Say Hello to my favourite tree!

[SpookyDoc]

This tree greets me at the brow of the hill on each of my runs. It’s always such a relief to greet it and begin the steady downhill journey that follows!

I posted 5 weeks ago at the beginning of my C25K journey. I’d been struggling with sore calves and had previously abandoned the program very early on due to a knee issue. Thank you to everyone that offered advice- it was a combination of lack of fitness and a poor warm-up!

I’m pleased to say that I’ve just competed week 5 run 3 - the 20 minute milestone! Ok, so I am very slow, barely overtake people walking 😅 and at one point did get overtaken by a child on a scooter on the uphill section 🫣 but still - 20 minutes eh! Could barely do one minute 6 weeks ago!

Onwards and upwards (as long as there’s a downhill section after)! 😆

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏🙌 Welcome back & wonderful to hear you are making progress! It is rather essential now you into the longer runs to do a good warm up & cool down to help prevent injury. Congratulations on reaching this important milestone.!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Beautiful tree! 🌳And well done on your progress - that week 5 20 minute run is such a special one!🙂👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Hello Tree ! So beautiful... and how lovely you are to be an inspiration to a runner.

You are doing wonderfully, and that feeling of relief, and pride too as you begin that downhill return ... perfect.

You have and are, doing so well, coming back after some niggles and twinges... ( have you visited our strength and flex forum), just great.

Slow rocks! Slow and steady, rocks , even more ! Small people on scooters, uphill or anywhere else for that matter are always faster than anyone !! Take my word for it!

Other folks have their own happy pace... you run at YOUR happy pace. I am slow and steady... . I am happy with that.

HUGE Well done to you as on you go... keep doing it, your way... and remember,

" Comparison is the thief of joy", and for me and many,,, joy, is what this running is all about

[Gottamakechanges Graduate]

Haha, I hear you about barely overtaking walkers 😂 . Great job getting through the niggles and completing your 20 mins 😘

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

My happy tree...

January ... my inspirational tree

[Gthants]

This is such an awesome programme, isn't it? From barely being able to walk down the garden at the start of last year to regular 3 times a week running of up to 7k now...

I learnt too about the warm up and warm down. I did used to skip one or the other, but learnt even from 5 minutes onwards the importance of instilling the habit. In my old age this is even more important and I often do two lots of the warm downs - the second later in the day, a few hours after the run. So good that you have come through the setbacks to reach 20 minutes. 🙌

Great to have a familiar landmark on your runs and to be making such terrific progress. Really well done - keep it up!