This one’s for you, IannodaTruffe!

[PetrinaB]

@IannodaTruffe and I had a fab run last Saturday, putting our respective skewed worlds to rights and discussing running- his experience of it and my novice-ness.

It really spurred me on. So what if my cancer is the not-going-away kind? I’m well for now. There’s no time like the present...

So, thinking about you Tim and the challenges we both now face, of our own choosing and the ones visited upon us, I set off. Dark, uphill for the first few minutes, and a headwind for good measure. “Keep going”, I thought. Well, I plodded through the toxic first ten minutes. So far so good. Next thing, I was halfway through. Time to turn for home. Keep going, keep going...

Tim, you have a big day tomorrow. If by any chance you see this tonight or in the next few days...

I DID IT! GRADUATION RUN: DONE!!!

Now, go get em, @IannodaTruffe. You got this.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

Congrats on the graduation run. One more hurdle done.... the journey continues.....

Tim is very fortunate to have you as a friend and someone who understands what he's going through and can help him navigate the next few months of treatment.

[Decker]

Congratulations Petrina!! So happy you met your goal. Wishing you the very best for the goals and challenges to come. As you say keep going, keep going!

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

Huge congratulations on your graduation, Petrina! 👏👏👏 You did it! Such an achievement. You inspire me. 😘

[Wantorun2013 Graduate]

Wow congratulations Petrine on your graduation fantastic achievement l wish you well on both your journeys you are a true inspirational lady 👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👨‍🎓👏👏

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

MASSIVE congratulations you! Graduate!

Very well done for getting out there... uphill, and a headwind... nothing like an easy start to a run!

Well...bask in the glory.... enjoy the party,( it will have to be later as some folk may be at work!) We shall sneak a glass of champers to Tim

The bet bit... this journey is going on, at all levels :).... and the next best bit... we are right here beside you

PS

Go get the badge... I have it right here for you!

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Phewwwww!!!!!!!!!

Just about to head into hospital, Petrina, so you send me in with a big smile on my face.

Mme Jenny da Truffe sends her warm congratulations to accompany mine.

Well done, fellow runner. No rushing into half marathon training, now. Consolidate at THIRTY minutes for a couple of weeks before moving on up.

Very much looking forward to our next run together.

Xx

[JB173 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Take all our love & support with you today xx

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Will do! x

[poppypug Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Sending lots of hugs and positive vibes to you today IannodaTruffe xxx

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to poppypug]

Received with gratitude, Pops.

Xx

[TJMazz Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation. 🎉🎂🎈🙌🏻 Sounds like a great run. Wishing you the very best for your future goals. Total respect for your positivity.😀

[Hidden]

Graduation Hurrah! Really well done and I must say, you are an inspirational runner

Enjoy the party and the world of running that awaits you

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

[mcgurranhouse Graduate]

Awe inspiring! Many congratulations!

[HeleneCorsa Graduate]

Many congratulations, Petrina! I wish you well on your future journeys and challenges.

[Fiona_B Graduate]

Very well done, best of luck with your onward journey - thinking of you X

[Hidden]

Congratulations for getting that bling, it’s twinkling at me right now.

And best of luck to Tim today for his treatment.

Both of you are inspiring runners and so thoughtful in sharing your experiences with us all.

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I should add that all your words of support, and @oldfloss, and everyone else were whirring round in my head too! Thank you all! xx

[Imeviesgranny Graduate]

Congratulations Petrina! Fantastic personal achievement. I dont know why exactly I decided running was a good idea but amongst other things it has brought me to this forum and all the wonderful people on it. The positivity and inspiration makes me happy to be part of it. Well done and happy running

[Kimterry Graduate]

Fantastic Petrina B! So glad for you. Keep on running!🏃🏽‍♀️👍🏅

[poppypug Graduate]

Many Congratulations Petrina , you are one strong and determined lady ! A true inspiration ..

