Seeing Red Three times - Week 1 Run 1

[Jancanrunagain]

So, it's been a while, quite a long while, with a lot of nasty life stuff getting in the way, the sad loss of three friends and family members and a five year fight to rectify Grenfell type cladding on our flat, but some pieces of joy too. Moving permanently to Italy, gaining two rescue greyhounds, and two grandchildren.

Some of you may remember me - JCR - now with 'again' addition to my username, training with Mr Smooth then. 2025 - it's 5 years later, much older, greyer but certainly none the wiser.

The ONLY New Year's Resolution ( made silently to myself on NYE) - Start running again when you feel the need, but if not by end of January, the 'running drawer/cupboard' has to be emptied.

January was rapidly running out ..., and then yesterday

Seeing Red Number 1 - spotting a pair of red trainers which used to give me joy - quietly insistent that staying in a wardrobe was not a good idea

Seeing Red Number 2 - looking at my awfully unfit bod on the scales and seeing a number I didn't want to see, red with embarrassment

Seeing Red Number 3 - realising Mr Smooth retired a long time ago, and that I hadn't known - further embarrassment

Three pieces of red fortune telling was enough to get me started on a warm blustery Tuesday. Get dressed in unfamiliar running gear, reboot the Spotify app and find to my delight the Retro Runners playlists are still there.

Choose Retro Runners - Razouski - my erstwhile running partner in crime - sorry Raz for disappearing from the ether.

Walking greyhounds means I'm not quite as unfit as last time, but I am five years older so probably am as unfit if not worse than five years ago.

The day was blustery, so was I! Warm up walk was down the Slope of Hope, towards Mill Lane. Run 1 into Lovers' Lane, hooking a right onto the Forbidden Field - the wind was so blustery I didn't hear Jo Whiley (Ms Smooth perhaps - certainly Ms Cool) telling me to start walking, so got slightly out of breath and synch. Then caught up with her correctly onto the Bendy Scary Road, which was quite scary because I have temporary deafness in one ear, so running when I couldn't hear so well was a challenge.

Oh now we have the worst bit running up the Slope of Hope for my final run on today's session - it's a 15% gradient at the bottom of the hill. After some judicious huffing and puffing I finally got onto the warm down walk.

Run 1 Week 1 done, red face matching the trainers, the running jacket and the leggings. I'm not so hot but running with Jo was cool.

Posting here, is to keep me on the level, fingers crossed that Run 2 fills me with anticipation and not dread.

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

Wow, you've made a great start! January is a really tough time to make a resolution so very sensible to give yourself until the end of the month to act on it. Love the idea of your trainers telling you they weren't pleased with where you put them.

Here's to them (and you) covering many happy miles over the coming months, well done

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to Yesletsgo]

PS lucky you to be living in Italy - I'd never really been there until the last two years and now keep kicking myself not to have gone there sooner!! Not to mention the grandchildren...and greyhounds!!

[Jancanrunagain in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thanks so much - greyhounds Phoebe Fardashian or Fibi in Italian pronunciation, adopted here in Italy came from Ireland. 3 months later her half brother Bobby Firmino (after Liverpool FC's famous number 9). One's a diva the other a lummox.... The grandchildren just adorable...

Life is good and hopefully will become better once I've got the running bug again...

[Yesletsgo Administrator in reply to Jancanrunagain]

I'm not really a doggie person but there's something so lovable about greyhounds, those big sad eyes... We have a greyhound rescue centre nearby so several friends have had them, funny how nobody seems to think just one is enough ♥♥

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Yes I remember you Jancanrun from 5 years ago when I read your reports of running, glad you have restarted C25K now in Italy.So you have ran run 1 of week 1 again, excellent, onwards and upwards to run 2 in a few days time and hopefully you can do the whole course again without any injuries, if you want to, report your progress on this forum, good luck ✅

[Jancanrunagain in reply to AlMorr]

Cheers - that's the plan ....👍😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jancanrunagain]

AlMorr is one of our inspirations, he has come so far since he began and carries on running and supporting all of us ! Thanks Al !

[Jancanrunagain in reply to Oldfloss]

And you too Old Floss - so glad to be back again. Onwards and onwards I hope...

