Finally.

Today was the day, woke up to slightly less promising weather than I had hoped for , rain, sleet and a cold biting wind.

The plan was to do the run by the river cam in Cambridge but due to the weather decided to run by the guided bus way from St Ives out and back.

So off I went gloves hat and jacket today and of course my obligatory tights you know me any excuse to wear them . Slowly the km's clicked over , the path is more undulating than I would have liked but nothing I couldn't deal with after all this run has been a year in the making .

Finally 5k came and time to turn around and head back , could it really be this simple and dare I say easy, the rain and sleet came and went ,hands starting to finally warm , unzipped my jacket and carried on running 6k, 7k and so on , some of the inclines up and down taking a toll on the legs and almost felt like I was walking but wasn't and I didn't I ran it al !!

9k OMG I am going to do it finally finally 10k would be mine , did I care about the time , ok I did but the distance was the goal... that last 1k went by so quickly in my head I could see my finish line and dug deeper and pushed on to finally hear runkeeper so those magic words 10 kilometres what a relief I knew it was in me and finally I did it , 6.2 bloomimg wonderful miles in 1 hour 6 mins ..

You can see my splits , I am more than happy and really very proud of myself for being so determined and persevering.

My journey continues , so to finish up, to anyone who has doubts or thinks I can't do this or feels like giving up , don't the rewards are out there waiting you , you just have to take those 1st steps and keep going

To my virtual running family here , just look at me 10K !!!!! And of course thank you to each and everyone of you for being there and sticking with me for every single one of the steps that got me here

Have an amaze balls of a weekend what ever you do

[useitorloseit]

Brilliant! Well done chum.

[Hidden in reply to useitorloseit]

Thanks useit

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Oh Rob! Amaze balls indeed! You did it! And what a time too!!! I'm so, so pleased for you - brought a big smile to my face. Your determination and focus got you there in the end. I always knew you would. Whoop whoop! You running machine you! Have a fab weekend. x

[Hidden in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks so much IP it has been a while coming but so so pleased i finally did it x

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Yay Rob! You did it! And in style - so pleased for you. Sounds like a dream of a run and look at that time! All that hard work does pay off! Bet that smile will last for days☺! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sandra

[Hidden in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandra it is slowly sinking in more now

[Noaky12 Graduate10]

Amazing job Rob. Great pace too it just shows how much work & determination has gone into it.

Yay!!!! ☺[doing little jig]

[Hidden in reply to Noaky12]

Thanks Noaky usually aim at 7min/km pace for longer runs anything less is a bonus.

Today's run is an extra special bonus

[TurboTortoise]

Yay, go Rob! It's so good to see you making such a strong comeback - gives me hope for my own return... eventually!

[Hidden in reply to TurboTortoise]

Thank you Turbo You will return , stay strong and be patient

Last year seems a long way behind me now but makes me more cautious and have built up slowly to this point

If anything it has made me a stronger runner not necessarily faster if that makes sense .

We are all with Turbo

[TurboTortoise in reply to Hidden]

I am looking forward to redoing C25K when the time comes - all those significant milestones, and even the gloriously awful music!

[Hidden in reply to TurboTortoise]

Haha yes the music but it wouldn't be the same without it.

[simonwilliamstutor Graduate10]

Brilliant job Rob! Congratulations!

[Hidden in reply to simonwilliamstutor]

Thank you Simon

[islandrunner Graduate10]

Well done, and a great time as well !!!

[Hidden in reply to islandrunner]

Thanks island

[poppypug Graduate10]

Aw our lovely Rob xxxx

Well done Robster ! Determination and never giving up has reaped a fantastic reward for you . I am really pleased for you

Heres to many more happy running adventures - youre a star ! xxx

[Hidden in reply to poppypug]

Awww thank you kindly poppy you are always so kind xxx

[goonkeepgoing Graduate10]

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉🌟🌟🌟🌟

I bet you feel amazing. May it be the first of many ☺

[Hidden in reply to goonkeepgoing]

Thanks goon I do feel very good , it will be one of many as I progress on .. a few at work have mention the 2 letters HM but that is a long way off for now get to about 12 or 13 then try and work on my speed

Have got the stamina now

[goonkeepgoing Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I admit to 'sticking' at 10k for months and months. I really do think it helped to build the strength and stamina in the legs though. No point in rushing things!

