I called myself LightWeightKate on this forum, as I am one of those people that think I can do anything in life and often underestimate the amount of work that goes into achieving things. Therefore I start something and after finding it a bit tough or boring…give it up…hence the “Light Weight” moniker
In my work life, I have been very successful and enjoyed a varied and fabulous career and in this area the moniker doesn’t apply.
But my early personal life was a bit different.
My mother was a beautiful, tall, blonde and leggy woman who I think found me a disappointment because I was short, brunette and tubby. She hid her disappointment in “jokes” about me, in front of others and me – she still does it.
My father also finds it funny to make fun of me. They were, and are still, obsessed by how people look, not who they are. Don’t get me wrong, I know they love me in their own way, but I am not quite what they “expected” as a daughter in the early years.
This is where my gremlins come from.....I am sure of it
It took me until I was in my 30’s to shake this off and start to appreciate that I was my own person and was loved by a special few, for who I was, not what I looked like. And that gave me huge confidence and finally, peace.
At 50, I am very happy with who I am now - trust me!
I started this programme because I had a wake up call from my doc. I really didn’t think I could do it and boy, I have found it so tough. I know my posts have sounded funny and lighthearted at times but I have found it a real challenge and most of my runs have been really hard work.
I joined this forum at the start of my journey and it’s been you, and my beloved running companions that have encouraged me and got me through this.
My fabulous virtual friends, who have encouraged me, kicked me up the butt, supported me and helped build my confidence.
In my graduation run, I am going to run for you all – all you amazing graduates and those still on their C25K journey. I will imagine you all at my finishing line, with your positive thoughts, comments, support and laughter.
Laura told me a while ago that running is a mental challenge not just a physical one and I think I understand that now.
I have telling myself all day today to have a positive mental attitude about my graduation run.
So tomorrow I will run with my head held high knowing that I will, for once, complete a personal challenge and it’s one I really, for once, want to continue.
I’m no fool.
I know it’s my body that has pushed one foot in front of the other but believe me, it’s you, yes you, that have helped me get to this point, and for that I thank you.
I am out early tomorrow and I hope that I will be asking for my shiny badge mid morning ☺
No response needed on this post please –this is just a bit of late night rambling.
To be honest I really need to bloody man up as I have “my marathon” to complete in September!!
Normal light hearted service will be resumed in the morning x
Written by
lightweightkate
Graduate
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Beautiful post, and of course we're here for you. We're all here for each other and that's the beauty of this forum. When I get up tomorrow you will already have your badge - but that's when the adventures just start. Sleep well!
I'm just on my way to bed but wanted to reply and say to you that you will run with your head held high tomorrow . You should be so so proud of yourself , and of course we will all be there for you at that virtual finish line .
There's nothing at all "lightweight " about you Kate . You have done brilliantly and here you are , on the starting line for your Graduation Run !
Good Luck Kate , go out and nail it ! xxx
All for one and one for all!! Let's see that graduation post tomorrow! We will all be cheering you can on
complete it or not in the morning - you are a winner Kate. You have what an old boss of mine called a 'Shining Soul' - you know whats important about people and now you have found out what is important about you.
Don't let that head of yours do anything but be held high my friend
I think after you finish your run you should change your name to light foot kate as you will have glided through the miles with far more ease than in the beginning, to reach the heady heights of the graduation podium! Congratulations in advance!
Despite the cruel jibes that you may have experienced over the years, the fact remains that you have put in the training over the weeks, allowing you to 'toe-the line' with a sense of pride.
Regardless of the time you post, you ought to be proud of what you've accomplished, using it as a springboard towards a new phase in your life.
The beauty of running is that the 'high' experienced afterwards rarely ever disappears, hence why so many people continue to lace up their trainers and head outdoors.
Aww. Thanks for joining our wonderful community. We'll all be with you in spirit tomorrow. It's an emotional run. Embrace it - you've earned the right to be proud.
Like Poppypug reading this post has made me well up. You said you were off early this morning so if you read this before you go I wanted you to know that I too am up and about early and although this is not a running day for me I am with you in spirit on your graduation run. If your smile is as wide and bright as mine was at the end you will shed happiness wherever you go today. Go Kate go 😀😀😀
Morning Kate! Up and at 'em kid! This is all down to you sticking with it and believing in yourself! Laura and our forum gang are but a helping hand along your journey.
Enjoy and embrace your success! I look forward to your next, post graduate post 😀
What a touching post. You have been able to overcome how others define you and that takes a lot of emotional intelligence. So glad you are happy with who you are and that you can achieve things in life not least the c25k. Hope you can hear the cheering from far and wide as you complete your run today! 😀
Brilliant !!! Well done , you are a winning star , we will all be with you on your run tomorrow , get that head of yours held up high you so deserve it .
