Strangest Incident on C25K Journey

Looking back over my C25K journey there have been some challenges, enjoyment, frustration and also down right bizarre.

The strangest moment i can recall was during Week 3 Run 1 when I came face to face with a horse and a donkey. Whilst desperately trying to complete my 3 minute runs around a local wooded reservoir I rounded a corner and came face to face with these two huge beasts blocking my path. Coming from the West Midlands i am not quite up to speed with what to do when faced with four legged creatures. As far as I was aware these things were only seen on TV in old cowboy films.

Contrary to what some people think we are not all Peaky Blinders and fluent in equine Romani. So, I did what all good runners do and whipped out my phone to take a snap shot whilst jogging on the spot. Following my photoshoot I then decided to try and squeeze past at which point the big bugger thought it would be fun to give me a headbutt on my arm as a sidled past. I'm not sure whether he was saying hello or trying to eat me so I decided to leg it.

To my dismay the beast started cantering after me so I ran as fast as my legs would go. Heart pounding, breathless and fitbit going into meltdown i managed to get away. I then started my walk break and to my horror realised that as this was a circular trail we would be meeting up again very soon. Sure enough, they were both still there waiting for me. I ended up doing clockwise and anticlockwise laps. I bet they had a right old laugh at my expense.

The strange thing is, i have never seen them before or after since. I have to say it did properly spook me when they scrambled through the woods to block my path. C25K is a brilliant programme. It just doesn't prepare you very well for the above type of scenarios.

Have fun all, keep on running

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

My goodness me Alan, if you can outrun a horse then you can certainly complete C25K in the 9 weeks, nice photo of who you met that day when you were doing run 1 of week 3, yes I bet the horse had a right old laugh or whatever amuses a horse, onwards and upwards to week 4.

[Hidden in reply to AlMorr]

Outrun a horse. Love it 🤣🤣🤣

[Hidden]

They are both lovely, I would have probably stopped and stroked them and then continued with the run. The pony is very nice, and the donkey too reminds me of my MP, and probably a bit more brainy than my MP. There is nothing better than variety, and you had it that day. Well done, keeeep 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[MeganLloyd in reply to Hidden]

I wonder what constituency you live in? I was going to ask where you live but realised that was creepy😁

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I would like to say B J but that wouldn’t be true. 😜

[Ant50 Graduate]

You do meet the strangest things whilst out running. Last week I had to turn around due to two swans and seven cygnets asleep on the canal towpath. It was clear that neither mum or dad where going to let me past, so turn round I did! Luckily I wasn’t running my route in the opposite direction as my 5k would have turned into an 8k!!! Good luck with C25K.

[sparky66 Graduate]

😂 haha brilliant!Reminds me of the time I took a new route round a fishing pond and came across a huge goose..I thought I could just run on past, the same as I've done when passing swans..

Nope the blooming thing flew up flapping its wings at me.. I like you ran like the wind 😂

[Hidden in reply to sparky66]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Magellan Graduate in reply to sparky66]

Geese are vicious little sods. Their only saving grace is that they don’t chase you after the first ten metres or so.

[sparky66 Graduate in reply to Magellan]

I won't pass another 😂

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Amazing. I wonder where they went?

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate]

Goodness I would have legged it too I would like to think I’m a country girl but actually I’m not !! 🤣

[Doris8 Graduate]

Love it. Brill photo too close better in the field over a fence. I probably would have legged it😂

[Hidden]

😅 Loved the reference to Peaky Blinders 😆! You coped brilliantly. I am sure I would have legged it in the opposite direction (or up that steep grassy bank) had I been confronted with them both; though I am intrigued as to where they came from and then where they went......

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I've absolutely no idea. I don't think Game of Thrones was filmed around here so I doubt they are extras 🤣

[skysue16 Graduate]

My goodness that is a scary story! The piebald is a big horse and looks confident. I am impressed you managed to run away - speedy!

[Hidden in reply to skysue16]

I've absolutely no idea about horse breeds. It was just a big bugger with big bitey teeth and scared the life outta me 🤣🤣🤣

[skysue16 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

😂 🐎

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

Oh that's funny! Yes the big un does look a bit malevolent!

[CBDB Ambassador]

🤣🤣😃😃great write-up. Enjoyed the read and now want my own horses and donkeys on my route …. but none in sight! 🐴🐎🎠🏇🐪🐄🦮🐕

[Hidden in reply to CBDB]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I can assure you it is not a pleasant experience - especially for urban grown trainee runners 🤣🤣🤣

[CBDB Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

🤣🤣 Yes, I met a cluster of cattle on a night-hike once, us group of walkers with flashlights, and the eyes of all cattle reflected back as floating giant balls moving around in the near distance! 😳😳😳😳 Only the rural walkers amongst us were not spooked! 😱😄

And I am still afraid of going through fields with cows. (Horses are ok, though, for me. My sister has four)

[Frenc Graduate]

Oh Alan99, this did make me laugh! That horse looks like he’s the leader of the gang, and the donkey tags along to see what trouble they can get into 😆. I meet cows occasionally on my runs, I’m always careful to avoid their backsides when they’re hanging out by a gate. 👍👍👍

[Hidden in reply to Frenc]

You have described it so perfectly. The pack leader with the trouble maker lurking behind 🤣🤣🤣

[Frenc Graduate in reply to Hidden]

😆

[Jools2020 Graduate]

I doubt if I would have attempted to get past them, I would have been seriously spooked! They look curious in the photo. Ears forward, isn’t that good? (Or could be bad!) 😂

[Hidden in reply to Jools2020]

I'm not sure Jools. All I could thing about was big eating teeth 😬🤣

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

😂 fortunately you survived to tell the tale!

[BigLebowski Graduate]

What a story. Had me giggling. I often ponder what I would do if I encountered wildlife where I live. In my foothills of the Canadian Rockies suburb of Cochrane, Alberta, we see coyotes all over the place and plenty of deer. Scarier is where I work 8 hours further North. We work quite literally in the wilderness but reside in nice, fenced-off work camps. I have taken to running on the perimeter road of the residence that sees the occasional light-duty pickup truck, but no other pedestrians who might point and laugh. Black bears often wander into this area drawn by the aroma of food in the garbage compactors. If compromised, I'll try to slip into the back entrance one of the nearest residential pods, but these creatures have all completed C25K and are incredibly fast.

[Hidden in reply to BigLebowski]

Black bears .......... I think I would be on for a world record 20k if one came within 100 yards of me 🤣🤣🤣🤣