My Fabulous Journey!

[Organipete1]

Six years ago I started the Couch to 5K, as a complete novice, who hadn’t done any running since leaving school. I was 15 stone that first week and I remember run walking, in a little park in Darlington, so no one would see me. I had completely convinced myself that I looked ridiculous and no one would want to see me running.

Six years on and things couldn’t be more different. At the age of 52 I am the fittest I have ever been. I’ve dropped 3 stone and eat the right foods (most of the time). I’ve embraced other forms of exercise, including cycling and swimming. As for the running, I regularly run half marathon distance now and enter races regularly. Finally, last Sunday I ran the Middlesbrough 10K in a very quick 48 minute, in front of crowds of cheering people. Something that if you’d asked me six years ago, I wouldn’t have thought possible.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, when it gets hard, dig deep, keep going and keep pushing yourself. Because if you embrace running, it really can change your life for the better. Good luck everyone and keep going!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you and Thank you for such a positive post which I feel sure will encourage and motivate our new runners!

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏 Pete you are an inspiration! Thank you for this encouraging message that running brings with it so many unexpected rewards.

[drl212 Graduate]

What a terrific story and what wonderful and positive changes you've made!

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I'm still in my first year of running and training for my first 10K.

Congrats on your 10K results...48 minutes is amazing!

[scubasmiff Graduate]

What a fantastic post! Well done for sticking with it and getting such fantastic results, it just goes to show that with a hard work and perseverance it is possible to get off the coach and do (more than) 5k 😊

[smokeysmoke Graduate]

This is so encouraging. I’m currently doing the NRC 10K training plan and I’m feeling quite daunted by some of the longer runs.

[AlsaceRunner]

Great post and inspiring me to follow suit!

[Zev1963 Graduate]

Well done. So many of us began running in later life in an attempt to do something about our declining health, and most of us ended up falling in love with running. Not only that, but the love of running caused us to change our lifestyles so that we could love it even more. You are another excellent example of this wonderful effect.

[Gthants]

Such encouraging words! This is beautiful - really well done!

I've been running for a bit less than 18 months; same as you (though ten years older), I'd never run since school. Now I'm running less, but trying to work out a balance between running/gym/pilates/other exercise. Finding time to do it and not beating myself up about not doing EVERYTHING!