Congratulations for tomorrow , you are such a sweet person , you deserve it .
I admire your spirit - proving to everyone, especially yourself, your worth. We're cheering you on this morning. Go Kate!
Awww lightweightkate how can people not respond to this. So i got up was sat having a coffee and started reading this and felt every emotion possible with a smile on my face right at the end
Thank you for sharing and I haven't been on here long but you've already inspired me to keep going from when I was throwing a wobbler on wk1.
I have got everything crossed for you for your graduation run except my eyes of course cause last time I did that I walked into a door silly me hope you have fun and you will smash it 👍
I can totally sympathise with you on a lot of your personal points Kate. Family can be spiteful, I won't bore you with mine! But suffice to say, one day You wake and make some changes in your life....friends are the family we choose!!
You should be very proud of yourself, no one else can do this for you, it's definitely a mental challenge as well as the physical, no body can take this achievement away from you.....
I never thought I could do this, W1R1, fat, unfit and 54, could I run for just one minute, no way, and here I am, fitter, less fat, still 54, and on W7R1 in the rain last night with my high viz hoodie!
Stick with it lady, you are amazing, you are a runner!!!!
Good luck, best wishes.....👟👟👟
Aw that's such a moving post. You have done so well and I have loved following your progress. Hope the graduation run goes smoothly and yes change your name to light foot Kate!
It takes heart, head and a forward motion to get to the graduation line Kate. You have it all, everyone of us has a different path to the sparkly badge and you are on your way.......
This forum is a really safe place to be to face our challenges as every one has been there too, but with their own range of mountains to climb!
Sitting here waiting for you to cross the line, go girl go! Sitting.......waiting......😀
Ooh eye leaking moment there... I can't add to what's already been said Kate. We all know 'you', your lovely personality, your doggedness, your humour and we're all right here, ready to celebrate with you. Name change to Light foot, as someone already said! 🏃🏃🏃
You got us all tearing up, Kate! Another example of how running - in combination with a supportive forum like this one - changes lives Love it! Your badge is waiting for you.
As the old saying goes...you can choose your friends but you cant choose your family...be proud and smile at the family of friends who are cheering you on and who are so proud of you for what you have achieved today. Go like a thunderbolt lightfoot..
All the best this morning you will have truly deserved your badge so what if it took you longer and you fought your gremlins every time you went out. At the end of the day you showed you had the spirit in you to get through and finish
No 'light weight' to be seen when reading that Kate. Sounds like you've faced loads of challenges in your life. It's not always about the 'finishing'. But as I'm around the same age and just about a week behind you, I've been seeing you on the distant horizon, I know what you mean about the great support on here to keep going...in fact you've been one of those supporters for me so thank YOU and hope you have a great run and I'll be there with the others waving and cheering as you reach the finishing line. What brilliant achievement!!! 😊
Fantastic post! I have tears in my eyes as I type Kate - running helps us kick a fair few demons into touch, I think. Good luck with that final run - will look out for your next post!☺
Lightfootkate ( TM (c) (R) Simmypie Industries) seems to be agreed by all as your new name
So how did it go Kate? Did the gremlins wail and gnash their teeth as you laughed in their faces and then ground them into the dust and left them behind!?
Beautiful post, you are a strong person and you have overcome some big challenges in life. The running is the icing on the cake, embrace your new found ability and enjoy it
Oh you touched something there that I've been mulling over for a few days now about why the C25K programme and this forum is so good.
There's loads of fabulous support here but... or rather... *and* it is real support, not unthinking noisy cheerleading. We can do thinking noisy cheerleading when that's the right thing to do... but we *will* hold people to account, we *will* hold up a mirror not to the way people look outside but to what is going on inside....because we know the profound benefits that come not just from acquiring the running habit (there are after all lots of ways to do that), or just being active (there are even more ways to do that), but from completing the programme, every step of it. The benefits go way beyond physical fitness.
Thank you for your two, pre and post, graduation posts. They could usefully be read by everyone who starts or is thinking of starting.
I have just returned from a weekend away and have just seen this. Made me well up and I hope you completed your run this morning. I too have had gremlins from my childhood because I was never quite good enough. Like you it took many years to work all these out of my system and like you I am happy with who I am now. So good for you and I for one am so glad we all have each other on here. Simply because when we're running we don't feel like we're on our own out there. x
Thank you all for your replies. I really did think this would go under the radar and I just wanted, more for myself really, just to say a few things out loud. You are all stars 🌟
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xxx
silly me 
Flying High Now! 
Glasgow run
Woo hoo I am a graduate...so delighted I've actually done it🥂😁
OMG W5R3 done - emotional & grateful!
I am loving this!(?!?!)
