Graduation Day!!

[JenniferCMS]

I’VE DONE IT!!👨‍🎓👌🏻🏅🏃😃

Reflections on the last (exactly) 3 months (1 May-31 July):

Running (jogging, crawling, this plan, your posts, the funny stories, the struggles, the battles lost and won, a painful tumble) has lifted me out of the start of what was probably depression after a terrible year. Then on May Day the weather was good, I'd been reading about the Plan and I thought 'just do it' (hope I don't owe Nike royalties)!! I'd always watched the Marathon on tv and thought how wonderful it looked.

One run at a time, each time I didn't think I'd complete that run, until I got to the big 'uns. Then I didn't feel so nervous and knew, barring injuries, I'd do it. I run laps round the cemetery over the field at the back at 6.30am, and will continue to do so as I want to build a bit of time and distance then try a park run. Think I'll volunteer first, so I can get a sense of it.

I realised today how I haven't really challenged myself for decades and how much happier I've become as a result of doing so. Next (apart from continuing to run)? Learn to swim PROPERLY (i.e. head under water - eek!!). Feeling fearless 😉

Thank you all for everything, including 'Mr Smooth' Michael Johnson and 'Ms Sensible', Laura. Looking forward to staying in touch. Love and luck to you all.x

[Hidden]

Okay fellow smoothie....❤️ Don't you just love him to bits? You have done really well and now you are going to tackle swimming. Let me catch up on the running and we'll do it together. My swimming is not much more than a weird combo of breastdoggy paddle. You are a fearless couch kicker and graduated runner to boot. Well done you and please keep posting so I can see how you get on. P.s does this mean I have more of Mr Smooth to myself? 👍🎓🏃🏼‍♀️🍾

[JenniferCMS Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Ooh, I don't know. Don't know if I'll manage 30mins of running on me own!! It'd be too lonely... think you'll have to share him!! Keep on going, Jan the Runner😀

[Hidden in reply to JenniferCMS]

Okay then if I've shared this long, then I suppose I can continue. And you might be lonely without him...lonely running not a nice thought at all

[Cliff_H Graduate]

Well done Jennifer, feel great doesn't it. I'd say just go for the parkrun, do a couple and then volunteer, it's really the most welcoming environment you can run in. I'm doing my third one this weekend... good luck with the swimming, not sure I'd fancy water in my ears rather than Laura personally 😂

[Martin_Rose Graduate]

Well done Jennifer. 😁

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Congratulations Jennifer😊🎉🎉🎉🎉

You met the challenge beautifully...

Well done on Graduating and happy running adventures.. xx

[Flossie22 Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation! 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻💪🏻💪🏻😊😊

[JenniferCMS Graduate]

Thank you all for your congrats and good wishes. I'm certain logging on to this forum regularly kept me from chickening out (i.e. hearing that others didn't think they'd do it either gave me a spark of hope that even someone like me - 58, a bit overweight, low morale, arthritis in my knees - could do it). Great plan & great community - thank you. 👌🏻⭐️💝

[mand3966 Graduate]

Well done, graduation is such a great feeling isn't it!

[JenniferCMS Graduate in reply to mand3966]

You bet! I was on a high all day, especially as I've kept it quite quiet (in typical no confidence mode, thinking I'd fail at any moment!!) so it's a sort of secret pride I'm wearing. They'll all hear about it now, mind, no fear. Got to spread the word!!!!!😉

[SueKen Graduate]

Well done you - an excellent achievement!

I'd give park run a go if I were you - have a look at the web page for your local run - it will describe the route, I'd go for a flat one first, and also the range of finishing times - so there's no pressure.

Also, definitely give the swimming lessons a go. I did, around 5 years ago. I found an improvers class, was taught by a lad young enough to be my son, almost grandson! We went right back to basics, he helped me conquer my fear of face in the water, and now I swim every week in a club - slow and steady just like my running 😊

[JenniferCMS Graduate]

Ooh, not sure about PR yet, SueKen. Only did 3.5k in my 30 mins yesterday and I KNOW I'll hate to have to walk any of it - it's a personal thing🙃! Think I'll do a few more weeks getting up to 4-4.5k if I can first.

Thanks for sharing your swimming experience - that's just what I want to hear. Again I'm starting at rock bottom confidence-wise, but the experience of C25K gives me the hope that 'I CAN DO THIS'!!

[runningnearbeirut Graduate]

Very well done, a great achievement. I did a few weeks of W9 just to have the company of the lovely Laura. She does some C25K plus podcasts too, which help with motivation and challenge.

You'll enjoy parkrun once you get there, but no pressure. As for swimming, well done for even thinking about the challenge. I think you'll manage it no problem though because conquering C25K is a huge confidence booster isn't it.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Congratulations namesake!

Like your swimming aspirations on the back of this triumph, as I got to grips with swimming with my face in the water as a result of C25K and I am now very, very slowly working my way through a virtual challenge to swim the length of the River Derwent (it is taking years) Swimming is as dull as ditchwater (in fact ditchwater is probably more interesting than the pool) compared with running, and you swap a red face for looking as though you've sobbed for weeks due to google impressions, but does help round out the fitness.

[JenniferCMS Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Fantastic!! Well done! If you live up there then you're halfway there. The landscapes are so inspiring. Although a pool's a pool wherever it is!!! Don't like baring myself in public but that's just another issue to get over 🙂. Also have thick hair which takes ages to dry - are swimming caps any better these days than they were in my 'yoof' - i.e. bloody pointless?

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to JenniferCMS]

It does help to be able to picture where I am 'virtually' - and my actual pool does have a view towards the real thing, although you have to be standing poolside or spectating for that.

I don't know about pool caps - I find getting dressed/undressed challenging enough as it is without adding anything else. Have been known to admit defeat and go home commando.

[sczoo26]

Well done you 🍾 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