CATCH-UP-CORNER...WEEK 4... Come on In... ALL Welcome.

[Oldfloss]

" What? You too? I thought I was the only one .!

Well... Here we are again for the LAST Catch-up Corner until September!!!

Yes.... SUMMER recess time

Welcome everyone, please, just read this...

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“ ... how many times do we see that last line, written in these posts? You can't breathe properly either? You are going slow? Why is this hard, is anyone else feeling like this??

I have commented, as have others, many times, on the friendship of the running forum, and over one funny weekend, when the site was having a bit of a wibbly, I missed my friends, my invisible friends. I missed the messages from old friends, the newer friends and reading the posts of friends, yet to be. I thought of the friends who are not posting at the moment; we all have particular friends who we really miss, when they are not around. We all know who they are. It was a tad like going down the village street and not being able to pass the time of day, with folks you know, or waving to people you know by sight. It was odd, also, because, earlier I had been thinking about folk who have vanished from the forum, since I have been around. Life, family, circumstance, affecting all of us. I have special friends who no longer post, and I wonder.”

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This is a post I wrote, about eight years ago, about a year after I began running, and oddly... I have been thinking along those lines recently...

We did have a wibbly week and weekend a while ago, where we could not post, didn't get notifications and things went very quiet. It was weird, and the Admin Team all felt a tad lost.

The feeling I was getting, still holds true today... the forum is a terrific place, for making friendships. Running friendships. Making friends here, is one of the real benefits of the forums and the best bit is, that you can make those friends, wherever in the country or beyond, you are.

As new runner, we can feel, a tad lost. We may be starting something that is completely new to us, or something we have not done for yonks...we can read all the linked advice, the How to, posts and still feel as if we are the only ones struggling!

But we are not the only ones. We may run on our own, but we never run alone.

There are a fair few NEWBIES here right now... just like you... read their posts, read the replies, and see what they are saying... then, write your posts, ask some questions, read the answers... there is so much support, right here

Way back, many of our NEW runners, all got together, here on the C25K forum and they , buddied up... they ran their runs, posted about them, some on the same run, the same week, some not and we had a WHOLE bunch, who Graduated together on the same day, One of those runners, if my memory serves me well, was mine and our friend, @McFitty! She may pop in and let me know She may remember the names of the others!

Some of you might look around and do the same!

The friendships made when we start to run, can really endure, and... sometimes, if we wish too, they can evolve and culminate in an actual meet up! At an event or a Race, ( all things you have to look forward to) , and they are so much fun. I am a lone runner by choice, but the occasions when I meet my friends from the forum, who have come from all over the UK ( and next year, one is coming from New Zealand, to an event), are fantastic!

So... have a good look around the forum... is there anyone like you who is on your run, or your week, or maybe has some of the same issues you are having? This is not anything like the Social media chat, this is about running, the thing we are all here for, are passionate about, enjoying, mostly, but struggling with sometimes. It is about sharing those experiences and taking something from others experiences.

I have some really good friends here.. from when I began running, some that I have met along the way, and some very new friends...

So, whilst you are sitting on your cushions here, sampling a few tasty snacks and sipping on a smoothie, or enjoying a cup of coffee or tea... I am going to do a little experiment..

I am going to tag a few of my old friends, from way, way back, who have not been around for a while , but who were a very real and important part of my runs and my staying with running! I cannot tag all of them, and I do know what some of my other old friends are up to, but maybe just maybe, some may pop in... if just to taste a muffin and say hello !

I hope so...

And of course now, we want to hear from you... have you teamed up with anyone , virtually on here, ( and maybe met up at an event even,,,), have you felt a tad lonely in your running...let us know your thoughts, please.

Looking forward to seeing who drops in... !

Oldfloss.x

Okay. I am saying HELLO to some old friends.

poppypug boptillyoudrop49 yatesco secan LiisaM Richard7 Ullyrunner davelinks Sandyscroll Jalapenolover101 UnfitNoMore Flaraflarkin Shivani05 hilbean

Okay,,, just a very few... I may tag more later x

[GTFC Graduate]

Beautiful post beautifully put 💚

As you and others will know, this forum changed my life. It has been a companion of mine and a forum where I post little about myself but reply willingly a whole lot more. It's also a special place for me in that I've made lots of friends here. Virtual or not, they are friends and I hold them dear. I've also met people from here at events which has been really special.

But to top everything off, I'm getting married next year to somebody I met through these forums. A real life HU love story and something both of us never imagined.

I left the forum for a while a few years ago after some difficult moments but returned once again. It's a place I love to be involved in and one which gives me much happiness and comfort.

There's really nothing quite like here and I cherish it 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to GTFC]

Hello and welcome... Yes... you show us a wonderful example of the friendships and the value of those friendships.

I was going to mention you in the post, but then thought, you may pop in. A true love story and one that filled our hearts with joy x

You are so right,, the friends we make virtual or not, are so, so special. I met my dear, dear friend, Bluebirdrunner here... we have been lucky enough to meet, at events which is wonderful .

