Nope - not happening today....

[Irish-John]

Had a dentist appointment first thing this am so 'can't go' for run.

Came home from it - ton of things to catch up on so 'can't go' for run.

Park will be full of people at this late stage in am - so 'don't wanna' go for run.

It will be hotter now that any of the mornings I've run - so 'better not' go for run.

I've eaten breakfast which I never do before runnning - so 'not a good idea' to go run.

I'll have to change and shower again when I get back - so 'it's too much trouble' to go run.

This is the first day of TWENTY MINUTES CONTINUOUS running - so 'everything not right' to go run.

Sod it! Went Running.

Figured I would be miserable with myself if I did not do SOME running and also realised that I would have 'every excuse' not to 'be able to' do twenty minutes without a walk break.

So - call it a 'really not bothered if I run far or not' day, not even a 'practice' day.

Set off.

Damn that was a bit of an ordeal!

'You Did It' says 'My' Laura eventually.

Wow!

REALLY WOW! I FREAKIN' DID IT!

I took a moment to stand at the gate of the Park and really look at the 'vast expanse' and length of the pathway that is my route around it. (in reality its 'only' seven tenths of a mile and only two rather gentle inclines )

I really took time to think back to the first time it struck me that 'someday' I would be expected by the programme to run ONCE AROUND WITH NO WALKING BREAKS!

And today - ran it, without stopping, two and about a half times!

WOW!

It still hasn't really sunk in you know....and part of me is scared to death of getting 'too cocky' about it all because suddenly the 'four and a bit' times around I will do to get the 5k distance ticked off seems 'easily doable'

Two 'Forum Mantras' that are of huge support to me are 1) 'Trust the Programme' and 2) 'When it gets too tough slow down...and then slow down some more'

I think I now need to add a third lest I suck the fun out of this through competitive arrogance/self sabotage

3) 'Stay humble, Stay grateful - don't lose that sense of enjoyment and wonder at what you are achieving slowly but surely'

so - next is another r20 mins and then I think 'my' version departs from the UK one rather profoundly - it goes on with 25, 28, 30 and last but not least 35. (which is rather a relief because I thought I 'had' to do the last in 'only' thirty )

5 more 'Running days' - not in a million years did I think I would even be this close If, that very first day I had thought I would complete - always assuming I would not quit with frustration and boredom - w1 this fast I would not have fully believed it. Maybe three months is what I actually really believed - while also 'knowing' I would never complete it at all.

It's not JUST the programme - it's the Forum also that has me sitting here still trying to let it all settle in that I went from where I was June 1st to here - and the fun has not ended has it

thank you one and all

[RunningGeek Graduate]

Fabulous! Bet that's how you feel 😃

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to RunningGeek]

Maybe later - think 'In Shock' is more accurate right now

[lightweightkate Graduate]

What a fabulous post John and Well Done....you went and smashed it I'm doing W5 R3 Friday and I will read this before I go to give me courage.

You are sooooo right about the mantras - that slow and slower still thing has kept me going and so has this forum

I cannot count the times someones words from this forum have come to me when I am finding it tough and those words have just kept me moving and got me to the end

Congratulations - I am so bloomin' happy for you 😀

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

Thank you and will be cheering you on Friday

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

😀

[marco83]

Well done!!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to marco83]

Thank you

[Ellymeg Graduate]

Wow, that wonder feeling is fantastic and you earned it one step at a time. Good for you John, hug it close & enjoy, you're allowed. Happy day ✨✨

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Ellymeg]

Many thanks

[pollyp1 Graduate]

Go you

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to pollyp1]

again!

[Kmcm66]

Well done irish john. Go you 😊

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Kmcm66]

Thank you K

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Well done again John! I still marvel, 9 mths after graduating, at my body's ability to do something it was designed for! It's great this running bug, isn't it?

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

It truly is Thank you

[Hidden]

Well done Irish-John ! Proud of you! You have come such a long way!!! Keep going on your ambitious US. Programme and soon you will graduate! I have seven runs left on mine and still can't believe I might be able to run for thirty minutes.. That's half an hour!!!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I still can't believe I now run the first circuit of the park before I start getting a bit nervous about my progress It's an amazing programme isn't it

[NIGHTINGALE1 Graduate]

No sir, thank you. Not only have you achieved so much yourself but your contribution to this forum and your support of others is immense.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to NIGHTINGALE1]

That is a very kind thing to say Nightingale, I appreciate it

[dddd4 Graduate]

Such an achievement and now you will be able to see off any "can't do it today" thoughts. You are making great progress and will graduate after a handful of runs. I don't think it's cocky to look back and see how far you have come. Enjoy the feeling of achievement. You have got yourself to it. You deserve to feel good.😊

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to dddd4]

Ooooh I much prefer that perspective - feeling of achievement rather than cocky I think that is actually what I feel - and I sure could get used to it Thank you d

[PippiRuns]

Lovely post - I think we all know the process from "am not going to happen today" to "heck, I did it again"

[Irish-John Graduate]

Yep - and now looking forward to Wednesday and having more fun

[Vanessa291 Graduate]

I think your posts are great John. Very inspirational. Well done on your running you are doing great. 😄

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Vanessa291]

Thank you Vanessa

[McFitty Graduate]

Really, really, REALLY Wow! I remember your post about 'one day I'll be expected to get all the way round" and look at you now I'm so pleased that you've been part of my journey. It's another great thing about this programme and the forum, that because we're all on the same journey albeit at lots of different places, there is an amazing feeling of being able to be honest, without fear. We can all celebrate each other's achievements and inspire, commiserate, build up, question, answer. Liberating is what it is. Enjoy your next 20 minutes and all the longer ones to come!

