So I started my C25K journey a year ago. I had just retired, was suffering brutal depression and wanted something I could do when I couldn't swim, something that I could just go out of the door and do. I was the fat girl at school who hated PE which was all team sports and I couldn't /wouldn't run because I would look stupid and people would point and laugh. I still struggle with this and I still find it hard to run past other people. Enter C25k, this wonderful community and Laura and off I go. Week 1 and 2 are ok but 3 is harder but I push on until I get Covid and I am wiped out for two months. So I start again and work up to week 5 and then it happens! I have the click that everyone talks about and I can just keep going and it is comfortable and my mind drifts off and I relax and look at the trees. It is so wonderful. When I stop, I find I have run an extra 8 mins on top of the week 5 run 3 20 mins. I am at the end of week 6 now and I know that I can do it. The hard runs are interesting and I learn a lot from them. For me, I have found it is not so much about technique ( I know there is loads more to learn) but more about just feeling relaxed and confident before I start. I am determined to push on to graduation and to make running part of my life for as long as I can. I know I would never have got there without the plan, the community and the wonderful Iannoda Truffe; I think about you mate on every run and wish you were still running. Thank you isn't enough but thank you and I shall run and smile as I run. 😘
Thank you to C25K and Iannoda Truffe - Couch to 5K
Thank you to C25K and Iannoda Truffe
what a wonderful post! I love how it clicks for you all of a sudden and how you started over even after having to stop because of COVID. Well done!
Thanks so much for your lovely reply, I hope you enjoy your C25K journey as much and that we all run with a smile. Take care 😀
Love this post Cassandra61, it’s lovely to read when someone gets to a point where it clicks and you ‘enjoy’ a run and learn from it.
Mine was week 6, when I found I struggled after the elation of completing week 5 run 3. It was the advice of our lovely mentors and instructors that helped me find a ‘conversational’ pace ‘slow and steady’ to be able to enjoy my runs from then on, I found once the intervals dropped I really loved the longer runs. Best of luck to you and I’ll be waiting to read your posts going forward.
Thanks loads I'll keep you updated. Enjoy your running yourself.
such a wonderfully encouraging post! How wonderful that you have found a love for running and enjoy the surroundings.. it’s so therapeutic to get to that point… well done on keeping going in spite of many obstacles.. this mental determination has set you up to be a runner!! 👏🎊
I shal think of these lovely comments when I am having a difficult run and indeed running into ther difficulties. I hope you enjoy the running too.
That's such a fabulous post Cassandra61 ! Yes, you can and will complete C25K, and I'm looking forward to your graduation post in the not-too-distant future.
One of the best tributes we can pay to Tim is to keep running and smiling, just as he wished. May you enjoy many more years of it. 👍😀
Thank you run and smile and run and smile and breathe - all the best to you too.
A lovely post, it's tough at times but when it clicks and you can keep running keep smiling it's wonderful and a good tribute to Tim, who encouraged so many of us
He was wonderful - he gave me proper sensible advice on several occasions and keep me going. What a loss.
Yes huge loss
Thankyou for a great post. It is special when that happens. It was week 5 for me too. Sooo at the risk of waking everyone up.....WELL DONE FELLOW RUNNER!
Thank you so much I shall repeat those words to myself - no more fat girl who is rubbish at PE!
What a wonderfully generous and inspiring post - Love your attitude! And appreciated that you voiced what many of us are thinking/remembering about Iannoda Truffle. Ta!
He was wonderful and there with proper sensible advice when I wanted to give up - so glad I didn't - what a loss his death is.
What a lovely post. He clearly had an effect on lots of people. ❤️🩹
Stick with the plan as Laura says if you can - he was wonderful.
Hi Cassandra61, lovely post and although I cannot duplicate your circumstances I can understand your trepidation about being 'out on display'. I myself started my C25k journey on holiday so I wouldn't be seen out and about 'playing' at running. Being of a certain age, arctic blonde hair and being well known in the area I felt very much the same so I donned a baseball cap and ran early in the morning once home. Now I don't really care who sees me or what they think. I haven't run since Saturday because of a tummy bug passed onto me by my grandson and I can't see me running before this Saturday, feeling drained still, and I really wanted to run in the parkrun this Saturday whilst we're away. I read Tim's, what I called life journey post which inspired me during a bad patch. This Friday evening I will be reading it again to buck me up and just after that I'll read your post again just for an extra inspirational boost 😁 Well done and keep running you're definitely well on the way to being there 👍🏃♀️🏃♀️
This is such a lovely reply and so inspirational. I found that having clothes / leggings/ tops I felt confident in really helped. My son has just run a half marathon and I was saying how hard it is sometimes and how exposed I felt. His answer was that "Mum you are lapping the people who have never even tried!" so I repeat this in my head if I am feeling exposed and you are free to borrow it if it helps! Take care and enjoy it !
I will thanks Cassandra61 it really sums it up really well 
Good luck
you’re doing so well! Your message resonates with me. I hated sport at school, was uncoordinated and always picked last, consequently hated sport. Couch 25K is fantastic isn’t it, you just realise it’s something that you can do and is so enjoyable. I’ve had an injury and am just starting to run again. Goodluck with your running. 😀
Good luck to you - I would definitely say to keep going if you can - I think I have made a friend for life.
we sound similar, I’ve just retired too! Hope your runs go well this week, despair the heavy rain. 💧
Well done, so far. Sounds like you've got this licked. It's all in your head.
Indeed it is so very much all in your head - My son said when I was complaining " You are lapping the people who nev er even try" so I remind myself of this when it is tough. Enjoy the running and take care.
What a brilliant post. I relate to the not wanting to run past people. We must have begun c25k around the same time last year. You mention that feeling relaxed and confident before a run really helps. I will try to remember that in the future. Great advice.
Hope it helps - you've got this!
Fantastic post and great tribute to Tim. I also was the fat girl who was no good at games. I am size 20 (but am taking action to change that) and tbh am rather proud to be old, fat *and yet out there running*.
All the best & thanks for a lovely post.
I know how you feel a bit - I waqs moaning about this to my son who has just done a half marathon. He said "yeah but Mum you are lapping all the people who have never tried to run" so just think of yourself lapping all those girls at school - we are doing it! All the best for the next stage of your journey ❤️
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