Week 9 (actually a year then 15 weeks!) run THREE ✅

[MelsieJay]

I am absolutley over the moon I never blow my own trumpet but in this case I just have to! 22years of m.e. has got me used to compromising and faking being pleased at achieving something small and so much less than I had as my plan for life. Then two bouts of pneumonia and sepsis these past two years and a diagnosis of lung disease made me feel I would never achieve anything again. And now- like just any normal person (Wowzers) I’ve finished my final run. A break to recover from sepsis and start again was the year and the programme has taken me 15 weeks having to keep repeating weeks after viruses etc but I was SO DETERMINED having never run in my life, so now I’m blasting away today on my virtual trumpet. And such a huge grin 😄

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Wow! You deserve to be proud of yourself! Congratulations! 🎓👌🏽

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you x

[Goforitmama Graduate]

HUGE congratulations! Really well done you! 😀😀😀🏃🏃🏃🏆🏆🏆

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Goforitmama]

Thank you and I love the running emoji. Can’t believe I can actually use that now!! X

[Cazza26 Graduate]

What an achievement!!

Well done you!!!

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Cazza26]

Thank you 😊🏃🏻‍♀️! X

[Bridget007 Graduate]

Wow! Well done! I think you should blow your trumpet loud and clear for everyone to hear! 🎺 🎉😃🎉😃

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Bridget007]

Thank you it’s such a great feeling still x

[Miracath Graduate]

That's absolutely wonderful! Well done! You have really inspired me as I have just done week 1 & wondering if I can manage week 2! You definitely should be super proud of yourself - it is a HUGE achievement.

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Miracath]

I can’t believe I have inspired anyone. That’s so kind of you to say. How’s week 2 going? X

[Miracath Graduate in reply to MelsieJay]

Hard!! I find the first 10 minutes of running quite painful in the knees!! But once I've done a couple of minutes of 'limping' running it all goes fine! The program literally takes me to the absolute limit of what I can do each run. But everyone here is so super supportive, like yourself.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Congratulations! 👏🏅🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

That is an acheivement! Nothing could stop you. Very very well done 👍😁🌼

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you so much 😄still grinning x

[Hidden]

Nice badge.....

and so well deserved, wear it with pride. Oh and play that trumpet loud and proud!

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you that’s veey kind. Can I ask - what is the badge? Is it the word

Graduate after the username? That was a lovely surprise and made me feel even more part of the normal world!! X

[Hidden in reply to MelsieJay]

Yes the badge that says ‘Graduate’ 😊👍🏃🏾‍♀️😊

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Brilliant. Thank you helenwheels. Who would have thought when 15 weeks ago I couldn’t run 75 yards! This feeling is amazing and I actually can’t wait for my next run. Going to try for 4.5k.....could take 35 mins but I can do this! Graduate eh. First time for everything 🤗👩🏻‍🎓x

[Hidden in reply to MelsieJay]

Yes it is brilliant indeed. There is a pinned post about your options now; which is really worth reading

The usual advice is to spend a couple of weeks ‘consolidating’ or running 30 mins 3 times a week before then either working on speed or distance

I think that people’s personality comes into play at this point. There are those who just run for the joy of it and those who set new goals and push themselves forward to new goals and targets

Which ever you are....enjoy!

[Myrar Graduate]

Congratulations ...Blow that trumpet so we all hear ....So well done.... you deserve it so much ...Lap of honour to you 😊😊👍👍

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Myrar]

Thank you so much x

[Hidden]

Fantastic! That's brilliant. An inspiration to us all.

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks!! I’ve never inspired anyone before so there’s a first time for everything 🤗🏃🏻‍♀️x

[AnnieW55]

Brilliant. Well done. Your tenacity is amazing. Congratulations. I wouldn't stop blowing that trumpet for a week! You are an inspiration.

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

Still smugly blowing it. It’s lovely to have the encouragement here. My family seem pretty blasé about it. They know what I’ve gone through but haven’t been ill themselves so don’t really get what a huge deal it is! X

[Nictwit Graduate]

Oh my days you are an utter superstar! I would have given up months ago! Enjoy this feeling 😀

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Nictwit]

I’m not really. It’s just such a great programme. And I am bloody minded and determined to prove everyone wrong!! I CAN run. Why shouldn’t I!! 🙃

[MelsieJay Graduate]

Thank you so much for your lovely encouragement everyone. What a lovely treat. I just sat beside Crummock Water (Lake District) in glorious sunshine and had the most huge strawberry cream meringue to celebrate! Such fun.

[Razouski]

Blow that trumpet loud and proud girl. You so deserve major congratulations for overcoming such challenges

🥂🎉🎂🏅👏🏽🏆👨‍🎓🍾🥂

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Razouski]

Thank you I’m loving all those emojis x

[Irish-John Graduate]

VERY WELL DONE INDEED. ☺☺☺☺☺ Congratulations Graduate!!!! ☺

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Graduate!! Such fun! Thank you x

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

You have every right to blow that trumpet, Well done.

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Thank you and thanks for my badge too! Loving it x

[Eiralas Graduate]

Wow, well done! That is a super impressive achievement and you thoroughly deserve to blow your own trumpet and eat as many strawberry cream meringues as you desire

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Eiralas]

Well perhaps not too many meringues but I do always like a reward!! 🍰🍿🍦

I like your red squirrel profile pic. Are you a fan too?

[Eiralas Graduate in reply to MelsieJay]

Rewards are nice

Ah thank you! It's a small cross-stitch piece that I stitched to contribute to a community project that I was involved with through my work. One lady, who creates the most beautiful works of textile art, had the wonderful idea of asking volunteers from the rest of the community to each stitch a small piece, whatever and however they chose, but with a couple of 'rules' for size, colour of background and number, to represent the lives of each individual we had been researching. I was struggling to find something that seemed right, and though I loved the squirrel it was too big- until I decided to take the plunge to halve the size by stitching it over-one rather than over-two. My eyes suffered, but it was worth it

I'm so grateful that she invited me to participate. I wish I would have had the time to stitch more, but it meant so much that I was able to make one small contribution. The finished piece was stunning - and it is the first time I have seen the work that I do converted into such a meaningful work of art.

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Eiralas]

Well it’s stunning. I adore red squirrels. I spend a lot of time in Cumbria and they are so special to see. You’ve done a lovely job with your stitching x

[Eiralas Graduate in reply to MelsieJay]

Thank you, that's very kind. Whenever I head up into Northumberland I hope to see one, but have had very little luck They are so beautiful

[Kim85]

Well done, you definitely deserve to blow that trumpet 😀🥇

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to Kim85]

Thank you! X