was 13 and it still haunts me to this day! Anyhow, cut a very long story short, my mental health had slowly going into a downward spiral since middle of last year. Everything I tried just couldn't shift the black cloud I was constantly walking under.
Fast forward to January 2021, after being inspired by a friend who went on to run Marathons after not being so fit, I thought, maybe I could be a runner?!
Then a friend who is a PT set up a couch to 5k whatsapp group and I thought 'why not. Just try it'. I'm currently and fortunate enough to be on furlough with very little commitments at home. (I am desperate to get back to work and 'normal life')
Getting out the house, even on my darkest days was an escape I needed. The small victories felt good. Finding this group was also a small goal for me. Seeing nice, honest people offer advice often made me smile. Learning why I was experiencing shin splints in the first 3 weeks was another small goal which has now lead me to running my first ever 5k without stopping in 35 minutes and 3seconds!
I didn't set out on my run to do it, I actually had a really bad week last week, only getting out twice beginning of the week and ran 20 minutes with a short walk or 2 in the middle. I set out today to try and run 22minutes without stopping but for some reason, I changed my route slightly, and I kept thinking 'one more lap around this pond' once I got to the other side, I thought, 'one more' then 'one more'. Resulting in me completing the 5k! Isn't it crazy how sometimes just changing the small things in your mind can make such a huge difference!!
I genuinely feel so incredibly emotional and I'm so proud we have the NHS and we have things in place that can help both physically and mentally.
For anyone who's in doubt, please keep going with this programme! You can do it! Whether it takes 9 weeks or 29, each run, jog or walk is a huge achievement and you will get there!
Reading posts on here also gave me a sense of community and understanding and I would say if anyone wants to post anything, do it! So many people here are supportive and offer fantastic advice.
Also! After much research, anyone with big boobs, check out 'boobuddy'! It looks like a piece of bondage but is fantastic to keep the girls under control and helped me with posture.
Now I've finished my rambling on, I'm going to celebrate with a cuppa tea and a creme egg 😂🥚☕
A very inspiring post from you Becclesbug, congratulations on completing your first 5k in a very good time of just over 35 minutes, you can be sure that it won't be long before you can get a sub 35 minute 5K.