CATCH up CORNER...WEEK 3... Come on in...Update...

[Oldfloss]

QUICK UPDATE... CORNER IS STILL OPEN>>> BUT the NEW POST... MARCH 1st!!!!

Hi there...The corner is still open, the fire is glowing...real feel -2 here, but the welcome is still warm.. come on in and sit a while... March is going to be MARvellous!

Hello, everyone!

Here we are again, and welcome to the Corner. Cushions are ready, chairs for those who feel a tad creaky... and snacks and drinks galore. Still a tad chilly here, so the fire is just glowing gently.

At this time of the year, with those new runners who joined us in January, I always seem to be posting about similar issues... and this one, although very evident right now, is always with us, as folks join us, or even return to us.

So, let us make things clear.

You are here. You are running and therefore you, are a runner. The runs you run are YOUR runs. Yours alone.

You joined the programme and us, for YOUR reasons.

Our brief, here as Administrators, and Ambassadors, is to keep you safe, hopefully injury free, and to make sure that if we possibly can, support you as you run, enjoyably, towards the 30 minute runs before Graduation.

30 minutes running. NOT 5K... the programme title is an oxymoron. C25K rolls off the tongue but there is no rule that says you have to reach 5K to graduate.

Which brings me to my ramble today. Many folk will have read it before and rest assured, it will appear again.

I am using bits of an old post, with tweaks... but the message is still the same.

Looking at your posts over the last few days, there is so much going on, new folk beginning this great programme, folk reappearing after starting it, but not finishing it, folk repeating it after illness or injury or just life happenings! I am, as ever in awe of your achievements.

I continue right now, building back after last year's blip. I reached re Graduation and no I did not do 5K in 30 minutes... and now beginning to make progress and being able to simply enjoy the runs again. I repeated C25K, as it is one of the very best ways to come back safely from a set- back, as well as being a great start to a running journey.

( Here comes the bit that is always in many , many of my posts)

“Now, my point in sharing my running experience with you today, is this.

My mantra is and always has been, slow and steady. It works for me.

My 'slow' pace, has, of course, quite naturally, increased over the nearly 9 years since I began running, but it still is, my, slow and steady. My slow is not your slow, my slow is not the slow of some of our forum friends who move much faster then I, it is my happy pace, and wonderfully, we all have our own ! My speed is mine and mine alone.

I have read many posts which have, somewhere in the title; “...going too slowly”, or “ nowhere near 5K “, or,”... not fast enough”. This sort of post appears a heck of a lot. And I often think that we ought to compile a library of those posts and the answers to all of them. I have written oodles of posts about speed and time and distance, over the years. Posts intended to encourage and hearten anyone who feels that they are not succeeding with their running, or not doing, it right, or somehow, dare I use the word we really do NOT use on the forums... FAILING ! EEEK!

The simple answer, to all of the questioning, self-doubting, anxious and sometimes distressing posts, which contain the message, “ Am I too slow...”, is the same.

No. You are not.

In this instance... too slow, does not enter the equation.

You are running through the C25K programme. It is structured, well-planned, and designed to get you to 30 minutes continuous running, steadily, safely, injury free and enjoyably.

For some it may enable them to reach 5K in 30 minutes. For some, not all, and in fact, the polls we have run on the forums over the years, indicate that the Majority do not reach 5K. It is not a requirement to Graduate from the programme."

So. Having set that all out here... now you know. You have not got to reach 5K..and you have certainly not to try to push yourselves so hard that the whole programme becomes a worrisome thing.

That really is not what it is all about. A phrase I read years ago, in a reply to one of the anxious post stated, “...the programme is for enjoyment, not endurance”. How true.

Read other folk's posts, read the posts of more experienced runners, pop in here and read what other folk are feeling or doing.

But, be confident in the knowledge that if you trust in and follow the plan, week by week, ( even if it takes you longer than nine weeks), then you will, find, by realising and settling into YOUR own happy pace, you will reach the Graduation Podium, able to run confidently for 30 minutes; an injury free, relaxed and happy runner!

So, there we go... it never changes... Your Run. Your Pace... and there really is no such thing as too slow.

Time for you, now, to settle down on your cushion, and let us all know how it is going with you.

Looking forward to welcoming you and sharing your runs... and maybe your own tips for slowing yourself down. And easing back if necessary...

Oldfloss x

[Sax64 Graduate]

So true and well said. It's a really hard lesson to learn to let yourself run slowly. But when you do It's a revelation. I did a tempo or speed run yesterday. Running at an uncomfortably faster pace for 25 minutes, which, because of flooded lanes, also ended going uphill. It was such hard work, and really not that enjoyable. Glad that was a one off, no way could I continue running at that pace and effort all the time. I'd probably end up on the injury couch. When it comes to pace, we can be our own worst enemy. Love your inner snail 🐌

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Sax64]

Hello and thank you so much for calling in and sharing your thoughts with us... So interesting that the more we run, the more we learn... and as you say, listening to your body and knowing that the pace is not sustainable, or enjoyable . It sounds to have been a really hard run!