I do hope some of our new runners, pop in and read the post and replies. There is, as you say, so much support for us here. Running is about so much more than running.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us.... and you are, both ( of course), most welcome to pop in and sit a while, any time x

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Of all those above names UnfitNoMore I do remember, he seemed to disappear suddenly after Covid, he graduated not too long after I graduated, Salleson was another person who graduated the day after I graduated, he posted many entertaining posts but disappeared without trace several months later

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Yes, Al.... names we know, and friends that have slipped away from us.. UnfitNoMore , yes, a dear friend to many of us, with friendship and great advice and an Admin Team member who I worked with, to get S and F back on track, a while ago!

I was lucky enough to run with him at Hafan Pwhelli Park run... the infamous beach run!!! But then, he simply vanished and we miss his input and friendship here.

sallenson too... always got a lot of interesting and entertaining posts, which proved very popular at the time

It does make you wonder doesn't it? Life changes, the Pandemic and all manner of things can upend us and make our running difficult. I feel that is where the forum friends play a huge part.

Keep in us motivated , on track and helping our self confidence. I know the friends here, have got me through some very tricky times.

Thank you so much for calling in today...

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I remember Salleson always reminding us to eat jelly babies while running, he called me his "cabertossing friend from the Scottish Highlands", 😒I have never tossed a caber in my life, strange regarding UnfitNoMore being an administrator and also just disappearing without telling you he was leaving Healthunlocked.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Morning Al, I had forgotten that he used to call you that! Cheeky fellow

Many folk , including me, have used jelly babies on our long runs. I don't really eat sweets, but on my first HM , I remember someone saying how good jelly babies were.. so I took some with me. I only ate one though, they were much too sweet !

Yes... UnfitNoMore ... I wish we knew how he was doing, and if he is still running. I know he used to his local Park Run too

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I privately sent a message to both of them a couple of times but didn't get a reply.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Me, also x

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Hi Floss,

The forum for me has become my running family, somewhere to share the highs and lows, the "I'm not sure about".... the "can I do this"... and I have loved being able to share tips and encourage new members too.

I also miss many of the friends we made along the way, our bond and your friendship is so important to me, you have supported me through so much, and our meet ups are always so special and looked forward to.

The advice and encouragement from forum members was invaluable to me, and being part of this community has kept me running all these years.

I second what you have suggested, sharing your run reports with those at a similar point on the program can really help with motivation and enjoyment. The program works, and there is so much extra advice available to glean on here too.

It would be so nice to hear from some of our past running buddies, some I know are still around on Strava DebJogsOn and lardofale GeorgiosA and Richard7 , but we haven't heard from Irish-John for a little while now. xx

I like to think old friends are out there still having fun and keeping well.

🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃💚xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Hello and welcome... always a cushion, with your name on it here. All you say is so true... our running family, part of our running lives.

Yes, we do miss those friends don't we... ? Just like friends we know in our dial lives at home, Each friend with their own characteristics and humour. Their own perspective on running and often on life ! We have humour we sometimes have dissent, just like a real family, but we are always here for each other to support and encourage to sympathise,, empathise and pick each other up, if we should fall.

I recall those names now... although I think Richard7 you will find on Strava Irish-John , I simply cannot get in contact with... we all miss his own brand of posting and humour, know,.

I am hoping some folk will call back in.

Yes, I feel as do many of us, that for some of our new runners, finding friends here, on the same level and having some of the same experiences, could be really helpful? Often the same questions are asked over and over again, and although we try, (as you well know from your time as an Admin) to do our best to answer all of them, it is impossible!

Maybe we shall see some results and a few more folk popping in later!

Meantime, sit back, sip a lovely, wake up drink and chill awhile .

Thank you for popping in.=, and sharing your thoughts xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

A shout out to some NEWBIES...take a look around and see if you can find some friends, running alongside you?

GrandadM Ramrover GreenDogma13 WHMS16 Clah12 Do-Lally-Girl Handloomweaver Andibaby MoaningMyrtle24 wannabe-runner Am-I-a-runner-yet Thrissurkaaran Sparkleandsprint

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Time passes and a few drop away from the forum, a few names of your friends I remember from when I first arrived, all new and shiny and eager to run and be part of the forum, looking back as I sit here in your cosy catch up corner I realise I used to post all my runs, the good the bad and the disastrous! I no longer bother because I've slowed, got disheartened and no longer shiny and eager, new went a long time ago. So I get out and run a few times a week, I do some squats and play around with dumbbells, I still read a lot of posts and encourage when I'm able.. ...Enjoy your summer recess.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Hello...sorry to greet you so late.. you know where your cushion is xYes ,..it can happen...when life suddenly changes very drastically.

You are despite all, still a very real part ov our forums. We love it when you post and your replies to folk are always useful, supportive and encouraging x

You are doing wonderfully and we all appreciate it.

Thank you, for sharing with us xxx

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you xx