❤️🥇And, for me, this is where it all started ...🥇❤️

[linda9389]

From an invitation to join a friend in a 5k race for life 6 years ago today, to a medal rack that is seriously complaining about the weight it's carrying - the best slippery slope ever!

Little did I realise just how powerful that experience would prove to be. I posted a 'race report' in the C25K forum here healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

I came home by train with my new medal round my neck, grinning and feeling absolutely awesome about myself. Looking back, I see I immediately signed up to the London Landmarks Half Marathon and then joined this forum and introduced myself as a wannabe HMer healthunlocked.com/marathon......!!!

The rest is fabulous, glorious, happy history and I might just buy a second medal hanger to celebrate!

Yep, I admit it (though you probably already guessed) - I am addicted to races!!! In a very good way of course 😍

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I don't have a more up to date picture than this, but I think it illustrates the point quite neatly!!!

And this was taken three years ago when I had a sort through ...

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

That is one heck of a haul Linda!!Some familiar names to greet you on to the HM page. Happy Race Runniversary; so glad that you stuck with it….and flourished 💐💐💐

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

We’re so lucky to have her ❤️

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Definitely 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Nope, I was so lucky to find this forum 🥰

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

And am.I ever glad I joined this forum.! I was such a naive newbie with no confidence when I ran that Race for Life and staggered over the finish line barely able to breathe 🤣

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Me too; imposter syndrome ….the lot! But ……people were very welcoming and helpful, and that culture still applies I am pleased to say.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Just think, some people put their bling in drawers 😱

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

No! Really? Very blasé

I’m the opposite 😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

.... or the bin 😱😱😱

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I’ve heard!

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

🤣That's me! Just three Duffield 5 medals, all in my running kit drawer. 🤣

I am glad this forum welcomes all types 😊🤗🏃🏻‍♀️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

No just about that O61! But in hiding? Yep, we're all different 😍

[misswobble Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

it sure does! We like to share the love ❤️

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

congratulations 😀👍🏃‍♀️🎖

Deffo get a new hanger! 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

👍

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I’ve got two “Run Like a Girl” ones, that my son kindly gifted to me 🥰

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Happy race day anniversary Linda! 🥳🎈🎉

From one fellow race and bling addict to another, I salute you 🫡 and yes I do think you need to gift yourself another medal hanger!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you fellow bling seeker 😎I think it was one of your posts that got me on to that medal hanger in the first place. Hopefully they are still on sale 🙏

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Wow, Linda, look at all those medals, you inspire so many people to run further and if possible faster, happy first raceiversary 😁

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thankyou Sue, that's very kind. I know events aren't for everyone, but I love them, and each of the medals tells a story for me - I've gathered so many amazing memories over the last six years 🙏

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

“…and she just kept on running!”🏃‍♀️ Fantastic haul Linda…we are so lucky to have you! 🙂❤️

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

I love that! Now I can't wait to get home and order my new medal holder.I consider myself so lucky to have found this community, and am very grateful to still be a part of it 🥰

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

I got an email yesterday congratulating me on the 6th anniversary of my 1st ever parkrun, which I did the week after completing C25k in 35.18, rather slower than your Race for Life! I too have a groaning medal hanger and desperately need a new one. Who would ever have imagined eh? xx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Wow, it took me a lot longer than you to brave parkrun. I did it in Canada where boone would know me ... and had nowhere to hide in the 24 runners that turned up!!!You need a new one then, just like me. I reckon we're worth it 😍

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I’ve got a birthday coming up so dropping hints 😂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Perfect!!!

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

How wonderful, what an amazing display of medals!! Wow, I am impressed 👍😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to skysue16]

I recently saw a video where a chap had several curtain poles around a room, that were just full of medals! Now that was a collection!

[skysue16 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Wow 😮

[lexi6 10 Miles]

Congratulations on your anniversary Linda. Wow! that's a very impressive stash of medals 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to lexi6]

Thanks Lexi. Every one brings back memories ... each event and experience has been different 🥰

[Oldfloss Administrator]

... and I am so delighted to wish you a very, very, Happy Runniversary or should that be a Race-iversary !

