Joining the graduate gang! : Well today was my... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,414 members158,564 posts

Joining the graduate gang!

50 Replies

Well today was my final C25k Run....... week 9 run 3! It was actually my 46th run (not bad for a 27 run programme) as I had restarted at week one after nine long weeks on the injury couch. Think that's made me a more confident runner though, and also more aware of injury and taking care of myself. My right leg is still heavier and tighter than the left and much more prone to twinges ! Five months to get here ! First run in March was a real struggle, couldn't do the 8 one minute runs... how far have I come!

Anyway all day yesterday and today I kept thinking about the run. Why is it that your graduation run becomes a thing to worry about instead of just enjoying? After all I had run 30 minutes twice now, so know I can do it! Felt rather envious of those heading out first thing today especially of @collywobbles53 who graduated this morning! But I prefer to run after work with a nice relaxed recovery evening ahead, so off to work I go. Quiet office day at my own desk, constantly checking this forum on my phone and thinking what lay ahead. Finished work an hour early (the joys of flexitime) and home feeling the wind buffeting the car. Changed into my running gear, drunk two glasses of water, checked the phone set correctly.. And I'm off,. After Saturday's key disaster hid my front door key in the cat shelter outside rather than take it with me,.. Nothing is spoiling this!

Five minute walk. I've had enough of you and Julie I sing. I'll miss her,, who would have thought? Up to the end of the village and time to start running. Usual faff with the phone to set Strava to measure my distance, and I am off. It's sunny. Was 16 degrees outside when I came home, but feels much cooler as it is windy. Not as bad as yesterday's gales though. I am lucky I think. How can people run in hot countries. Thank goodness for Scotland No rain likely either, plod plod up the hill( well gentle incline but it feels like a hill) passed the place where I dropped my key on the last run, and turn left down the overgrown track . plod plod. Following the same route as my last two runs so I know exactly what I am doing. Lots of puddles on the ground today to dodge round, and my goodness the plants at the side seem bigger and wilder than ever as they move round hitting me as I run past. Downhill here, but mustn't go too fast or I'll over do it. I can almost hear Laura warning me. Down to the ruins at the foot and turn round, looking up thinking why don't I just run on the flat! Up I go, grabbed a wild raspberry in passing first time!! My left arm - only wearing a short sleeved top today as it's warm- feels irritated by the plants pricking it so I swop sides so my right side gets ambushed instead . However the ground is muddier and puddlier there so I soon give up and move back. Half way there says Laura. Yay I think, all (figuratively ) downhill now. Up I go, reach the main road. Well I say main road as its not a track but it's still a farm road with moss and plants growing down the middle! But it's wider, so no need to caress the waving green things as I can run down the middle. ( it's virtually traffic free just an odd cyclist ). The big pink plants seem to be waving at me, I decide they are like all my C25k friends cheering me on and wishing me well., hello @Irishjohn I say, hello @McFitty! I'm off to join you on the very crowded Podium!

Down to the end and my pastel coloured hay bales. Turn round - ten minutes to go says Laura. Not long at all I think. Shall I speed up?? No no don't be silly you want to finish! Plod plod. And finish I do, stop Strava , and see I covered just 2.3 miles (3.7k) so a long way of the magical 5k but hey ho, who cares... I've done my best and am now one of the C25k graduate gang !!

I shout this out - no one is around but I am sure you all heard me - and take a photo of my shadow with my thumbs up, as I am now a shadow of my former self! I can officially run for thirty minutes!!!! Thank you Laura and thank you fellow C25k ers past and present who have inspired me, advised me and encouraged me on the way. You are all amazing!

50 Replies
Susojan profile image
SusojanGraduate

Well done! What a victory and a lovely record of the event for you to look back on when you're running marathons!!

in reply to Susojan

Ha ha! Not up for that but my aim was to be fit at fifty and if I keep this up I might be!!

Trixamme profile image
TrixammeGraduate

Where is the love button when you need it!

Huge congratulations and so very well deserved. 😊

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate in reply to Trixamme

💓congrats to you too Trixamme ! See that chair, just there, next to the fizz and cake? That's yours. ☺☺☺woo hoo the pair of you!

Trixamme profile image
TrixammeGraduate in reply to McFitty

Thank you! I think I'll pass on the cakes tonight after my pizza fuelled weekend but I'm sure later on in the week I'll be treating myself.

in reply to Trixamme

Ooh I'll have yours!!

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate

Oh my gosh! Fizz, cake, balloons. Chair with your name on up on that podium! 🍸🎈🍸🎈🍸🎈🍸👍👍👍

Are you wearing that smile that goes all the way round?

Bask in the applause👏👏👏👏👏how far you've come, you Graduate!!!

in reply to McFitty

I'm smiling ridiculously tonight!!

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate in reply to

And rightly so :)

in reply to McFitty

It's amazing isn't it. In March when I started I could only do two of the one minute runs the first time!!!

McFitty profile image
McFittyGraduate in reply to

I know... 30 minutes solid running, you just can't imagine it being possible when you start.

in reply to McFitty

I know. One of the things I'm going to do soon is run round the village the route I did early on with all the walking breaks!!

