CATCH-UP-CORNER...OCTOBER...WEEK 2... COME ON IN...Time for a ...

[Oldfloss]

CELEBRATION!

Good Morning everyone...

Here I am again.... !

Well, after a fair few weeks of turmoil, stress and worry... I do feel as If I am getting back to some kind of normality. New starting lines have been crossed, for me and Mr OF ( he continues to make steady if slow progress), and I am now five weeks back into running again, also slow and very, very steady!

Now, because of that situation I have, yet again been thinking... ( Oh no)! Here she goes again!!!

What I thought was...it is time once more, ( for a bit of a celebration... what?!!!! What kind of a celebration and why?

Well, I have done posts like this at regular times over my years here, because I feel we all need to realise just how amazing we all are.

All of us have important milestones in our running lives...

* Realising that something is not right...

* Feeling unfit, sluggish, tired...

* Realising we need to do something about it...

* Getting up from the couch...

* Starting C25K...

* Graduating C25K...

These are the ones that perhaps we recognise, when we start to run.

But, there are really significant milestones...ones that yes, need celebrating.

* Getting out of a cosy, warm bed to head out into a cold wet morning... for a run.

* Sneaking out early, so as not to wake the rest of the house...for a run.

* Fitting a run in when you are overtired from work... or a wakeful night with a small one...

* Finding a run after illness or injury and heading out with your heart in your mouth, just in case it all goes wrong.

* Heading out when your heart is very, very heavy, but your feet carry you anyway?

Incredible eh? Just think about that... I do!

It is really important that, wherever you are on this programme, whatever level you are at... you remember that this is YOU, doing this, you began it, you are running it and that is such an achievement.

I am so lucky that I, have the honour to witness this... and share your ups, your downs, your joys and your sorrows, ( not just running related )!

So now, I am the first in line to say, well done, Congratulations!

But, why should you bother to celebrate your running?

Well, first off, it will help you appreciate how far you’ve come, then it will keep you motivated... give you that feeling of well being, leave you feeling good and wanting more of the same.

So... here you are, standing there, feeling good and so, time to act!

1) Go on.... shout it out....you've got it... flaunt it...tell somebody... tell somebody just how awesome you are! Someone you know who will be so proud of what you have achieved! Family, friend, workmate, or someone you know who you think might want to have a share in the whole thing!

2) Now... you know and I know... that you are a runner...so the next thing to do is...call yourself a runner. You don't need to be fast, or stylish or look like what people think runners should, look like, ( whatever that means), you go out and you run regularly and to the best of your ability, and that means... you are a runner! Celebrate that !

3) Times are hard right now... for so many reasons... and current affairs can weigh heavy, but if you are able , give yourself something... if you have a bit of spare cash...cook a special meal, have a treat, just small, but something, and if not... pick up a pebble, take a photograph..., pick a flower,( not protected), and press it... a memento of this day ! Spend time with friends and family, embrace the things that make you feel happy.

Now I hear you ask again, WHY, should I do this, well, the answer really is so simple...

Because my friends... YOU deserve it !

YOU deserve to be celebrated and I am doing that right now, I raise my smoothie glass to you and I want you to join in with me!

You could have looked at the C25K programme and changed your mind, you could have stayed on the couch, put your feet up and done nothing.

But you did not...you chose to change your life, taking control of your body and your health and fitness... physical and mental...

YOU chose to become a RUNNER !

CELEBRATE THAT... YOU are AWESOME!

OK.

I, and the rest of us here, want to hear what you are doing or going to do, to celebrate that fact...the smoothies and coffee are ready... Blueberry muffins and banana ones too ! Freshly baked croissants and a few GF and dairy free options too !

Come on in ! We are waiting to share x

Oldfloss x

P.S.

How did I celebrate, yesterday morning... ? With a run, Week 5, Run 2 C25K repeat.... what else?

[SweatyHettie Graduate]

What a brilliant post Oldfloss and you are so right we should celebrate the fact that at some point in the day we get off the couch and run! And I raise my cuppa to you for picking yourself up and getting going again - you are incredibly inspiring. Week5 run3 - bet you can’t wait!

I’m trying to be really good about stretching, strength and flex to maintain fitness because I’ve noticed lately that my left hip can be a bit niggly at times, this was even before my return to running. My dad had to have two hip replacements in his later years and I’m hoping I’m not going the same way. It did make me laugh though -when I’m trying to do all the hip flexors today and doing lunges, down dog/ child’s pose etc with the actual dog joining in (getting in the way) on the yoga mat!!🤣🤣

Mr Hettie has had a few health issues this year and running has been my way of getting some headspace and leaving all the worries behind for a while. They’re still there when I get back but don’t seem as bad.

So here’s to us and running! 🎉🥂🏃🏼‍♀️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SweatyHettie]

We really should celebrate every step.. small and not so small! Yes, those exercise, we really do have to get into the habit... They can makes such a difference to our long term physical strength...

I have this image now, of you and the dog doing the yoga together!!!

I do empathise... the runs, used properly, can be a salvation..keepi.ng us mentally strong as well as healthy and fit to cope with our loved ones and their issues. We have to take care of ourselves for them as well as us

So, here is to us... we are inspirational... ! Thank you for popping in today xxx

PS

I could not resist finding a picture! x

Downward dog...

[SweatyHettie Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

🤣🤣 I absolutely love that pic!! I really wish I had an actual pic to show as she was actually sitting underneath me at one point !

