Good Morning Everyone!
Here I am again... bad penny, turning up! 
The coffee is on, the juice and smoothies are chilled, and the fresh snacks are out. The Spring cushions are plumped up and ready for this last week in March!
I am up and running, despite the weird weather... I ran my longest run for a while last Sunday....started in sunshine and finished in sleet and hail! But I ran !
The longer runs are waiting...luckily, as I am always, ( boringly), telling everyone, that the runs are patient. They and us waiting for the right moment. Mentally and physically!
Well... I was thinking. Yes, again!
Lying in bed the other morning, I heard the familiar sound of group of friends. Wat was hat group? GEESE!
Flying over my house. There are quite near to me, a few small lakes and ponds on an estate a little way away; and on those lakes... there are a fair few Canada Geese. WE call them, The Lads!.
Well this got my brain working, particularly after reading some replies this last week, about a post I wrote a long while back and, used again a few months back
The thrust of the post was all about SUPPORT. Support for yourself, and support for each other.
Many folk , joining the C25K forum, seem to think, they are doing all this alone. They run, they struggle, they ask questions, (many of which are answered in our pinned post and in the replies from the Admin Team and other runners), but, they do not seem to read those answers, and they carry on struggling.
So here, I go again... with a repeat section of the post, to try and get the message across. You are not on your own !
“Nature and the creatures in it can teach us many things, about many things”.
(The Geese, are incredible role models and if you read this, you may never think of them in the same way again).
“Not overly speedy on the land, ( a bit like me really), indeed, they may appear to cut a slightly comical picture, (unless they are chasing you) ! But when some of the more well known larger varieties of geese take off.... wow...the power, the strength, the determination and the stamina of those geese, is awesome.
I was musing, that it is a tad like we runners, and that led me on to find a bit more out about these creatures; and as I did so, the common features that we, in our running forums here, share with them is really interesting.
So...I'm just going to list a few things that geese are really good at, then leave you to draw your own conclusions about them and us and our running!
* Geese fly further when flying together. Each bird providing , with its wings, uplift for their fellow birds. Team work at all times, ( Supporting each other to reach a common goal).
* Other geese will remain by the side of a goose that is sick or injured. Offering help and protection through those tricky times.( Supporting each other when on the IC).
* Taking turns and giving support to each other, no one bird, leading or out ahead all the time; each bird showing its own individual strengths. ( No comparison between ourselves and any other runner).
* Remaining loyal to their progress, following the same migration route and finishing all together in the same place, ( Following the C25K programme and finishing at that podium).
* Honking to each other through the flight. Encouragement and communication at all times to keep each other going, especially when some of the flock are tiring. ( Posting here, reading the posts, replying to the posts offering advice, tips and support. Literally cheering each other on).
Now, you may at this point that I am completely loopy.... but it is really interesting and it really did make me think about us, running, and about us here on the forum.
We start out, maybe feeling very unsure and lacking in confidence, but coming onto the forum, becoming part of this running family, we are immediately strengthened.
There is always someone in front of us, ( with advice and tips), someone behind us, ( whom we can help with our own tips and advice), and always someone by the side of us, ( sharing our experiences and in turn sharing their own).
How great to be part of this!
There are many new beginners , feeling a tad uncertain and not sure of the way? Well you are, certainly, in the right place here.
There have been some incredible posts too, this last week, with many, many of you reaching that destination of Graduation, ( ready to fly on to new destinations now), but still with support.
Some folk on the Injury Couch, but still receiving support and encouragement from all the posts and replies, on here.
More than a few, who have followed this plan before, have joined us too; they know the way and they know the invaluable support and the wealth of knowledge within the forum.” ME included... you folk keep me in the air!
My point is, whatever stage we are on C25K, we may in reality, be on our own when we run, but we, because of this forum are never, ever alone ! That applies at all levels of our running. Up to 30 minutes running and way, way beyond.
So... come on... pop into the Corner. Grab a cushion, take a snack and share your experiences.
Are you getting the support you need? Do you feel you are on your own here? Could you use some help from a few more 'geese', while you are here? If so, how could we all be more helpful?
The Admin' Team here, are all volunteers. We don't get paid, we are just runners like you, with lives to live; we are not always around exactly, when you need us, ( although some folk do think we work all hours), but at some point, one or more of us will be here to fly alongside you and give you help.
Looking forward to see who does read this and pop in, and to hearing your experiences of the support here, and how you are doing in your running too.
Oldlfloss.
PS
The Lads, just flew over...they say... Good Morning!