Really Well done to you xxx

[Virginia60 Graduate]

Congratulations on your fantastic graduation run xx

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Sounds like had a great graduation run there. Well done. 🏆🏆🏆🥇🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[Shelby1973 Graduate]

Congratulations on ur graduation 👨‍🎓 xx

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Congratulations Petrina on a fabulous Graduation run 🎉🎉👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

You did it..🏃You are a runner now 😎and we will all be with you on the next part of your journey.😊xxx

Keep going😊x

[AnneDroid Graduate]

Congratulations! An inspirational post from an inspirational lady, and in honour of an inspirational man... I'm inspired! xx

[vincent30 Graduate]

Many congratulations. You’ve inspired me to enter a 5K next year in support of Macmillan. Happy running!

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to vincent30]

Wow!! You star!!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to vincent30]

Go Vincent, we really appreciate that.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Fantastic, well done you. You really are an inspiration and I know others will read this and IannodaTruffe 's account of your run together and be inspired too...

[lardofale Graduate]

Fantastic! A brilliant achievement and a truly inspirational one

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I have only just registered the title of your post, Petrina. Thank you, my darling. Very much appreciated.

Sitting here in my hospital bed..............I have no legs at present, but am assured they will return by midnight..........no running today.

Brachytherapy gone to plan, but also no running for the next fortnight.

That's the equivalent of a W5R3, in the prostate cancer treatment stakes.

What a wonderful thing hospital WiFi is!!

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Haha! Well, it was for you. Something clicked in my head that I had to do it on Monday. All the good wishes we received after your post helped tremendously too. I can’t actively help you in your treatment but I thought it might cheer you up/ take your mind off things. I made myself a promise that if the Achilles started twanging I’d stop. They didn’t, so I carried on!

No legs, huh? How strange that must (not) feel! That’s gotta be Dante’s circle of Hell for runners, surely? What ward are you on? How long are you in for? (PM me if you prefer with those details)

Anyhoo my friend. I will see you in a couple of weeks I hope, running shoes on, with that glint in your eye that tells me you’re alright!

P. xx

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to PetrinaB]

I'll WhatsApp you. I should be home tomorrow evening at the latest. Legs beginning to move. It is weird looking at your legs up in stirrups and not being able to relate to them as your own.

You have certainly cheered me up, but the fascinating journey continues.

[angemum Graduate]

Many, many congrats! I read this earlier, knowing I had 7/1 planned for today & knowing I didn't fancy it in the least. All sorts of reasons why I knew it would be tough & every justification in the book for telling myself it was OK to put it off. But how could I in the end? The strength I had to summon for a mere 25 mins was nothing compared to the hurdles you two (and many others) have to face every day. So I did it - and yes, I can't say I enjoyed it, but it was absolutely the two of you who got me through. So cheers - and huge great good luck to you both. x

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to angemum]

Wow. That’s amazing. Thank you for your kind words! You *will* get to enjoy your runs, I’m sure about that!

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

Whoo hoo!Look at that badge next to your name! Really well done, we'tre all proud of you xx

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

Errr... I can’t see the badge! @OldFloss, what’s occurring?

[Newrunnerliz Graduate]

Inspirational!

[Lindarunner]

Congratulations Petrina, you are one special lady!

You were one of the first to contact me with your support when I joined the group on Saturday. I appreciated it not knowing anything about your own journey at the time. Thank you so much for that.

One of the cancer awareness campaigns at the moment highlights the fact you are more than your cancer. You are a daughter/mum/sister/friend..... well now Petrina, you are a runner and an inspirational to us all! Go girl 🏃🏼‍♀️ xx

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to Lindarunner]

<blushes> ! Thank you, @Lindarunner! Keep going, keep going. You’ll get there!

[ancientrunner Graduate]

Well done. Great achievement and good luck going forward

[dennymac82]

Just seen this post @PetrinaB and many many congratulations!!!! You deserve it xx

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to dennymac82]

Thank you! So pleased to have got over the line. How are you doing? x

[dennymac82 in reply to PetrinaB]

I’m really fatigued this week so finding it so hard to get out the door! 😬

[PetrinaB Graduate in reply to dennymac82]

Ah, the dreaded fatigue. Bummer. I hope it lifts soon - you’ll be out there giving it what-for!