Year 1 Runniversary

[RollingPea]

It was a glorious morning so I was out the door, and on my bike to the park for a 5 km run. The grass was soft underfoot, the shaded paths were welcome. I can hardly believe it has been a year since I graduated from C25K. My time for that course today turned out to be a PB - 10% faster than the first time I ran it 12 months ago. I will admit I was well chuffed because it was a special celebration run. But it also means I must be getting fitter and stronger! I love the meditativeness of concentrating on steps, focusing on breathing, being in nature, plus that tremendous feeling of calmness and well-being at the end of a run. Many thanks to these forums (C25K, S&F and Bridge to 10K) for lots of great advice, including the most recent game-changer for me: how to tie shoe laces for a wide forefoot. Yes, I’ve only been crushing my feet for a year. 😂Onwards!🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on completing a year since you graduated from C25K by running a 5K PB in the park near to where you live, I hope you hid your bike somewhere to prevent it from being stolen while you were running.

[RollingPea Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you AlMorr. I certainly locked my bike. As this run was a Parkrun, there were loads of other locked bikes and plenty of volunteers about to keep an eye on them. Aside from Parkruns, yes, I agree there is a need to think strategically about where to leave a locked bike when out running alone. I have a really thick chain lock which I wear while riding and then lock and leave while running.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏👏🥳🏃‍♀️What a great anniversary run! Fab photos…and enjoyed your description about how running makes you feel!! Well done!

[RollingPea Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

That dazzling fluorescent flower represents how I felt yesterday. I think it's a Lavateria.

[RollingPea Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

Your posts have been really encouraging too. Thank you for being an Ambassador.

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to RollingPea]

🤗

[Naturesweapon Graduate]

Hello RollingPea Many congratulations on your one year runniversary! What a milestone! 🏆💐Plus I love that you have celebrated with cake and with a poem and have shared these cool photocollage with us 🥰 Your post encourages me to keep going and makes me excited about my next steps! By the way, what a great idea to cycle to your run! 🤔 I had not thought of that... Could I do something similar? All the best 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 for your second year 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[RollingPea Graduate in reply to Naturesweapon]

Thanks Naturesweapon. It sure feels like a milestone. Even a bit surreal. Me? A runner? The cake idea came from this forum - there is plenty of encouragement to celebrate with cake - it was delicious! The candle had to be homemade. A cotton bud dipped in surgical spirit. It worked for the photo, but wasn't ideal a moment later when the flame got bigger. As for the poetry, I don't normally do that. I must have been happy! Probably best to stick with the running.

Cycling to runs has been helpful as part of my warm up and warm down routine. Plus the bike takes me to more distant locations on the city edge, where I can do my favourite running - on grass and woodland trails.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Happy Runniversasry and many more to come!

[RollingPea Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss. I hope there are many more to come. Your messages are always so helpful and motivating.

[Penwithpink Graduate]

I love the word “ runniversary” x many congrats and May u b running for many more x

[RollingPea Graduate in reply to Penwithpink]

Thank you. My aim is to be an octogenarian runner. That means I'll keep 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️for at least another 20 years.

[Penwithpink Graduate]

yep me too x here’s to us !!