end of term report...

[Anaverageman]

OK first bit out the way Wk 9 r1 went easy.. so I KNEW r2 would be hard.. ( and it was ) but I also knew I had done it already.. and all I had to do was coax these weary old bones around twice more.. decided to increase and DO 5k on final run.. ( well it IS called couch to 5 k after all) so, did walk first, then started running on introductory walk music.. final distance 5:02 k.. time ( well haven’t QUITE managed the task of running AND working out podcast AND running measuring thingy all at the same time.. and I forgot to look at phone immediately after finishing but 37 minutes ( not the original 27 i posted..lol I wish.. no wonder everyone was up in arms!! I am AVERAGE after all.. ) by the time I did.. so we’ll go with that. Rubbish time I know, but it was hot!!! And the main point was I DID run 5k

Want to thank...

Josh Clark who devised c25k originally in 1996 with his 50 year old mother in mind......( see interview with him.. globalmoxie.com/blog/c25k.s... )

NHS for taking it up...and pretending they had thought of it all along..but whoever decided to make podcasts.. They work so well (and its GOOD not having to worry about ‘distances or speed‘ just times.. run when she says run, stop when she tells you )

Laura for encouragement.. Bl**dy annoyingly cheerful all the time and I do wanna slap her at times.. But it gets you through...

People on the forum .. Get new shoes.. Get gait analysis done yadda yadda (you know who you are!!) but you DID help! If only you HAD said.. You see all these American tourists who wear running shoes as they walk around.. Wanna know why? Its cos you will NEVER get a more comfortable pair of shoes on your feet than well fitted running shoes.. I'd have signed up right away....

I also want to thank the many flies who have self-immolated in order to provide me with some extra proteins as I ran.

Things I have learned:

The programme DOES work.. so if you are reading this at ANY stage of the programme.. bear with it..you CAN do it!!

I cannot seemingly easily put one foot in front of the other AND take a pic/ video/ use a phone/cough/ seemingly open a sports bottle and drink, so even the terminally uncoordinated can manage it seems...

It will NOT always be easy.. it will not seem like fun. You will have good days/runs and bad days/runs. But you CAN do it!!

OH and NOW I can finally put my own music on and listen to something GOOD while I run!! (if I can manage the technological challenge) and get that TIME down..

Finally .. this process was done in memory of my late black Labrador.... who died 3 months ago aged 14.. so thanks to Sirius, now a Dog Star in the heavens somewhere……

Two great quotes to end on…

1.Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

2.After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

Both by Nelson Mandela

*sobs* I’m just soo happy * sniffle*

I also want to thank.

My agent,

anyone who ever met me,

my great-grandfather…

* is dragged kicking and screaming from the microphone*

[AncientMum Graduate]

Very well done m'dear. A great achievement. Love the Nelson Mandela quotes, both of which are very apposite. The only thing I'd take issue with is your assertion that a 27min 5k is rubbish -it isn't, and you know it! So pat yourself on the back, request your graduate badge and start planning your life as a c25k graduate (and ambassador, of course)

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

you are right shouldn't have said about ' rubbish' - but just because I felt it was for me.. doesn't mean it IS for anyone else- finishing is worthwhile whatever that means to anyone and I wouldn't want to put anyone off..

lol was 37 minutes!!!

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to AncientMum]

I'm an ' ambassador'? * gulp*

oh wait a sec.. does that mean i get ' Ferrero Rocher' at my dinner parties?

[Prune in reply to Anaverageman]

Oh Ambassador, wiz zis Ferrero Rocher you are really spoiling us.....

Well done on 5K, would have congratulated earlier but didn't see your post until now. I was at 39 mins immediately prior to injury, so 37 mins definitely not to be sniffed at.

Graduate badge looks great, btw. Hope you're out for a run today!

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Prune]

ran 5 k wed ( reduced time to 35 mins)

then again yesterday but runkeeper timing thingy didnt work properly.. which was annoying grrrr

[Mary_O Graduate]

Congratulations again.

