From Left
to Right: Lindsay, Caroline (leader / me!), Steve, Ian (back), Jane (front), Ceri,
Carina, Clive (previous couch-to-5k graduate glamorous assistant and helper
throughout), Connie.
1) Name & Age
Ian Farrer
39
2) Did you know other of the group members before starting out?
Didnt know anyone else taking the course at the start but knew a few club members
through Nina
3) What inspired you to take part in the Couch to 5k programme?
Heard about last year's course but work away from Abingdon during the week so
couldn't take it. A weekend course incorporating parkrun and doing
"homework" during the weeknights works great!
4) How has the programme changed you?
Much more likely to continue running now than previous attempts to get into it
as the homework is quite motivating.
5) Have you set yourself any goals for the future?
Keep going to parkrun then see where it goes from there
6) What would your advice be to a non-runner who feels that they won’t be able
to run 5k?
None of
us could at the start of the programme.... everyone did at the end!
7) What piece of running advice has stuck with you?
3 times a
week is habit forming..
Name & Age - Steve
Pomeroy, 52
Did you know other of the group
members before starting out? NO, but knew various people from Abingdon
AC
What inspired you to take part in
the Couch to 5k programme?
I compete in track & field athletics during the summer,
primarily doing the throw events and the occasional 100m, however my endurance
capability was very limited and just jogging once around a track was difficult
& mentally challenging! I’ve always
wanted to give the British Master pentathlon championships a go, however the
thought of running 1500m has always put me off!
So when I saw the couch to 5K programme I thought this would be a great
way of easing myself into aerobic exercise, and provide the impetus I needed to
train for the endurance events, which to me previously was s anything over
100m!.
How has the programme changed you?
It’s provided me with confidence that I am capable of running continuously for
30 to 40 minutes, which previously I didn’t have. It’s also changed my Saturday routine
completely, potentially for life. I
think the Park Run idea is a fantastic concept, it’s early enough on a Saturday
not to disrupt the day, the people are so friendly, with people encouraging
each other and the organisation is fantastic.
Have you set yourself any goals for
the future? Yes, first target is to run sub 30mins for 5k by end of
March and also run a 1500m at the next Abingdon AC time trial and then compete
in the Pentathlon Championships in June
What would your advice be to a non-runner
who feels that they won’t be able to run 5k? Join one of the various starter groups in the
area, (eg couch to 5k), as its far easier doing it as part of a group rather
than by yourself. Also go at your own
pace, and build-up slowly. Also to avoid
injury wear proper running shoes!
What piece of running advice has
stuck with you? Do it at your own
pace, try & run 3 times a week and have confidence that you’ll be able to
run the 5k without stopping in 10 weeks.
Carina
Lobley - 35 years old
No I didn't
know anyone in the beginners group before starting - I had completed one park
run with the tail runner and it was mostly walking with a small bit of jogging.
I'm on a
weight loss journey and my best friend suggested I should parkrun. She is a
wheelchair athlete and her drive and motivation are inspiring. I knew parkrun
would be something we could do together. I fought my inner gremlins on that
first parkrun and the atmosphere had me hooked.
The
programme has shown me what I can do - I can set a ten week target to achieve
something, I can work three times a week on doing that and I can reach that
goal. It has shown me that I can run, that I can push my fitness boundaries and
that I can be proud of my achievements on their own merit - I can come last every
week if that is what happens but as long as I left every bit of energy on the
course I have done well. It has also seen me lose another 1 stone in weight and
I feel sure being active will help me reach my goals.
I have
set goals for the future - the simplest is to get my first 10 parkruns done
this year - I'm on 7 so there are enough Saturdays left! I would love to gt my
time under 30 minutes and that is really going to stretch me for pace. I also
very much want to be able to complete a 10k for the British Heart Foundation in
2015. I lost my dad in 2014 to a heart attack aged only 65. To use this new
skill to raise money to help stop other people feeling that loss while doing
something that is helping me to be fit and healthy and motivated would be
amazing.
My piece
of advice to someone who doesn't think they can do this is ... go for it. The
only certainty is that if you don't try it your won't achieve it. The programme
is fabulous because every week is a new achievement and there are few things in
life that can give a weekly achievement and push you to a long term goal.
The piece
of advice I repeat to myself most often - 'the only run you regret is the one
you didn't do'. So far for me that is true and I've now run in the pouring rain
and the freezing cold since I started out in October so the weather was only
going to get worse!
Name & Age? Lindsey Joyce 52
Did you know other of
the group members before starting out? No, but my sons form tutor turned out to be on the
course!
What inspired you to take part in the Couch to 5k programme? Been meaning to try jogging again
for years, knew I would need some sort of encouragement to keep going, and saw
an article in 'Round and About' .
How has the programme changed you? First time in my life I ran 5k with out
stopping.. I can now see myself getting fitter as I get older instead of
slowing down.
Have you set yourself any goals for the future? Half Marathon -( actually running and not walking
most of the way).
What would your advice be to a non-runner who feels that they won’t be able to
run 5k? Join a
program so you take it slowly and just concentrate on each small task ahead of
you.
What piece of running advice has stuck with you? Don't try to do too much too soon.
Name & Age
Laura
Cunningham 34
Did you know other of the group members before starting out?
No
What inspired you to take part in the Couch to 5k programme?
I was
initially inspired by my step mum who has joined park run after losing 100lbs
and now goes every week. Doing the programme at park run added
inspiration every week, the numbers of people that do it and the effort they
all put in is truly amazing!
How has the programme changed you?
Well I'm
definitely fitter, and whilst despite now running 3 times a week I still
haven't lost weight (and that's cakes and wine for you) I definitely feel
better, more toned and less tired. I can almost keep up with my two boys (2
& 4 so they have boundless energy) and I sometimes even look forward to
running.
Have you set yourself
any goals for the future?
I want to
stick with the park run and maybe another short run once or twice a week for a
while. Then I'd like to support my friend, who recently lost her mum to a heart
attack in the Blenheim 10k next October. One extra bonus of joining the group
was meeting one lady who also had this as her goal so I hope we can work
towards that together.
What would your advice be to a non-runner who feels that they won’t be
able to run 5k?
I was utterly convinced I would never be able to run for 5 minutes let alone
5k. I still can't believe after huffing and puffing my way through the first 60
seconds in week one that I can do it now. Just take it slowly, try not to think
too far ahead, just one run at a time and use your brain. It stops is doing a
lot of things that our bodies can easily achieve. Pretty much at every jump up
my first thought was that I wouldn't be able to do it, but I never had a time
where I didn't run for the time prescribed. You can do it.
What piece of running
advice has stuck with you?
Put your
shoulders back, it's easier to breathe (always a good thing!!)
