But I've always hated running...

[londongirln19]

I found myself nodding in agreement last night when I heard Charlie Brooker on the radio describing how, to his shame and horror, he has become a runner.

If you missed it, look here:

guardian.co.uk/commentisfre...

[Mitts Graduate]

That is brilliant , thanks for posting the link!

I know exactly how he feels....

[Chewy]

Charlie Brooker is one of my literary heroes reading about how he's succumbed to running is brilliant. Thanks for posting the link.

[londongirln19 Graduate]

It's a pleasure.

Charlie was on Radio 4 Loose Ends - he said he always sounds really angry in his column because he gets so anxious about deadlines - but in real life he's like that bloke in The Fast Show who always agrees with whatever everyone else says.

[Tityre Graduate]

Absolutely brilliant and I agree with every word! I'm on two different courses the week after next and I've found myself planning my runs around them - that will be my Week 9 and I'm not sacrificing that for anyone.

[londongirln19 Graduate]

That's dedication. Good luck.

[Rollertoaster Graduate]

That's brill, thanks for sharing. I love Charlie Brooker and what he says really resonates with my journey with this running lark - only a week before I started c25k was I walking along the embankment in London, casually mocking the joggers that went past. It didn't take me long after I started to understand what all the fuss was about!

[little_kay]

Absolutely fantastic! I used to turn my nose up and scoff when colleagues discussed their zumba nights / spin classes / gym memberships....

Now I'm a gym member, running 30 mins three times a week, and *enjoying* it, into the bargain. Who am I? What did Laura do with the real me?

[boudicca Graduate]

Enjoyed that. But when does this much hyped endorphin high set in? I'm missing out somewhere. C25K is making me feel good - fitter, more active - but nothing I'd describe as a high. Boo hoo instead of woo hoo.

[Cohii in reply to boudicca]

Hehe, thanks for sharing this Londongirl!

And boudicca, I don't get a "high" per say, but since starting C25K I've discovered that I enjoy it enough to carry on through exhaustion, and I'm beginning to find myself getting cranky when I can't go for my run, or even if I can't go for a walk or have some other exercise on my rest days. I get restless and antsy until I get my dose of exercise... oh... so maybe I *am* beginning to get the high a little...

[sbhoa in reply to Cohii]

I'm can't even say that I feel fitter and more active though I must be.

As when I had gym membership some years ago I'm still waiting for the increase in exercise to reward me with an increase in energy and a good night's sleep on a regular basis.

Best I can say is that 6 weeks in people are noticing weight loss (not much loss but some reshaping I think) and that I do get a sense of achievement when I manage to finish a run as I almost always have a point where it feels so hard that I think I'll not manage to see it through.

[londongirln19 Graduate]

I feel the same way, boudicca. Maybe feeling good, fitter and more active is reward enough - especially if we feel cranky, restless and antsy when we don't do it. Heroin addicts say that nothing ever matches that first high but it doesn't stop them from trying to achieve it. Oh dear, that's not a great example for a website promoting healthy living, isn't it? I think I'd better stop now..

[TJFlute]

Thanks for the link. A good read.