Running Really Is For Life

[AncientMum]

Hi everyone, it’s been a very long time since I’ve posted anything but I just wanted to say that running really is for life. 8 years ago this week, at the ripe old age of 55, I made one of my life’s better decisions. Having never run before, I bought a pair of cheap running shoes and started my c25k journey. It wasn’t an uneventful journey - I had Achilles trouble for a couple of weeks and knee trouble that didn’t resolve properly until I bought halfway decent shoes and found a great physio - but it was definitely a life changing journey. 8 years later and I still run regularly, I’ve done lots of races, including 5 half marathons and I even set a new 5k PB last year. I’ll never achieve a 30 min 5k - my PB isn’t that far away but tbh it’s not important. I’m just grateful for the fact that I can run and I still love it, and a large part of it is down to the support and encouragement I found on this forum when I was just starting out.

So stick with it. I’ve had times when my mojo disappeared and every run was a huge effort and I’ve had to rehab from injuries that weren’t running related but which stopped me in my tracks for months at a time. However, I always thought of myself as a runner. I never once thought I’d had enough, and that was down to the support I got from friends I made on this forum, some of whom I still talk to most days.

I didn’t write this post to celebrate my own person running journey, although I do still find it extraordinary that I can run further and faster in my 60s than I could in my teens. No, I wrote it to celebrate the importance of friendship and the vital role support and encouragement from likeminded people plays in us achieving our goals and then remaining engaged over the long term. This forum was instrumental in me achieving my ambition to run 5k but, much more importantly, it introduced me to the people who ensured that I have never once considered calling it a day.

So, happy running, now and long into the future.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hello, A great inspiring post thank you for that !

I had never run at all when you last posted !

So a mere begginer in comparison .

Grea to heat your still enjoying 😁👍

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

So great to hear from you AM...........long time no hear!!

So many of us wish we had discovered running oh so much earlier in our lives.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Hi m’dear, so lovely to hear from you. Yes, so many years without the joy of an early morning run. Oh well, better late than never 😂 Hope life is treating you well x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Simply sensational....so good to hear from you!!!

I shall be pointing everyone in the direction of this post! Especially our Newbies!

Still running, still enjoying and doing it your way.

Fun, friendship and fitness. That's as good as it gets!

Huge well done you xxx

PS

Yes, I'm still here...7 years on...72 next week and still slow and steady

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi Floss, thank you for your kind words. It’s funny how running just grabs a hold of you and becomes part of who you are, isn’t it? Good to know you’re still here and as keen as you ever were, encouraging new runners on their own great adventure. x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

It does.. and for so, so many over these last few years...it has helped to keep them going.Strengthening them mentally and physically.

It is a joy and a privilege to be part of folks running and so lovely when old friends reappear xxx

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Wonderful post AM and great to hear from you.

I started a year later than you and look at me now - scoffing the Ferrero Rocher! #Ambassador

😝😂

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to John_W]

Why thank you Mr Ambassador😁

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to John_W]

Hey, save me some !

[Cmoi Graduate]

Great post AncientMum ! I particularly like "I do still find it extraordinary that I can run further and faster in my 60s than I could in my teens." I feel exactly the same!

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you. It’s a great feeling isn’t it!

[Wavy-chick28 Graduate]

What a beautiful post, I’m one year in and agree best decision ever 🙌🏻🙌🏻 And this forum is here for all of us when we need encouragement or advice !

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Wavy-chick28]

Yes, this forum is a great place, full of support, encouragement and kindness.

[Palmy1]

Great post… Well done you and really resonates with me! 🙃

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Palmy1]

Thank you. Enjoy your running

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Hi AM! Great to see you again 🙂

We did have some fun times back in the day here when the other forums weren’t even born! There’s still lots of fun but with different people mostly.

Congrats on your mileage and years of running. I just celebrated my ninth year and like you, am still at it, still loving it and still hanging around!

Who’d have thought? That Julie has a lot to answer for 😍

Take care and keep going x

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Hi lovely Princess, so nice to hear from you, how are you doing? Ah back in the day we surely did have some laughs. Congratulations to you on your 9 years of running - you were a fully fledged toddler-runner when I was still a baby runner. Haha yes the incomparable Julie, once encountered, never ever forgotten. She still pops up very occasionally on one of my old playlists and always makes me smile. xx

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

All good although I’m on a week’s break atm because I did too much gardening 🙄 but still running races and still collecting lots of blingy-bling 😍

And the garden looks great 🌺🌼🙂 x

[Run46 Graduate]

What a great post, pretty much sums up exactly as I and I'm sure a lot of others on here feel 💛

I've been running for 4 years now and though the last half of last year through ill health then injury, I spent more time walking than running it was only a case of having patience until I got back to it.

And there was never any doubt I would get back to it...and a little wiser (injury caused by pushing too hard to get back to previous distances after ill health)!🤦‍♀️

I'm just coming up to 50 & will be very happy if like you I'm still running through my 50s, into my 60s & beyond 😊🏃‍♀️

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Run46]

Thank you and very best of luck to you in your running adventure. With experience comes knowledge. We get injured and we heal and we continue running - older, wiser and grateful for every run.

[Poppdog Graduate]

Inspirational thank you

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Poppdog]

Thank you so much. Don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before😊

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate]

Love this 😍 thank you for posting and happy running 🏃‍♀️

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Slothgoesrunning]

Thank you and very happy running to you too

[roseabi]

Hello Mum! xxx

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to roseabi]

Hi Sweetie, hope all’s well with you and yours x

[123gogo Graduate]

Thank you for this post. A valuable reminder of the importance of support and friendship and the meanings they have in our lives.

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to 123gogo]

Thank you. Happy running