Help... I need somebody... Help, not just anybody...

[Oldfloss]

I need you...yes...

Seriously, this is a request for your time..or at least part of it.

When our runners Graduate on C25K, it is becoming increasingly noticeable, through the posts, that the period between Graduation and moving forward, is a bit like being in a maze....

There is so much information on the pinned posts and links that we have all, over time put together, (with huge thanks to our wonderful, wonderful, @iannodatruffe ) , but folk are still getting a bit lost, in that transitional time zone.

Starting things and not finding them useful, then feeling as if they are doing things wrong etc, etc.

We do offer suggestions and we do point them, where ever we can, to the most excellent, What Next? post.

We have put, also, a Quest, on C25K, the same format as the one on Bridge... and it is gradually becoming used more... but... ( there's always a but), I had a few ideas.

I wondered, and I know you are all busy folk, with busy lives, if occasionally you might pop over to Couch and post. I also know, that quite a few folk on here, do that already and have done for quite a while. Thank you

Just a post about your Couch journey, maybe immediately after Graduation... what you felt, how far you thought your running would take you... about where and what you are up to now... experiences with trying things and them not working, finding your own way of running etc... even experiences re-injury and when things go horribly wrong

Posts that will let our new graduates see what is out there, maybe give them ideas for their goals... a reassurance that it goes on, and the amazing opportunities out there, but stressing maybe, that it does not have to be done that quickly?

I am putting this badly and rambling as usual...!

These are just suggestions... ( too many years teaching).

We have so, so many new members joining every week, that posts disappear, just as quickly as they appear, but I am not asking for regular posts from you Graduates here, ... just hoping there will be some It is so hard to respond and reply to all the queries, concerns and uncertainty our new Graduates are feeling especially when they move from Couch to 5K, but I think posts from this forum also will be really reassuring and motivating.

I know that I found a huge amount of support and encouragement from reading the posts of the Graduates who have been, and still are stalwarts of these fabulous forums...I still do take heart from what I read on a daily basis. They, (you ) continue to inspire and motivate me.

Okay...if you understood any of that... you have done well...

Hoping some of you will find a few moments, now and then, to make an Oldfloss very happy

Flossx

PS

Motivational photos would be great too..

PPS

I clearly have an aptitude for Double Dutch!

I have posted this already on Bridge to 10K forum, so please, no need to reply again if you already have

[LoungeLizaard]

Will do OF.... will probably wait a few days as now the forum will be crammed with posts 🤣

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to LoungeLizaard]

I hope so... I want folk to feel confident about moving on

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

on it! but will spread out as LL suggests

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to linda9389]

Thanks you !!!

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

On it 😊😊😊

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to roseabi]

Thanks you.. no rush

[MatildasPb Half Marathon]

Done ✅

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to MatildasPb]

Thank you x

[mountaindreamer Half Marathon]

Will try once I’m finally running properly again! Not feeling too inspirational at the moment, as still stuck “run/walking” indoors on a treadmill...❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to mountaindreamer]

Oh gosh! Are you still inside...? No worries.. when you feel up to it... or if you want to post one about..., you can be on the IC and still move, post...

Heal soon xxx

PS

I am on the IC too...again!

[mountaindreamer Half Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Oh no, not again Floss! I hope you’re back at it again soon. ❤️❤️

I’m struggling a bit with what’s best to aim for at the moment, which is why I’m not sure about offering advice to new graduates right now. I think we can too easily get tied up in feeling we need to progress and go further / faster, when I’m no longer convinced that’s necessarily what’s needed. Although my ankles eventually settled, my knee then packed in badly hillwalking, and I’m suspicious distance running played a part in that. I was going to only build back to 5ks, but I suspect 10ks will follow...then I’ll probably be thinking I want HMs again...🙄

Interestingly, my Sports Therapist (a keen Ironman distance triathlete) seems to push for running being better for our joints than not running, but when I pushed him to say what distance limit he thought was really probably most beneficial, he settled on 5k.

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to mountaindreamer]

Gosh I did wonder where you had gone to MD and Mr MD.

👊💥🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️⭐️⭐️👏👏

[mountaindreamer Half Marathon in reply to Tbae]

Hi Bob

I don’t bother using my Garmin and Strava just for indoor running. Will hopefully be back outside soon.

Mr MD continues to be ridiculously quick, and ran the Chester HM in just under 1hr 34mins a couple of weeks ago!!

Hope you are finally sorted out again yourself. ❤️

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to mountaindreamer]

That is just fantastic running by Mr Melinda.🤔🤣

I am still as daft as a brush,harmless and loving this running malarkey.

Missed your news on the magic forums.

This request by the fabulous Floss is just so important.

Atb to you Melinda.

