Strange first post graduation run

[Natalie01]

I have never been more disorganised! Ipod wasn't charged so no music, even forgot to put my contacts in and didn't notice I was wearing my glasses until i left the house, never done that before!

I decided that for my first post grad run i would just do what felt comfortable. I ran for 20 minutes, with about a minute half way through for a quick stretch and to get my breath back before heading back. When i checked how far i went on gp.mapometer.com i realised i had run faster than any of my runs before (8km/hr). I was really pleased with that and it explains getting knackered so quickly but i feel i let myself down a bit by only running for 20 mins.

Will try to do a longer but slower run next time.

[Lovefood1984 Graduate]

First post graduation run for me today too, decided to see how long it would take me to reach 5k, answer just over 33mins think I'll do a few more 5ks and then perhaps try some of the graduation podcasts, I'd love to get down to 10mins a mile. Good luck with your next run.

[Natalie01 Graduate in reply to Lovefood1984]

Wow that is inspirational! Good luck!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Congratulations on graduating Natalie and on your first post grad run. I think you did brilliantly. You'll find many of us have had strange post grad runs so don't worry, you are not alone! Don't put too much pressure on yourself and just enjoy running for a while. Think about your first run on the programme and compare it to the one you've just done. Need I say more?!

[Natalie01 Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

You are so right, thank you! I never thought i would make it and now i'm about to embark on a new year having completed the programme, amazing!

[vixiej Graduate]

Congratulations on graduating. I seem to remember I was all over the place when I first graduated, it's like your security blanket (Laura) has been taken away, lol. It sounds like you had a good run, 20 minutes is fine, I like to do one of those a week and usually mix up the speeds on the short one (couple of minutes slow and steady followed by a minute of much faster pace, then drop back to recovery). I also forgot to charge iPod on one of my early post grad runs and really enjoyed it, so stopped using music (just started to listen again recently, as I'm coming back after a non-running related injury and needed a bit of umph to get me running for longer).

Don't worry about what you do, just enjoy the fact you graduated, and play around with different types of run, including some steady, chillout runs. You are a runner now, it's your call

[Natalie01 Graduate in reply to vixiej]

Thank you for your reply, i really appreciate the encouragement, i can't quite get over being a runner now! If i have to keep running to convince myself that's true, i am at least running!

[nextjenn Graduate]

Hi again! Aah the disorganised run, happens to us all! But you did it and did a very respectable pace. I do between 7:45 - 8:45 depending on the day and cant get much quicker yet. 20 mins is absolutely brilliant, dont put pressure on and just enjoy the freedom of it all! You are a proper runner now

[Natalie01 Graduate in reply to nextjenn]

Hi,thank you! Not sure i feel like a proper runner yet but it's lovely to think i am starting the new year with the programme under my belt and thanks to all your encouragement i will keep going. Now the aim is to run regularly and tone up a bit, dismayed to find i can still only get into the two biggest of my long serving collection of (not so) little black dresses!

I don't even want to be slim, love food too much, just average will do!

Whatever you are doing this evening have a good NYE and thank you for supporting me.

[nextjenn Graduate in reply to Natalie01]

I'm sure 2014 will be a fantastic year for you, set some goals and enjoy it! I have found since graduating I have toned up more and lost more weight (a nice and gradual 9lbs over 2 months) without changing my terrible eating habits. I think the longer distances do more for me in terms of metabolism so I'm hoping for some improvement if I cut back on the odd chocolate bar! Big tip - measure yourself once a month - inches happen more so then weight loss I find and can be a huge boost to the confidence! Keep posting, seeing your journey has kept me going in the lower points of my running - lets see how awesome and average we can be for 2015 eh?! Happy new year!