GRADUATE CHAT...OCTOBER...WEEK 3...COME on IN...YOU are WELCOME.

[Oldfloss]

Good Morning!

Here we are again... and a fair few more folk have Graduated this last week.

Huge well done to you!

I am here, once more, to see what is happening with the new Graduates and to try to find out where you are thinking of moving on to?

So! If you’ve finished Couch to 5k, come and say hello,

This is the place for you to share how your runs are going and to get inspiration, encouragement from others, and maybe share your own tips here too?

Plus... it will be perfectly fine for you to pop in here, if like me, you are a Graduate returning, however slowly, to the running fun! All welcome!

My week has not been too bad and yesterday morning I managed Week 5 Run 3 with no problems... a glorious morning, with the first frost here, in the Staffs Moorlands, this Autumn.., a tad chilly at first, but the sunshine warmed me up wonderfully!

Now.; just a quick word here about moving on...We do advise that some consolidation happens after you graduate... there are a few links on past Chat posts and I am putting a link to a post written a while ago. Do take a read.. there are some useful pointers there, although the ideas of moving on have evolved quite a lot!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

The main thing is... don't be in too much of a hurry to go too far, too fast... get some runs in and mix them up... 30 minutes, shorter and if you feel like it, try for a slow relaxed 5K. Mix the routes up room if you are able... always good fun! The main thing is stay safe, injury free and simply run for the pure joy of being able to!

⭐️Now...

How has your running been this week? What sorts of runs have you been doing? Successes, or setbacks? What are your plans for this brand new week? If you have only just graduated, you may be feeling a tad lost... so, just have a gentle look around and see what you fancy!

So we need to know...I need to know, what are you all up to? Have you a plan in mind... are you consolidating, if you are, how are you choosing to do that?

Do tell..!

⭐️ This week’s challenge:

Well...

I am not sure whether this one will attract any replies...or not! I am betting not! This was inspired by a post from  dijep on Bridge to 10K... all about Boot Camp calls and pacing ! It was so interesting and sparked off a lot of replies! Thanks !

So ! I challenge you to choose a song that you listen to when running...or of you don't listen then think of a song you know, and make up some running related words to it! Or at least one verse!

I'll start you off... I used this, a couple of years ago... with HUGE apologies to ABBA !

Thank you for the, (errr), Running!

I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore

If I say SLOW and STEADY, you've probably heard it before.

But I have a talent and one that's such fun,

'Cause I have discovered that I'm able to run

I'm so grateful and proud

All I want is to sing it out loud.

*******

So I say, thank you for the running, the runs I'm taking,

Thanks for all the friends I'm making

We all can live without runs, I know, in all honesty,

But what would life be

Without a run in the sun, who are we?

So I say thank you for the running

For giving it to me.

*******

Okay.... Go for it....

Looking forward to hearing your adventures !!!

******************

Oldfloss & the Team x

PS

I am going to tag some new Graduates to get you here with us x

Alpha-Golf Katiejayne222 KathyinChips adnewg73 @LittleOne

[Flybe Graduate]

I’m here 🙋‍♀️. Graduated last year then life was difficult, dad in hospital…being called in through the night to help him settle etc. started again and have again graduated and loving it.

Am following the end to 5k. I know I can run that far but I always manage to injure myself so doing it slowly this time.

I’m here to follow all the advice and for motivation.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello...it's good to see you. You've had a tricky time, but showing your strength, and running again.Times like you've had, mean new starting lines, but having a goal to head towards, really help.

We're here and we run together ...the support is here for the asking.

Slow and steady...on you go !

[Maggie-Moo Graduate]

Morning Everyone from a very chilly Edinburgh! My journey has been very ‘stop start’ since I graduated this time. I’m frustrated I have really been able to get going again! Following a fantastic holiday in Greece I have picked up one of these nasty Respiratory bugs. I managed a run from week 5 (total 20 mins) and was seriously blowing. So I’m now on antibiotics and steroids from my Asthma and very fed up!

As a Nurse I know I will be better soon and there’s always someone worse off than myself. I’m wondering once we’ll how to get going again. Thanks Karen

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Maggie-Moo]

Hello and welcome to you!

Oh blimey, that is not a great memory to bring back from a lovely holiday... and right now where you are in the UK is a tad chiller too!

As one of our most awesome Nurses... you will know your stuff... and be letting the antibiotics do their stuff too. I do know that you will get going again... I felt the same after six weeks away from running... and although that first run was a very cautious, heart in the mouth one... once the legs realised what was happening... they moved beautifully!

Certainly for me and for many of us, the gentle regular exercises done during time off, helped enormously, You of course, need to let the meds work and your body recover, but when you do start to feel better, maybe pop across to the Strength and Flex Forum to find some gentle recovery exercises?

There is a lovely, gentle YWA one for sickness.. I have used it and found it very useful...

youtube.com/watch?v=hDFHCHR...(Not working as expected?)

Feel better soon and do pop in again please

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Hi Floss I'm here! 👋I'm on week 5. Run 3 is looming but I'm feeling the effects of my flu jab so not sure when that will happen. If there's too much of a gap I'll repeat run 2 first. Might give that gentle yoga a go if I'm too fragile for my Pilates in the morning 🤔

Sending positive thoughts to all the other repeaters out there 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

That gentle yoga will I feel be useful... a lovely way to just keep things ticking over. Do let that vaccine do its job.... I know I gave it a few days before venturing out after my booster. My body, told me when

No harm in repeating a run either...it just gives the legs time to get going again? Very well done you x

[Bluemerlegirl Graduate]

Hi Oldfloss! I don’t have any songs that I’ve replaced with running words, but I’ve lots of songs that I make up words when I don’t know what they’re actually saying 😂

I had a rough couple of weeks where I wasn’t able to run- doctor appointments, biopsies, and to top it all off, I had caught a flu bug. Yesterday was my first day back out there (since mid September). I didn’t set any expectations too high, my only goals were to run until I felt like it was as far as I could go comfortably, and to run slow. I figured that would be my baseline for getting back to it. When I finished, I had run 4 miles! I was pretty pleased with that and am excited to get back out there tomorrow!🏃‍♀️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Bluemerlegirl]

I love it.... that is a great thing to do ! My granddaughter and I make songs up !

You have had a rough time... and the time off really does impact! I know my six weeks plus weeks off after Mr OFs heart attack really knocked me back!

But you have had appointments and results and flu!!!

In view of that, you have done brilliantly!!! I just managed Run 1 Week 1... and you did 4 miles! Wow!!!!

Huge well done to you...on you go!