[sheps Graduate]

Hi JCR

I certainly remember you and was hoping to bump into you again when I came back a few weeks ago. Really good to see you.

I came back to running too, with much the same resolve - when I'm ready and when I can. I was relieved to find it much easier to find my feet and my rhythm this time around.

How fab to have moved to Italy. I get there as often as I can which is nothing like often enough. Just holidays though. No chance of moving there.

Anyway, great to be back here with you. I'll be following your progress from a few runs ahead... until you overtake me!

Xx

[Jancanrunagain in reply to sheps]

Hi Sheps - I lost my log in stuff so hence JCRagain... but it makes the point we can all learn again. I'll look out for you too, you can act as my inspiration, when I lack the motivation - friends are always a big help... as we all know.

Happy running XX

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jancanrunagain]

It is YOU! Welcome back!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to sheps]

"Comparison is the thief of Joy"... You are doing amazingly! x

[sheps Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I've lost a week because of extreme weather or work . Looking forward to being back at it tomorrow. X

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to sheps]

I have lost a lot of days lately ! Thank goodness the runs wait! Unfortunately, ice forecast here tomorrow!

[sheps Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

We haven't had ice, fortunately, but like so many others,the wind has been dangerous in this exposed location. Tomorrow looks good here, even if cold.

[Jancanrunagain in reply to sheps]

Hope you managed it and weather was kinder - we had sun today, so no excuses available to me..., we seem to have missed all those awful storms

[Jancanrunagain in reply to Oldfloss]

Hi Old Floss - just got back from Run 2 ....phew.

Red trainers seem to be doing the trick with the amazing support from here too!

[Hercules_Morse]

What a lovely piece of writing. And congrats on getting back in the two red mini-saddles! I’ve been lax since Christmas like many I’m sure. So am determined to restart before end of Jan and your piece has inspired me to believe I can.

I went to Tuscany for the first time last summer and can quite see how someone would want to movie in Italy.

Thanks again for the words and good luck with Runs 2 and beyond.

[Jancanrunagain in reply to Hercules_Morse]

Thanks - we all do the best we can on here - I'd forgotten just how much these friends pull you along...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Oh my! Now, I am asking myself... are you the original Jancanrun ??? if so, it has been a while... and yes, I am still here!

If not.. Hello !

Well,... as many of us have found out, and more than once.. hmmm , me included, you know you can do this!

Slow and steady... ( yes, nothing changes with my mantra), on you go. Take it gently, listen to your body and try to relax into the whole running experience!

Please do keep us posted too... we really do keep each other moving

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Jan!!! It is you! Welcome back 👋 I remember your fabulously entertaining posts and your brilliant report on the best sports bras.

Lots of life changes for you so I’m sure the running will feel like a welcome friend 🥰

[Jancanrunagain in reply to Irishprincess]

Hi Irishprincess - that ought to be the name of my greyhound Fibi as she is both a princess and Irish. Anyway she stayed on the sofa whilst I did run 2 - yay it's lovely to be back amongst friends😘

[HorsePlay Graduate]

Really great post - felt like I was there with you! Good luck 🍀

[BahamaMama1 Graduate]

Love everything about this story 😍

[drl212 Graduate]

That's fantastic news!! Well done!!

All the best in your programme and do keep us posted...

[linda9389 Graduate]

Hey there! Hello again!!! How lovely to see you back and read your lovely post.Accountability starts here. We are now watching you 👀 And we know you can do it, in perfect style.

Enjoy 😎

[Jancanrunagain in reply to linda9389]

Oh Blimey Accountability ... well I took that seriously and am answering this on the back of having done run 2. Part of my cool down ....

[alpacagirl Graduate]

How lovely to read your post - you don’t know me but I used to love reading about your Italian runs and your year of running for Alzheimer’s (I think?). I have also determined to start running regularly again and have finished 3 week 1 runs and am planning to do week 2 tomorrow. I love your posts - you write so well .

[Jancanrunagain in reply to alpacagirl]

Thanks so much yes I ran 2018km in 2018 for Alzheimers - sadly I lost my dad to it in 2019, just before Covid struck all the world, it's been a while but I'm hoping I can keep the love - I did enjoy today although I looked like a running beetroot.