Finally....

[Vixchile]

I have finally graduated. Just want to say thank you to everyone here!!! You guys are all truly amazing and i really believe getting to the end is because of you. Knowing so many people are or doing/done the same thing as you and going/had gone through the same highs and lows as helped me endlessly. Everyone has been a great support and i think thats what makes this so successful for so many people. I do think if it wasn't for this forum - would i have given up like i tend to do?

So i got up this morning - feeling very tired i think the excitement of cycling all over Santiago on saturday and Sunday, plus finding new cycling and running routes caught up with me.Stepped outside to put a load of washing on (yes we keep our washing machine outside) its cold - this is not feeling good. So thought lets have a cup of coffee while deciding to go out or not. Half way through my coffee the caffeine kicked in i was like right we are off this morning. Its amazing what a cup of coffee does!!

Decided as its "cold" i will wear long, slightly thicker running pants, a vest and a long sleeved top. Did five minute walk and couldn't get garmin to work!! What is the matter with today? Anyway had Laura so just decided i will do 30minutes and not worry about distance, pace or time.

After 5minutes i was hot so decided to alarm the locals - who are wrapped up in wooly hats, coats, scarves and jumpers to run in my vest top (temp today is 10degrees). This was much better!!! Was annoyed with garmin for not working then soon started thinking about other stuff at the half way mark i felt much better and was enjoying it rather than thinking about distance and time etc.

I thought my legs would feel like lead after 5km on friday, cycle on sat, cycle on sun but they were the opposite. My legs felt great!!! So good i thought shall i keep on running after the 30minutes but then i thought no - just enjoy the 30minutes, you don't have to push on every time! So when laura said that 30minutes up i stopped and enjoyed the walk home.

I thought today was going to be bad run but it actually turned out to be my best run of C25K! My legs felt amazing, i even over took another woman runner.

I feel so pleased that i am running outside for 30minutes, i am not designed to break any world records but thats ok. My aim is to be healthy, in six weeks i have only managed to lose 5 lbs but i realised that slow and steady with weight lose is ok too.

It has really struck me that this is only the start....

So my plans for the rest of the week i am going to run 30minutes. Then next week run 33minutes, followed by 36minutes, then 40minutes for two weeks. After this i hope to start the B210K podcasts. My aim is to find some 5km and then 10km races to do.

Sorry for the long post ....if you have managed to read this well done! Sorry i have no medals to give out

[paul2014 Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation. A massive well done And you're right, this is just the start Enjoy your running and well done again :),

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to paul2014]

Thank you !!! Really looking forward to the new adventure

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Another happy customer. Congratulations. I am sure that you are right in saying that this forum helps folk to stay on track. I consider it to be the secret weapon of C25k and a major contributor to its success.

May your running career be long and happy.

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you - i hope it will be long and happy too I think your right there is forum helps so many people to be successful.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Congratulations! You are the one who deserves the medal!

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

Thank you - i finally have my medal in the form of my graduation badge!!! Yiiippppeee

[emkeenan Graduate]

Well Done You! You must be so so proud

It sounds like you've really finished C25K on a high. Your weekend sounds fantastically active too, have you found that the programme has made you more willing to try other activities? I've felt much more confident, I've bought myself a hula hoop, went to a climbing wall with a friend and even considered joining a gym

That weight loss is brilliant, it's such a steady and healthy way to lose weight. Please stick around and tell us how you are getting on with your post graduation runs, they can be quite up and down- but as you say this forum can get you through anything

Well done again, Emily

[Vixchile Graduate]

Oh yes today has been the best day followed by a great weekend. To answer your question it really has made me want to try new things - we were cycling past a gym and thought that will be good as it has a pool for swimming then we saw the tennis courts and my partner turned to me and said "i fancy giving that ago" just what i was thinking. Never ever considered tennis before but willing to give it ago now. Plus when it get to summer i am not sure if i will be able to run in 34 degrees, hopefully i will acclimatise but i think it will be a hard stretch. We both have always loved cycling but in the uk my work put a stop to that so glad we got bikes! I really want to try snow boarding but my partner is like no too dangerous shame as its ski season here.

Anyway back to reality - i will keep posting and i am sure there will be challenges along the way. My main goal is to keep going now - I just wish i could bottle today's feeling!!

[Miles_Yonder Graduate]

Congratulations! You did it! You'll be feeling proud and beaming away for aaaaages now and it is now that the fun really starts; the whole world of running awaits you. Well done! Nice post, by the way!

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to Miles_Yonder]

Thank you. Today i have been looking into races...we shall see as my spanish is not brilliant.

[frannyfran Graduate]

Oh well done for graduating.

Often the best runs start with "not feeling like it today.... "

Good luck with your post grad' program.

[Vixchile Graduate]

thank you.

[rr76 Graduate]

Congratulations - sounded like it was a great run, and you have good goals in mind. It sounds like to are really active out there - I find the buzz you get from running a little contagious. Incidentally, google translate is great if your Spanish isnt so good, although the translations are sometimes unintentionally hilarious!

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to rr76]

Thank you, well after years of no activity it's about time I moved my bottom. Yeah working on spanish is hard but I know more than I did a few months ago.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Well done Vixchile! What a great post, and what a great graduation run! Enjoy your running

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Thank you

[AmberC Graduate]

Well done and congratulations. More running experiences now coming your way, enjoy

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to AmberC]

Thank you. I am really pleased just need to keep going now, onwards on upwards (well maybe not upwards as I haven't tackled hills yet)

[AncientMum Graduate]

Very well done Vixchile. Sounds like a great run ( and a great post too btw) Congratulations on graduating with style

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

Thank you!!

[Vixchile Graduate]

Thank you.

[beforefifty Graduate]

Well done and CONGRATULATIONS

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to beforefifty]

Thank you!!!

[pinkangel16 Graduate]

Well done, congratulations and all that!

This forum is the business when it comes to help, support and encouragement.

And yes, what a great post, a smashing read, thank you

[Vixchile Graduate in reply to pinkangel16]

Thank you!