Graduation Day!!!

[Sazzle44]

Well, I did it. I've graduated!!

It's raining hard here this morning - but I've been looking forward to this run all week, so nothing could dampen my spirits.

I stuck to my tactics (don't look at Ms Garmin until you REALLY feel you can't do any more. The result - 4.74km in 34.08. I didn't think I could grin that wide. And a fastest Mile too!

Mind you, it has taken me 9 weeks to learn that if I reversed my current route that most of it was downhill and not uphill - I never realised I was a slow learner until this morning

But seriously - without this great programme and, more importantly, the support, encouragement and advice of you fabulous people I really couldn't have done this. All that and only virtual cake for thanks. But Thank You all - you're all amazing.

So, New Shoes, Champagne and cake for breakfast. It's Sticky Chocolate Fruit Cake - my graduation, my choice!!!!

I did it, I'm doing it, I love it!!!

[adidas1961 Graduate]

Well done Sazzle 44 you have made it!!!! congrats...... a glass of bubbly & a slice of cake please!!!!!!! well done.....

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to adidas1961]

Thank you - not sure I'm sharing today!!

[Tomas Graduate]

Congratulations! Wow, what an achievement, and really great time/distance. You've done yourself proud!

I love the pic as well. Hope the cake tastes extra delightful today

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Tomas]

Thank you so much Tomas. It's rare for me to indulge in cake but today is a definite exception

[poppypug Graduate]

Woo Hoo ! Yeeeeee-aaaaaaaah , Way to go Sazz !

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!!!!!!

So , so pleased for you , you smashed it !!

Its been an absolute pleasure following your progress on here and seeing your beautiful cakes .

Have a fantastic day and enjoy your cake , you are soooo worth it xxxx

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Awwwww cheers PP - I did, didn't I?

I love it on here, no way you're getting rid of me though, I'm going to give as much support to others as I've been given by you lovely peeps.

The cake, if I say so myself, is scrummy

Have a fantastic weekend my lovely xxx

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Sazzle44]

Aw, you too xxx

[Zev1963 Graduate]

Well done great time that

mmmmmmm chocolate, ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm champagne

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Zev1963]

Cheers Zev!

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Well done Sazzle. Have a great day reflecting on your awesome achievement. Lovely cake - yum yum

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to GettingFitter]

Thank you

[millwalki8 Graduate]

CAKE, CAKE!!!!!!

well done

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to millwalki8]

Thank you

[useitorloseit Graduate]

Beat graduation pic ever! Well done!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to useitorloseit]

Thank you useit Feeling good - thanks for all your support and comments along the way

[Pip66 Graduate]

That is fabulous! Well done. What a buzz. Can't wait to get there in a couple of weeks. Hope I get cake too!!!!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Pip66]

Aww thank you Pip - it's a great feeling - keep going!

[mellyboobah]

Wow - well done -

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to mellyboobah]

Thank you

[LindaR62 Graduate]

Wow, well done Sazzle44!! Congratulations, that cake looks absolutely amazingly delicious. I start week 9 on Monday. I'm going to get a cake to celebrate too at the end it's a great idea and great incentive (for me anyway!)

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to LindaR62]

Thank you Good luck with next week, but I guess by now you know you can do it! Good luck and happy caking

[mfamilias Graduate]

Yeah, you've gone and dunned it! Well done you! It's great that you did most of the programme going up the hill rather than down - even if it wasn't on purpose. I think that gives you extra Brownie points for gumption. That cake looks scrummy, as per usual.

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to mfamilias]

Thank you No point doing things the easy way

[BoPeep9009 Graduate]

Tadaaa! Many congratulations to you! (those shoes are a lovely colour and that cake looks aMazing)

Cool runnings Sazzle, let the fun begin!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to BoPeep9009]

Thank you

[P2AMR]

Well done cant wait for that week, seems a long way off yet though.

Just done Week 3 Run 2

Congratulaions

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to P2AMR]

Thank you

I know graduation will seem a long way off to you right now, but stick with it - each week brings a new challenge and a new sense of achievement. If I can do it anyone can!

[misswobble Graduate]

Right! First things first. Gimme the recipe for that cake at once!

Woooohooooo, wowers, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeha. Congratulations and a big-up well done Saz. You did it. Fab-u-lous. That felt so good didn't it. Great thing is that you can do it again the day after tomorrow.

Enjoy your Graduation Day and bask in its glory. Enjoy your cake and fizz and the afterglow of your hard work and rewards gained

Time for new running adventures!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Lol MW - it's bad for you......but here you are

nigella.com/recipes/view/ch...

I picked this as my graduation cake on week 3 - it's been worth the wait!!

Can't wait to continue my running journey with you all

[Mat30 Graduate]

Congratulations its a fantastic feeling to have completed the programme, here's to the continuation of your running!! Well Done!!!!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Mat30]

Thank you Mat - it certainly is!!

[MarkyD Graduate]

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Well done, congratulations. Is it only me who looked at your photo and my first thought was 'nice shoes!'?

Recipe please!!!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Thank you MarkyD - you have great taste

nigella.com/recipes/view/ch...

[Ladyidle Graduate]

Fantastic! Huge congratulations - enjoy the celebrations and the new shoes!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Ladyidle]

Thank you I will!!

