Today 3 calendar months after having a severe stroke I entered and completed my first Parkrun. This was a goal following discovering the C25K link on the British Heart Foundation website. I am amazed at this programme and how it's transformed a lifetime non runner into today's outcome. Those first weeks of C25K included my grandchildren going out with me on the walk run sequences and I struggled at each stage to move up from a minute to 90 seconds to 3 minutes etc. My profile , male 70, overweight/obese, (but losing weight) no other co-morbidities, Bradycardia with ectopics .
The only personal claim I can make is a desire to take some action to show that I was taking responsibility for my health and this was about the only thing I could find. So I have been determined and followed the programme no more no less from start to finish. The outcome is testament to the wonderful people who devised and tested this programme and of course all the fantastic insights and encouragement on this forum, especially the coaches.
Thank you and to all those on C25K this weekend, as they say, keeeeeeeeep running.
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Chinkoflight
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Oh wow! Well done! Well, I’ve started running more than two years ago and I’m still chickening out and have never yet been at a Parkrun! (But I do support the initiative, have a code, ran a few l(not)parkruns, etc)
Thank you. It was really good. I started at the back set off at my pace and kept in contact with a couple of people about 20m ahead. My 1km time came up as the fastest split I have done so I was worried by tried to stay in touch. They dragged me round, not only to complete the run but also most splits were the fastest I had run. I went up to thank them at the end and was quickly brought back to ground. 'I wondered who was on the rope.....'. You have to laugh. The fastest runners finished in 20 minutes or so but it was the same positive spirit all the way round for all the runners and joggers, much like on this forum. I can see why people travel to get their A-Z of Parkruns and I shall also be volunteering too. Keep going and maybe do a Parkrun and Jeff it. Some people finished well ahead of me by Jeffing.
What a wonderful post. I love that your grandchildren came along with you on your initial runs! I have an awful lot of admiration for people who take charge of their own health, and by golly you have!!! Well done 😊.
Thank you, I know it's not easy for people to feel positive and I've had my moments of feeling low, frustrated and isolated. This can be as disabling as the physical illness. I made a near full recovery but a stroke is so sudden and catastrophic and often without explanation. Had I not found the C25K link I might still be in the negative zone. The lines are very fine.
Thanks. Gobsmacked I think is probably a better description of how I feel. The age related % Parkrun generates puts the time into perspective but as they say better late than never!
Thanks, a bit of grit was involved which brought about the time which I didn't think possible. I've said in a few earlier posts that C25K unlocks the potential within. I am slightly sad that it's taken 70 years to find that potential.
Your story is inspiring. I haven't gone under 45 minutes this year. (although I have managed 8 runs of 10K or more this year including one 10 mile run.) I managed just over 42 minutes on my first PR last year. Don't be disheartened if you don't beat 40 minutes again for some time as adrenaline can give you a huge boost on your first effort. But reading your story, I am sure you will go from strength to strength. I think you've definitely caught the right bug in running.
Thank you. I think your probably right, but I've not run with anyone before for the distance. I have had the wise words of concerned others on my shoulders, 'take it steady' but also 'no pain, no pain' and ' being able to hold a conversation'. Whilst it never felt steady I followed the other wise words throughout. I have started (week 1 repeated for 3 weeks so far) the journey 5-10k so I think that early bit of pace changing over the shorter distances helped produce this outcome. What I still have to work out is how much running, I'm thinking that a 5k every week will be too much with the 5-10k programme I will need to find the balance. 10k is some way off, as for 10 miles that's an achievement. Definitely bugged😁.
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Week 9 Run 1 - Parkrun
First ParkRun / Week 9 run 1 Done !
Parkrun 1 Done
Week 9 Run 1 - Parkrun round 3 :-)
parkrun no. 1 done!!
