And suddenly running became fun

[NovemberRain16]

Hi everyone,

I thought I share a little bit of my story so it might be some encouragement for anyone who might need it.

Throughout my life I absolutely loathed running.

Since childhood I’ve suffered from exercise-induced asthma and so running was my worst nightmare. Coming last in school races, not being able to keep up with team mates when warming up for a volleyball match or being out of breath from a quick sprint to catch a train just made me feel awful - physically and even worse mentally (as I can be quite competitive). So I avoided it as much as I could, but of course kept lamenting how unfit I am.

A while ago a friend recommend C25k and I just waved it off… No thanks, running isn’t my thing.

Well, turns out: It is!

4 weeks ago something clicked: Feeling like I need to do something if I really want to be fitter, I jumped out of bed at 5am on a Sunday (not kidding), put workout clothes on, downloaded the app, turned the music up and started running.

And as tiring and hard as it is, I enjoy every moment of it; so much that I’m excited about the next session.

I breath a lot easier even in hay fever season already, don’t run out of air that quickly anymore and see and feel my legs toning too.

On rest days I also do a good 40 minutes of flow yoga to strengthen my muscles and breathing.

Long story short:

While it can be a struggle, this programme has made running fun for me. It’s turning it into a hobby!

If you are thinking about it, stop thinking and give it a go. You got nothing to loose and all to win!

And if you stick with it: Celebrate yourself because you are fighting that inner demon that wants you to believe you can’t do it.

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Wow! Great inspiration for new runners. You’ve got the bug! 😊

I hated cross country running at school. Me and my cronies would hide behind a bush smoking cigarettes! Then hop out at the end and pretend we’d been running. I think I hated running all my life. Then - magic happened! I started this program when I was 66 in 2020. I’m redoing it now because I was ill - but I’m enjoying it almost as much as the first time!

I’m so pleased you can see your fitness improving. As you get fitter still I’m sure it will continue to improve.

Well done for getting off that couch and joining us! As you say, the biggest battle is the one in your head, telling you that you can’t. You’ve found out that you CAN 👏👏👏👍🏃‍♀️😊

[NovemberRain16 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thanks, that’s kind and I’m glad to hear you are feeling better and the programme hasn’t lost its magic for you.

I think that’s an even bigger challenge than just getting off the couch: Finding back into an old routine that is also new in some cases (because of illness, life changes etc) after a longer break. So well done to you!!

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to NovemberRain16]

Thank you 😊 I tried just to get out there after I was ill and just start running again, but I was pushing myself too hard. It was actually easier to go back to the programme knowing it was a safer way to recover my fitness! Of course I already knew it worked. It also meant I didn’t have to make any decisions. I must be good at following orders 🤣

[NovemberRain16 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

that’s sometimes all one needs eh? Just switch the brain off and do as you are told (and trust me: that usually isn’t my mantra 🤣). I definitely needed that when I did the first three or four runs.

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to NovemberRain16]

It’s not usually my mantra either! 😂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

There are so many of us with similar stories-school running was just not for us for all sorts of reasons and it put us off for years. It’s so wonderful that you’ve been able to come back to it and find that joy that comes when it falls into place. You’re doing brilliantly. Thank you so much for sharing your inspirational experience! 🏃‍♀️❤️💪

[NovemberRain16 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thanks and honestly, it’s a huge comfort to know many other people share that story. I remember the days when I just felt odd and miserable because everyone was just better, fitter, faster, and in these moments it would have helped a lot to know others feel like that.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator in reply to NovemberRain16]

Absolutely! At school I always felt like there were people who were sporty and people who weren’t and running always had to be something you were doing fast or it didn’t “count”. It’s so lovely to discover that that’s just nonsense. We’re all running our own race, even when we’re out with others so there’s loads of space to find what we enjoy. So glad to have you here with us to share the running love ❤️

[DennisTilly]

I feel the same! Came back after reaching week 8 and stopping the autumn before last. I’m back up to week 7. It’s blooming hard but I’ve managed it and feel such a sense of achievement!

