Today I am dancing (Wk9r3)...

[atomicpiper]

First post here although I've been lurking and reading the forum for a few weeks now. Today I completed week 9 run 3! So pleased and even had the energy to do a little dance of glee at the end. It's taken 11 weeks with days away for work and holidays but I got there - slow and steady! I've been lucky having a small loch (lake!) near the house so have been doing circuits of it on my runs. Started the programme in the autumn and have run as the leaves have changed colour and the loch has frozen and thawed twice. I've run in the autumn sunshine, the pouring rain, frosty days and wind and have kept going and feel so much fitter, healthier and leaner for it despite all the aches and pains that have come and gone!

I'm so impressed with the programme as like so many others have said I never thought I'd be able to actually run for 30 minutes without keeling over but not only am I doing that I'm actually now enjoying it!

I saw a quote somewhere recently which said something like 'exercise should be a celebration of what a body can do, not a penance for what it has done,' which I think is a lovely way of looking at it. I know I so often have regarded exercise as a penance for being lazy or eating too many cakes but actually we should be celebrating whether we're walking slowly, running for 30 seconds or doing a full 5k that we're doing something positive!

To anyone reading who is starting out or working their way through - keep going, you absolutely can do it!

Think I'm going to go have a cup of tea and wee sit down now...

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Congratulations! - and what a beautiful place to run. Enjoy that amazing feeling.

[SlowWorm2016 Graduate]

Well done! Many congratulations and I am seriously envious of your beautiful running location

[Sadamski Graduate]

Well done! That looks fantastic.

[atomicpiper Graduate]

Thankyou! Starting to get a bit tired of running around in circles though so might try finding a few new trails now to mix it up a bit!

[Davoda Graduate]

Congratulations! Yes beautiful scenery & lovely to be able to track the changing seasons:).

[Tomas Graduate]

Big congratulations, and thank you so much for sharing. Your words and the picture is so uplifting and motivating. Thank you.

[Lessofme Graduate]

congratulations! and lovely scenery

[Hidden]

Beautiful picture! Beats running around the streets of London! Congratulations and happy running!

[Sofargoner Graduate]

awww congratulations!! I am further south than you but kind of pining for the trail round Loch Morlich as I look at your pic - great running surface, beautiful location and views. I am a week off graduating so I will hold that thought for Saturday!

[atomicpiper Graduate in reply to Sofargoner]

Oh yes, I've walked around Loch Morlich but never run it, will need to give it a go next time I'm up there. Good luck for the next week!

[achievingit Graduate]

Well done! Love the quote :o)