My apologies for the dreadful picture which is part of a photograph that the (potentially) future Mrs. Balti snapped on a recent holiday.
I really had no idea of how much of a slob I'd become and seeing this, was a rather loud wake-up call so 54 days ago I started C25K with the intention of, if not completing it, then progressing as far as I could.
In the 1st week, I struggled to manage a full 60 second run but, in mitigation, I'm 63, I'd smoked for 40 years, I enjoy copious amounts of fish & chips and Real Ale (CAMRA Member) and and finally, as Exhibit A demonstrates, I was the wrong shape.
As time went by, I gradually improved and I sensed a light at the end of the tunnel. The light became brighter and brighter and then I realized it wasn't a light at all, it was my Graduation Badge receiving a final polishing by Laura's elves!
This morning, I completed my Graduation Run. I managed to run a full 5K although it took me 40 minutes and get this, even though I could have stopped after 30 minutes and still graduated - I actually wanted to carry on and do the full 5.
I have to thank the members of this site for their help, support, advice and encouragement. If not directly, then by reading about other people's triumphs and disasters as they progressed or sadly in some cases retired to the injury couch. I might still have made it without you but it was comforting to know that I wasn't alone in my suffering.
At this stage, most new graduates annoyingly say, "If I can do it, anybody can...", I know how much it irritates you to read it, "You can't say that, you're not me!" I would growl at the computer screen, so I won't say it.
Sorry, I have to, you can, and if you follow Laura, you will!
Written by
Usain_Balti
Graduate
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Fantastic achievement well done... I am guessing this is a before shot?? Is there an after shot?? Enjoy your running and you will continue to reap the benefits...
Congrats on the graduation run, and welcome to the club. I came across an article on this guy over the weekend and saw similarities in your stories. While you are a bit older than him, you are both inspirations to those people that are jolted into doing something positive about weight and fitness. Keep up the great work and see you on the running track someday.
Congratulations! Great graduation post, and while some of the tummy probably remains, I'm sure you're healthier and feel better for it. Hope the future Mrs Balti is proud of you
Sorry, I replied earlier but must've forgotten to click on the submit button - all the excitement I guess - I always enjoy reading your posts, you're always so cheerful. I look forward to the daily Email alerting me to new messages on this site, it brightens my day.
Well Done! ! Keep going and you will lose the rest of your belly. my guess us you will ditch the fags too as you will need every ounce of puff for your HM training. Your fiance will be happier with a slimmer, healthier new you ☺
Excellent work, and congratulation on both counts, chap! Keep up the good work. More miles = more ales. Longer runs = slimmer tums. Er, I'll stop with the rhyming there before it gets crude.
Great work fella. I don't know about you, but having shifted a similar amount of weight since starting C25k and watching what I ate/drank I can honestly say that beer tastes better when it's a treat!
Well done - great to see you get your badge, and even better to see you want to carry on and grab the 5k at the same time! See you at the Oxford HM if not before!
I just thought ONE of the congrats messages should come from someone WITHOUT a ' graduate' tag to his/her name so WELL done... from the lowly depths of week 4..
Well done UB. It seems that you have caught the running bug and that is a very good thing indeed
I'll suggest that you don't over do it after the joy of graduating C25K, although that's easy to say, and not so easy to do. You'll notice that most of us end up on the IC sooner or later after graduating. It's all part of the learning process !
I've recaptured, rather than caught the elusive running bug actually, it's escaped a couple of times.
Back in the 60s (shudder - am I really that old?) I represented my school in the cross-country team and ran with the local athletic club etc. but gave it all up when I finished my education.
Restarted about 5 or 6 years ago but retired to the IC with sore knees and hips almost certainly due to a change of running shoes.
This time I had GA in the first week of C25K and got some brilliant shoes - what a difference!
Overdoing warning duly noted. I'm continuing with the 5K distance for the next week or so before I even think of increasing it.
First of all I'm going to do a few more 5k runs to until I'm comfortable with it then start to increase the distance, take in a 10k or two and build up to a H/M in October.
I'm truly humbled by the love and support winging its way to me from beginners to Graduates far and wide.
When I took my first faltering stops of week 1 I had no idea that C25K was so widespread; it's an international caring network and long may it continue.
Each and every one of you deserves a pat on the back and big hugs and it's because of you lovely people that I'll have to carry on running now otherwise I'll feel I'm letting you down and betraying the faith you have in me.
It's really nice, isn't it? Very very helpful and i suppose as we've all been shimmied along, supported and nudged along the way in our time it's always good to welcome people into the fold!
You keep on running for YOU, squidge it into your daily life and reap all the benefits!
Cheers no-excuse, I'm registered with my local course in Oxford and I've printed off my barcode but we'll be visiting the Grandchildren in Bournemouth this weekend so if I can find the one down there, I'll run it.
Well done on your graduation. Keep up the running, but also keep up the CAMRA membership.
Not a Real Ale person myself - I'm from the Cider posse - but my interpretation of cider is that it's basically apple juice, so good for you and one (or often several!) of my 5 a day
Well done on seeing it through to graduation. If you are like me, you will see loads of benefits from being fitter and regaining all that vigour later in life, when others really are consigning themselves to the couch until their dying day. Congratulations, fellow runner.
I've suffered from a back problem for years but since dragging my sorry @rse off the couch I only have the odd twinge now. I'm also walking taller, eating healthier, losing weight - albeit slowly - but most of all I'm less of a grumpy, irascible old f@rt these days.
I didn't mean to divulge this but I feel safe doing so now.
18 years ago I had to take early retirement due to psychological issues involving stress / anxiety / depression and I became a timid shadow of my previously confident, gregarious, outgoing self.
Prozac had little or no effect on my condition but now, through running, I have a new life again and if anyone reading this is, or has been, going through anything like this then get your kit on and run.
There's a lot of truth in "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano", running really is quite literally a life and sanity saver.
Apologies for going all evangelical about it but as someone said recently, if C25K and Gait Analysis and subsidized Running Shoe purchase was available on the NHS, huge savings could be made in the Health Budget.
Great to hear that you are already feeling those benefits. The psychological ones were a bonus that I never took into account when I started. Actually it was me that suggested the subsidised gait analysis.......but that would be in a sane world, so..........
Honestly, I'm a happy bunny, the overwhelming messages of congratulations and support have really blown me away and I'll be around here for a while to put back something into this brilliant running community that has given me so much.
Unlike team sports, running is such an isolated pastime and it's so easy to become downhearted but getting the timely encouragement or @sskicking is all I need to get back on track. God bless every manjack and womanjack of you.
Belated Congatulations on that shiny new badge! It is a brilliant program...
Great to hear you are heading along to Parkrun - I'm another convert to these and love my Saturday morning fix of positivity! Hope you enjoy it! I love your attitude and your posts - don't be a stranger and good luck with the hm- might even see you there, this one is on my list for next year...
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Gutted
Gutted
Beer with caffeine?
Defeated by W6R3 - gutted 
5K in under 30 minutes! 
