Couch to 5k

Hi,

My name is Julie and I’m a married working mum with two children, Dominic is 20 and Lily is 17.Dominic has severe autism and learning difficulties.

Dominic started at a college in Lancaster in September ,he stays during the week and I thought right I’m going to get fit no excuse I have time to myself for the first time in 20 years!! I mused over it a while whilst I fretted over Dominic on his new adventure. Christmas came, Dom was settled (and so was I). My friend Liz had told me about ossy joggers and my response was..I can’t run! But I thought right I’m going to give it a go.

I persuaded Lily to come with me, she had been a good runner at school and represented her school at cross country but as most teenagers do had dropped all sports and her hobby of choice was lying in her bed.

We turned up that Monday night, we knew Bob and Liz and there were lots of other familiar faces there too. I got myself a running buddy the first night in Alison who I knew a little and Lil became our pacer.

Those first few weeks were hard work even though  I wasn’t completely straight off the couch, Dominic loves walking and so I take him on long walks at the weekend, he walks fast and I was getting to the stage that I was struggling to keep up with the strapping 6ft young man he has become. I found the breathing hard at first and doubted I would ever run 5k none stop.

When it came to the week we had to run  20 minutes we were all really nervous, but we did it and that was the turning point for me, I was so chuffed with myself and  the team which we had become, all supporting each other. I thought bloody hell I think I can actually do this!

We did do it and then went on to do a parkrun last weekend and my next goal is a 10 k later in the year. It’s been a brilliant experience, we have met some lovely people, I’ve learnt that I can actually run and should have actually listened to Liz. It’s been lovely doing something together with Lil, because Dom has always needed so much of my time in the past we haven’t had  much chance to do things just the two of us.

Its also taught me that you can actually do anything that you put your mind to.

As Bob tells us...it’s only an hill! And today I reached the top of a hill side by side with Dom....result!