I've DONE IT!!! 👏🏻🏃🏁😃

[Hafaaf61]

Just completed my 3rd 30 minute run of week 9. I am so excited😀. When I started this all those weeks ago i never truly believed I'd be able to run 30 minutes without stopping and I've just done it 3 times. I think I can officially call myself a runner now? My next goal is to gradually increase my pace and build to the 5k. I had absolutely no idea how far I was running in the 30 minutes until today when I used my new fancy watch for the first time. I thought I might be running between 2 and 3k in the time but it was 3.72, so a little better than I thought. I am really looking forward to running with my own playlist from now on.

I promise you that if I can do this truly anyone can!!! Thank you everyone for all your support. It has made a massive difference to my runs and encouraged me when I've been doubting myself - every time.

Rachael

PS How do I get the graduate tab after my name?😉

[AvatheGardener Graduate]

Congratulations! Time for a celebration! What an achievement- you really are a proper runner now

Click on 'graduation badge October 2015' under pinned posts, and reply with your name and that you have completed week 9 run 3 and hey presto within a handful of hours your name will bear a Graduate badge

[Hidden]

Hurray ! - congratulations That's brilliant and you must be feeling really proud !! And you're not far off the 5k distance either so you should soon be able to work up to it - imagine that !!

Not sure about the graduate tab - I think there's a pinned link to an 'October Graduate badge' thread that you post a request into ? As I'm just about to finish week 7 I'm not at that lovely stage yet of being able to ask for a badge - soon, soon !!!

[Tomas Graduate]

Yay, congratulations! Well done you!!

[simonwilliamstutor Graduate]

Brilliant! Congratulations!

[Steve_L Graduate]

Well done, and welcome to the "graduate" club!

A suggestion - don't worry about your pace yet. Just run your 30 minutes, then gradually increase the duration of your run until you reach 5k. Don't overstretch yourself, just listen to your body and run further while feeling comfortable. The pace will pick up as your fitness increases further.

Have you thought what you're going to want to do with your running now you've graduated?

[Hafaaf61 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Thank you. I want to aim for 5k then do a park run but I will be sensible and increase at a careful amount. 😀

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Hafaaf61]

No need to be too cautious, just be aware if you're pushing yourself too far. Having done your 30 minutes, you could probably run gently on now to complete 5K. It should only be perhaps another 10 minutes.

[Hafaaf61 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Yes I thought it would be about that and I'll probably do it 5 more minutes at a time. It'd good to have a new goal.

[MarlyParly Graduate]

Ooh congratulations!!!! Super work & not a shabby distance for a newbie. Bit of bubbly tonight eh? Well done that girl!!! Xxxx

[susie_bourne Graduate]

Congratulations, that's great, I bet you feel amazing, next goal 5k !!

[tara-j Graduate]

Well done! Looking forward to hearing how you get on post grad, keep at it.

[poppypug Graduate]

Congratulations to you ! The worlds ya lobster !

Well done on a fantastic achievement ! xxx

[sarah469 Graduate]

Well done Rachael!!

[Mat30 Graduate]

Congratulations, its well worth the hard work. Keep smiling and keep on running!

[laurav33 Graduate]

Yay. Well done!!!!!