Breathing

I graduated in April and have been out 3 times a week every week since then.running round the fields at the back of the house.

I was out running yesterday am and it suddenly dawned on me that my breathing was normal. No panting or deep breathing and no noise.

Was I running? Well I caught my neightbour, who was walking her dogs and they were running beside me. I stopped to talk to her and took my jugular pulse (retired nurse so not a problem) and that was 124bpm - my resting pulse is 60bpm.- so I knew I was running.

Anyway, I carried on my run and completed my 5K within the 30 minutes and walked home.

Mentioned my breathing to my husband and he said it is because I am fitter than before.

That thought had never crossed my mind - daft or what?

I also gave up smoking on 1st October and have lost 14lbs in the last 7 weeks, so they may also be a factor.

But I was, and still am, well pleased with myself.

And before C25K I hated running!!!!

Merry Christmas.

[Tish1970 Graduate]

Brilliant! What an inspiration. I finished week six today, so my first 25 minute run. I found it hard but had the odd moment of forgetting myself and seeming to be breathing with ease. The odd moment mind. So good to hear how your fitness has improve and it might get easier for undergraduates like me. Thank you for post and merry Christmas

[Hidden in reply to Tish1970]

Well done you. I still remember my first 25 minute run. You are doing really well. Just enjoy the thrill of completeing each run. In still do.

[shelleymcb Graduate]

what a positive happy post it still amazes me that I can run & not end up panting & puffing at the end. I think that is a real sign that you are getting fitter.

isnt it a shame that this program isnt in schools. just think how many of us didnt think that we could run. alot of this is about learning how to breathe again I have 3 children, 2 of which completed c25k (aged 12 & 13 at the time) & they also said that they wished they had "learnt" to run before.

5k within 30mins. very impressed

[Hidden in reply to shelleymcb]

I did cross country at school back in the 60s. We spent most of the time in the woods chatting and then following everyone else on the return leg. But now I just love being out in the fresh air running.

Thank you. I only have little legs, so they have to move quickly.

[Pearsey]

Yeeeeah oldgirl63! We're the same age and retired from the same profession. I just wish this had been about whilst i was a Practice Nurse-boy my Asthma patients would have had the best treatment around. They did for the time, and advised to exercise-maybe join a gym if they could afford it. I also started up a lunchtime walking club. First it was just me, then gradually a company of us walking/trotting round the local park. It did me good too! But this would have been so much better. i to have benefited so much from the programme-out at the moment with a wrenched knee, but hope to restart in a couple of weeks as slowly healing.

Same as you I simply hated running! it would catch me in a couple of seconds, the struggling to breathe and feeling that i was choking.

Wow! How we have come on! congratulations to you for kicking the weed into touch-that must have helped so much.

Well done Tish and Shelley-just keep on doing what you're doing!

Keep on Running

Merry Christmas!!

Colette x

[Hidden in reply to Pearsey]

Thanks for this. My specialities were paeds and midwifery.

Sorry you have been laid up.Touch wood apart from falling over a couple of times in the summer I have been injury free.

Yes, my whole outlook has changed since starting running. It was easy to stop smoking as it was a habit.

I will carry on running for as long as I can.

[Pearsey]

I was a Midwife too! Left when I had my own children. Went back as Agency/Bank Nurse. Got a hell of a lot of experience in a lot of specialties that way. Went into Practice Nursing in 1989-experience in OPD clinics helped a lot with this.

At the moment I am so called "retired"-but battling the past year to get the correct treatment for my husband. I finally won!! They found out that I wouldn't quietly go away, but instead very noisily fought his corner. Unfortunately for them I had past experience in the field, and called on an ex colleague for a second opinion.That battle won....Next!!

I started this running lark as my son put down the website for me because he was worried about the weight I was gaining-quite rightly too-and about my general health. I wasn't paying any attention to myself, as too wrapped up in the next strategy for Richard's treatment. Looking after myself became very secondary. It has been a blessing in more ways than one, as I had a purpose to go out early in the morning three times a week, and run for myself. I am doing this for me-and it feels good not to have to do something to please someone/anyone else. It also got rid of the pent up anger and stress over the nincompoop at our local hospital and his failure to see what needed to be done. I have lost 5tkgs in weight, which is now static, as not running at the moment, but I have not regained any weight at all in the 5 weeks I have been off.

I had time to think and strategise. I played my cards dangerously, as far as Richard was concerned, but it was the only way. The hospital that finally did the required operation, a bit further away from us, said that if I hadn't persisted Richard would have died right now in December-that close (op 5 weeks ago). We now have their backing as we change Consultants, and that's in the pipeline. Richard is well, considering. Looking better each day, but still hurdles to get across.

As rellies and friends say-if I hadn't had the experience we would have accepted, just as everyone else does, what we were told.

Keep on Running And more importantly, do it for yourself.

Colette x

[smhall Graduate]

Now that is what I call progress!!! I still only wonder what it would be like to run and not sound like a monster!! What an amazing lifestyle change you have undergone!! From the running to the weight loss and now ending the smoking...how much of a wonderful change you have made!! You are a true example to all of us!!

Keep Running!!

Steve