I did it! I did it! I graduated!!!!: Morning... - Couch to 5K

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I did it! I did it! I graduated!!!!

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate
36 Replies

Morning everyone...

Today was my first run in just over a week (coz my graduation run (take 1) last Sunday was such a huge disaster - I had to WALK 3 times.. UGH!) plus I've had a niggly foot, crunchy knees and been a bit run-down with ulcers+sore throat, so I decided to take it easy and not stress about running last week.

I went out this morning in my new kit, with my new shoes on.. I ditched Laura and listened to my own music for the first time, which was a real novelty, and I had runkeeper on in the background. I made a conscious effort to take it reaaaaaaally slowly and just enjoy it and relax. Which I did. The sun was just coming up making gorgeous colours over the river, there was no one around.. just me and my doggy. And it felt good, and I could breathe, and my foot didn't hurt, and my knees didn't hurt...

So I managed 4.14 km in 32 minutes, and I'm pretty pleased with that. I feel I'm back on track with the running now, coz after last Sunday (plus a couple of hard runs before that) I was getting pretty demoralised. And I know now what the secret is... it's TAKE IT SLOW!!! At the end of today I even had the energy left to 'sprint' to the finishing post (telegraph pole)!

It's taken me quite a long time to finish this programme (but then I've been through 'quite a lot' since I started back in May) but the progress I've made doing this - we've all made - is just phenomenal!

Thank you, Laura... and thank you to everyone on here for being so supportive, and funny and friendly, and providing such a brilliant place to come for inspiration and motivation :-)

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petraj profile image
petraj
Graduate
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36 Replies
MarkyD profile image
MarkyDGraduate

Hi Petra, what a lovely description of your graduation run, it sounded beautiful.

And well done for graduating, it is a real achievement and you should feel very proud.

What next?

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to MarkyD

Hi! Thank you, Marky.. I think for the next few weeks I might just run with my music (or, with silence and birdsong?) consolidate the 30 minute running, and aim to break the 5k barrier! Also I want to run some different routes, coz I stuck to the same one for the programme. Maybe add some hills here and there. After that I might try the Speed+Stamina podcasts, and then build up some distance.

Burgdude profile image
BurgdudeGraduate

Congrats Petra! Be proud young lady! You pushed on and didn't give up. I think that's wonderful

Whats your next goal?

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Burgdude

Thank you Burgdude! I'm looking forward to trying some new routes around the lanes here, and maybe I'll throw in some hills here and there. I think for the moment I'm just looking forward to running for myself and enjoying it. Then I might have a go at the Speed+Stamina etc podcasts, then build up some more distance? Oh, and I really want to crack the 5k barrier, but I don't think that should be too difficult.. I could have carried on today, really, I wasn't knackered at all! So perhaps that's my aim for this week. :-)

loubee33 profile image
loubee33Graduate

congratulations x x x it is a huge achievement x x

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to loubee33

thank you, loubee! :-) xx

Vixchile profile image
VixchileGraduate

Congratulations glad new kit helped!

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Vixchile

yep, new running kit certainly helped, thanks! :-)

lambeek profile image
lambeekGraduate

Woo hoo - congratulations!! Don't forget to ask for your Graduate badge so you can show off your amazing achievement to everyone on the forum!!!

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to lambeek

thank you! yes, I did ask for my graduate badge earlier today.. perhaps it's like christmas and you have to wait until the next morning to unwrap it from under the tree??? ;-)

Lavender1962 profile image
Lavender1962Graduate

Congratulations! Sounds like a very nice graduation run. Happy running :)

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Lavender1962

thank you so much.. you too ;-)

Nellyharte profile image
NellyharteGraduate

Great news Petra, its onwards and upwards now, get that badge now and start planning your next goal or you will lose momentum, even a local park run would be a good place to start. Excellent time by the way so your pace is not that slow at all!

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Nellyharte

thanks Nelly.. yep, I'm waiting for my badge! I think I'd like to try some new routes round the lanes here, and achieve my 5k.. then try some of those other speed+stamina podcasts.. then go for some more distance. I don't think they do the park runs here in France like in the UK (not so many parks, for a start!!) and I had a quick google for races round here and the next thing is a 5k or 10k race in February about an hour away from here! Suppose I should sign up for the 10k :-D

Slookie profile image
SlookieGraduate

Isn't it a great feeling. Congratulations Petra especially on the sprint finish to the finish! Yeehaa :)

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Slookie

it is a great feeling! and I feel that I can just run for myself for a bit now.. take in the countryside, listen to some music and just enjoy it.. thanks Slookie (although it was a 'sprint'.. not a sprint, but hey!)

How fab that you finished it! Congratulations! And a great distance too! I like to run without Laura sometimes too, although I am revisiting the podcasts from time to time. Now you can just please yourself! Enjoy your running!.

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to

Thank you.. yeah, I've definitely got this vision in my head of me+the dog having lovely runs round the lanes while the boys are at school as the autumn weather comes on.. just enjoying it and chillaxing!! ;-)

ps.. thanks so much for the link to the swimming website.. great tips and info!

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to petraj

oh.. by the way.. do you live in France too, Curly?

Net68 profile image
Net68Graduate

Well done! Lovely achievement :) the programme really works :)

You did the right not to worry. You final run sounds great :)

Happy running :)

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Net68

Thank you so much, Net.. yep, this programme is absolutely miraculous getting me to run for 30 minutes non-stop - and enjoying it.. and looking forward to the next time! Happy running to you too :-)

useitorloseit profile image
useitorloseitGraduate

Well done - glad it went so well this time :)

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to useitorloseit

thanks uioli! ;-)

Many congratulations, you really picked yourself up from last week and now you're a graduate ! Slow and steady, enjoy your running...now you know you can do it.

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to

thanks henpen! ;-)

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Congratulations Petra, you did it, yay ! :-) Despite the setbacks you've had ,you went out there and nailed it, really pleased for you, Well done ! :-) xxx

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to poppypug

thank you so much Poppy! :-) xx

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate

Well done Petra - you are an inspiration, a hero, and a RUNNER and will never be able to sit on a couch again. :)

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Runon

aww.. thanks Runon! I'm sure I'll still be able to sit on a couch once in a while again though... won't I? In any case, I'm very good at lying on couches and falling asleep on them in front of the telly when there's a good film on, so I shall just have to do more of that instead ;-)

Runon profile image
RunonGraduate in reply to petraj

According to EU regulation 543b2ii - 'qualified graduates in receipt of badges may not sit on couches in excess of 45 seconds continuously' . You may have found a loophole in the 'lying down' bit but it is not in the spirit of C25K to return to being a 'pomme de terre au canapé!' Congrats again - what will you do now?

breezie profile image
breezieGraduate

Well done Petra! The badge looks good :)

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to breezie

thanks very much, breezie.. yes, I'm quite proud of it! it'll be you soon :-)

Ejbirdy profile image
EjbirdyGraduate

Oh that's fab ! So so pleased to see you get your shiny badge , you've earned it and some :)

petraj profile image
petrajGraduate in reply to Ejbirdy

thanks a lot birdy.. yep, done it at last! ;-)

Janglyshe profile image
JanglysheGraduate

Congratulations!

Redbillie21 profile image
Redbillie21Graduate

Well done you 👏👏👏 You should be very proud of yourself. I am 4 runs off graduating and I can't wait!! Never thought I'd be a runner and here I am, in my middle 50's, running!! Who'd have thought? 😂😂

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