I'm still in a state of wondering disbelief and squeaking excitement at having completed this morning. But as I was happily passing the minutes jogging along, expecting any moment to have to stop because surely this couldn't be me running for 30 mins for the third time this week, I thought of all the wonderful things C25K has given me. If you have any more suggestions do add to the list!
1. A truly wonderful sense of achievement
2. The knowledge I can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles
3. Being the sort of person who can decide on something and do it!
4. Patience -- following the instructions and achieving a goal through steady improvement rather than demanding quick results
5. Trust -- trusting the programme and not placing myself in danger of injury (I will confess I have found this hard and my natural tendency to push it a bit has brought me perilously close to doing something stupid. Hence a twingey periformis I will now have to watch)
6. Self love -- giving myself some time and tlc
7. Camaraderie -- all the lovely folk on this forum are just some of the many really brilliant running folk to be found everywhere -- at Parkruns, out and about on the streets, etc.. Runners are the NICEST bunch of sportspeople, and so encouraging.
8. Catching a 'bug' -- I never thought I'd ever catch a fitness bug, but I think this could be it. I'm very excited about my next steps
9. Confidence -- hey, I can run for 30 mins without stopping!
10. A spring in my step, a brighter outlook on life and a new attitude to problems
11. Weight loss -- along with watching what I eat I've lost a stone since I started. Amazing!
12. And oh, did I say it already, I CAN RUN FOR 30 MINUTES WITHOUT STOPPING!!!!!
If you're not there yet yourself, even if you've only just started, it won't be long before you are exactly where I am today. It's a great, great, great feeling. And if I can do it, SO CAN YOU!
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Written by
OgdenCouch
Graduate
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Fantastic, congratulations! I think you've got a pretty comprehensive list there, it ticks all the boxes for me too. I'm now in W4, just finished the first run, and I've never been so determined to finish something. And that's because it makes me believe that I CAN! Well done for your amazing achievement, be super proud of yourself, you've succeeded! YAY!
Yippeee Karen72! Isn't it amazing? Well, the Class of 26/4 is a special one for sure. I feel I ought to do something to celebrate, but can't think what. You have any plans?
A beer sounds more adventurous than the cup of tea and a plum I've had so far. Actually, replying to all these lovely messages is feeling like reward enough for the mo. And I need to figure out how to get my Graduate badge and join the next steps forum, or whatever it's called. So many happy things to think of! Work is rather going by the by ....
Go get that badge and get your party duds on.. the poppers are popping as we speak.. soon the whole crowd of us will know you have done it!!!
Very well done indeed.. and after the party.. you may start to think about.. were next? Your running journey goes on.. your way and your own choices now
I would just add... to your list.. Because it makes me really happy
Thanks Oldfloss. As for future plans, I saw a poster for a local 10k run in September. Is that within the realms of possibility do you think? I've been on a few Parkruns, sticking to the C25K, and definitely plan to continue those to increase my stamina and length of running time. But dare I dream of a 10k? Or should I keep that idea for 2018?
Well... lots of us go for the runs for pleasure; I called mine, runs for joy, after Graduation, and then you should try to build up some consolidation of those 30 minute runs; carrying on building up core strength and stamina and of course, the 10% rule applies for most of us, if we want to stay injury free. Quite a few folk hit 10K safely after six months
Have a few runs and then try the C25k+ podcasts.. great fun and very helpful; many of the graduates still use them solo, or within other runs.. I do, in my longer runs!
'Runs for joy' -- love it. I shall definitely do some of those. And I've been investigating the C25k+ podcasts (you can tell a lot of work has happened today, not!) and they look fab, so will certainly be downloading them, too. I will also stick to the 10% rule, so will probably save the 10k for a later date. I've just been, as you can probably tell, very excited about graduating. Can't wait for my next run planned for Saturday.
Thank you lovely Misswobble. And oooh, new running gear! There's a thought. I've been looking at running watches out of the corner of my eye. I have taken a shine to a Garmin 35. It seems a bonkers extravagance, but then again, under the circs why not? And you're right -- a plum isn't quite hitting the spot. I shall go and find some cake.
I just had me a homemade power flapjack made by yours truly using a recipe posted up here no less. Gorgeous! I did run first, I would like to add.
I have a basic Garmin Forerunner 10, which I bought on Graduation. It tells me everything I need to know. I don't do heart rate and all that swanky jazz so the basic model suits me
Ah ha! Glad you identified Irishprincess as the flapjack queen -- I looked up 'power flapjack' but got no results. And I love 'Tossco' as opp 'Tesco' -- I shall look into it.