👊💥🏃‍♀️⭐️👏👏

[mountaindreamer Half Marathon in reply to Tbae]

Just edited the above to under 1hr 34 MINS not secs! (He’d have set a course record with secs, but they’re both ridiculously fast to me! 😂😂) ❤️

[Tbae Metric Marathon in reply to mountaindreamer]

I did not notice.🙈

I agree, I can only dream on.🙈🤣

[Richard7 Half Marathon]

Thanks OF - I still class myself as a recent graduate and having moved between forums a bit I felt awkward posting on C25K as time went on as focus for so many was on week 1/2/3 etc and I don't want to be out of sync with the forum. So it's lovely that you posted this here.

Not posted a lot recently myself but will for sure be writing something after this weekend 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Richard7]

Richard, you are incredible and when you are ready, any input you are able to give will be terrific!

[Katnap Marathon]

Tomorrow will be ideal 😁

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Katnap]

Thanks xx

[Colinsmith Half Marathon]

Will do Oldfloss. Also just musing aloud... is there a case for 2 subforums within C25K? One for ‘students’ and one for ‘graduates and consolidation’ perhaps? Just with you saying posts get lost quickly, and with not everyone wanting to move on to Bridge to 10k immediately? Probably a ‘twenty to midnight’ kind of idea, but like I say, just pondering....

I’ll wait a bit too, perhaps my 2 year Runiversary would be an appropriate time to post? Don’t want to randomly storm in to C25K looking like a know-it-all! 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Colinsmith]

I don't think anyone would think know it all... we need all levels and stages of progress...

Your idea has merit, but..we have so many coming through, we would soon need another sub, sub forum We do have Graduate consolidation link.., and that is why our Quests on both forums evolved...

You post when you feel you are ready...we need a steady input

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

I go over and peak at the posts, comment on some posts but really haven't posted anything there in a long time. I will, as others, put a post up at some point. I'll put my thinking cap on and see what I can do in the near future.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to SaskAlliecat]

No rush.. you already do so much on all forums, thanks you!

[andystev]

Nice idea! I'll pen something appropriate.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to andystev]

Thanks you x

[Agelesslass Metric Marathon]

Will post on there soon Floss, as I have come through the whole C25k, 10k and eventually here too, all because of forum members encouragement and posts since my graduation last June. C25k graduates need this encouragement or they will think “What do I do now” .

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Agelesslass]

In your own time... we all keep each other going on here x Thanksx

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

I do post occasionally on C25k when I get the chance. Though sometimes it does feel like you are repeating the same things over and over.

I have noticed though a lot of the time it is posts from one newbie to another, which, whilst always supportive to the OP, doesn't always offer much in the way of a solution to the problem. So a bit of timely advice from those graduates can be valuable. Despite your collective brilliance and patience we can't expect you and Mr Truffle to reach them all.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Whatsapp]

Thanks you.. it is hard and the pace of folk coming through the programme is incredible..

Maybe the experiences of others a little further ahead will help x

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

I do try! There's so many now in c25k you're right, posts slip off the radar so fast now! Seems to be an explosion in members which is wonderful but so hard to keep up with.

Will dip in more. 👍😁

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

You do, you do help.. this is just trying to get a sort of steady input to give new Graduates the ideas and reassurance really I am not sure whether it will help... but, we do our best ..thank you!

[Flyingred 10 Miles]

Happy to post something along those lines in the next few days.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Flyingred]

No rush at all

[Lysia Half Marathon]

Hi, yes of course, I'll add something maybe next week after my event on Wednesday evening so that I can get some half decent photos.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Lysia]

No rush.... but it would be super and photographs too Letting folk know that is all about so much more than just running Thanks you!

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon]

I'm happy to post too.... it's quite nice to now be at this stage of the running journey that once would have felt impossible. Now nothing is impossible! 😊 (🤞)

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Clairecandothis]

What a great title for your first post! Nothing is impossible!!! Wow! Thanks you!

[Decker Ultramarathon]

I will definitely post some more there. I occasionally comment from time to time but have not posted there in a while.

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Decker]

I know you do, thank you, and how great to get folk to know about your amazing journey and maybe some of your great photographs too? x

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

i do occasionally post there but not often anymore! when something appropriate happens i'll get to it!! Good idea Floss xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Ali...whenever you feel is right..

[Tbae Metric Marathon]

Will do Floss.Anything to give back to the magic forum.

👊💥🏃‍♀️⭐️👏👏

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Tbae]

As and when my friend...the support we all need is ongoing

[MadDave]

Done - couldn’t resist flashing the latest bling to the C25k crowd!

[Windoze Half Marathon]

Hi. I generally head over to c25k once a week and flick through the top posts. Stick a congrats in and offer some humble guidance where I can.

[Windoze Half Marathon]

Just one thought. Maybe if your badges showed your highest achievement and linked to the 10k or running forums if clicked...if you get my drift...

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Windoze]

err... not sure what you mean... ?

[Lordi Marathon]

Will do.

[Langley-Loper Half Marathon]

It's my 2 year returning-to-running-anniversary next month so I'll use that opportunity to post some thoughts and ideas. Gives me some thinking time too.