Wednesday 20th March 2013, around 10am. The weather was dry but chilly. I was dressed in black leggings, my husband’s far-too-big black sweatshirt and a black beanie. I had planned my route with military precision. Indeed, I had toyed with the idea of C25K for weeks, should I? shouldn’t I? I pored over each run with trepidation and disbelief. Surely that 20 minute run is a mistake? And as for running for 30 minutes!!! 🙀 I couldn’t imagine ever running that long!
But I had to do something as I was very unfit and I had started to see a bit of wobble on my legs and bum 😠
So, with girded loins and Laura’s voice in my ear I started the five minute warm-up walk. “I can do this bit” I thought. Then at last the first step of the first run.
That first run was horrible, the second one not much better, but by the end of the first week I had fallen very hard in love with running 😍
It took me six months to graduate (that’s a whole different tale 🙄) and apart from time off for injury and illness I’ve been running regularly ever since. The love affair is still as strong as ever and I can’t believe that I’ve made it to my 10th anniversary!
There are so many memories, from holiday runs to races, from bog-standard every day runs to those special milestone runs (you know the ones 😍) and everything in between.
I have always taken my running kit on holiday and so have run in some beautiful places: on sandy beaches at sunrise in Portugal; through forests and mountains in the Black Forest; a coastal run beside the turquoise blue of The Adriatic on a Croatian island; through Vienna’s twinkling Christmas markets; on Venice’s ancient cobbled streets; early morning runs on Tuscan tracks and vineyards; beside Lough Neagh when I go back to Ireland; and of course, my beloved arboretum and country roads and forests when I return home from my travels.
And then there are the races and the bling. I only ever wanted to increase beyond 5K to get some bling and look what THAT started 😂
I can recall every single race, most of them fondly but a few with mixed emotions for various reasons 😳My very first race, a 10K trail in the Forest of Dean, (bib no 17 in the photos) exposed my inexperience in pacing and resulted in me almost throwing up just after the finish line 🤢 There were probably less than 100 runners for that race, still the smallest one I’ve done. Compare that with other races where 13,000 of us toed the start line! I’ve loved them all for different reasons.
Of course, it’s not always been sunshine and roses. There have been plenty of bad times. Long spells on the IC, several bouts of that sinking feeling when I knew I was injured, disappointment at not making it to the start line of a race, unexpected life hurdles that impact the running routine and so on. The last year has been a bad one when I hurt my back and it’s taken ages to fully recover and I’m still nowhere near where I was before the injury. But it’ll come. I’ve learned to be patient over the years.
I can’t post about a runniversary without mentioning you, my VRBs. These running forums go hand in hand with my running life. You’ve been here throughout my running highs and lows. Your wisdom, humour, encouragement, sympathy and sheer presence have all helped me enormously, not forgetting all the pompoms too! I’ve laughed, cried, been inspired and humbled by so many of your stories and one of the big reasons I have made it to 10 years is because of you and these communities.
Thank you to every single one of you who has replied to my posts over the years and kept me sane when I haven’t been able to run. You’re all stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You know that I’m not one for few words. My mantra is “why use one word when ten will do?” 😂and there is so much I could waffle on about and make this an epically long post. But you get the gist. You’re runners and you’re here so you understand exactly what I mean. I love running and want to celebrate ten years of glorious joyful memories.
I plan to keep running until the day I can’t. But today is not that day 🏃♀️🥳🎉🍾🎈
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Irishprincess
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Wowwweee IP!! 10 years? That’s amazing! Huge congratulations 🎉 🥳 This forum really wouldn’t be the same without you, here’s to many, many more years of running 🏃♀️🎉🎉
A big congratulations to you Irishprincess on your 10th anniversary on starting C25K, that's such a inspiring post with 16 lovely photographs, No. 10 is the one you especially are proud of.👍You certainly have been running in many beautiful places, you mentioned running in the Black Forest in South West Germany, long before I started running I took many walks there when I was on holiday in 1967, that tune "A walk in the Black Forest" was in the charts about that time, however, I never ran when I was there, I wish you many more years of happy running.
I loved the Black Forest Al. The scenery is just stunning. It’s the only place I’ve visited where the hotel reception presented me with a “jogging map” when I asked about running routes! I’d like to go back there one day.
You’re a true legend IP, and I’m thrilled that you’ve reached your 10th runniversary and still love running as much as you did in the beginning (perhaps not the very beginning of C25K though - a whole minute? 😱😱)
It was my pleasure to have met you at the Great Bristol HM (‘Munks’? I heard whilst standing in the massive loo queue!) And one day we’ll run Bath won’t we?
Happy onward running, tell any niggly injuries where they can go, and here’s to many more miles and loads more bling! 🏅❤️
Wow 😳 ten whole years!!! You are awesome, such encouragement and inspiration you give back to us all here, I love that sentence, today is not that day... We will continue to run until we can't, and continue to enjoy reading about your running journey x
Congratulations your Maj on your 10 year Runniversary! You have run all over the place, and shared the highs and lows with us. You have had us giggling at our 'running names' and chewing our nails as you escape from possible 'axe murderers'.
Your posts are always full of thought and inspiration and a joy to read.
I wish you many more happy running years, and all the bling you deserve!
