I've joined the graduates!

[turnturtle]

Who'd have thought it? Not my husband (aka doubting Thomas) certainly. My last run this morning was over frozen stubble fields and ankle-twisting ruts so I am not going to beat myself up for not beating records, but i kept running and even speeded up towards the end. I am having a cardio-respiratory exercise test this afternoon just so i can proceed with confidence to the next level. Maybe at my age I should have done this so start with, but they couldn't fit me in! Has anyone else completed one of these? I am more nervous about it than I was about running. Apparently they make you cycle until you are ready to fall off the exercise bike. Or is my son just trying to scare me?

[dottiemay Graduate]

No experience of the test I'm afraid but many congratulations on Graduating, especially in such difficult conditions! Who cares about breaking records - but you've broken one anyway - your own C25K one!

Hope it all goes well this afternoon.

[Jenwrenarm Graduate]

Fantastic! Many congratulations. An amazing achievement and well done! Get that lovely new graduate badge!

[Jenwrenarm Graduate in reply to Jenwrenarm]

You have badge! Woo!

[turnturtle Graduate in reply to Jenwrenarm]

I seem to have jumped the queue!

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

Congratulations on graduating hopefully Mr.T will have to behave now

and good luck with the testing, I think they will make you cycle and they will push you to your max as that is the idea of the test, but I think you will be surprised at how much fitter you really are and you will recover fast, so don't panic just relax and keep remembering how far you have come since your first run, the test would of been much harder back then.

Good Luck and keep us updated please

[turnturtle Graduate in reply to Mummysaurus]

Thanks everyone. I passed my cardio-respiratory test and couldn't understand why they told me to stop pedalling after seven minutes- I feel a lot more exhausted than that after a run, but apparently my pulse said otherwise. All is AOK and I have the go ahead to try for a 30 minute 5K. The amazing thing is that since my last medical three years ago, I have lost 7 pounds., shed an inch and a bit off my waist, improved my lung function measurements to those of an average 30 year old and my muscle to body-fat ratio is also better by a few per cent. And since I remained a couch potato until 9 weeks ago I put it all down to C25K! Thank you so much NHS and thank you forumites. I couldn't have done it without you!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to turnturtle]

That list of C25k by products is pretty impressive. Congratulations on all those health improvements and of course your graduation. Welcome to the club of committed ankle twisting rut runners. Keep running, keep smiling.

[turnturtle Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you Monsieur Truffe. Until now I have shared Grouch Marx's attitude to clubs but I am a convert...

[LUVLEEJU Graduate]

Congratulations on both counts. I've joined you today also and boy does it not feel good

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

So glad it went well for you and really hope you get your 30 min 5k

[waletta Graduate]

Blinking 'eck. didn't you do well - twice. You cake care of those ankles & congratulations.