[Irish-John Graduate]

We are all in this together - another bonus of the programme

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Superb post John.. it truly is amazing, this running lark..and no, the fun has not ended..it carries on... your way... and gets better and better. Today I sprinted for 180 m...last time I did anything like that I was 18!!!!! (66 now)!

Onward and upward and you are doing it wonderfully!!!!

[Irish-John Graduate]

Onwards and upwards Pal Thank you

[sparky66 Graduate]

Love this post! Brings back all the emotion of achievement.. we all felt.. hen the realisation sets in that.. somehow we ARE going to do this..

So keep on doing it.. stay determined. Positive..and I will look forward to cheering you over the finish line!!

X

[Irish-John Graduate]

Will Do!!

[aliboo70]

thats brilliant John! this forum is the best for motivation but you did that run off your own back and heading into the home straight! excellent stuff! love this post and the way you write!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Thank you Aliboo, made my day already reading your kind words ☺

[aliboo70 in reply to Irish-John]

That's good to know!😊😆all well deserved for your efforts!

[Rhedwr Graduate]

Thank you! I so needed to see that post <3

Haven't run for a couple of weeks, and lost all confidence, but will be heading out after work tonight with a new attitude.

Well done on your fantastic progress, and keep running - Week 9 will be here before you know it.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Rhedwr]

We will both Graduate Rhedwr, no doubt about it ☺ We are all Runners now and in this together 🙂

[Rhedwr Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

I have graduated - twice!! Some health issues stopped me running after my first graduation, and I did the whole plan again when I got a bit better. And re-graduated!

A part of the current mindset is due to the ongoing health issues, but part of it is just the bleedin' gremlins. They will not win!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Rhedwr]

Looks, sorry, did not spot your Graduate badge. How truly inspiring that you did it twice - that must have been a bit of a downer at first to go "back to the beginning" but the fact that you did it will ensure that if I ever have to, I will because once again I will know I am not alone when running just because I run by myself. Thank you 🙂

[LonelyWalker Graduate]

It is funny how the runs we dread the most can end up being the most rewarding, I wonder if I should start fretting about every one!! Very well done, that was another big gremlin squashed.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to LonelyWalker]

I think in the whole programme we start off being easy on ourselves in the sense we think in a weird way "I won't be able to do this anyway so no pressure".

Then we realise it just MIGHT be Doable and we get anxious to succeed and stress out at the prospect of "failing" and losing what we are part of here.

Then, for me, you get a day like yesterday where you think "damn it, I WILL complete this stage but just not today" and you forget about success/failure and just run not even conscious until afterwards when it really sinks in that NOW it is not only NOT about fast or far but even "time" is no longer the motivation....dang it, you are having fun!!! 😀

Took me a while to understand what I was really experiencing after yesterday's run but that was it. And now my nagging fear that I will get bored and lose motivation once I reach a point where I will be running "as far for as fast and as long a time as is possible for me so no goal to aim at anymore " has vanished 🙂

This programme is giving me an awful lot more than just an ability to run, it's opening a whole new perspective on what enjoyment can mean 🙂

So you are right, I think among the Road kill yesterday there was one enormous Celtic Gremlin which was certainly deprived of its third dimension lol 🤗

[poppypug Graduate]

This is such a brilliant post John , loved it....

I cried tears of joy after this run, to think that, me, who had smoked for 30+ years and drunk enough alcohol to sink a battleship could run non stop for 20 minutes, it was just so incredible . I knew then , that I had overcome a massive milestone in the programme and it hit me that YES , I was capable of completing the programme and so can you . Your post has just brought it all back for me .

Well done on a fantastic achievement, It is such a joy reading your posts and following you on your amazing journey xxx

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Thank you Poppy and it sounds like, in our former lifestyles, you and I might have danced together on the same Pub tables Lol However look at us now! By the Lord Harry we are Runners!!! Isnt life wonderful at the end of the day 😁

[poppypug Graduate]

Ha ha ! Ive fallen off a few Pub tables John

Amazing how we are turning our lives around for the better ! xxx

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to poppypug]

It's a gift ☺ No point in cleaning up our act without having some enjoyment as a result after all ☺

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Wow John.. 20 minutes in the bag. So proud of you😊😊 as your Laura is too!!

Its fantastic that you are only a few runs away from graduating... they may still be tough but you can totally do them as you know...

Slow and steady. Onwards and upwards...x

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

"Onwards and Upwards" and Thank You Jan ☺