What a journey...from a running sceptic to a convert

[arracka]

I have been fairly quiet since my last post, but just wanted to share with you lovely runners and runners-to-be that my running buddy and I completed W9R3 yesterday. Woohoo! Still hard to believe that I can now actually run for 30mins quite comfortably (minus the first 5 to 10 minutes of course which are always a struggle). But what's even more important, and surprising to me, is that I actually enjoy it!

When I started this journey, I must admit, I was a total running-sceptic. The way I saw it, it was 'them' (i.e. freaky runners) and little old me. Now, at the end of the C25K program running has slowly become part of my life. And on reflection, I think the 'slowly' bit has been the magic ingredient for me. There are other running programs that get you to 5K in 6 weeks or less. But what I liked about the C25K is that it builds up your stamina very gradually, focussing on the time you continuously run, rather than speed, so not body boot camp style at all (doesn't mean it was easy!).

I started this program to prove to myself that I could run if I wanted to. But I never expected that somewhere along the transformation process I started to enjoy myself. Now I can't imagine not running on a regular basis. So this is really the beginning for me. My wonderful running buddy (who I couldn't have done this without, so thank you hopefull_runner) are registered for a 5M run in August. We are about to have a celebratory lunch to mark our achievement and plan for the next part of the journey. Thanks to all the encouraging words and tips on the forum. And to anyone just starting the program: it may seem like a long way away right now, but trust me, you too will be able to run for 30 min at the end of this program - no matter what your level of fitness is at the moment. Just steady on, keep going even if you have a bad run (we all have them) and before you know it, you too are a Graduate.

Good luck to all!

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

Congratulations and well done, arracka.

Enjoy your celebratory lunch.

[Pigivi]

Well done, celebrate the graduation and don't forget to get your badge!

[Anaverageman Graduate]

well done and congratulations to BOTH of you!

[useitorloseit Graduate]

Lovely post. Congratulations both of you x

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Congratulations! I hope you are both feeling very proud of yourselves.

[aliboo70]

thats excellent, well done to you and your buddy

[Tomas Graduate]

What a wonderful post. Thank you so much Arracka for sharing your story! And you're totally right, it does become a habit, doesn't it? A wonderful, healthy, good habit to be proud of.

Congratulations with the graduation. Well done you

[Golddust Graduate]

Congratulations ! Great post

[Hidden]

superb, big congratulations on your achievement and your running buddy

we have another convert it is amazing how it slowly or more suddenly starts to take over your life and how bloody amazing is that good luck and enjoy all your furture running adventures