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

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?

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.

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

Whats your next goal?

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.

congratulations x x x it is a huge achievement x x

thank you, loubee! xx

Congratulations glad new kit helped!

yep, new running kit certainly helped, thanks!

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!!!

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???

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

thank you so much.. you too

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!

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

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

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!.

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!

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

Well done! Lovely achievement the programme really works

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

Happy running

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

Well done - glad it went so well this time

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.

thanks henpen!

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

thank you so much Poppy! xx

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

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

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?

Well done Petra! The badge looks good

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

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

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

Congratulations!

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? 😂😂