HELP !!!! This Post is for ALL NEW COUCH to 5 K RUNNERS... PLEASE READ IT :)

[Oldfloss]

Good morning, Runners!

Well, it is a wet morning here in Wales.., I can just about see the sea , the mountains are shrouded in cloud, and there is a steady rainfall on the roof of my tin tent!

I have to say that, at this moment, I am quite glad that I am having a few days rest from running , whilst my Covid and Flu vaccines ( injected Saturday) continue to work their powerful magic!

This feeling won't last...The slight weariness has passed , the itchiness of the arm has eased so, maybe tomorrow, if the day is dry and the clear crisp air of a Welsh Autumn morning calls... who knows

However, as usual, I am rambling... I can hear you asking, why is she here again, it's not Off The Couch day? And that is a very, very bad link to the subject of this post!

Okay a little bit of background to the post today.

The C25K programme is incredible, we all know that, and because of that we are getting new runners setting off on the journey, every single day...hundreds of them...currently on the HU Community Metrics C25K List. September

Active members ... 4, 543

New members...353

All-Time members..125,755

WOW!

That is a LOT of runners, and we are seeing so, so many here... including all of us!

Now... here on the C25K forum, there are all the runners and of those, a few runners, who have been here for a while, who are on the Admin' Team; all volunteers, all unpaid and all runners too!

It is our job and our joy, to be able to support our new runners as they begin, and move through the C25L plan. We offer advice, encouragement, sympathy, empathy and the odd shove if necessary, as you start at Week 1. After your last run we will be there at the podium cheering you home and presenting that well-deserved badge.

BUT... oh gosh, there is always a but, isn't there? We need your help. Yep ! We do!

Here on this C25K Forum, there are three of us, trying our best to be helpful to you.

We try to reply, we try to answer your queries, we give out the badges and we write posts that we hope will inspire and inform you. But, even if we had the time and the limitless energy, we simply could not reply to everyone who posts here and we could not answer every single question that we are asked by our new runners. You want to hear from us..

The questions are really important, and the answer is equally important, and could be the reason why, or why not the runner, keeps on running, (or not)! Looking back over the last weeks, and this is just me looking, I know we have had at least twenty new starters.. who have not posted again or have disappeared

So...how can you help? Well, it really is easy... all we would like you to do is ...read!

There are LOADS of links to all sorts of information. Information which will tell you so, so much about the C25K plan. There are other links to other posts too... many written by our other Team member the indomitable and incredible IannodaTruffe . Links to the Strength and Stamina Forum too, the place that all of us should be visiting at some point, links to external sites too!

Perhaps the MOST important of all the things that are out there is this one

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

It tells you ALL you need to know about the runs you are about to take, and if you dip in and out as you move through the weeks, you will, I can say, with confidence, the answer to most of your possible questions, will be there... questions about;

Running Gear

Diet

Breathing

Rest days

Core strength and Stamina

Pace, Speed, Time

Aches, Pains, Illness and Injury

The list really is almost endless

Now, and this really is important... the other thing you should try to do, ( gosh , I sound like I was back , teaching again, sorry), is to read the posts and replies of the other runners here. They are just like all of us, runners.. Posting the runs and asking questions.

Do, please, try to find some time, and I know it can be hard to find that time., to take a look. You will find folk, just like you and me, who are feeling exactly like you, maybe worrying about some aspect of your running or just asking the same question as you.

The Admin team know we miss some of your posts, we know, we maybe don't get to answer your question... but what we can do is point you in the right direction and that is what this post is all about.

You are Runners... You are Running... and what we are trying, our best to do is, help you to do what you are all doing already... but, maybe, more easily...more safely... and of course , more ENJOYABLY.

Ramble over....when you have time, get a comfy chair, a spare moment ( or more), and have a good read !

A few more links for you to check out too.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Oldfloss x

PS

Ralph Waldo Emerson... who wrote those words was right... we ALL need help, at some point.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Thanks for this Oldfloss 👍

And may I suggest another useful post for new members.

As well as all the other pinned and FAQ posts

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

There is an absolute mine of information available in these resources

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you...great link...!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Good post from you Oldfloss, I have welcomed many runners to C25K who say they are about to start the course or have completed week 1 and asked them to report their progress, but as you say in your excellent post I have not heard anything again from them, that's happened quite a few times, perhaps they get to week 3 and find running for 3 minutes a bit too much, anyway I have helped with Damienair's weekly parkrun report when he can't host it a few times and will be hosting the November Quest next month.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al...I really hope it gets read! Maybe folk struggling would find the answers about any issues that they may be experiencing, and it would support their continuing?

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

That’s a post full of information Floss, full of information and put in your own very special way, if just one new runner reads it and follows the links your time will be well spent.

Hopefully you will get your run in soon and the vaccines will have done their job and given you that extra immunity to two horrible viruses that lay so many low year after year

xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you. Arm is back to normal now.. non itchy too! We are so glad to have the vaccine. It' s so worth a little discomfort.

I really do hope some new runners will read this. It would make the running, easier, safer and much more fun.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Good to hear your arm is back to normal, I’m going to book a couple days leave when I book my vaccine, then if I need i can rest and if I don’t need I can run 😀

Yes, if a few new runners read the post and follow the links it’ll certainly make their running more comfortable for them, I well remember our first run, Willow going flat out and me trying hard to keep up, him bent double gasping for breath after one minute, me wheezing like a steam train, ah but we were so proud that we did all the one minute runs 😃

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

 I think many don't realise the strength of what is being injected into us ..for me, I like to give it time to work...I managed a lovely slow 2K this morning...glorious day...just perfect for a comeback run.

The castle...again!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

That looks beautiful, it’s grey and wet here

[Perfectpear Graduate]

thank you it a brilliant forum full of great resources. It has really helped me.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Perfectpear]

i am so pleased..well done you!

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Thank to everyone who gives up their time to support these wonderful forums. I discovered them quite late into c25k, and was amazed by the wealth of information available to this 60 year old who had never run before.

I was also glad to be amongst a lovely group of people , all doing the same runny thing, and we laughed with each other, cried with each other , and some have become true friends, not just virtual running buddies.

My advice to everyone starting on this programme is to share what you are going through, and follow other peoples journeys. Keep each other going along the way and celebrate your achievements together.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks you x

So many of us have found the availability of information, the support and advice here, invaluable. I am not sure how many of us realise it at the start of C25K, or as we move through, but it is here.. waiting to be used. I know many have read this post and am hoping it will impact on their running.

Just the simple act of reading replies tother posts, where often the answer to a question os right there.

But I do accept that folk have very busy lives and at this time of discord and worry, maybe just the act of running may be enough...until it all goes pear shaped.

I do know how much I still rely on the friendship and support and the readily available information on the forums.

[JayneDoe Graduate]

thanks for the post. I’m afraid I’m one of those people who finds sharing via social media difficult. I’m just about to start week 8, enjoying plodding along at my pace, I’m not going to break any land speed records, but I’m actually out there running! Was always the last to be picked on cross country day, spent time in the military dreading running on the fitness tests, but now I’m doing this for me and it feels great

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to JayneDoe]

Well done you.

Unlike Social media..this is a group of like minded folk all unners, all levels, all shapes all sizes. This forum and all the other ones here too..but all non judgemental... no comparison between any if us.

Slow and steady is perfect...and gets us exactly where we want to be.

On we go!

[JayneDoe Graduate]

thank you, now taking time to read some of the posts. It’s good to realise that there are many ‘me’s out there and are having the same panic moments as me. Will keep you updated with my progress!!