On June 11th this year my lovely friend died of breast cancer she was 44, not long before she was diagnosed she started a degree course which she completed but was unable to attend the graduation. At her massively attended funeral her husband gave a wonderful eulogy where he said if we wanted to honour Samantha, if there is anything we wanted to do to make sure we go out and do it. I want to be runner so here is my C25k story.
I posted my first blog on 1st July when I had finished W1 I was really determined. To my dismay during W2 I started with a bout of sciatica and that scuppered my first attempt. I then had relatives come to stay for a week or two so it wasn’t until the end of August when I started again. This time nothing was going to stop me.
The last nine weeks have been fabulous, the late summer weather Weeks 1 & 2 was quite warm and humid, I was a complete sweat soaked beetroot. My inhaler was badly needed at the start and W2 R3 was a little disappointing. W3 R1 was a different story though, a bright sunny morning with a chill in the air, my blog was headed up “Loved it”. It was here that I met my running buddies SBG356 and Pearsey. W4 saw new challenges, upping the running time, experiencing rain (which I actually quite enjoyed) and finding the evening runs not as bad. W5 was upon me, run 1 was good, R2 rubbish and R3 wahoo I completed the 20 minutes, in part I am sure due to the great words of encouragement I received from run 2’s blog.
Week 6, Laura told me I was a runner and I started to believe it. I loved the autumnal weather to run with even if the low sun did always seem to be in my eyes. W7 wasn’t my favourite week but all runs were completed. W8 R1 blog was “best run so far”, it was a beautiful sunny but chilly morning and this was the run where I found my wings, something kicked in and I was euphoric, grinning from ear to ear on the warm down walk home. W8 R3 did my first PB with each KM under 8 minutes a great achievement for me. W9 R1 was wonderful, it was a damp morning but gosh the cobwebs in the tree’s were amazing, the sky was a wonderful colour as the fog lifted, I felt happy and uplifted as I completed the 30 minutes..(Who’d have believed it)? R2 was the dampest, drizzliest, murkiest night but oh it was fun. This morning I was awake early and dressed waiting for the light to appear so I could head out, just after 7.30am I was off, the ground was frosty, the air very cold when I breathed and the sun rose as I ran. I actually carried on when Laura said that’s it a little longer and did 4k in 34 minutes. I punched the air and jumped with glee when I stopped, I had done it!
A few little observations, I didn’t realise quite how green and lovely it is where I live, driving everywhere you miss so much. I have seen such great wildlife and gorgeous sun rises / sun sets. I realise I don’t need to get in from work, open a bottle of wine and veg in front of the telly. I look and feel so much better. I have started an evening exercise class and am no longer bothered if I miss a soap or TV program. This is the start of a change of lifestyle to give me a healthier future.
Thanks must go to my husband for listening to me going on about this program, and buying me the running gear. My daughter for putting up with me coming in from work and clearing off out again and leaving her to start dinner. My mum (P184) for being the one to keep me going when I could have stopped (If my 73 year old mum could graduate, then so could I) and finally thanks to all the great C25kers on this brilliant site who have followed the journey with me.
P.S for my friend who kick started this, I will be running the 10k Race for life for you next year Sam xxx
W9 R3 ........i DID IT!!
Week 3 completed :)
I found W8 really tough :(
I DID IT!!! W9 R3! 
W9:R3 I DID IT 🥳