JaySeeSkinny profile image
JaySeeSkinnyGraduate

Congratulations! A lovely graduation run - something you'll never forget. Now you can run however you want and the real adventures begin. But first enjoy that feeling of success! A huge well done💐🍾🍸

Ullyrunner profile image
UllyrunnerGraduate

Congratulations! Now you really can relax and just enjoy your running!

pollyp1 profile image
pollyp1Graduate

Wonderful ... and welcome!

MichaelH070862 profile image
MichaelH070862Graduate

Congratulations on your graduation run well deserved

brightspice profile image
brightspiceGraduate

Many congrats @HilaryC! Enjoy the feeling! You did it!!!!!

in reply to brightspice

I did. ! Feeling very smug!

jojo57 profile image
jojo57Graduate in reply to

And why not? Well done - and enjoy the smugness i say!

lightweightkate profile image
lightweightkateGraduate

Wonderful...So happy for you. What a journey this is. 🎓🎉😀🏃

in reply to lightweightkate

Soon be you here grinning from ear to ear!

lightweightkate profile image
lightweightkateGraduate in reply to

Look at your badge :-) x

in reply to lightweightkate

I am!!!!( Basks in self congratulations)

OldPossum profile image
OldPossum

👏👏🍾🍾🍸🍸🎂🎂 woohoo. Well done. Celebrate in style and I look forward to reading an equally lovely post after your first free run 😀😀

Good shadow picture by the way. Hope yours behaves and doesn't mock you like mine does 😀

in reply to OldPossum

Thank you! Hey A have you seen the hips on that shadow photo? Huge huge huge.

OldPossum profile image
OldPossum in reply to

You haven't seen mine. Maybe we should stand on our heads for the photo then we'd have big boobs and slim hips 😳

in reply to OldPossum

That Is such a good idea! Except I'll fall down hurt myself and not able to run...

OldPossum profile image
OldPossum in reply to

Good point 😀

CentralPark profile image
CentralParkGraduate

Well done you! Sounds like the perfect graduation run! :) xx

BoltonGnome profile image
BoltonGnomeGraduate

Loved reading your post! So pleased that you did it. I agree that it's odd how the gremlins start before a final wk 9 run. Seems to happen to most of us. As if we can't believe how far we've come - metaphorically speaking.

I see McFitty is tempting you with cakes!

in reply to BoltonGnome

She is trying to weigh me down!

Biscuit0107 profile image
Biscuit0107Graduate

Congratulations Hilary 🎉🎉🎉🎉🍾🍾🍾🍾🍸🍸🍸🍸💕💕💕💕

And a lovely post, I felt I was there with you xxx

in reply to Biscuit0107

You were one of the rosebay willow herbs waving in the wind!!

Well done.

wallruns profile image
wallrunsGraduate

Congratulations

NIGHTINGALE1 profile image
NIGHTINGALE1Graduate

Well done Hilary, many congrats on completing the plan. Good luck with the rest of your running.

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Hilary , YOU are amazing !

Many Congratulations to you on your Graduation , a fantastic achievement !

I hope you enjoy wherever your running takes you from here , it's only the beginning !

Well done GRADUATE !!! :-) xxx

PippiRuns profile image
PippiRuns

Looking great with that badge next to your name, Hilary! You have really deserved it! Congratulations 🏃♥️🏆🍾🎉🎈👏👍

Shivani05 profile image
Shivani05Graduate

Congratulations! :)

npr70 profile image
npr70Graduate

Congratulaions!! Brilliant achievement! I'm slightly behind you - two left to go!

in reply to npr70

Ooh so nearly there! Look forward to seeing you graduate very soon too!! It's a fab feeling!!

Natasha-H profile image
Natasha-HGraduate

Fantastic! Congratulations:)

boptillyoudrop49 profile image
boptillyoudrop49Graduate

Congratulations Hilary! Well done perservering through to the end. Keep running and find some time for us if you can.

RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSue

Well done Hilary

Vanessa291 profile image
Vanessa291Graduate

You're amazing Hilary. Well done and congratulations 🌟🍾🌟🍾🌟🍾

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate

HURRAH AND CONGRATULATIONS!!! Smiling like the Cheshire Cat here :) Well done and richly deserved you :)

in reply to Irish-John

Hee hee it's such a great feeling isn't it!!!

Aww well done Hidden you have fought and won :)

melly4012 profile image
melly4012Graduate

Congratulations! You did so well to keep the motivation to come back after injury. Your badge looks great!! :)

Ellymeg profile image
EllymegGraduate

Lovely run, so enjoyed it, the raspberry must have been delicious. Amazing story of dogged determination winning out. You are a runner and that G-run sounded fab. Love the sparkly badge it twinkles so well and suits you. 🍸🍸🎓🎓🍾🍾🍾 well done you🍹🍹🍹

You may also like...

Joining the Park gang and getting to 5K

period of consolidation with this running lark. After a strange first week off the rains without...

I've joined the graduates!

than I was about running. Apparently they make you cycle until you are ready to fall off the...

Graduation Run!... Done it :)

have finished and graduated. My legs now feel like they need a holiday! Thank you to you all for...

Back on the rain gang: W6R2

may as well get less wet and run early today.. I know @[535988] likes to run earlier than me, so...

Where is the old gang?

the banter so much. My life has lost all meaning and I'm thinking of contacting the Samaritans!