Thanks to you and all the team for this brilliant safe place to chat all things running (and dogs)!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SweatyHettie]

I found one with a dog underneath!!!! It is good to know that we can all feel valued and safe here... I felt it from the onset over eight years ago...running holds us together but we are able to support each other in so many other ways too. c

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Great post from you Oldfloss, yes celebrate all our achievements, glad that Mr Oldfloss is making good progress and same to you on celebrating run 2 of week 5, onwards and upwards 🏃🏾

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

We all have so much to be so pleased about...at whatever level we run at..Thank you Al x

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

I love this post! Celebrating milestones is such a great thing to do and all our milestones can be so different. I actually celebrated week 5 run 3 more than my graduation run, and a comeback run after injury which was only fifteen minutes long meant more than the first time I hit half marathon distance.

There’s always something to celebrate and you’re so right to highlight that. This is my favourite place to come and celebrate-I always know I’ll be among people who understand here!❤️❤️❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Hello... sorry I am late... I am in Wales now and it has just started to rain so a sit down...maybe with a cup of tea will be good!

You are so right! the small milestones that mean so, so much to us! I can understand that Run 5 celebration... a real mile sone run... and for you, that comeback after your injury was awesome! You are doing so, so well in your runs and keeping us all on track too!

You are right also, this is a safe place where we are understood, never judges or belittled and with so much great advice being shared between all of us ! I feel better already, after my long journey... The new 20 minute limits have slowed us down a tad!

Have another muffin and stay a while longer x

[Allotmentrunner Graduate Graduate]

Lovely to wake up to your post this morning, it made me smile and reminded me to get out there running, walking, exercising, anything……

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Allotmentrunner]

Morning...thanks for popping in...stay a while and share the smile...then head out and enjoy the rest of the day! Xx

[Cassie_7 Graduate]

Great post Floss and very well done on your progress! I put on over 2 stones in the awful last lock down and felt so unfit and sluggish. I am glad to say the extra weight has gone and I am continuing to run 30 to 35 minutes, depending on how I am feeling. When I think back to how I felt during those awful lockdowns when we could not even sit in a cafe for a tea or coffee, it was terrible! I am so glad your husband is getting better x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Cassie_7]

Hello... sit down a while and rest those running legs!

Thank you.. we are getting there together, slow and steady but getting there! I am trying to get the weight on, I lost a lot and then having built back up, Mr OF's antics set me back again! I am glad that you are where you want to be now... those years were horrible and I do hope that these new variants do not cause that situation again!

Have another healthy snack in the meantime... and rest up...thank you for popping in!

[Cassie_7 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Many thanks Floss! Yes I am hoping that we are not forced into another lockdown, but at least I am running regularly now so I will feel at lot more positive.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Cassie_7]

Totally!

[BarbieW Graduate]

Great post #oldfloss - you have reminded me of something I’d like to share with everyone - my smile box!

Many years ago at work, a colleague told me to put that complimentary letter into my smile box. My what?

She told me she kept a folder into which she put anything that brought a smile to her face, work related or not. Then when times seemed a bit tough, she simply had to look through her smile box, and felt so much better!

I immediately started one of my own, and although I no longer get too many complimentary letters, I still add an occasional item, that had made me smile to myself. And yes, I have dipped into it a fair bit recently, but to know that I have all those big and small achievements to make me smile, I am glad I still have it.

So yes, everyone, celebrate your achievements, your milestones, and your smiles.

Coffee and blueberry muffin, please!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to BarbieW]

Coming right away! Hello! What a super idea..and lovely to share that around...just like passing a smile on!Celebrations of the small things and the smiles too...I like that!

Thank you for popping in ! Your cushion is always waiting for you x

[Basil73]

Great to hear about you. You inspired me to run and now I'm almost there. So we are behind you as well I know you have done but let's shout about yours too.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Basil73]

Thank you so much for this ! I am so glad, that I have been able to play a small part in your running ... You have done so well, so far and you are almost at that Podium.

I cannot wait to see where you, ( and I, with you), will move on from here... Well done to you and yes, well done to me too? x

[59andrun Graduate]

Hi everyone, I graduated the Friday before last. So last week I done 30 minute runs. Today I done a 35minute run simply because I felt I had a little bit more to give. I am only covering 2.4 miles in that 35 minutes so as you can see I am very slow. I am thinking of now aiming to set my goal at running 5k which I hope over the next month or so I will achieve. My thoughts are running until my body says stop and hopefully I will eventually be able to keep going long enough to reach 5k. What are everyone's thoughts?. Can I also say what a positive lovely group this is, the support is amazing. ❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to 59andrun]

Hello and welcome... sorry for the late reply ! Sit a while and rest up, you are doing so well !

First off, for many, many of us, slow and steady is fine... It does get us where we wish to be safely and enjoyably...so.

You are a very new graduate and I expect you have already headed to Graduates Chat to get some info there, on where to head to next?

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

It is great to set a goal, but try not to think to much about the number 5 Skae the runs up for a week or so... short ones.... slotted in when you can... then a 30 minute one.... but then, perhaps when you have the time... a , "see where I get to run..." just run. relaxed, gentle slow running... it is these longer relaxed runs that build every single thing up. Pace, distance and yes, eventually speed!

You are going to need some strength and stamina exercises to support those runs and as you know there are a wealth of ideas on the S and F Forum.. I am popping a new post on stamina out, on there, later today I hope !

So.... if you want to reach your goal , then now is the time to start shaking it up and moving... but, until then sit a while sip another drink and take a newly baked snack too ! Thanks for calling in ! Pop in again please... !

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[59andrun Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss for your words of wisdom. ❤️. I will look out for your post on stamina. Thank you for your support 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to 59andrun]

You are very welcome