Very well done you and I hope you got warm and snug! Stay awhile longer and rest up...that run deserves it!

Yes...embrace to snail ... some of my best chums are snails

[David_G]

Well said Oldfloss 👏👏 I’m resigned to never being able to run 5K in under 30 minutes again, but I’m not worried about that. Just being able to run again is a joy and I’m looking forward to getting out and enjoying the (hopefully) sunny weather 🌞😎 this year.

I’ve found listening to podcasts rather than music has helped me slow down and it takes my mind off how ‘slow’ I’m running now. It really doesn’t matter anyway as I’m unlikely to break any records 🤣

Take care everyone, just get out there and do what you can, when you can and enjoy whatever you do! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to David_G]

Sunny weather.. ( sigh). rainy and chilly here and some snow showers or sleet by Thursday?

Welcome to the corner and thank you for your reply. It is so useful to read and I really hope our New runners call in!

Podcasts are good aren't they... because you are right... they ease our pace as we listen! You know that slow is my happy place and you have already achieved so much.... nothing to prove to anyone... and so much to show

Running for you has got to be pure joy...you have crossed a threshold and come over it smiling.

Stay awhile here... and rest... your cushion is always waiting my friend x

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏A late night visitor Floss.. I had a short slow run this morning embracing my inner snail too. Slow running definitely puts the joy into running.. the feel good factor because you can breathe & enjoy all that’s around you! Your body moves in an unrushed rhythm making you glad you made the effort, making you look forward to next time! Thanks for your hospitality & wise words.. think I will curl up and stay awhile…

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Annieapple]

An early welcome ! Luckily, the corner has a side entrance for evening latecomers.

Slow running is beneficial, in so many ways, as you say... the word , joy, crops up , time and time again.

It is, again, as you say, an unrushed rhythm... letting it all evolve, letting the legs take you, just as they did in the first days of running... when we reach the longer sessions?

The thing is, which, I feel some of our new runners are not aware of, is that slow is just a pace, not a statement of weakness, or being a lesser runner.

You and I, because we have been running for a while, both know what Coach Bennett says about this, on the Nike guided runs. Slow, has got a really bad reputation!

I feel a follow-up post to this one coming on!

I hope you had a lovely relaxed rest and maybe dozed off for while. Busy runner, busy life. Lovely to see you here and thank you for sharing your running experience too x

[Koala679 Graduate]

Lovely words. It's true for me, I'm a long way off completing 5km in 30 mins. But when I'm at parkrun, if I can slow run or jog just that bit more every week then, well done to me. I did the speed run on beyond 5km at parkrun on sat, kept saying blimey Steve, you sure about this! But a pal I met at the finish said to me, it was hard, but you did it, well done. That's what it's about for me, personal progress. A friend saw me yesterday after a few weeks, said I was looking leaner, that is awesome.

Keep going everyone, you're having a try and doing your best.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Koala679]

Morning and welcome... I just stoked the fire up and the snacks are fresh and warm too!

Well done you , indeed! Personal progress... wonderful, because that is what it is all about; the joy we have in our own running and any challenges we set are for us, and us alone?

Go your friend, reinforcing your self worth that you are feeling for yourself!

All we can do is our best !

Stay a while, and thank you for sharing your running thoughts x

[Koala679 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I just love parkrun. Best thing I've done in years signing up to it. Saturday will be my 50th. I find the other runners and volunteers to be so supportive.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Koala679]

That is absolutely fantastic.. AlMorr is another of our Park Run inspirational runners too... well done you!

[Koala679 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I'm making myself a Amazon playlist for parkrun while sat on the tube, called it parkrun boogie! Full of some very cheesy tunes!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Koala679]

Now that sounds just great... I am, sad to say, an ABBA fan for my running...I love the 1,2,3,4,beat, and they have run up loads of hills with me ! Cheesy sounds just right... I love cheese too!

[Koala679 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I've put loads of ABBA on my playlist!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Koala679]

Yeayayayyaay

I even re wrote some new lyrics... for one run! Yonks ago...

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.

****

Bad eh !!!!x

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

Great post!

I think the whole fixation on speed is partly because of the name 'C25K', which sets up an expectation about speed which is frankly unrealistic for a lot of us.

The other culprit, as I see it, is that when we see runners depicted they are inevitably athletes - young, dedicated, highly trained, at peak fitness. These wonderful creatures are not like the rest of us.

Many years back, travelling through Poland, we stayed overnight in a training hostel for Olympic athletes (there weren't many hotels then and it was cheap). I was probably in my mid 30s, a fit and healthy mum of (at that time) two.

