Second time round!

[Sybilw]

This may turn into a ramble so I’ll get my main point in early!

I’m really loving this second time round.

I have no need to look ahead with apprehension as I KNOW every run is something I’ll be able to complete and I can just relax and enjoy the journey.

I graduated in 2019 and ran for ages before lapsing. No reason. Just stopped 🤷‍♀️ but was still active and kept an eye on my VO2 max (despite not believing a word of it!) so when I was in danger of reaching 50 😂 I decided to start again. It’s quite a different experience. I’m finding I’m more flexible - NOT something I did first time round - I stuck rigidly to the program. However I’ve found some firsts and some things still the same. One first was seeing a fox at 10am. I run in a quite rural area but the last foxes I’d seen were when visiting my daughter in London! I have however skipped a few early runs to find a base and found that things still go wrong 😑. Latest was my W5R1 yesterday. At the start I began to meet runners doing the local Greenway challenge so I did a lot of “good morning” and “well done!” Even saw a parkrun friend. Meanwhile I’m thinking I can get REALLY far now in a 5 min run. Smug perhaps? 🤔 Then Sarah announced - you’re just about to start your next 5 min run. Between my podcast and cheery greetings I’d missed a walk! Oh well, turns out I can run 13 minutes! I must stress this is not to be recommended first time round. I was also keen not to repeat any mistakes. That mainly means the dreaded ⛰ First time round I turned at the top of a hill as I knew I’d have to come up it if I went down. I never quite got over that so now I just go for it (still don’t like it though).

So to sum up this program is pure magic and I love it! If you’re on this journey please just have faith. The end result is worth it.

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Repeating c25k is a great way to get your body used to running again Sybil, and it sounds like you are enjoying it too. What a lovely pic of the rape fields.

[Sybilw Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

I’m so lucky to be able to run along fields and paths like this.

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Sybilw]

You are

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

You are doing so well with repeating, we repeated last autumn to support a friend and ran faster but then she went off plan and we just carried on doing what we wanted. have fun running it really is the best

[Sybilw Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you. Yes so true. Every time I was out walking I’d think - this was a nice route to run!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Sybilw]

I have those thoughts, if we walk anywhere different

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

c25k is much less nerve racking when you've done it before! So good that you're enjoying it so much this time around☺️

[Sybilw Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Absolutely. I’m very relaxed this time.

[Keayma]

Fantastic. Like yourself its second time for me too. Wk3 run 1 going well. Much better than the first time round. Its a good programme. Well done and keep it up.

[Sybilw Graduate in reply to Keayma]

It’s just that you have no apprehension so can just relax and enjoy it! Well done you too. See you at regraduation!!

[Keayma in reply to Sybilw]

👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello again! Yes, I am still here!What a super post...and a super photograph too!

You have summed a C25K repeat up wonderfully, and we have had and still are having so many folk repeating this great programme. I did it again myself last year!

No pressures, you know what is coming, you KNOW you can do it!!

You are absolutely correct... this programme is so worth it!

Well done and good to see you again!

[Sybilw Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you. It’s funny because although I stopped running I knew I’d be back! I extoll the virtues of this program to anyone who’ll listen - whether they’ve expressed an interested or not 😆 (last time was yesterday!). Glad you’re enjoying your running so much now too.

[R1954 Graduate]

Encouraging to read this. I graduated some time ago and managed to stay sufficiently motivated to maintain a routine of 2-3 runs per week. However, a pretty awful moment of back muscle spasms at home was followed by weeks of back pain and then sciatica. This sequence has resulted in a 3-month gap. Having not been able to walk more than a few steps, I am now walking far more freely. At some point, I have to start C5K all over again, and so it good to know that a fellow 67-year old is enjoying it.

[Sybilw Graduate in reply to R1954]

Oh that’s difficult - I’ve had back spasm issues too, it’s nasty!! I haven’t admitted how long I wasn’t running (too long) but was still active so the restart has been relatively easy. Listen to your body and don’t rush. A bit like last time I’m enjoying the journey and will be sad when it ends. Still lots of life left in us ‘older’ dogs!! Good luck with your return.

[R1954 Graduate]

Many thanks for your reply. Yes, I think listening to my body is key.