! A tiny seed can fill a field with flowers"... or in your case... a room full of medals ... and of course a whole load of friends

Congratulations.... my friend, wishing you many, many more happy runs, and races and of course...medals

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you I will definitely raise a glass to many more 🥂

Races, medals, friends, community, a shared passion and a real sense of achievement ... it's been an amazing 6 years 🥰

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Congratulations linda9389 , we'll have to get you to the Island for a race one day! 😉 Amazing what you can achieve and how life improves with this healthy addiction 😊💪🏃‍♀️👌xxx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

Ooh but you tell us how hilly they all are ... that's a lovely idea though, I haven't been to the IOW since I went as a child.

[aliboo70 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

love-running.com/iow-events... a run down of events !!! Xxx

[RosesAreRed777 10 Miles]

Wow I am seriously impressed, as the proud owner of ONE piece of bling I am way behind but I aspire to a groaning medal rack. I am on my way to number 2 in 2 weeks time. Love the bling! 🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️🥇🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️🥇🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️🥇

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to RosesAreRed777]

That's just it ... all medal collections start with just one piece of bling ... Enjoy getting medal 1 some company 🥰 ayou mightbe surprised how quickly a collection can grow and how fast 6 years passes !

[GTFC Marathon]

So lovely to read linda9389 and really apt time to look back a little and look forward a lot. It's been brilliant to have someone like you here on the forums. Your experience and advice has helped support so many people with their own running adventures. Here's to another year of runs and races and enjoyment. Wishing you all the best 🙌

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GTFC]

Thanks GTFC. The thing is, we all support each other don't we - I get every bit as much as I give, and wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for all the amazing support I've had for the last 6 years 🙏

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Wow you may need to dedicate a medal room soon for all that bling Linda! Amazing to read stories like this and see what an impact running has had on you. Thank you for being such an inspiration to so many people on this forum.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

I'd definitely like them hung somewhere where I see them more often. Maybe a second hanger will necessitate a new location 🤔 😎 It's this forum that has been the inspiration me!

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

I did write a reply to you but I obviously forget to press the post button!

Congratulations on your raceiversary - it’s amazing how things have snowballed since then, just look at those medals. I’m not sure any of us realised what impact c25k would have on our lives, or how many friends we would make on the HU forums.

Keep on keeping on and being an inspiration to us all.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Absolutely right Dexy. I hadn't a clue, couldn't have conceived of what fun it would bring.

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Congratulations Linda! I counted at least 45, so that is 7 or so races per yer, more than one every other month, but take out the boo! ic time, even more frequent than that.

Super running star 🏃‍♀️🌟

Enjoy choosing your new medal rack and thank you for all your input. 🏅🎉👏💐👏🎉🏅

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

I guess so! A handful are cycling ones earned when I couldn't run 😍 ... and remember the pic is several years old (I'm not at home so just had to use a photo already on my laptop) 😊

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

You must recover so speedily from your races to be able to enter so many. I am shaking my head in astonishment. I hope that your hand is healing well. 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Maybe I don't try as hard as I should 😍 Tank you. The hand is slow, but I understand the wound is finally looking smaller - I still can't look 🙈 🤣

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Aw dear! To still not being able to look at your hand. Hope that you soon can It occurs to me, by the way, the I have made laminated 'medals' of distance achieved from 4km (I felt in need of recognising this after injury) to HM and they are all displayed in full view on the back of our kitchen door. Sadly my computer and I struggle to understand one another, so posting photos isn't happening at the moment. Boo!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Oh how lovely! So you're a bling collector after all, special bling 🥰

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

😂

[drl212]

What a wonderful post and I love seeing the pictures of your bling!

I started running for a friend as well! She was a few weeks into the C25K programme and loving it. So I thought I would try it and if I was able to complete it surprise her with the result. Unfortunately, she's had an injury that's prevented her from continuing so I'm running some races for the both of us!

Thanks very much!!!