Good morning folks and welcome to the Corner!
Here we are again... !
It has been, here in Staffs Moorlands, still pretty chilly. Yesterday, the real feel -0.6 reaching the dizzy heights of 2.8 later in the day!
The corner is cosy.. we have some apple and sultana muffins today, on special. Crispy croissants... almond and plain and a few really excellent smoothies this morning! Grab your cushion and sit a while.
With the weather being colder and yet another round of appointments for Mr OF... I am quite glad my running is sort of on hold, walking , wrapped up like a small Michelin Man, is fine, I can stay warm !
What have I been ruminating on this last few days, I wonder?
Well. I have been reading your posts obviously, trying to support, empathise, sympathise and maybe give a little shove occasionally too !
You are all doing absolutely wonderfully... following the plan, reading the pinned posts, to help you and more importantly, taking notice of the sound advice offered there. Sometimes we do have forum friends who go slightly off track, and despite the best efforts of the Admin' team and other experienced runners, move on too quickly and without thought, often ending up injuries or feeling is disheartened that they leave the plan!
That prompted my rambling for this week ! Advice? Sound advice.
We decide to start running, If we are sensible, we should try not to just fly out there, but to give it some thought.
What then should we be thinking about ? What advice might we be given before we do begin ?
Some ideas, just to muse on, that I have gleaned from seasoned runners, trusted and valued running sites and basically some common sense too !
Here goes :
Start walking first... if you have not been doing any physical exercise at all... begin with some walking; as my Nan used to say, the cheapest and best exoteric ever!
Buy some decent running shoes. Yes, I hear you! “ How do I know I am going to enjoy this . I don;t want to waste my money. “ But, if you start, in ill-fitting, uncomfortable shoes that were never intended to run, you are likely to feel discomfort, maybe suffer n injury and from the very beginning, you will not enjoy it.
There are bargains out there... 
Make a plan. ( yes I know you are on one), but a plan to keep a track, maybe even a running log of each run. Share your plans and your progress, bore everyone you know with your running chat! Most of us do !
Follow the C25K guidelines, they are there for a reason. They will help you to complete it ! The advice therein is not just written for fun.
The warm ups and cool downs, the essential rest days and the extra core strength and stamina advice ? All there to get you to the Graduation Podium safely and, enjoyably!
Listen to your body. It is your very best running friend. That voice in your head that is telling you, well done, that feels uncomfortable, that really hurts, this feels just fine ? Listen and hear.
Shake it up a bit. If you are able, try as you move on, to vary the route, or even the location. Simply reversing a route... can be fun too. The rut you may be feeling you are in , may not be there, as you go around the new corner!
I am going to use one of my favourite quotations here now..
Comparison is the thief of joy.
This is your run, your pace and yours alone. Do not compare your running to anyone else's; which brings me to the penultimate bit of advice, which so many of us have followed from the word , go !
Slow and steady,, It will get you through these nine weeks, safely, hopefully injury free and most of all, enjoyably.
This plan is for running, not racing... it is a great one. Enjoy it!
So... your turn... a few things to ponder on and maybe share an answer or two with the rest of us?
What is the best advice about this programme, and or your running which you have read, been given, or even given to yourself?
Mine? Well;
My own advice to me... Slow and steady., my famous mantra on here.
The best advice I read about C25K...Enjoyment not endurance.
And... the best, best, advice from a dear friend, loved and lost, to so so many of us here and the thought he left every single one of us with, at the end of every single post he wrote.
“Keep Running, keep smiling.”
That says it all.
Okay... who is going to pop in today I wonder...? The fire is just smoldering gently, the weather is set to be a tad warmer as we move on this weekend... Come on in and share.
All welcome
Oldfloss xxx