Thanks Sillybilly1. That's really kind of you, and proves you must be a runner at heart. Re getting to the end: Just do what it tells you to do and you'll get there. It's like magic, frankly! All best with your journey and looking forward to hearing more.
Huge congratulations on graduating. 🎉 I can just imagine your huge grin, what an accomplishment!! I'm half way through week 8, can't wait to feel the huge 'high' you are clearly feeling today. Well done again 😀
Thanks Val52! Not far for you to go now -- and I so hope you feel the same as I do when you graduate. Frankly I don't think I've felt this good about myself and delighted and overjoyed all at one time. It's almost embarrassing how much I'm grinning. Can't wait to hear how you get on.
Haha I know what you mean, that 20 minute run we all did on week five made me feel like that, stupid smile on my face all day, unfortunately since then I've found it tough, I've always completed every run but W8R1 I made myself go even slower (which I didn't know was possible!) and I did feel a bit better so quite excited to see what tomorrow's run will feel like, how sad I'm looking forward to a run 😉
I've gone super-slowly all along and even now can't boast of any pace. BUT, just as you will, I can keep going for 30 minutes. And however slowly any of us go, we all know it's harder than even the speediest walking. So slow and steady compadre and I know you'll get there. As for hard runs, nothing was more difficult than that post 20 min run W6R1! Apart from the first 90 second run that is! I couldn't believe how long 90 seconds seemed! 😁
Couldn't agree more, 90 seconds seemed a huge jump from 60 seconds! I keep telling myself this programme runs for 9 weeks for a reason - need to keep the faith, 2 more x 28 mins and then final W9 here I come 🏃
Thanks so much halnagar. I've been so supported by the many great posts here that it's been an absolute pleasure to add my own. And look how many lovely replies I've had today! Such heartfelt encouragement makes all the difference. Yours included!
It is!! There really is nothing more motivating than genuinely kind-hearted people that all believe in each other!! It's a wonderful little community to have on this journey
l could ( as regards to myself),stop my strong headedness; my brain says - " do it"; then l find my body just cannot " do it". Learnt my lesson,but am near completion of C25k and decided not to rush it,Stevy.
Deciding not to rush anything seems to have been the miraculous lesson that the C25K has taught me, that's for sure. That and the fact that much more is achieved through slow and steady progress rather than pushing for instantaneous perfection (definitely my weakness). But sounds like you're well on top of all that ego stuff and are bang on the money for a fine completion. Looking forward to hearing how you get on.
Thanks ogdencouch,lts funny how taking up running can change our"Set Minds"ie: ego( my male mind included);nerves(apprehension) and a willingness to admit that C25k,has really good for us.Many congrats😊 on achievement long may it continue.Stevy.
Hope your runs are going well, stevy . My W9R1 was fine but I was tired after a long day at work for run 2 and ran like a snail. Felt a bit flat afterwards but concluded that 30mins of being a snail was better than a sloth on the sofa (which I still did quite well later that eve!). Hoping to finish tomorrow morning but will see how I am in the morning - I need a couple of days rest in between these longer runs. Good luck with your last week. 🙂
lts aday late bit,thanks slinky,lts good to have a rest,lt teaches me to calm down.The only problem l must resolve is, l have amind like gazell and a body of a 60+ yr old.Stevy.
What a fabulous post! I can imagine the flip-top head grin and hear the squeaks of delight. It is just the BEST feeling and it just keeps getting better😊
I know I'm a bit late but there's all this graduation party stuff to get through...
Awww! What a lovely reply, and SO MANY celebrations to enjoy. How will I get through them all? I have made a start -- I went to Salsa class last night which looks like it's in your wonderful list of emojis and I had a fabulous ice cream yesterday PM (two delicious scoops with espresso coffee poured over). I'm still grinning today and so want to fly out of the door for another run but am being good and have sublimated my urges with visiting a local pool in my lunch-break instead.
Ooh Slinkymalinki you are in for such a treat. I found myself curiously nervous about the last run -- as if it all of a sudden seemed impossible. But it isn't, it really happens! Do let us all know how you get on.
Realising that the inner voice of ' no way can I do that!' .. was a lie ., and the negative comments that stream through my head need to be questioned and replaced with a more optimistic and kinder voice
Hey Tracyinchina -- definitely think that's a worthwhile addition. We're never kind enough to ourselves. The great think about getting through C25K is that you've got the evidence to say to yourself 'quiet now, I achieved this and there's no way you can say I didn't.'
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W5R3 complete. Completely hooked on c25k!
C25K? Completed it mate!
C25K. Completed it mate. 
I did it! C25K W9R9 completed
