Week 9 run 3, completed. And oh boy, it really does feel like you're on top of the world. Such an amazing feeling. Yayyyy!
Just to provide a quick background, I'm a 9 to 5 office worker with 3 kids. Haven't done any routine exercise over the last 15 years. I was just too nervous to go out and do anything and as a result, my health and weight suffered. I only started my first run a week before C25K in February.
That first run was actually my local parkrun 5k course (not part of the race), I was so naive, I thought 5k... easy... 30 mins jog, ha, no problem!... how wrong was I? I ran with a friend, I made all the beginners mistakes you can think of, I went out with worn-out trainers, a thick winter jacket, 500ml bottle of water, winter socks, did no warm up... and oh dear, I couldn't even manage the first 0.5km, I nearly slipped many times downhill, almost finished that bottle of water, was left in stitches... to top it up, we even got lost in the middle of the course! When I got home, I thought I completed my first 5k course (exhausted and limping by the end), but when I mapped it out, we actually took a shortcut and only did 2.7km - how embarrassing!!
So yup, I really deserved total agony after that - my quads and hamstrings were really sore! I couldn't even walk down the stairs for 3 days. 
But surprisingly that helped me overcome my fear to run outside, so I was determined to try again and following some common advice, I went to out to buy a new running jacket, running shoes and socks, but on a budget, all three for £50. It was enough for me to have a ton more confidence to go again. My first 5k took 55 minutes and I was a bit ashamed, the last person to finish the parkrun at the time was a senior who completed it in 48 minutes. And that’s how my C25K journey started, I had a personal ambitious target to run 5k in 35 minutes.
And I'm glad to say, my final run today, the 5 mins brisk walk warm up and 30 minutes run, I did it in 34:55, the full 5k with just 5 seconds to spare. It's such an amazing journey. And to add to that, without a diet change, I lost 5kg (0.78 stones), the outcome was I dropped my BMI from 'obese' to 'overweight'.
So I’d like to give huge thank you to the community, admins and mentors here. You guys deserve a lot of credit and recognition for your time, motivation and free advice. Thank you!! Even though I done the entire C25K alone in the park, it is wonderful to know you’re not taking part alone. I’m going to treat myself to better running gear and continue to aim higher 
W9 R3, I did it, I graduated... :-)
Drumroll please... I did it! (again...)
Graduated! Now I need 5k to couch...
I DID IT!!!
Did it, graduation today 😁