Hello stranger! Haha, I forgot about the axe murderers and running names. That was a giggle. I must try and find the name thing again for a bit of fun. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
I hope all is well with you and you are still getting out there x
Wow. Happy, happy tenth university IP! Many congratulations. Your running and your generous support is an inspiration to so many of your VRBs. Your pragmatic yet optimistic approach to injury is particularly notable (for me), as is your simple but absolute enjoyment of your runs and running environments. We are very lucky to share our running journeys with you 🥰
Love this post Irishprincess and I know so many runners at any point in their journey will take something from your words. I can identify with the start of your journey, injury, and not being able to make an event and mostly just the sheer joy and appreciation I get to run. Thanks for sharing and wishing you many more happy running memories.
Making running memories is one of the best things about running I think. We see life a bit differently from non-runners and it is a pleasure to be part of that world 😍 We all “get it”.
Thank you for your wishes and here’s to making many more memories for all of us 🙂
Congratulations IP 🥳 🎉 👏 🎂 and long may you continue to run.
I hope you celebrate appropriately today. The weather’s not great for a celebratory run and your back might not allow it, so just go for the easy option if I were you 🍾 🥂 🍫 👍
Wowzer, so inspiring, thank you. I ran a half marathon back in 2012 but then stopped, and up until a few months ago, never ran. I can never say I love running, I hate every minute of it, but I'm now on W7 of this process (for the 2nd time I might add) and am determined to finish it, and keep going, simply because I know that as I age I need to keep fit and healthy. Your post is really great, thank you!!
10 years, that's fantastic 😍! Super well done👏👏! Lots of great memories there, including the not so good ones as they are all part of the wonderful jaunt. I can only hope / wish that this will be me in 8 years time..
Wow Ip! 10 years is such an amazing achievement and you have summed it up so very eloquently! I am so pleased to hear you’re still in love with running, that you’ve made some incredible memories, have learnt the art of patience, and got some serious bling along the way. I realise that now I’m into my 3rd year of this running malarkey I’m still learning, so you must have a great wealth of stored information tucked away (which makes you a great advisor on this forum 😊). Here’s to another 10 years and happy runniversary 🎂 🏅 🎉.
Not too bad thanks for asking - just a mini tweak really, fingers crossed 🤞!
Definitely treat yourself to new shoes - I think you’ve def earned a new pair after 10 years (but am assuming you’ve not been wearing the same pair all that time 🤣). Hope your knees and shins feel a bit better. 😊
HUGEST of HUGE Congratulations my lovely, lovely inspirational friend.
10 years...of so, so many wonderful runs and locations... ups, downs, tears and laughter....and you have taken us with you... I have seen the runs, because you took me with you...
And...over those ten years, how many folk have you supported, helped to stay motivated, advised and guided in their running? Me included. Always there for all of us.
I wish you many, many, more years of happy runs...and to re quote one of your early posts...
We have indeed had some chats. And you know also, how much you have supported me through some tricky times too
It would be so lovely to meet in person and to visit that beautiful arboretum with you. I feel after all the photographs and the posts you have made, that I could, almost find my way around it.
The blossom is going to be worth waiting for, although I think my favourites are the shades of Autumn
I raised a glass of Cremant to you yesterday evening.; it was good to celebrate the success you have had with your running and the friendship that we have.
Congratulations IP on your 10th running anniversary!🎉🏃♀️🎊👏👏.
You are an amazing woman and truly inspirational. You should be very proud of yourself. Your posts are always so interesting ,funny ,entertaining and always with great humour.
I'm great thank you IP, can't be faffed sometimes with running it feels so hard and the effort seems huge, but its always worth it (afterwards that is 😅) I love it and although I rarely visit the forum much these days I wouldn't still be a runner without it and support from people like yourself. Thank you. x
It has been another winter spent running on the treadmill so really nothing to share on the forums. I am just trying to keep some fitness. But the sun is shining and the snow is melting and my trails are beckoning. Hopefully I can get back to them a bit this year.
This is fantastic IP! Congratulations on your brilliant 10 years! You've always been a lovely friend abd advisor here and you've run in some amazing places! Certainly a lot has happened in these last 10 years. Here's to many more adventures 🥰🏃♀️💪😁xxx
Congratulations IP! 🎊 what a journey and thanks to you for all your support on here too - it is an amazing place to celebrate running just because the people within it are.
Huge congratulations on your 10th Runniversary IP. That is an amazing achievement. You always write so descriptively and your enjoyment of running shines out of your posts. Here’s to many more years 🥂
Congratulations on your 10th Runniversary 🎉🎂 your beautiful photos tell their own wonderful story of your running journey. You are part of the backbone of this community, offering sound advice and words of wisdom based on you own experience. Thank you. "May the road rise us to meet you and the sun be always on your back..." Happy running 🏅☀️
Happy 10th runniversary IP!🥳 Oy my goodness - what a wonderful running journey you have had and what an inspiration you have been to so many of us on here. 🙂🙏 This post encapsulates the journey so many of us have shared and that last sentence…🥹absolutely! Keep on keeping on lovely lady! 🙂x
Yes my Rides are noticeably lighter than other models. I do think they are fair weather shoes though as my feet get sodden from the first step so I end up with soggy socks the whole run. I’ve never had that before in a Saucony. The mesh must be super light.
Also, I had a bit of tenderness at my heels the other day so I need to try a different lacing….
Your enthusiasm for running knows no bounds IP. Huge congratulations on your 10th runniversary. You have inspired and encouraged many on their journeys too, including me. Keep on running 👍👍👍👏👏👏
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