I can honestly say this is one of the best things I've done. At school I hated running, and I was very un-sporty - always the number 11 batsman, and made to field in a position that didn't matter too much, always the last person to be picked for the football games etc etc.
Week 1 - I never believed I'd be able to do 30 mins given the struggle it was to run for one minute at a time. But I'm delighted to have got through it - not repeating any runs, and not having to stop when I was supposed to be running (apart from once for a few seconds when I got lost!)
And this community has been an immense inspiration - just to read people's inspirational stories and reading of folks overcoming struggles, gremlins etc.
Next thing is to attempt to run 5k (today I covered just over 5k including the warm up walk, and the 5k Strava gong went at about 38 minutes after the start of the workout. I actually ran for 31 minutes so I could catch up with my wife who was walking across the bridge path across the reservoir.
I'll try and post some observations later about what I've learnt - but at the moment I'm just too ridiculously chuffed to see that little grey icon saying "Graduate" after my name to put down anything coherent.
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iain-strachan
Graduate
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I have to admit the mo-bot was posed and pre planned! I was wearing the phone on my arm during the run. My wife walked round and took the short cut path across the reservoir so in the final moments I turned up this path and ran to meet her, total 31 mins. Then we put the phonecam in burst mode so I could pick the best one out. I might be able to make an animated GIF out of the 73 frames it captured.
The plan is to do the Abingdon Parkrun next Saturday. During the week I might have a practice at actually running for 5k. I'm thinking it will take me about 36 to 37 minutes at current pace. Want to spend some time consolidating 5k runs before trying anything longer.
I'm sure you'll make it. I think once I'd cracked 25 minutes on Week 6 Run 3 (dreaded it before!) I kind of knew that I had one week to get used to this, then the increases for Week 8 and 9 to 28 and 30 minutes respectively looked very doable.
Just brilliant! You are allowed to be chuffed, in fact it's obligatory! I'm glad your photographer agreed to be there, that's a super shot, and what a lovely place you run in! Congratulations and welcome to the grads lounge. And thank you for sharing your journey with us, I've enjoyed your posts! Don't disappear now, stick around and let us know what you get up to next xx
So pleased for you!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Enjoy the raw, child-like , all encompassing feeling of personal pride. Somehow, I think we forget how to feel emotions like we did as kids......until we learn to run!!!
Running brings us joy. Watch small children when they are excited, at play, and mostly they can't stop running. Back and forth, up and down, in little, pointless circles. I remember, even as an older child, I'd often break into a run when walking along the street, for no reason.
...
Racing along out on the trails, or even through the busy streets of a city, splashing through puddles, letting the rain drench us, the wind ruffle us, we begin to sense a faint recollection of that childish joy. Somewhere a primal essence stirs deep within us; this being born not to sit at a desk or read newspapers and drink coffee, but to live a wilder existence. As we run, the layers of responsibility and identity we have gathered in our lives, the father, mother, lawyer, teacher, Manchester United-supporter labels, all fall away, leaving us with the raw human being underneath.
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I just love that bit about all the labels all falling away - as if we are shedding the baggage that we normally carry around.
What a lovely graduation post. Fabulous picture! It quite takes you by surprise doesn't it, that elated feeling of pride and accomplishment? I remember thinking 'I feel like I've just conquered everest'. I didn't get rid of the silly smile for days.
Thank you! You've just put the silly smile back on my face again! Now then, I must try harder to be serious & get on with my work! Parkrun next Saturday I think! Maybe a practice or two during the week at actually running 5k rather than just for 30 mins.
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It's done everyone!! Week 9 run 3 in the bag!!
The big finale - Week 9 Run 3 done!
Done It!!! Week 9 Run 3. The Path To Glory!!!
Week 9 run 3 - all done :-) 
Week 9 Run 3 complete. I've done it !
