Completed W2R3, W4R2, W5R3, W6R2, W7R3 or W9R1? Listen up, you are owed!!

[Bonkersbrit]

I'm currently in Week 10 of my running journey, yes, I graduated last week😀, still like the look of that badge😜.

As many before me have said, immediately after graduation is an excellent time for consolidation and contemplation. I have spent time reflecting on all the brilliant advice I've read on this forum. So many times you will read about how it's not about the speed or the distance in the first few weeks, that will come with time. It struck me that as newbie runners we should have a " clock" which records how far you have come. It can't be turned back ( not even to increase resale value! Whoops showing my age). But, these clocks don't record distance but time served!

After week 1 for example you have run for 24 mins, after W2R3, you've passed the 50 minutes flag (51 actually) and in my opinion really deserve some pseudo cyber bling🥇.

After W4R2 you have 100 mins under your belt.🥇Bling!!

No one can take that off you, you can miss a week, have a bad run or life can prevent you running for a while but you still have your 100 in bank.👏🏼

W5R3 you surpass 150, W6R2 and you are getting another medal for 200 🥇. W7R3 is 300 etc.🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

So, if you repeat a run , remember to add those extra minutes, you ran them, and you are progressing.

You will hear a lot of ' there's no such thing as a bad run, just a practice run' and 'any run is better than no run'. If you have a bad run and/ or only run for half the time you planned, BANK THOSE MINUTES!!!👍🏼😀👏🏼

Just for completeness by the way, W9R3 ( without repeats) has you at 474 mins.

I love this system, there really is no regression, just progression.

After two post graduation runs, I describe my self as a W10, 534 minute runner!!

Happy running to you all

[EleanorL Graduate]

Fabulous post and congratulations on finishing (and continuing) . I Have been following you since I started this journey and I'm now about to run W7R3 (lost 3 weeks due to an ankle injury) so it's lovely to see the progress you have made.

[Hidden]

I missed your graduation party bonkersbrit!

Big congratulations to you and I like your banking system. You are quite right, the direction of travel is forwards👍

Enjoy your running 🏃

Nice badge btw😁

[Whatsapp Graduate]

I like your thinking. When you watch athletics, the commentators always talk about 'banking' training, and how in the moment it is all those hours of hard work which the athlete is able to cash in. Like a savings scheme.

So, for all of us fresh graduates, wondering where do we go next the best we can do is tocontinue to get out there and 'bank' the runs. As you say each minute, or mile, or Km run - counts.

[skysue16 Graduate]

Love it! 😁