I'm officially a graduate!! Happy but tired now..........:)

[aliboo70]

Hi everyone!

Well i made it! Today was my graduation day

It dawned lovely and sunny here, so armed with enthusiasm and a "hope i can do it again" trepidation (my 2nd Parkrun) i edged to the start line with my BF Tracy who I've known for 28yrs since school. I was not a sporty type really at school but she was, though neither of us would have believed that all these years later we would be doing a 5k!

Her husband is a seasoned Parkrunner and did it in 20.51(his 119th!) and today both her sons got PB's too (one beating his dad at 19.17!- he makes it look so easy!) Tracy and i were definitely not in the same league, but were determined to see it through(She's the friend who put me on to c25k), also along again was my partner on his 2nd Parkrun too, who edged past us to get near the front!! (He did really well at 23.09 too!)

Just as we were getting ready to start a cyclist came through,(its held on the local cycle track at mo as fields too waterlogged) the crowd parting the ways and he got a round of applause from everyone which was a great start to the run(he was beaming from ear to ear!!)

Well it was a good run we stuck together and it sooner than expected we got to the half way turnaround(seemed to come along quicker than last time for sure By now a layer had come off, the sun was shining and the run was mainly pleasant alongside a river with lovely views of the odd boat at certain times( when we went over the bridges). It certainly seemed less of a hard slog than last time! Said to Tracy that i might speed up a little for the last stint, to try and beat my last time(34.54 mins), so pushed on through and managed a faster last blast with all you forum supporters carrying me through!!!! Wasn't as dizzy and tired as last time , remembered to bring water which helped!

Just got the results through and...........34.19! (35 seconds quicker!Yay!!)

It was great to finish the programme on a high! its been a real eye opener to take on this challenge and i did make it in the 9 weeks, I'm quite shocked!!!! Its given me discipline (god thats hard to spell-5 attempt!) in that I've not given up when the weathers been C**P, I've got past my self consciousness that i had in the start(early morning and dark evening up out-of-the way lanes) and as my friend KINDLY said today(thanks Tracy!!), look OK now in tight lcyra!!!!

I would never have thought that running would give me so much more purpose in life, mentally and physically its been really good for me and now i know i will carry on as want to keep that optimistic feeling going.

Just downloaded the 5k + stepping stone podcast so thats this week sorted, will do some 5k runs to my own music too and hope my fitness will improve.........looking forward to it!

A BIG THANKYOU to everyone in the forum here who i've chatted to along the way, it makes a real difference to be amongst some great people who understand what we're going through! I've NEVER been in a forum before but its been a big motivator in keeping me going and good fun too!

Good luck to everyone for their runs this coming week.............

I've added a photo, it wasn't taken today but shows the cycle track !

[Blanket Graduate]

Wow that's amazing! Congratulations on graduating! I know what you mean about gaining self confidence from running, it' great achieving small goals that you set yourself.

Sounds like you're keen to take on more challenges now you've done the 5k. Let us know how it goes!

By the way, love the photo - who could not be inspired to run down there!! :o)

[aliboo70 in reply to Blanket]

Its was really pretty in the sunshine, i will have to get a lovely one of the river to post next Parkrun. its definitely made me a braver person and more determined Thanks for your support, i'm off for a large Baileys now...... Good luck for this weeks runs!

[Blanket Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Well deserved. Have one for me - I'm working so better not drink! Cheers!

[aliboo70 in reply to Blanket]

Will do!!!

[MotherGoose Graduate]

Congratulations on graduating! Great time too!

[aliboo70]

Thankyou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DelilahDogstar Graduate]

Yay! That is brilliant, well done. It is lovely to hear that you were surrounded by friends too who could witness your success. I hope you are going to spoil yourself rotten

[aliboo70 in reply to DelilahDogstar]

Thankyou! just peeled myself from sofa, going to have large baileys and hot bath now!!!