[5kOrBust Graduate]

Well done! Congratulations! B*gger the cake and champers, I want those shoes!!!!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to 5kOrBust]

Spoken like a true runner!! Thank you

[5kOrBust Graduate in reply to Sazzle44]

"A true runner" - You've made my day! x

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

Congratulations and really well done, Sazzle.

All three items in your picture look fab.

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Dunder2004]

Thank you Dunder, and thank you for all your support and comments on the way

[poppypug Graduate]

Oooh yes , meant to say, that is a brilliant photo Saz xxx

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Cheers pp - I can't wait to pop the cork - and I'm not sharing!!!

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Sazzle44]

Ha ha , I don't drink !

Only Yorkshire Tea by the bucket for me ! xxx

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to poppypug]

You can have a slice of cake instead then - I won't tell

I don't drink anymore, miss it really - think I'll probably have a very bad head in the morning

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Sazzle44]

Oooh don't mind if I do !- Thankyou

Ah it is a special occasion after all! xxx

[aliboo70]

Congratulations,! And in the rain too,thats real runners spirit coming through! 😊love the photo😊make sure you bask in that feeling all day/week long 😆

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you - I will, great feeling

[rmnsuk Graduate]

well done S44.

So you dare to tempt me with CAKE and CHOCOLATE CAKE at that, while I'm on salad and chicken. Well the one thing I can't resist is temptation, so post the recipe please. Love the shoes, very pink!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to rmnsuk]

Thanks rmnsuk!!

It's Chocolate Fruit cake, so obviously constitutes healthy eating and at least one of your 5 a day

nigella.com/recipes/view/ch...

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

Congrats, look at your lovely badge! Great pic, fab breakfast, love the shoes xx

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

Thank you - I know, fab isn't it!!

[Arrietty Graduate]

Congratulations! \o/

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Arrietty]

Thank you Arrietty

[minsterjane Graduate]

Well done! I'm due to graduate on 14th June according to my diary - the same day I fly to America on hols. Determined to do it before I go and encouraged to read about people who are graduating every day. Only possible problem is I need to do a week 8 run next Tuesday before I get into my best frock for a family wedding. This running is getting a bit addictive, nothing will stop me!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to minsterjane]

Thank you - it certainly is addictive - keep up the good work - if I can do ity anyone can!

[Hidden]

You certainly know how to celebrate in style but guess what.... You've earned it ! Many congratulations !

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Congratulations Sazzle! 😀And what a yummy cake ( although I think the mars bar one was my fav!) I should have been graduating around now myself, but am stuck on the injury couch feeling a little sorry for myself. However, when I read these graduation posts the little fighter in me knows it will be my turn eventually! Enjoy your running.

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you Sandra - sorry to hear you're not good. Hope you're soon up and running again, I'm sure you will be

[danzargo Graduate]

Corrr! WOW! Brilliant! Amazing! And that's just the picture of the cake!!!

Seriously though, congratulations on completing the plan successfully. You are now a fully fledged member of the Graduate Running Club!

[Angel-Cake Graduate]

Very well done!! Throughly deserved!! What an achievement!! So happy for you!! 😁😁😁😁

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Angel-Cake]

Thank you Angel-Cake

[Sazzle44 Graduate]

Thank you Dugonga

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Many congratulations Sazzle. That's brilliant! Great photo and I love the shoes. With your talents I thought they might be a cake! Enjoy your evening and your future running adventures.

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank you irishprincess, and thank you for your supportc and lovely comments along the way. Funnily enough my last cake was a shoe - but a Laboutin, not much use for running!!!

[susiewoo75 Graduate]

Many congrats to you. I love those running shoes! Great colour. Keep on running we graduated in the same week!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to susiewoo75]

I know susie - how cool are we???

[sweetsyd Graduate]

Congratulations - I finish tomorrow and although I'm looking forward to it, I'm also looking forward to posting it on here and joining all the amazing people who took that first step on this fantastic journey.

[jenman1 Graduate]

Aw well done Sazzle, you deserve that cake.

I should graduate next week, and I am going to bake a cake as a treat, I love lemon drizzle cake. So next Saturday I hope to get up early go out and do my final run, then bake a cake and enjoy it, haven't had cake since Feb!

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to jenman1]

Good luck, but you know by now you can do it! I hadn't had cake for nearly a year despite baking nearly every day.......it was worth it though!! Go for it

[goonkeepgoing Graduate]

Well done. Many, many congratulations. That is a pretty impressive pace for graduation too

One Q: How have you managed to make your graduation picture look like a Valentine's Day photo?????

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to goonkeepgoing]

Lol - it's my love of running that does it!!!

[goonkeepgoing Graduate]

BTW - I am ssssoooooo going to cook that cake. Thanks for the recipe link

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to goonkeepgoing]

No problem - one tip though, be prepared to cook it longer than the recipe - mine too 2 hours 15 and was only just enough

[Miss_slinky Graduate]

Congratulations - it's an amazing feeling isn't it?! And nom nom that cake looks amazing!!! And who'd ever say no to a glass of bubbly - girl, I like your style!!

[mcgurranhouse Graduate]

Very well done - that cake was well earned! Congratulations.

[Sazzle44 Graduate in reply to mcgurranhouse]

Thank you!! I did enjoy that slice - although I'm so very good I've still got half the cake left

[happyharris Graduate]

Fantastic well done!!xx