Eeeeekkk! I am a couch to 5k graduate! Hot darn that is good to say!
I thought I would write a load of nonsense now:
Backstory: I am morbidly obese and suffer from a couple of long term health conditions that made this journey a little more complex. I do have age in my favour by ‘only’ being in my early thirties.
So, if you are looking at couch to 5k thinking ‘oh I’m too fat to do that’ or ‘too unfit’ please know that if I have managed it you can too! Sure, I am so slow, didn’t hit the 5k marker at graduation, but I am able to run for 30 darn mins!!! Worst of all, I actually look forward to going for a run and miss it when I can’t (don’t always enjoy actually ‘doing’ the run, but shhhh). I completely understand ‘runners high’ now.
The sense of accomplishment at achieving graduation is amazing!
When I first suggested to my healthy bean of a partner that I wanted to do c25k, he was very skeptical. But, I had decided I was going to attempt it. I knew due to health issues (and sheer unfitness) that I might have to take it slower or have more rest days than most, but that I was ok with that and it was more important to keep going than to give up at the first hurdle. I kid you not, I could barely do that first run - we actually cut off a little time from it and repeated the run a couple of times. Except for a few injuries, holiday and illness I managed to progress through the program as intended, but I always listened to my body, if i needed an extra rest day so be it.
Something a lot probably feel at the beginning:Fear of being seen:
I run around a park and no one has ever made a comment to me/at me when I have been running - I was so scared about this when I started!! I would actively avoid running in certain directions due to people being around. Honestly, no on takes much of an interest in what you are doing. People have smiled at me though. Please don’t let the fear of being seen put you off! (Even if someone had made a comment F them!).
Tips I found invaluable:
Good running shoes that work for your gait- go to a specialist running shop and get your gait assessed. I used to get shin splints a lot, I haven’t once since getting these running shoes. I think it’s definitely worth finding the right pair, especially if you are holding more weight.
Run with a partner or friend, is possible - don’t be embarrassed if they are a lot fitter than you (or use it to spur yourself on). Explain to them that you know you are super unfit and want to commit to changing that and ask super nicely if they wouldn’t mind helping you keep pace etc. I couldn’t have done it without my partner telling me to stop sprinting at the get-go. - he practises a different running style when he is running with me, so he benefits from the runs too (or he uses our run as a warm up for his la sigh). But if you can’t get a running buddy, remember slow and steady wins the race!
Be positive! I’ve found my mind has been the biggest obstacle to all of this. Keep telling yourself that you can do this and you will be surprised at what you can achieve.
Best of luck and thank you for all the support along the way!!!!!
W9R3 - Yeeeeeeeeesssssssss!!!!!! I finally did it! I graduated :) :) :)
I did it! W9R3 Graduate
W9R3... I just graduated :) :)
W9r3...park run graduation!
W9R3... I'm a graduate! 🏆