[no-excuse Graduate]

Well done Aliboo! So glad everything went well for you, and what a great time! I am psyching myself up for a park run, at the mo I am a bit slow (around 43minutes) so I am going to work on my speed a bit and get a bit more comfortable before I do one. Mmmm Baileys, now there's an idea....Happy running and keep posting x

[aliboo70 in reply to no-excuse]

Parkruns are by all accounts friendly and no one minds if you're not a speed machine! the friend i was with has done 13 now, she said she could only run 7 mins when she started going! Sure you will do well Baileys and hot bath for me now! Thanks for your support!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

What a wonderful post that really made me smile

Well done on your achievements and all the best for your future ... I think you will enjoy stepping stones etc...

[thinlizzyIwish123 Graduate]

Yey! You did it! Onwards and upwards now! I'll be doing my graduation run on Tuesday. I'll then prob be doing the stepping stones one after so will follow in your footsteps. I do like this forum. People are so supportive aren't they. Well Done!!

[aliboo70 in reply to thinlizzyIwish123]

Good luck for your graduation! My boyfriend just said i am addicted to forum i don't think so just enjoy it!No worse than him on facebook!! Its nice to hear how everyone is going

[misswobble Graduate]

The Stepping Stones podcasts are great and you can pick and mix them when you feel like it. I did "Stamina" the other day, which is no walk in the park. I think it's 35 minutes of running

Congratulations on graduating! Your badge suits you down to the ground

[aliboo70 in reply to misswobble]

Ahh! thanks miss wobble! yes think i will mix them around with a 5k run to jolly music and see how i go!

[makmurthly]

Well done. Really pleased for you. Your posts have been really positive and helpful, as I am a couple of weeks behind. Enjoy your running!

[aliboo70 in reply to makmurthly]

Thankyou! Sure you will do well in your next 2 weeks, i'm enjoying writing the posts, funny but i'm wouldn't see myself as a positive person in general but running is definitely helping! Make sure you post your progress

[Tinyrun Graduate]

Well done. What a beautiful place to run. It's great to hear how running has changed your way of thinking. Enjoy that badge.

[aliboo70 in reply to Tinyrun]

Thanks tinyrun! Hopefully i will stay a more positive person, i am enjoying my badge it makes me smile!

[carole01 Graduate]

Hey! Well done !! What a great place to run! I am going to do my first park run next Saturday and I am bit nervous. I am quite shy and never run with anyone before. Hope I can overcome this because it will be great practice for my Race for Life in July. Good luck with the rest of your running as everybody says on here, Your journey starts here!!

[aliboo70 in reply to carole01]

Thankyou! You will be fine i'm sure, all the first-timers at ours got a clap yesterday, and having other people around is nice i think after all that solitary training(i only had company on 2 runs in the 9 weeks.) Good luck for Saturday be sure to let everyone know how you got on!

[mustgetthin Graduate]

Well done sounds like an amazing morning for you.

Keep posting and let us know how your doing

SX

[aliboo70 in reply to mustgetthin]

Hi S -it was good fun! & had a lunch at bistro by the river later as a reward Yum! Yes i will keep on posting, its nice to know theres a whole community out there who support each other

[moonmar Graduate]

Well done seems so lame after all you have done - but WELL DONE! I will be happy just to finish the W9R3 in whatever time I finish - but you have spurned me on. Thank you.

[aliboo70 in reply to moonmar]

Thankyou moonmar, a well done will do me fine Good luck for your next runs.................

[Tinabee41 Graduate]

Yay, well done Aliboo, feel like i have followed you all the way. I graduate hopefully with my final run on tues. A big wohoooo to you and good luck with the stepping stone runs.x

[aliboo70 in reply to Tinabee41]

Thanks Tinabee41, i really enjoy following peoples progress on here GOOD LUCK for tuesday make sure you let us know how it goes You will do well i'm sure!

[Zizzy Graduate]

Congratulations Aliboo! Sounds like you finished on a high.

Hope you don't disappear from the forum x

[aliboo70 in reply to Zizzy]

Thankyou!! No i won't be going anywhere, love this forum ! Good luck for your next runs.............