Time to return?

[AliceInThePalace]

Hello all,

I don't know how many of you who supported me last year will read this, but I would love to hear from some familiar people in the comments!

Since last june when i completed couch to 5k, I have been through quite a lot to be honest.

Shortly after completing C25K I lost my grandmother and then started univeristy in the pandemic, just days after her funeral.

I spent most my time in my box bedroom studying online with strangers I am still yet to meet in person.

We had one in person seminar a week where we wore masks and sat 2 metres apart, instead of usual chit chat before class, we instead wiped our desk and chair with an antibacterial wipe and had to scan into track and trace.

In high winter all windows were open in the seminar class rooms/buildings.

These experiences barely scratch the surface of what it was like. I'm not writing this to create a pity-party, (we've ALL had a horrible two years!!) i genuinely just want to give people a small insight into the particular surreal and stressful world I found myself in.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, running was not high on my priority list.

Whilst running saved me in the first lockdown, the winter lockdown meant my asthma simply couldn't handle running.

I lost my crux.

I'm glad to say my mum encouraged me to take a MBCT course online. Mindfulness, which I think we can agree running is a form of, helped me through once again, this time through meditation.

Now life has calmed down a bit I am keen to hit the pavements again and feel better in myself, physically and mentally.

I just know how good running can make you feel.

I know I am resilient and capable, just gotta get to it. 😀

Keep taking care everyone, I look forward to being inspired by your posts and being party of this beautiful and rare community.

AliceInThePalace x

[59er Graduate]

Hey AliceInThePalace I have been thinking of you! I am so pleased you're back. Sorry to hear about your grand mother and your struggles too throughout this dreadful time. I look forward to reading your posts again. Onwards and upwards!

( I use a great (free) meditation app - Insight Timer.)

[Bracken2018 Graduate]

Hi AITP,

Good to hear from you 😀

I have just returned to C25K.

I had an injury which required a few months off and decided to take an online study course during my recovery and to fill my run time..

Unfortunately, there were far more assignment than first I informed before starting errr It become stressful .

I needed to shut myself away in my room so I could focus and complete on time.

Course completed , what a relief. I instantly needed to get outside to run - hence - my return to C25K.

I’m W2 and it feels O’so-good. I’m taking slow, really slow and looking forward to hitting 5K again in time for the odd park run.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Running gets many of us through very tough times and is always there and many of us have done C25K more than once, as a safe way to readapt our bodies to impact.

Have fun.

[LudoLen19]

Keep going Alice, when things all happen at once and we feel overwhelmed, sometimes we feel we just can’t catch a break… when our emotional teacup is overflowing we just need to tip a bit out, and then we can start to cope again … hopefully the framework of C25K will help you with that. Take care of yourself, I’m wishing you well x x 🏃‍♀️ ❤️‍🩹

[Newbie59 Graduate]

Hi Alice

I graduated last June and all was going well until April this year when I suddenly developed hip pain and had to stop running. It has made me quite despondent as I was enjoying my twice weekly 5k runs.

After 2 months off, I cautiously started C25k again and to be honest I did find it easier second time round. After Week 1 I started to do just 2 runs in each week and I got right up to Week 5 Run 2 when the hip started to really niggle again. Just when I was psyching myself up for the 20 minute run at the end of Week 5!

Also I had been so looking forward to doing a Parkrun as my local one started up last week.

I hear what Ianoda says, I know I need to do some exercises to build up my muscles, but at the moment I just feel really tired all the time.

Good Luck with your second time round!

Happy Running

[Comfortnotspeed]

Hi! You could always redo C25k. 😀It’s even better second time around 💪Here’s to your return to running 🤩

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Welcome back. Mindfulness is indeed running (or vice versa)

Andy from Headspace has even done some guided runs on the Nike Run Club app.

[PeggySusi Graduate]

I do feel that students have had a particularly bad deal in the pandemic.. you were looking forward to what should have been a wonderful new experience, making new friends, and having fun with new experiences, learning to be independent .. and instead a lot of students have been isolated and outside your comfort zone. Well done to you for being willing to try new things when the running got too much, and also for coming back to try again...having done it before you can do it again and I’m sure it’ll be easier this time - but don’t beat yourself up if not.. just do what feels right on the day.I hope you will have lots of fun times ahead..x