We sat down for breakfast and an avalanche of youth and beauty joined us. Every single one of them was tall, slim, radiating health and strength. I aged about 30 years just looking at them, though they were wonderful. These are the sort of people we see in most running or fitness related videos. Their youth and dedication has given them this ability but for the rest of us it's pretty much unattainable. Does this mean our efforts aren't worthwhile? Absolutely not.

Getting out there and exercising is the best thing you can do to reduce the risk of all sorts of bad things. To run, regularly, does wonderful things to both mind and body. For me, accepting my limitations but appreciating the ability to actually get out there and run for as long as I feel like has been transformational. I finally understand the saying 'it's not the winning or losing, it's the taking part'. When I was a high achieving youngster I rather uncharitably thought it was said to make losers feel better but I was SOOOO wrong about that.

Posts like yours Oldfloss made me realise that speed wasn't the be all and end all. Embracing the slowness is so much better than holding yourself to an unattainable ideal. Choosing to go slow is a discipline of its own, like choosing to keep to a speed limit in the car. Much easier to just go as fast as you think you think you can get away with in either case but not the best strategy for anybody.

Yes, sometimes it's fun to push yourself, to see what you can do, but that's very different to thinking every run is a failure because you're not sub 9mins/8 mins/ 7 mins etc per km. Congratulate yourself for what YOU can achieve, don't compare yourself to someone who is as different from you as a racehorse is from a rocking horse.

Speaking as an absolutely rocking horse 😂😂😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Hello... good to see you here, maybe taking a breather too.

Thank you for popping in and such an interesting and useful reply. You are I feel correct... the title of the programme does confuse, and because many of our Newbies just sign up and start, they never read the info that says... no need to run 5K ... also the swinging pony tail. speedster image.. yes... ( although, I did manage to get a swinging pony tail in lockdown) !

It was summed up in the post we had a while back, when someone had said to one of our forum friends that she did not look like a runner! As if... !

We are as you say, all runners, running and our efforts ,perhaps. are to be commended more... We have lives, families and maybe not the unlimited resources of some.. and more than others. but we all run, and we are awesome!

Your description of what running means to you is so interesting...it guides you and leads you forward, in YOUR own way... I am afraid that at my grammar school. the winners were held by many staff there, in very high regard... and the losers... not just in sport, were simply ignored. I was a very good fast runner... yes, you did hear me, fast...and I could write and was artistic.... somehow the staff who dealt with me saw something and despite my other failings, I had a successful outcome !

You are right again, when you say that the choice to go slowly is a discipline in itself... we both know this.. and sometimes, as we chatted about previously, we do let go and have a really fun moment or two!! It really is about the joy!

Thank you so much for this.. I do hope some of our newer friends pop in and read the shared running experiences, it would give them real hope and confidence too...

Celebrating every run, every week...and learning just how important they are !

Rocking horse you may be... inspirational, you are. x

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to Oldfloss]

Well I just couldn't resist the urge to pop in and sit by the fire with a cuppa!My school wasn't very hot on sport, they were attempting to make us into 'young ladies' 😂 so one PE lesson was devoted to teaching us how to get out of a Mini without showing our knickers. If only I'd paid attention!!

In many ways I'm glad I've come to running later on life. I don't care so much about what others think, I'm less likely to compare myself, I know the value of doing something for my own reasons to my own standards. This forum has been so helpful and instrumental with this.

Thanks Oldfloss next time I come I'll bring some biscuits 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Hello... I am here. watching the rain and wind and on my second cuppa!

Oh yes, young ladies... Domestic science and how to lay a tray for an invalid... and how to introduce a young person to an adult! Skirt lengths and regulation bottle green underwear !! Yikes! Like you... I never compare.

Your perspective works... you are doing exactly what feels right for you. As such your input here and on the wider forums is so valuable and helpful.

Thank you x

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to Oldfloss]

I was lucky, our uniform was cornflower blue. The other girls school up the road had a brown uniform, so ugly, but the same colour jumper so we could blame them for any complaints about behaviour on the bus 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Oh well done. We had Brownhills High..Brownhills uniform..Brownies... St Dominics..Blue ..Bluebottle.. and us..Green and purple...so no chance of blame shifting!

[StartedOnARainyDay]

enjoyed reading through, can I join your friendly group? I’ve just done my second run, probably a day or too early because I tried to run as slow as I could and I got out of breath! I made the rookie mistake of doing too much on Monday. My first run followed by my usual yoga, followed by some weights in the afternoon, I’m trying to figure out how I can still fit those things in plus my usual Zumba because I don’t want to have to give anything up! I was exhausted yesterday lesson definitely learnt! How far is everyone else on here into their journey?