Lovely graduation run

[Raven2016]

I had a beautiful run today. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, the paths have defrosted and were much nicer to run on. I headed down the hill in my warm up walk, got to the park gate and headed off...first on the proper sandy track past the rugby pitches, then through a woody patch running alongside allotments on one side and a river the other. I saw a heron and what I am going to believe was a water vole and not a rat (!). The vole dived into the water as soon as it heard me, but the heron just stared for a second then went back to watching the river very intently. At this time of year, the allotments are mostly under black plastic, although someone has a beautiful bay tree in theirs- it pokes through the fence so I always brush it as I go past to get the scent.

Then a jog once round a small formal garden bit, before heading back towards home. Laura told me I'd finished, so I looked at the mapping gizmo-I only had 100 metres left to a full 5k! So I ran on with the phone in my hand counting down with a big silly grin on my face (my granny would have told me off for not looking where i was going). Fortunately I didn't fall over ...and I ran 5k in 31minutes and twenty seconds. Amazing!

So..I'm off to get my graduate badge, going to join the wild party in the graduate pavilion, and then get ready for park run....

Thanks to everyone on here. The positivity and warmth leaps off the screen, and has been so helpful. I wouldn't have got this far if I hadn't been able to read about other people's struggles and triumphs, so thank you all!

[Millsie-J Graduate]

Brillient run, well done graduate, 5k too and in a great time! Time to party🎓🍾🌟🏅🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Thank you!

[misswobble Graduate]

Well done. That run sounds perfect 🤗

Congratulations 😀

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Thank you!

[Mollydex Graduate]

Your run sounds so lovely , congratulations on graduating , enjoy your well deserved party

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Mollydex]

Thank you...you are of course invited...please do have a lovely virtual canapé!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

What a lovely run and huge congratulations on graduating!🎉🎉👏 Best of luck with the next stage of your running journey.🙂

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks. I'm going to do parkrun next...and download an app called zombies run! According to my friend its interval training and the zombies get louder in your ears if you don't run fast enough. So I will be screaming across the park...hee hee hee!

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to Raven2016]

Oh, I like a bit of Zombies! Run! occasionally - use it when I run in the dark for a little atmosphere!!😮

[Davoda Graduate]

Fantastic - well done. Sounds a perfect run to graduate on. And a great time too. 😀🎉👍🎓

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Davoda]

Thank you!

[CookieM Graduate]

Wow - fantastic! And a 5k as well!

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to CookieM]

Shhhh....I was doing my "downhill " route... Wasn't going to do the flat one, let alone the uphill one today! #secretofmysuccess

[CookieM Graduate in reply to Raven2016]

I won't tell! 🔇🤐😉

[McFitty Graduate]

A 5k and a graduation badge - double celebrations!

I wish there were more interesting superlatives available...I'd splatter them everywhere. But fabulous, amazing and brilliant will have to do for now

I've put a couple of crates of fizz under the tree and there's cake too and some of those party popper things. (hubby and I are dancing round and shouting 🌟🌟CONGRATULATIONS🌟🌟 at the tops of our voices).

Really really well done and enjoy the incredible feeling

🌟🎈🎊🎉🍸🍷🎂🎓🎂🍷🍸🎉🎊🎈🌟

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to McFitty]

You two are such groovy movers! Thanks for coming to the party !

[AnneDroid Graduate]

Oh brilliant Raven. What a lovely beginning to 2017! Congratulations.

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to AnneDroid]

Thank you! Still grinning and telling people that I have run 5k as part of the "did you have a nice xmas..am dead casual bout it!"

[Flossie22 Graduate]

Oh well done you! What an excellent post, a fabulous graduation run and now it's time to party before your parkrun on Saturday. What an excellent time too! I bet you're feeling fantastic, aren't you? 🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏻😀😀🎓🎓🍾🍾

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Flossie22]

Thanks Flossie, I am grinning at everyone, still, and especially at the runners I see on the way to work. They seem to be a bit alarmed!

[Flossie22 Graduate in reply to Raven2016]

Yes, I do that too! Some smile back but some look a little concerned "why is this person smiling at me?" 😀

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Oh Congratulations Raven2016 🎉🎉

Whoop whoop. That sounds like a perfect graduation run and you made 5k in a brilliant time to boot😄

Its a great feeling to graduate, carry on enjoying your running adventures wearing your badge with pride. xxx

[Raven2016 Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you!