Today is the sixth anniversary of my starting C25k. I tend to mark the start of the journey rather than the completion, because in my mind it is, for me, much more significant. I guess the greater effort went into starting the programme. Aged 66, just recovered from a spinal fracture, running at all(still less 5k) seemed a bit mad; it probably was! My first few runs took place on the beach in a battered old pair of trainers, in company with the faithful Molly. We never quite got the hang of running together, but that’s ok. Walking with her and running on my own has worked fine.
I didn’t find Health Unlocked until I finished C25k, but it came just in time. I learned about running watches, cadence, Ju_Ju’s magic plan (5 to 10k) and discovered amazing virtual running buddies, nearly all of whom have progressed through to longer distances together. We shared everything from a gentle encouraging word to a kick up the backside (delivered with a disarming virtual smile or ruthless humour). That is the spirit of HU, and it has been great to experience a concentrated version of that spirit again this week through the HU10. For me, it has been a great way to celebrate those tentative beginnings. Thanks to everyone involved; both organisers and participants in HU10 and all of those VRBs who have stuck together for so long. I wouldn’t have made it without you. 🥰
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Beachcomber66
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Well said Beachcomber66 we’ve all come so far in 6 years, and no doubt surprised ourselves in the process! 😊
It’s not been an easy journey for many of us, but we’ve helped each other along as best we can. There’s no doubt that will continue as we go through the next few years 👍
The support we’ve received has helped us all and that’s why we’ve stayed on here, to offer whatever help we can to everyone else who’s getting out there and doing their best! 👏👏
Happy runniversary BC! 🎉 I, too, would rather celebrate the start of C25K rather than the graduation because it’s far more astonishing that I started running in the first place.
You’ve done amazingly this past 6 years and it was a pleasure to meet you (and look forward to doing so later in the year too!)
Many of us have had challenging personal situations to overcome, whether on the IC or family related, and I know that I’ve been the recipient of one of your ‘encouraging’ boots up the backside! It worked too; you have a good aim. 😅
Congratulations to you on your impressive milestone, and let’s keep on trucking. I would love for Flossie to meet Molly. How can we make that happen? 🐕 🐶
Thanks cheeky! My failing memory has conveniently blotted out any incidence of backside booting 🙂. A meet up of our faithful friends is too difficult as things stand . Health issues(not mine) are very limiting at the moment. Product of getting older ☹️
I did a celebration hill run this morning ! They have been getting less slow week on week. I overdid it this morning and needed to walk for at least a minute at the peak of the steepest hill. It still turned out to be the least slow to date, so that was ok. At this rate I will be trying a Park Run at the weekend!
Congratulations to you Beachcomber66 on the occasion of your 6th anniversary on starting C25K with run 1 of week 1, you are another member like I am of "the class of 2018", pity that you didn't find Healthunlocked until you graduated, I am glad that you recovered from your spinal fracture to enable you to start C25K
I do remember that on C25k…maybe at the end of week 6? I owe HU community so much! That is one reason why we are doing what we can to keep it interesting!🙂
Happy runniversary Beachcomber66 - and how lucky we are to have you on this forum and now on the admin team. Keep doing what you do so well🙂 - always inspiring and supporting others. Thank you 🙏🙂
Happy Runniversary BC! I'm pretty sure I joined about the same time as you, and like you I'm pretty sure I'd have given up long before without this forum. Keep on doing what you do ☕ 🎂
(Couldn't find a brownie emoji, so this cake will have to do) 😉
Happy Runniversary BC and apols for being late (still not getting HU posts consistently 🤬) As an, until 6 years ago, lifelong non-runner, I always celebrate W1R1 too. I definitely wouldn’t still be running without the wonderful members of HU whether in real life or virtually and I certainly would never have done a HM without the gentle encouragement of the Musketeers 😂 Here’s to many more years of happy running 😃
Hi Sandie, thanks. You are having a difficult enough time without the system playing you up!
You helped me take one major step. I remember that you found my first race for me; the Redcar 10k, which I finished in a then PB time of 66 minutes….that time doesn’t look too bad even now! I think we all talked each other into doing HM’s. Glad we did…although I am still pursuing a “proper” time! Who knows, maybe this year!
I couldn't have put it better myself and agree wholeheartedly 👏 💯
I've just passed 6 years too, there seem to be a few of us that started around the same time...I doubt any of us really believed we'd still be here 6 years later, C25K has given us that belief and so much more ❤️
Thanks Lavender. I hope that you really enjoy Sunday. We have spent some time in Ontario, but we never got as far as Ottawa. Canadians are friendly can-do people based on our experience. Great place to live.
Thank you so much! 🙂 Glad that you enjoyed your time in Ontario. I’ve only been to the UK for a short visit. We do have parkrun now here. Did you get a chance to do any in Canada?
No, most of time was spent in lakeside log cabins visiting our daughter and canoeing or fishing. We stayed in places between Toronto and Algonquin. Pevsner was one spot. Some happy memories.
I don’t think we canoed in the Park itself…we chose lakes a little South East of there. Daughter and partner just turned up at the cabin with two person Canadian canoes, we were commanded to sit still, keep to the middle….and then we were pushed off ! Loved it.
It was; what amused was their assumption that as over sixties we could just go out there and paddle for miles…but they were right…we did! Great memories 🙂
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Happy Hogmanay & Happy New Year
VLM almost a year since C25k graduation 
Still here, still running 😊🌟🏃🏻♀️
Still lurking here with intent!