And I am so with you on the playlist! I headed out this morning to The Avalanches and Steeleye Span on my warm-up, and no I'm not ashamed (much) of the S Club 7 though I possibly do need shooting for the Busted. But it was all mine! And not a sign of Julie!

You're right though, the podcasts are brilliant and I would never have thought I'd run 5k.

I do hope that you'll get to finish your acceptance speech when you do your first 10k.

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Mary_O]

10 k??? I've only just scraped past 5..

ok then.. its HAD to be....

youtube.com/watch?v=-X0EjwF...(Not working as expected?)

[Mary_O Graduate in reply to Anaverageman]

Sadly it was:

youtube.com/watch?v=vm262cX...(Not working as expected?)

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Mary_O]

Had to be!

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Mary_O]

You might like THIS then..

theatrepeople.com/news/2015...

apparently Paul cattermole to be IN the ' new' Rocky Horror Show' that's about to start!!

[gary_bart]

Fantastic post. Well done. And at least someone has now had the decency to thank the flies for their role.

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to gary_bart]

much under-rated source of nourishment along the way...

[aliboo70]

Wow! thats great news! very well done to you and your post is excellent, you persevered and made it through with determination and great humour!

I'm 100% sure Sirius is looking down on you very proud of how you've done i always think my Ruffdog would feel the same, maybe they are up there celebrating? Hope so!

balloons called for today i reckon, and maybe a well deserved celebratory drink tonight?? !!

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Finished it yesterday.... and EVERY Day calls for a well deserved celebratory drink in my book...wow!! I made it through another day without someone killing me!!

[Matilda99 Graduate]

A fantastic, inspiring and funny post!! Well done on all fronts.

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Matilda99]

W9r1 yourself.. so well done to you too.. not long now for you either!!

[ViaM Graduate]

Congratulations!!!

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to ViaM]

you are always welcome

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

As ever, a very amusing and today very moving, post! You had me welling up a little bit there at times and I'm sure old Sirius is smiling down and wagging his tail (dogs do smile don't they? I always think so anyway!)

Love the Mandela quotes too - as someone still struggling after injury, number one seems very apt to me personally at the moment.

Finally, 27mins is not a time to be sniffed at for a first 5K! Well done and good luck with your future running.

Sandra

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

well i have no idea if it was/is good or bad.. ( and really it doesnt matter after all it is ALL personal)

good luck on your recovery...

ps mistake was 37 minutes!!

[Hidden]

cracking post 27min 5K "rubbish time" ?? think your sense of achievement has addled your brain there haha, that's is a great time must have been down to the extra protein

Also I am going to nab both those so appropriate quotes

WELL DONE !!

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Hidden]

ooopss seen the mistake.. MY BAD.. was 37 minutes not 27!!! ( corrected)

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Love it... Great blog... And see, you are completely hooked.... So what's next?

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Probably get the 5k time under 30 minutes, I've started to go back to the gym again ( stopped while I was doing c5k ) , firstly stretch which I did tonight ( want to test out first if it improves my running tomorrow as much as it seemed to last week or just coincidence?) Next my upper body has gone to crap since I took up c25k so back to some weights in the gym... Once I've enough 5ks under my belt do a proper park run....then take stock..

[Idolitorus Graduate]

Aaahhh. Graduate badge *leans forward and strokes it* Precioussss....

[Anaverageman Graduate in reply to Idolitorus]

Be yours soon enough

[mfamilias Graduate]

Drat. I've turned up to the party too late. There's no cake left. I'm waving my pompoms for you anyway - well done! Your quotes are spot on. So now what's the plan? Just out and running with your own music and a big fat smile on your face? I bet Sirius is proud of you and is lifting a leg against the pearly doggy gates in your honor.

[Anaverageman Graduate]

well remembered re name... no since the ending of programme.. have done a few 5 k runs.. also got back to gym.. ( mostly stretching exercise classes which i love) and should get back to lifting a few weights too.. its finding the right balance between running, weights and strecth....without OVER doing it.. I AM merely ' average' after all..

ps I was stingy... no cakes after graduation... you didnt miss much!