Thats "misterbrownesq - Graduate" to you...

[misterbrownesq]

And just like that it was done!

Taking on board lots of the advice I got in my last post, I headed out on Sunday morning having planned a new route I thought would be enjoyable, achievable and rewarding, and was delighted to find that I was right! Sunny, bright, calm...perfect.

For the first time in the whole programme I managed to run the full 5k (and a few wobbly steps more) and punched the air with both hands when my faithful companion Laura told me "That's it!". What a feeling! Relief, pride and exhaustion all rolled into one, and making the last nine weeks totally worth it.

What made it really special, is that I live near an old steam railway and at the weekend they had special "Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine" days. On my way back towards the start / finish point, the path i was running along took me alongside the railway tracks as a train (complete with face on the front) full of excited little kids and their families headed out for some fun. 25 minutes in to my 30 minutes stint - and flagging slightly - the engine tooted its whistle and i looked up to see lots of people waving as they rolled by in their carriages. Honestly, I was so happy I could have cried. I ran along smiling and waving back and I couldn't have felt better if i'd been breaking the tape at the finish line in the NY marathon.

I know we don't know one and other well at all, but I wish those of you who've taken the time to comment on my posts could have been there too. Thank you for helping me over the line.

[McFitty Graduate]

We were all with you in spirit! And talking of spirit...🍸🍷🎈🍷🎈🎓🎈🍷🎈🍷🍸CONGRATULATIONS ☺☺☺ @mrbrownesque-graduate!

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to McFitty]

Thank you McFitty !

[poppypug Graduate]

Lovely post Mister Brown !

Many Congratulations to you, that brought a little tear to my eye.

Happy Running to you xxx

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Thanks poppypug ! It's certainly a memory I'll treasure.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Congratulations graduate!

Sounds like a fantastic way to finish.

How do you know it wasn't all of us crammed on that train waving you on?

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

What a lovely thought Ullyrunner ! Thank you!

[Beelady Graduate]

Well done! What a lovely image and what an achievement. Enjoy!!

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to Beelady]

Thank you Beelady

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Congratulations toot toot.🎉🎉

You did it... and you have the badge to prove it. Good for your mrbrownesq😊😊

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you Bluebirdrunner !

[Irish-John Graduate]

WELL DONE Sir! Very well done indeed ☺

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Thank you Irish-John !

[PippiRuns]

🚂 🚂 🚂 Congratulations Mister Graduate! Beautiful run and even 5k! Hope you have celebrated properly and that there are postgraduate plans?

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to PippiRuns]

Ha ha ha!!! Thank you PippiRuns . My postgraduate plans are to work towards a 10k while keeping to a 3-run-per-week for 30 min/5k minimum in the interim. I'm planning on spending a bit of time trying to find the right bridge to 10k podcast series and then following it through. Oh, and I'm going to give a local ParkRun a bash too (I promised Hidden ).

I had my first postgraduate run today as it happens, and it felt pretty good. I was really getting twitchy after having a couple of days off

[PippiRuns in reply to misterbrownesq]

Great plan! Keep posting and join us in the Bridge to 10K forum, perhaps?

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

Well done, Mr Graduate! What a great way to finish - bet you won't forget that in a hurry! And now the fun starts - are you going to keep running with us?😈

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thanks JaySeeSkinny ! It was a pretty fantastic way to finish even if I do say so myself!

And yes, I'll be sticking around. I'd like to find another, similar programme to get me to 10k next. One thing at a time, a spot of consolidation first and then on to a local ParkRun!

[Hidden]

Many congratulations !

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Hidden !

[misswobble Graduate]

Ha ha, i'm singing Miss Brown to you 😊 Love that one ☺

What a wonderful graduation run with a victory lap with Thomas the Tank! Well done indeed . It was a lovely day wasn't it. I was out there too.

So what next Mr Brown? Laura's Stepping Stones podcasts? They are excellent. Weird but good!

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thanks misswobble ; I appreciate it I hope you enjoyed your run too!

Yes, I think it'll be the stepping stones podcasts while try to find a bridge to 10k podcast that'll work for me. I had my first post-graduate run earlier and enjoyed it more than I'd feared. I just listened to the week 9 podcast again (although without the stream railway accompaniment this time!)

[Giddykipper Graduate]

Well done misterbrown, what a lovely sounding final run, when I say final I mean in the programme of course.😀

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to Giddykipper]

Of course @giddykipper; I'll be sticking around for a while yet! And thank you!

[melly4012 Graduate]

Massive congratulations to you. I can feel your pride shine through your post. It's deserved too! What a lovely way for you to be pushed towards the finish line with a whole train load of children waving and cheering you all. Reaching the 5k too! Simply fantastic! Sounds like the most perfect of runs. Well done you! Your graduate badge looks brilliant.

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to melly4012]

Thanks melly4012! It's a while since I've been proud of myself so it felt extra special to get to the end of the programme. You'll know just how it feels. And yes, the audience was the icing on the cake!

[Steph88 Graduate]

Wow what a way to finish! Well done you!👏👏

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to Steph88]

Thanks @steph88! I'm looking forward to congratulating you on graduating soon! Stick with it!

[lightweightkate Graduate]

misterbrownesq what a great way to finish - quite bought a tear to my eye - you deserve to feel so good - really happy for you - congrats! 😀👏🎓

[misterbrownesq Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

Thank you lightweightkate , I was a bit overcome myself to be honest! I'm just about ready to take the smile off my face...actually...I might just leave it there for a little while yet

[misswobble Graduate]

I am crackers on Sami Murphy Bridge to 10k podcasts. Never leave home without em

I saw a fab train on my run today. The Belmont, pulling loads of British Pullman dining cars, as far as the eye could see! I wonder where it was going. Sigh ..........