u/MissMares

Well, as the title suggests, this morning was my worst ever effort. It started badly upon ignoring all pesky thoughts telling me to stay in bed, I was up and dressed but got halfway down the stairs and my nostrils were assaulted by the foulest of smells, dog diarrhoea 😫 Three piles of it. So I set about cleaning that up, all gloves and disinfectant. Twenty minutes later I was heading out the door.

I’d decided last night I would try a new route which consists of a much longer, steeper incline than I’d attempted before. I pressed play on the Beyond C25K programme to hear a cheery Steve Cram tell me I’m working on short interval bursts of speed at 60seconds normal run pace, 60seconds sprint. Well, the new route was a terrible idea as it was uphill for most of the way and trying to increase my speed was impossible so I got out of breath and frustrated very quickly. Also I was convinced I could still smell dog poop so kept checking my hands and was paranoid there was some somewhere, I think the smell had just ‘caught’ in my nose hair or something 🤢

Finally I came to a downward part but by this time I felt p*ssed off with it all. I walked for five minutes thus annoying myself further. However, after this I ignored the instruction and just ran home at my usual pace.

I got up, I got out and I ran. It wasn’t perfect but it was still a win in reality - Here’s to our perfectly imperfect runs my friends!! Have a great Monday!

PS - dog in question is absolutely fine and waggy tailed this morning, I’ll be keeping an eye on him all day but rest assured he is happy as Larry x

Okayyyy, this was my first run listening to the follow on from C25K nhs app. Still had the amazing Steve Cram in my ear but this time it was about changing up my pace. Not gonna lie, it felt very different but was still familiar in its format, I missed being on the edge of achievement which was the high of the last week of finishing C25K but I hoofed round my tried and tested route and achieved 5k as I knew it would. It felt steady and strong and it’s a beautiful frosty morning out there! Wet squelchy feet and a big smile by the time I arrived home. It takes me 38 minutes to achieve 5K and my pace today was my fastest at 7:28 average 💪🏻☺️ Have a great Tuesday! X

Pheweeeee! Second time joining my local parkrun this morning, slow and steady, well, doesn’t exactly win the race but I got round and this time I knew what I was doing! Once again, everyone was extremely friendly and I felt a little more like I belonged there, I was a runner, I am one of them!

For the first time ever I listened to music, I made a playlist last night and it was fun to listen too, I think it might’ve helped pick up my pace a little as I’m sure I was running along to the beat of the various tracks here and there and so I achieved my fastest 5k ever! Which I’m sure is slow at 7:33 but to me I was flying!

I’m now sat in my car glugging my protein and creatine concoction and headed to my fave cafe for an iced oat latte!

Keep going you wonderful people! What seems impossible at the start of the C25K programme is a reality by the end!! 💃

I can’t believe it!! That’s it!! I completed the whole C25K!! It kinda feels surreal after these past months. At the beginning 60 seconds of running was BAD and I struggled, but you on here have been with me nearly every run (I was too scared to post at the beginning as I really thought I wouldn’t finish) right to today. I can’t thank you enough! Thank you for your kind, supportive, funny and empathetic words on here. I don’t think I’d have finished without you. And yes! I purchased a graduation tiara, sash and medal for my actual self, thanks to YOU Asp20222! I DID IT!!!!!! 💃🙏🏻

I am absolutely delighted to say I did it!! I’ve only ONE run left on the programme!! Yay!! But today’s run took me by surprise cos it was harrrrrd!! The same 5K route I’ve taken before, but man I felt wiped out! No breathing issues, no pain but I was just exhausted, nothing in the tank. It wasn’t enjoyable 😭 Also, about half way round as I was entering the park to get to the fields, an old lady was waving at me, so I headed over to her thinking something was wrong and could I remember my first aid training and whether it was to Sayin’ Alive or Nellie the Elephant but she wanted to complain about people not picking up their dog’s poop. So I listened and agreed and then said I had to be on my way (I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about my pace time whilst she was complaining 😅)

So I decided perhaps it’s time to try eating banana or something an hour before I leave, here’s my reluctance:

As soon as I awaken, I’m up, dressed and out the door. This has been my coping method for ignoring the pesky negative voices trying to convince me not to go.

I’m nooo good at waiting an hour after chomping a banana, sounds silly but I can’t imagine waiting that long to get out! Maybe I’ll leave a banana by my bed and have an alarm wake me up to eat it, I dunno, suggestions welcome!

However, I did it and of that I’m proud! Let’s go C25Kers! 💪🏻☺️

Ok sooooo after a week off running for my birthday, it then turned into two weeks as y’know, life got in the way and if I’m super honest so did those pesky thoughts of ‘not today, you’re tired, your back is hurting etc etc’ I have joined a Pilates class and attended that which was hard! BUT today I got my arse out of bed and gear on and out the door. I had told myself to take it super slow, I’ll attempt week 9 but if it’s agony I’ll go back a week. GUESS WHAT!! I ENJOYED it!! I’m still a runner!! I definitely slowed my pace but lemme tell you I was RUNNING! My breathing was strong and steady and after the first five minutes it allll felt familiar and I felt that same sense of calm and self pride and amazement at my body’s capability. Steve Cram egging me on the whole way until I wound up way further from home at the end of the thirty minute run. I decided to keep running as it actually felt so steady and dare I say ‘nice’. The end result was that I ran 5.21K!! It was not planned!! Woohoo!! And I saw a beautiful deer who ran alongside me then watched me for a few metres (not sure what type of deer, I’ll look that up) Life is GOOD, running is GOOD and I’m back baby!!! 🙏🏻💪🏻🙌🏻🎉