Yes, I did it! I actually managed to find the time this afternoon to get out on my final run of the C25K plan and (despite those doubts) I completed the full 30 minutes.
I have quite a lot of emotions going on at the moment for lots of reasons. I'm obviously chuffed to bits to complete the C25K plan, which was a journey I've been on for the last few months in order to build up my (previously non-existent) fitness. However, I'm also feeling quite emotional today, because it was this exact day (Nov 26th) that my lovely Dad passed away just weeks after his 66th birthday. This is not to mention having to go to my cousin's funeral on Thursday, (and she was only a few months older than me).
Anyway, I don't want people to be feeling sad or sorry for me, as I feel quite blessed with what I have and where I am in my life at the moment. I'm also proud of myself for getting off my a$$ and actually completing the C25K plan. My Dad would have also been very supportive and proud that I actually stuck with it, so I'm glad I finally completed it on this day in particular. If anything, it's actually made it an extra special day for me and I can promise everybody, I did not plan this to happen. In fact, I really thought I would still be struggling with it approaching Christmas week. So I'm feeling really pleased at the moment for completing it...and we are still not in December yet!
About my final run...Well, I decided to take a different route (I was trying to avoid those dreaded hills! lol), and after running for around 15 minutes I did have my doubts about managing to complete the full 30 minutes non-stop because my last run was way back on Monday (Nov 21st). It's been one hell of a hectic week again, with so many things going on, such as my usual long night shifts at work, but also my cousin's funeral on Thursday. That was the day I was actually due to do this last run (I had Tuesday & Wednesday as rest days) but then I heard the funeral was that afternoon, so it got delayed again. I then thought about doing it yesterday afternoon, but after the funeral (and following that, the wake on the evening) I still had my night shift to do and so I got to bed mid-morning and by the time I woke up in the afternoon it was already dark. I was still knackered and definitely not in the right frame of mind. So, the final run gets delayed yet again! I'm thinking to myself that I'm going to have to probably repeat this week if I have to delay it any more. Anyway, I managed to get up a little earlier today (and didn't feel like a 90 year old...maybe around 80 instead! lol) So, today's the day I thought (despite not really feeling full of enthusiasm) and so I put on my running gear and grabbed a bowl of cereal. Then, after watching a little tv while eating my cereal, I ventured out into the cold clear day (still not feeling motivated if I'm honest). It was indeed quite a cold day when I got outside, but it was actually nice, still and clear with no real prospect of rain so on the whole it was ideal for running in. This didn't really help much at the time because I was still on auto-pilot from when I got up, knowing that I really do need to get this final run out of the way while I have a chance to, before it's too late. Before setting off I quickly checked Google Maps for a new route and found what I thought would be a perfect new route without any inclines. In fact, the whole route looked as though it was going down hill, so I thought that will do for me! Well, after turning off the first main road that I was running alongside, I had to run 'slightly' uphill as I passed our local small football club grounds and then I followed a wide cycle way/footpath downhill. And I mean 'downhill'
I had to actually make an effort in order to stop myself going too quick down this hill which wasn't what anyone would call *really* steep, but when you're running, it does make a lot of difference. About half way along this wide path it then turned into an old country lane with a gate at the end of it. Luckily I didn't have to stop as the gate was open, but at this point it was pretty much all uphill until I reached another cycle way/footpath off it. From there it levelled out again (thank heavens!) At this stage, my legs were getting very tired and they were constantly sending messages to my brain requesting me to stop running. Fortunately, I was still (just) in control of my own brain at that point and was able to override those requests from my legs to stop, and I actually managed to keep going enough to find a decent steady rhythm, which saw me through to when Laura finally announced I had finished. I was so relieved I can tell you!
So, there we are. I have now graduated from C25K. And as you can imagine, I'm quite obviously chuffed to bits, as I sit here now with my nice mug of tea writing this, having just had a really nice shower and knowing how far I have come from just a few months ago when I struggled with running for 60 seconds.
As you can see from the log, I actually managed to extend my distance once again slightly and made another PB of 3.81km in the 30 minutes. Again, I wasn't looking to do this, I just plodded on with the run in the hope of simply completing it and so to complete yet another PB is most definitely a great bonus.
I would like to thank every single person on this great forum who have given me so much inspiration and encouragement over the last few months. (I was going to mention all of you, but that would just be a very long list and wouldn't make for good reading by others on here, but you all know who you are anyway). I mean it when I say that without all of you I would not have done this. You all need to feel good about yourselves for helping me to achieve this, you really do. I didn't do this alone, and in fact I couldn't have done this alone. So, Thank You everyone.
All of you now have a place in my heart.
Lee. x