CATCH up CORNER... Week 3...Come on inside. “Y... - Couch to 5K

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CATCH up CORNER... Week 3...Come on inside. “You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem ...”

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate
12 Replies

Winnie the Pooh knew what he was talking about...!

Hello everyone, and welcome to Catch up Corner this third week in September !

This month is really whizzing along, and whizzing along too quickly for me, I am a whole day late posting! The fire is laid, but not lit... but I do feel the time for a little extra warmth, is not that far away... The cushions are comfy and there are snacks and drinks a'plenty.

So, slip off the running shoes, choose your cushion and sit a while.

I am hoping that our good friend Annieapple will pop in later... because she gave me the idea for our chat today.

I ran a Virtual Race yesterday; one that I loved doing in reality... but maintenance work on the runway at RAF Cosford meant this year.. it was a virtual run .

(Some of you will have the fun of runs and races, as and when you graduate, and some of you who have graduated, may already have experienced them! )

If you are not thinking that lots of folk running together is your idea of fun... virtual runs, especially for a charity, can be the answer... T shirts and medals to be won and good causes to be supported too!

Well, I have to tell you, that I have never, ever, been so unprepared for a race... I was off track on my plans and some horrid set backs with Mr OF and his current issues made matters worse. Not enough time...wind and weather and the world seemed against us...and suddenly... the day dawned and there I was, tad apprehensive... and not feeling as confident as I normally do; until chatting with AA, she said to me in a conversation... “ we are stronger than we think …! “

She is right.

Yesterday, I was too hot at one point, too chilly at another, my favourite hill, where I warm up, seemed, oh, so much steeper, I got caught in a shower and then, on the final kilometer which seemed to go on for ever, the heavens opened and I got soaked.

BUT:

I was strong.... I ran that race and I finished it... No style, no speed, but, what seemed like an impossible task wasn't !

I am a runner and I can run,,, all I had to do was, believe it !

Some of us, many of us, will have runs like this. Not all runs are easy, and sometimes even easy runs, ones we know, on routes we love, in perfect weather, are not easy. The reason for that are many, also, and sometimes, listening to our body, the right thing to do, is to employ my, stop running, walk away, come back to run another day, rule; but sometimes, that does not apply.

On those occasions we know, that there really is nothing, to stop us running, except that it feels hard. On those occasions, it is a personal choice... we either give up. Or we take a few relaxed, deep belly breaths, we ease back , and we run on. Digging deep for a strength that we may not even know we have. I dug deep.

Now, before I bore you any more, with my rambles... I want, now, you to stop and think. Rest back on your cushions and think ! I have questions.

Are you strong?

Are you stronger than you think you are?

Now, a tricky one...on your runs, whether still on the programme, a returner or a graduate, have you had an occasion, when you realised, categorically, that you were strong; in fact, stronger than you thought you were.?

Simple !

So.... I am and we are, waiting to hear from you... I cannot wait to see who pops in and we are eager to read whether anyone has had a moment... a special moment, when they thought.. HEY.... I really and strong... I am a strong runner ! WOW!

Looking forward to seeing some of you here!

Oldfloss x

PS

Don't worry,. no scary snails here in the Corner...only strong ones.... :)

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Oldfloss
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12 Replies
SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

The sentence that resonates with me is.....all I had to do is believe it! No, I am not strong! But I'm stronger than I was and I'm believing it as hard as I can 😁.

Today I'm going for a walk and excited to see how that goes 😃, I've decided not to waste energy walking to the beach... I'll drive there and enjoy the sea views as I walk.

Enjoy catching up everyone and Floss.. super well done on your virtual race, proving you are a strong runner xx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toSueAppleRun

Hello and welcome to you... always a cushion here for you and you are welcome at any time. I think many of us reading your posts could testify how strong you are and how much stronger you are getting.

Well done you on your starting to walk again, step by step and slow and steady.... You are right to listen to your body and take the car. The walk, we hope was more enjoyable for not feeling tired before you got there:)

Thank you,,, and thank you for calling in today and sharing your thoughts with us... x

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate in reply toOldfloss

The walk was well worth it, and then an afternoon nap 😁 xx

Beach
Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toSueAppleRun

Well done you, and don't you look great! xx

Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleAdministratorGraduate

🍏🤣 💪 Oh Oldfloss I did laugh at that snail! Tripped over him as I entered the corner! Well here I am on a comfy cushion enjoying a chat with you! First of all a massive shout out to you & congratulations for yesterday!!! Your legendary way of tackling difficult circumstances… facing up to the task at hand…standing strong 💪 got you through this and brought you joy. Something else I love about you is that that you so often lend us your strength, through your writings and comments. We are all stronger than we think, but there are times when we have to help each other find it……For me that’s the beauty of this forum… Thanks Oldfloss!!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toAnnieapple

Hello you... I hoped you would drop in, after planting that idea in my head. It is so good that folk can read that they are not alone when things feel tough, and you are so right, they will find support and encouragement from other runners here !

Whatever level we are at, we all need support sometimes... and from our fellow runners is perfect !

I struggled, but a lot of things got me through... friends from the forum playing a massive part!

I know too, that the issues which are stopping you running right now demand that you are strong... and strong you are... walking when you cannot run...and doing what you are able...

Thank you for the thought for today's chat, and for your kind words... your cushion is here anytime xxx

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate

I am so proud of you Oldfloss and an excellent role model for those on this forum. Even the best athletes have days when things are not going their way. But you got out there, and you were strong, and you came back more confident than ever. Well done.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toDexy5

Hello and welcome.... good to see you here and thank you... We do all have those days don't we... and the times, as you well know when injury or illness can set us back confidence wise. You too have had times when you could not get out... and maybe getting out after that can feel really hard?

It is so good for our new runners, to feel that maybe it is not alone in feeling things may be a struggle... :) Thank you for popping inx

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply toOldfloss

Oh yes Oldfloss, a certain ski accident stopped me running for a while, but being on the injury couch makes getting back to running all the sweeter. And we all know about the gremlins chattering away while we are running. Just tell them to go away and maybe listen to some music instead.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toDexy5

Absolutely...the runs do wait and they are so sweet. When we run strong, mind and body, it feels great ! Gremlins as we know are cowards, and they certainly cannot run! :)

Cassie_7 profile image
Cassie_7Graduate

What a great and inspiring post Floss! I hope Mr OF is ok and that you are coping with everything. Yes you are exactly right, some days I feel like I am running downhill, other runs or walks feel like an uphill struggle, literally! We humans are incredibly complex, and so much depends on the day such as worries, feelings, energy levels, a sudden change in the weather and not being prepared for it! I have never tried running with an umbrella, neither would I want to!😱😆 When I wash the car, it is usually in light rain/showers, sometimes after a run, because it rinses off nicely and it saves using metered water 😅X

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply toCassie_7

We are getting there.. slow and steady :) Welcome to the corner !

Each of our runs is so different, and as you say we are so, so complex; amazing machines but with so many bits to go wrong. And yes, the wind and the weather all impact us and our moods too!

BUT... there is always, a but.. we get out there and we do run when we are able . Do the run, maybe in light rain, wash the car... you and the car get a wonderful shower and cool down... Sounds good to me.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts too x

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