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

10 k in just over an hour, that's really awesome 👍I'm looking at all these runners who went through the Laura program and have such admiration for you all. Really inspirational for a new graduate. Maybe I'll do that some day!

[Hidden in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thanks jayseeskinny I know I used to look at all the graduates as I was progressing

Anything and everything is possible , you will do it just keep looking forward.stay positive and keep at it

[AncientMum Graduate10]

🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺 Trumpet fanfare

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Round of applause

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gold stars

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Massive trophies

Many many congratulations not_so_slow_rob, this is absolutely brilliant news. So pleased for you. You deserve this success for all your dedication and effort, and for fighting your way back from injury. A great achievement in a very very nice time indeed. Well done Sweetie xx

[Hidden in reply to AncientMum]

Awwww thanks AM xx

Now I look back on this morning get a bit emotional

[AncientMum Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

And so you should xx

[aliboo70 Graduate10]

thats brilliant Rob! how come i can see 11km on your picture?? Did you carry on running or am i being really thick!!??

[Hidden in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks Aliboo

Runkeeper recorded the distance as 10.02 hence the time for the 11 th km.

[aliboo70 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Aah I get it now!😊brilliant stuff Rob😊

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

I'm so pleased for you that such a huge achievement for you, well done

[Hidden in reply to ju-ju-]

Thank you so much juicy

Never thought I could run 10 meters never mind 10k

[sarah469 Graduate10]

Fantastic! I remember when you were having doubts about getting to 10K - you did it! I'm off on my 2nd "working towards 10K" run now (6K), wish me luck! Congratulations again.

[sarah469 Graduate10 in reply to sarah469]

And "Slow Rob" -- I think not! Every km under 7min/km? I could only dream of such pace!

[Hidden in reply to sarah469]

My target pace for longer runs is always about 7min/km .

I was more than surprised to see all the splits under that

The only thing I have done apart from a gradual build up is to repeat that longer run 3 weeks running , then have a cut back or recovery week with shorter runs before moving onto the next longer run , then repeating , it seems to have worked for me ,

I will do the same at 10k before having a recovery week again then up the distance again .

I want to be able to run say 12 -13k as this will give me the stamina and endurance then start working on the speed

[sarah469 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Interested to know how often you are running at the moment? I'm only doing 1 run/week see, but from next week on I'm going to try doing at least 2 runs a week.

[Hidden in reply to sarah469]

I usually run 3 times a week , 1 longer ,1 5k and a shorter run ... sometimes drop a run in my recovery week but nothing hard and fast .

[Hidden in reply to sarah469]

Thanks Sarah I had a real doubts more mental than physical but worked through them and got back on track

Good luck with yours , you are on your way now , stay focused and build up steadily "

[Toonlou24]

Fantastic!! Well done you!! You did it! And great time too!!xx

[Hidden in reply to Toonlou24]

Thanks Toon xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Only just dared to look at the Bridge to 10K site.. I am in awe.. well done you, it sounds to have been an amazing run.. maybe one day.. I may even think about it!!!

Brilliant!

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks oldfloss it is days/runs like that makes it so worth it

If you set your mind to it you will

[AndyD Graduate10]

Awesome Rob... not sure how I missed your post... You are really back on form now and wow what a great time.. still dreaming of that!! Well well done

[Hidden in reply to AndyD]

Hey Andy good to see you, hope all is going great with your running

Have been building up very slowly no parkrun , purely concentrating on stamina and endurance and distance

Think the cold and sleet helped with the time was very pleasantly surprised at the end

[AndyD Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

All going good thanks. Like you, I'm working on stamina and endurance.. Well trying anyway. Tapering now in readiness for the Bath HM this weekend. I'm still not fast, but as long as I cross the line and enjoy it then that's the main thing!

[Hidden in reply to AndyD]

Wow a HM that's really great Andy have a great run , hope the weather is good for you

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

That's just brilliant, congratulations, you must be so chuffed! What a great time too! You must try that route though one of these days, it's gorgeous.

[Hidden in reply to Curlygurly2]

I am still chuffed to bits curly I am thinking if the weather stays good will do the tow path run this week

Should be less undulating so may be a tad quicker lol

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Enjoy! And keep your eyes peeled for that cormorant, he was spectacular!

[Hidden in reply to Curlygurly2]

Thanks , I will

[Chappelle]

I am amazed ! You should feel very proud of yourself indeed ...