Now I like that saying...it kinda rings true to me on every level...so much so that I announced to some friends yesterday that I was going to get this tattooed onto my body somewhere. Once the laughter had died down, I was asked if I was going through a midlife crisis, to which I immediately replied no, however, the more I think about it, perhaps I am.
I guess the definition of a mid-life crisis is doing something in order to regain your youth or prove to yourself that there is more to life than taxes and death. 3 months ago I decided that being in my very late twenties (34) I wasn't happy with what I had become and longed for the days when I could hide behind lamp posts, had the stamina and fitness of a middle distance runner and believed I was indestructible. Lets call that person Thin Sedge (little Sedge is something different altogether, and unfortunately he's got no bigger no matter how much I ate).
So instead of a buying convertible car, dying my grey hair or dating much younger women, I chose to buy some running shoes and luminous yellow vests, and have started trying to find that person I was 15 years ago before I found beer and doner kebabs. Thin Sedge is in here somewhere, I've started seeing more and more of him in the mirror, and he's started to help me make a few decisions lately, and added a bit of confidence for good measure.
So back to the programme. Today I completed Week 5. I believe the further into this process you go Preparation becomes more and more important... Having consideration as to how you rest, hydrate and fuel your body is essential. I went out for a few glasses of red last night, woke up this morning feeling fine, but did not drink enough water, and only had a light breakfast. Even though today I managed PBs in terms of distance ran over the time, I really struggled, especially the last two minutes, this is where Thin Sedge came to the rescue, and although I wasn't running as fast as I would have liked, I still made it, and it felt good.
When we begin this programme, we must all have a vision in our heads as to how we look whilst running, the reality of my running is somewhat different to the elegant, glowing, slim, striding, turning all the ladies heads fella in my vision. To be honest, I'm more of a sweaty gormless runner, mouth wide open in an attempt to 'scoop' as much air as possible into my lungs, people do stop and stare as the see me running 'Honey Monster' style towards them, but I don't care, once again Thin Sedge tells me that I am probably inspiring everyone I see, and making them wonder why I'm doing it, and whether if i can, could they....
Now week 6 is looming, with some loooong runs, but I know that after today, my body can do it, and more importantly, my mind can. In a month, I will be a 5k runner, I might even buy a motorbike to celebrate....
See you at the finish line....
Written by
Sedge
Graduate
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Love the blog, Sedge! It's amazing how quickly we go from worrying what people think of us to wondering whether/hoping we might be inspiring them! Best wishes to you and Thin Sedge, (soon to be one and the same, I'm sure!).
Love the blog, Sedge! It's amazing how quickly we go from worrying what people think of us to wondering whether/hoping we might be inspiring them! Best wishes to you and Thin Sedge, (soon to be one and the same, I'm sure!).
Love the blog, Sedge! It's amazing how quickly we go from worrying what people think of us to wondering whether/hoping we might be inspiring them! Best wishes to you and Thin Sedge, (soon to be one and the same, I'm sure!).
Love the blog, Sedge! It's amazing how quickly we go from worrying what people think of us to wondering whether/hoping we might be inspiring them! Best wishes to you and Thin Sedge, (soon to be one and the same, I'm sure!).
Sedge, loved the blog! Sedge and Thin Sedge will soon be one I am sure. Keep pacing yourself through the next three weeks, slow and steady that's the way!
Just love this blog Sedge! Glad you distinguished between "thin" and "little" Sedge - soooo funny! The vision of you and thin Sedge running side by side - first class!
Well done though and good luck for W6; start saving....!
Hi Sedge I am up to W5R3 tommorrow (friday here in Ozzie land) Good on you for doing something positive, I never thought I would be able to run for 8 minutes straight let alone 20....so hopefully I will be able to manage it friday. I find whatever I eat makes a huge difference to the way I feel the next morning so when I have a run I try to eat light for dinner the night before, carbs are definetly no good for me...they sit in my stomach as I cant process them very well and they feel like they are still sitting there making me feel very heavy and then I cant seem to run properly its more of an effort than usual so I just stay away from them. Its so encouraging to read your blog, gives me the encouragement I need to keep chipping away at this running business as I too have a thin person that needs to get out....Look forward to hearing from you again....Good luck xx
Great blog - you and Thin Sedge keep going. I know what you mean about the image in your head - I passed a shop window some time ago and wondered why they were showing a video of a grey-haired sweaty fat woman on an invisible zimmer frame
Love your blogs Sedge. I particularly like the "Honey Monster" style of running, you've described better than I could exactly how I must look as I'm lumbering along scooping up air.
Thank you for blogging it made me smile and I almost spat my cup of tea out of the description of trying to scoop up air mainly cos you could have been talking about me ??
Brilliant. Made me laugh. It's a good job we can't see how we really look when we're running - I'd probably be mortified with shame whilst peeing myself laughing at the same time. But truly, I don't care what I look like because I know it won't be forever. Everyone on this programme, who sticks with it and beyond, is transitioning to slimmer, fitter, healthier, livelier (except for the after-run collapse ;-).) versions of their formercouch-bound selves. Personally, I find it a fascinating and enjoying, if challenging, experience!
Fabulous blog. I also nearly spat out my tea You sound like a top bloke and I'm sure you will have a trail of ladies running after you in a few more weeks Keep up the running and have a great week 6.
I remarked to my dangerously cuddly beloved "Don't these men [middle-aged mountain bikers] have families or DIY to be doing?" "They probably do, but they're not overweight"
And I did manage to drag him out to swim (he will not be running)
It's a tough one - I find the notion of 'me' time most peculiar (who on earth are you the rest of the time then?) and frankly despise this "I'm entitled to be irritable if I can't have acres of time in which to do whatever I like" mentality (seen that in my family, put me off - as my mother once said "It's all very well keeping fit, but fit for what?"
Just like little Sedge, it's not how big you are or what you look like, it's what you do with it...
Another great post - so loving the idea of being in my late twenties (38) Genius! I feel so excited for you being on this journey, and I personally think the podcasts get easier as the runs get longer because you have time to get into a flow and rhythm and you're ready for it. Woohoo! Thin Sedge sounds great but Healthy Sedge sounds like he's making an appearance too Keep going, you won't regret it.
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Keep up the running and have a great week 6.
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WEEK 5 RUN 3 COMPLETE!!!😃🥳