[NovemberRain16 Graduate in reply to DennisTilly]

That’s awesome, well done!

And yes, it’s the same here. I’m waiting for people to stop me and ask why I’m crying so much, if I’m in pain or something 😅

[Harerunner Graduate]

Hi there, loved your post! I have done C25K twice now and would continue running for a while but then gradually I would fall out of the pattern of the regular running. I think I have completed it just before it starts to get really warm and I think trying to fit in an early morning run wasn’t fitting in with school run stuff and work and it would be too hot in the evening. But as you say that’s the demon kicking in and it is often a mental battle with running.

I know I need to get back into running again, my fitness has definitely declined even though I am doing some walking, but reading your post has made me think I need to get out there( maybe 5am?🤣) and run the programme again. It really does work, but I also need to keep it going!!

Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the running yourself. 👍🏻

[NovemberRain16 Graduate in reply to Harerunner]

I’m glad it is a bit of inspiration; and thank you 😊

Just reading in between the lines, I’d say it’s definitely your head that is holding you back. You’ve done it before (twice!!! I want to have your endurance and patience!) which means you found the time and will. So no doubt you will do it again if you want to, scoring that hattrick! Whoop whoop 🥳

Clearly I’m no expert on running but your comment made me wonder: what made you fall out of the pattern?

I find with myself, the moment I get bored of something I drop it. And I definitely had these moments during some of earlier runs with repetitions. Walk, run x5, x7; thrice a week and my brain shouting “boooooring”.

So I switched it up a bit, changed my route, some light sprinting in the last 10 seconds of a running section … at some point I even sang out loud earning some very confused looks from people around. But then again, that made me laugh and I forgot that I’m bored.

[Harerunner Graduate]

🤣 Brilliant, love the idea of singing out loud! Not sure my family would agree with that idea for me having heard my singing! 🤣 👍🏻

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

What an inspiring story,

[Wine]

Brilliant post... I am so happy for you

[nowster Graduate]

Many of us have similar stories, hating such activities.

I remember one such middle school cross country run (in reality only about a mile long), where the PE teacher was bringing up the rear. I got my first ever (and worst ever) experience of exercise induced asthma. The sadist, going by the name of Mr Metcalfe, was having nothing of it, because it wasn't something that was well known in the early 1980s.

That totally put me off doing anything like that.

(I found out later that a few years before a lad had keeled over and died on the athletics track on a sports day at the school. Undiagnosed heart condition.)

Anyway, forty years later I don't have exercise induced asthma any more. I was starting to get a bit of a spare tyre. I thought I was reasonably fit. I wasn't.

I'd seen the Couch to 5K app and installed it when it was first promoted, but it had never been used. Then we got lockdown and we we were allowed out of the house for half an hour for exercise. I had no excuse not to do C25K.

My first two attempts didn't work (I was on medication at the time that interfered with exercise). About this time in 2020 I started C25K properly. I started with four week 1 runs spread over two weeks as I lacked confidence. In the middle of week 3, in the middle of July 2020, something "clicked" mentally and it went from being a chore with the aim of getting me fitter into something I actually wanted to do.

[ToothPickJafah Graduate]

Love this post! I also hated running when I was younger but since starting this program 3 weeks ago I’ve never felt better! And I’m loving getting out there early in the morning for a run. Tomorrow I will be completing week 3 and I’m excited about moving on…onwards and upwards! Whoop whoop 🙌

[NovemberRain16 Graduate in reply to ToothPickJafah]

we started around the same time then! Well done for getting up and pushing through!! Already a big achievement!

[ToothPickJafah Graduate in reply to NovemberRain16]

We shall celebrate our Runniversary together then! 👏👍🙌

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

What a great message, NovemberRain! More power to your elbow (and knees, etc 😉)

[NovemberRain16 Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Thanks a lot (not so) grumpyoldgirl! And yes, that extra power is needed for my left knee 🤣