You always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself – The Wizard of Oz
Week Nine, Day Three: 23 May I write this blog with very mixed emotions; I am over the moon that I have completed the Couch to 5K challenge. Part of me really did not think I would be able to … Read more
To escape fear, you have to go through it not around it
Week Nine, Day Two: 21 May I wake at 4.06am, but instead of getting up as I promised myself I would, I think I will just lie here for 20 minutes and then get up. The next thing I know … Read more
My only competitor is the person I was yesterday
Week Nine, Day One: 19 May So here I am, week nine and the final stage. Today’s run…30 minutes, yes this is the big one, the 5K. I have had a 2 day rest in the hope that my ankle … Read more
Just Keep Swimming – Finding Nemo
Week Eight, Day Three: 16 May I had felt so positive after the last run, but that seemed a distant memory today. I got up a little later as it is Saturday and took my time drinking my tea. The … Read more
Your struggle today is your story tomorrow
Week Eight, Day Two: 14 May 2020 After my awful last run I felt curiously excited about this one. I put this down to having come up with an idea that meant I would not have to run past the … Read more
There is no illusion greater than fear
Week Eight, Day One: 12 May Week Eight, I can hardly believe it. I honestly didn’t think I would get this far, but now I have I am determined I am going to get to the end. I was so … Read more
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill
Week Seven, Day Three: 8 May It is Bank Holiday Friday, the 75th anniversary of VE day, and my alarm goes off at 4.50am; I am not best pleased. I fleetingly think I could go back to sleep and run tomorrow, … Read more
Strive for progress not perfection
Week Seven, Day Two: 6 MayThe moon was big and bright last night, heralding a clear night and a beautiful dawn. This has me chasing my fix again, and so when I wake at 4.30am I get up and on. … Read more
Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations
Week Seven, Day One: 4 May – May the Fourth be with you! I was on a massive high all day Friday after successfully completing the 25-minute run. And really tempted to look ahead at the next run immediately, as … Read more
Fear is an idea-crippling, experience-crushing, success-stalling inhibitor inflicted only by yourself
Week Six, Day Three: 1 May I kinda knew a big run was in the post and here it was….5-minute warm up walk, 25-minute run, 5-minute cool down walk. Having completed the 20-minute run a week ago I was not feeling quite … Read more
Grow through what you go through
Week Six, Day Two: 29 April Following my new regime of checking the app the evening before, I open it wondering how difficult it was going to be, dreading that it would be another 20-minute run. I was pleasantly surprised … Read more
The road to success is always under construction
Week Six, Day One: 27 April I can’t believe I am starting week six! Although this is a little confusing since I started this challenge in the first week of lockdown, and that is in week 5 but my desire … Read more
I didn’t come this far to only come this far
Week Five, Day Three: 24 April I looked at the last run in week five and couldn’t believe my eyes. 5-minute warm up walk, 20-minute run, 5-minute cool down walk…20 MINUTE RUN… What the…heck!!! I had struggled to do an 8-minute … Read more
Your life doesn’t get better by chance, it gets better by change
Week Five, Day Two: 22 April I was feeling daunted by the pace of change this week. And so, having decided that it was best to know than to worry, I sneaked a peak at this run immediately after the … Read more
If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you
Week Five, Day One: 20 April Following the last run I was on a high all day. It really felt like something had clicked and I was looking forward to week five. I will let you into a secret; as … Read more
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain
Week Four, Day Three: 18 April After the last run I was feeling much better about this one; but then three things happened to change that. The annoying thing was that two of them could have been avoided! First of … Read more
A negative mind will never give you positive life
Week Four, Day Two: 16 April There were no butterflies this morning because I was consumed with one thought, I didn’t want to do it. The last run had been incredibly hard, and not in the least bit fun! I … Read more
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. – Winnie the Poo
Week Four, Day Two: 16 April Being the Easter Bank Holiday I decided to have a lie in on the Monday, so I still haven’t managed to sort my running week out. Oh well, there is always next week. Having … Read more
Worry is a misuse of the imagination
Week Three, Day Three: 11 April As it was Saturday I allowed myself a lie in and started my run an hour later than normal. This should now set me up next week to run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday leaving … Read more
Fears are stories we tell ourselves
Week Three, Day Two: 9 April The butterflies had a slight edge of hysteria today, I could feel the tendrils of panic reaching for me, it wasn’t bad but it was there. Writing this blog has had some surprising benefits. … Read more
“It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t give up”
Week Three, Day One: 7 April The butterflies were a little livelier this morning for 2 reasons. I really hadn’t enjoyed my last run, (that’s an interesting thing to say, does that mean, looking back, I had enjoyed previous runs?), … Read more
Your attitude not your aptitude will determine your altitude
Week Two, Day Three: 5 April Today is Sunday and I woke feeling resentful that I had to get up for a run. Yes, I know that no-one was making me do it so I had only myself to blame. … Read more
Worrying doesn’t stop the bad stuff from happening it just stops you enjoying the good
Week Two, Day Two: 3 April The butterflies of anxiety didn’t show themselves until I was up, dressed and drinking my tea. There was the usual anxiety about the run but this was joined by some new butterflies that have … Read more
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you are right
Week Two, Day One: 1 April I have had a bit of a roller-coaster of emotions over the last couple of days. After my last run of week one I found I had the strangest feeling; I was actually sorry … Read more
Blessed are the flexible for they will not be bent out of shape
Week One, Day Three: 30 March The app says to have a day of rest between each run. Since there are three run days per week, there has to be a two-day rest to follow the structure week by week. … Read more
Monsters don’t sleep under your bed, they sleep inside your head
Week One, Day Two: 27 March My excitement from Day One has turned into trepidation (noun, a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen). I realise now that on Day One I had no idea what to … Read more
And so it begins…
Week One, Day One: 25 March I have downloaded the app, got into my gym gear, and have one of my dogs ready to go with me (the other one is old and her legs are far too short for … Read more
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it
Like everyone, there are some things that I find more difficult than others. But I have decided to challenge myself on several of these in one go. Because I believe in the quote above, in this time of self-isolation I … Read more