One year ago today…..

[Chickenears]

….I started C25K.

A few days before, I’d been diagnosed as prediabetic and needed to do something about it.

Having been pretty much inactive and eating unhealthily for a decade, I immediately changed my eating habits dramatically and discovered C25K. So, that Saturday afternoon I did W1R1. My heart was beating through my chest and my throat was burning but I finished it. I hadn’t discovered this forum yet so I was trying to go way too quickly. A few weeks later I took the advice I found on here and slowed right down.

To cut a long and boring story short, I have run every other day (with 4 or 5 exceptions) ever since. I’ve read about training and diet and have slowly and warily increased my mileage.

A few months ago a second blood test showed that I was out of the prediabetes zone and my cholesterol was normal. This was a happy day.

A couple of weeks ago I ran the Loch Ness Marathon with some friends - something that would have seemed unthinkable a year before.

This forum has been invaluable to me - I read it voraciously though I rarely post. I take great support and comfort from it. I’ve linked to four or five people from here on Strava and the inspiration I take from their great feats helps me keep going.

I’m writing this to say thank you to everyone, my life is very different to one year ago and this forum has played a huge part in my change.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

That is such a positive post and will inspire others to keep running

[Chickenears Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you very much SueAppleRun !!

[Shake-and-run]

a wonderful post, thank you for sharing xxx

[Chickenears Graduate in reply to Shake-and-run]

My pleasure, thanks for your kind wordsShake-and-run

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Huge well done to you... new starting lines, that have taken you to the most amazing places. Runners, take note...

"... advance confidently in the direction of your dreams...and endeavor to live the life you imagined..."

Thoreau.

And you have ! Brilliant!

[Chickenears Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Awww, thank you for such a nice message Oldfloss .

[Week7 Graduate]

Thank you for sharing your journey! Your progress has been amazing.

[Chickenears Graduate in reply to Week7]

Week7 Thanks very much!

[Getfitok Graduate]

you’re an inspiration!

[Chickenears Graduate in reply to Getfitok]

Getfitok what a lovely thing to say. Thank you very much.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

This is so inspirational to read Chickenears - I read your Loch Ness Marathon race report on the Fun beyond 10k and Race Support forum but it is great to hear the story of your journey there - just brilliant! 🙂👏💪🏅

[Chickenears Graduate]

Thank you so much Sandraj39 . You’ve made me blush! 🤗

[RiceAndPeas]

That is such a motivating, inspirational post. I'm here after veing diagnosed as prediabetic too. My A1c level is out of the danger zone after just a couple of months. I'd love to be able to run a marathon one day but am only on week 6 so that's all a long way ahead of me. I will remember your post and file it away for inspiration. Thanks so much for posting and best of luck with future projects.

[Chickenears Graduate]

Thanks very much RiceAndPeas . I’ve read your other posts and it seems like you’re doing brilliantly. It took me much longer than you to get out of the diabetes danger zone, so you’re definitely heading in the right direction. Wishing you the best of luck with your running and health in the future.

[RJN12 Graduate]

Amazing. I am very far from a marathon, but doing week 5 and have just been told I am out of the diabetic range (my numbers were crazy high at last read in July). Of all the different things I have tried, this programme is by far the most motivating. Run days are hard, but once it’s done you feel so great!

[Chickenears Graduate]

RJN12 so pleased you’ve dropped out of the diabetes range - that’s brilliant. Funnily enough, I had just finished week 5 when I signed up for race. Knowing that I had that coming up, especially not wanting to let my friends down, kept me going out the door even when I would have rather stayed on the couch. But yes, you’re right, the sofa feels much more comfortable after a run!

[nowster Graduate]

Couch to Marathon in a little less than a year?

Wow! Well done!

[Chickenears Graduate]

Thank you nowster . Seeing what you and others do on Strava has helped keep me heading out the door for a run time and again.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

It's an over used word but that is genuinely awesome.👏👏 Truly inspiring, and a memorable user name to boot 😁

[Chickenears Graduate]

Thanks very much grumpyoldgirl , that’s very nice of you to say. By the way, I don’t think you’re very grumpy really!😉

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate in reply to Chickenears]

I think I've cheered up a bit since I joined😁