Cheese alert. You may want to look away ...

[linda9389]

** Just to be clear this post is NOT about me. I will post a seperate race report 😀 **

Just short of two years since I began C25K and today I ran my first proper HM. I enjoyed it. I beat my target time. And I will do another. I'm feeling great about myself. Running is the first thing I have done for myself, by myself for 24 years of bringing up a family (which I should add I have loved too).

It has been made possible by so much support and inspiration from so many people on the C25K, B210K and MR&RS forums. But special mention to Bluebirdrunner who was first to reply to my first tentative post and has been there ever since; Oldfloss and IannodaTruffe who had so much belief, wisdom and encouragement to share in my early weeks of C25K; ju-ju- for her wonderful magic 10K plan and encouragement and recognition of achievements, and of course to roseabi for all the time put into her HM plan (plus one million variants in an attempt to suit every single one of us!) and to Sqkr for her never ending support of our races. The time and emotional energy you all put in is amazing and I for one am hugely grateful. Finally huge thanks to all the people who have shared their experiences and encouragement on strava over the last 3 or 4 months. You are all AWESOME and have played your part in how happy and proud of myself today. Thank you 😘

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Oh yes!!!!!

Huge well done to you!!! Absolutely brilliant ! xxxx

Brilliant time too!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Errm no. This post is about you guys. You are simply awesome and sooooo appreciated (and big congrats on your HM too. Amazing 🙂) xxx

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Congrats on reaching such a great achievement Linda ...and planning on doing another one! You rock!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Thank you, but this post is really to honour these forums. I will edit it!

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

These forums are absolutely amazing and many of us may not still be running if it wasn’t for the support and camaraderie on these forums. That being said, you put in the work and deserve a congrats as well. So I stand behind my congrats 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Ty x

[pianoteacher Marathon Half Marathon]

Great post Linda! I remember my first panicky post on couch25k and the reply Oldfloss gave - calm and absolutely bang on.

I didn't follow the HM plan as such but knowing we were all working towards the same goal and being able to share the highs and lows has been hugely helpful 😁

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to pianoteacher]

It's been a great thing to share, especially being a solo runner

[Hidden]

Thanks Linda. I wouldn't be consistently running without these forum and the support and encouragement and kindness and fun that I find here. Looking forward to reading about your HM. I am in awe that you did it so quickly. Well Done!

P.S. That Half Marathon badge suits you

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I'm in awe of the speed some people get to HM in, but we're all on our own journey and no one is judging here either, it's all positive support 🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon]

I second your thoughts on all these folks. Just great people. Makes it so much easier to keep going. Also huge congrats on your race (see how I snuck that in there?)

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

Haha. Nice 😀

[Millsie-J]

Well done Linda, great achievement and a lovely post. 👍🏼

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Millsie-J]

Another amazing mod. You all do a fantastic job and it's very much appreciated xxx

[Madge50 Marathon]

Oh my, absolutely agree with every word you have said, there is no way I would be where I am or as proud of anything I have achieved in my ‘running’ career to date without the support of these forums.

Looking forward to your report.

Big hug 🤗👍

Mx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Madge50]

These forums were such an amazing find weren't they 🙂

[UnfitNoMore Metric Marathon]

I was hoping for a nice Stilton 😂

Great post... and congratulations on beating your target time. I hope you have many great runs and have fun pushing for that PB

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Haha. At the end of the run they were handing out yellow sweatbands - from a distance it loooked like slabs of very yellow cheese 😀

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Yep, these forums and the wonderful support within, are amazing! But...it is you who laces up and heads out the door Linda...so take a bow!🙂 Can't wait to read your report!😀👍🏃🏽‍♀️🏅

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

I have no idea how to write a short report on this one! Gonna take a lot of editing 😀

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Aw! 💗💗💗💗💗💗

I'm not sure I could have done the HM thing without YOU, missis!!!!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Haha. Too kind, what rubbish 😂😂😂

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

😂

[Agelesslass Metric Marathon]

This is a beautiful post and reminds me of how grateful I am to all members in these forums for their encouragement and support to all of us members. Away to go linda9389, you’ve said it all. Amazing lady that you are😀😀👍👍

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Agelesslass]

I know it's not very original is it 😂😂😂

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

These are lovely forums, I've never known such a positive and cooperative online space. I think it works simply because it's populated by lovely, determined, unique individuals who give and receive advice and support in equal measure. 🤗

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sqkr]

Oh no! I left you out of the post - when compsed in my head you were definitely in there too. I've edited it now. And I totally agree with everything you just said.

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Hear hear!!

And well done on your HM x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Whatsapp]

Thank you. Good to have it done at last 😀

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon]

Awe so true. They are amazing x

[Bluebirdrunner]

Hi Linda, just back from Derbyshire so I've a lot of catching up to do on everyone's events this weekend. Just wanted to say, thank you for your kind words. When I joined I had exactly the same experience with lots of encouragement, support and motivation from so many lovely people, many of whom are still here and we are one big happy running team. Even those on the IC don't get left behind. What a great bunch of people we c25kers are!😊xxx

Will catch up on the run reports soon. x

[SueKen Half Marathon]

Linda - I’m so pleased to hear that you have this milestone successfully and enjoyably under your belt - May your running journey continue for many more years!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueKen]

Thank you. Haven't seen you post in a while. Are you still running?

[SueKen Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Hi linda. Yes I’m still running! But I got a foot injury (achilles/post tib) back in Oct, and its been a very slow and frustrating recovery. So 5k is my limit at the moment. My Parkrun times have almost recovered back to my pre injury times, and now I can start building up distance again. Will be very cautious as don’t want to get injured again 🙂 It’s always very inspiring though to see what others are up to!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueKen]

Ugh. That sounds very frustrating. Well done for getting back to fitness though - that takes such determination. Good luck increasing the distances - keep on stretching 😀