Could you see yourself running a 5k distance? Six weeks ago, I couldn’t run for 30 seconds. I’m now just about to try and run a 5km race for the Practice Index parkrun pledge.

You might remember I talked about the benefits of walking in my blog “Walk your way to wellbeing”. Since then, things have moved on a bit!

I started walking with a friend in the early part of the year. We’d do a 5k circuit twice a week. We’d chat while walking and have a giggle along the way. I didn’t take it too seriously, but I did enjoy the walk.

We’d been walking regularly for a few weeks and I felt my overall level of fitness was improving. It was around this time that the idea of a Practice Index parkrun was first introduced.

Now the date has been fixed. It’s this coming weekend! Some of our team members will be walking theirs; others will volunteer.

Why this weekend in particular? Well, parkrun have launched a special commemorative weekend to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS, and it’s being held on 8th-9th July.

So, with a date set, and a commitment to do it, I needed to make sure I could do the full 5k. I know I can walk it. I also know that parkrun have tail-walkers to make sure that none of the participants ever come “last”. So, going into it, I feel confident. I know I can walk 5k and I also know that, no matter how slow I am, I won’t be the last to finish. It’s a good place to be.

What happened next was as much of a surprise to me as I’m sure it was to my husband. “I think I might try and do C25K (Couch to 5K),” I said.

I should point out that I’ve tried this before, found it hard and given up early in the programme.

This time, with a fixed date for achievement in mind, I set out to see whether I could actually complete it this time round. (*Spoiler alert – I’m not there yet.)

I struggled at times with pain in my feet and in my knee. Apparently, I’m a supinator. I went for a gait analysis to see if I could get some more suitable trainers (and they did make all the difference, if you’re wondering).

I know some people have done C25K on a treadmill before they started running outside, but I’ve gone for running outdoors since day one, so the neighbours are now accustomed to seeing me jogging along.

I’ve learned that “next tree” and “just to that lamppost” are a thing. If you can keep going to just the next whatever, then you can always keep going just that little bit further. I’ve learned that you can’t run a long distance at the same speed you would a 100m sprint. And I’ve learned that pockets in your leggings make everything much easier.

I’ve also learned something about myself. I can run, despite all the years I told myself I wasn’t a runner; I was listening to the doubting voice in my head. When I reached week five of the C25K and saw that the end of the week had a 20-minute run, I didn’t believe I’d be able to do it. The first time I tried, I didn’t. I got to 19.5 minutes and couldn’t carry on. I was so close, yet I felt none of the sense of achievement that I should have experienced. So, the next day, I laced myself into my trainers again and tried for a second time. This time, I managed the 20 minutes with no problems.

That was almost two weeks ago now.

By the time you’re reading this, I should be running for 28 minutes at a time. I know, amazing, isn’t it? I’ve never done more than run for a bus before now!

I’m not close to 5k yet either. I’m currently managing just over 3k in my 25 minutes of running, but for someone who has never run before, it’s a real achievement.

I’m looking forward to parkrun on Saturday. I may not be able to run it all at the moment, but if I’d not started the C25K challenge, I wouldn’t have been able to run any of it, and nine short weeks is all it takes!

Will I carry on running? Yes, I will. For the first time in my life, I’m a runner and I’m proud.

Are you joining us for parkrun this weekend? Let us know in the forum!