Graduation day. Done and dusty!: This photo... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Graduation day. Done and dusty!

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate
55 Replies

This photo shows my personal finishing line - a glorious tunnel of trees, brambles and nettles that the local authority kindly trimmed back for me in the last 2 days. It’s been an amazing journey and one I thought unlikely I’d finish (I’m very good at STARTING things). Anyway I told everyone when I began so I’d feel obliged to keep going but after week 6 (the dreaded) I realised I would get there. How fantastic. I’m 63 (and a half!) and had NEVER run before and every week I was horrified by what I was expected to achieve. But I did it.

You new starters and mid-programme doubters can get there too. It’s very emotional because family life and work means we often neglect ourselves. This is the first thing I’ve done just for me for decades. Not sure what I’ll do next but it’ll be another personal challenge. Well done to all the others who graduated today and all those who will follow us.

Keep running/jogging/plodding.

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Sybilw profile image
Sybilw
Graduate
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55 Replies
Lorijay profile image
LorijayGraduate

What a lovely, inspirational post Sybil and so true, self-neglect!! Huge congratulations to you. I hope you celebrate such a wonderful achievement. :) :)

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Lorijay

Thank you. Managed 4.49k (33 min) so very happy.

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Like the photo, a nice cool place sheltering from the sun, congratulations on graduating, yes indeed, done and dusted, well done.

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to AlMorr

Thank you. Not only is it shady it’s also very slightly downhill so a treat to myself each run! (I actually meant done and dusty - it’s dry in the east!!)

Fabulous450 profile image
Fabulous450Graduate

Go Sybilw!! Congratulations to you! An amazing achievement! A brilliant example of no limitations! So pleased for you! Love your finish line tunnel too! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🎓🏆❤️

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Fabulous450

Congrats to you too. Happy birthday - it’s been a very special day.

Jay66UK profile image
Jay66UKGraduate

Lovely! Some truly great people are graduating at the moment.

Well done for doing this fantastic thing for yourself. Everyone around you will be benefiting too!

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Jay66UK

Thank you Jay66UK. I’m the new advocate for the app - and I don’t think I’ll ever leave the forum!! My new family.

owmeknees profile image
owmeknees

Brilliant! Congratulations and well done! 👍👏🍾🥂🎉🥇

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to owmeknees

Thank you so much. I’ve loved it (most of it anyway!!) Poor week 6!

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate

Congratulations Sybilw, you have done brilliantly. That’s some graduation party going on tonight. 🌳🏃‍♀️🌳🌿👏🥂🍾🏅

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Dexy5

Quiet night in I’m afraid. Is there a sofa2outlate app? 😂

Bowlofsteam profile image
BowlofsteamGraduate in reply to Sybilw

😂 I need one of those too! Congrats on your graduation!

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Bowlofsteam

Thanks very much.

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to Sybilw

🤣🤣

Bridget007 profile image
Bridget007Graduate

Yay well done! Brilliant! 😃🎉😃🎉😃

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Bridget007

Turns out I love a challenge! Thanks for your support.

Goforitmama profile image
GoforitmamaGraduate

Great post and well done you!!

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Goforitmama

Thank you. The encouragement and advice on this forum was invaluable.

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate

Thought my post might be a bit too worthy but it was from the heart. More upbeat next time. (There will be a next time it seems). Thank you.

DeeRunning profile image
DeeRunningGraduate

Congratulations, Sybilw ! An amazing achievement. Enjoy your future runs, graduate :)

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to DeeRunning

That ‘graduate’ looks so strange. May take Sarah with me as I go forward. (She said she’d miss me after all).

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate

Amazing on every level. You, your achievement, your beautiful finish line! Very well done! What a lovely upbeat post!

You are an official runner! Be very proud! 😀❤️🏃‍♀️

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to cheekychipmunks

Didn’t believe I was a runner when Sarah told me at the end of week 6 but she might just have had something! Thank you so much.

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Many congratulations on your graduation fellow runner.

This guide to post C25K running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling.

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Next I’ll try for 5k and a park run. As a fan of yours I read your words of wisdom yesterday! I’m in no rush so you can rest easy 😆. Thanks for all your kind words to me and others.

CliveWoolley profile image
CliveWoolleyGraduate

You are an inspiration, SybilW. Keep up the good work. I am just about to finish week 6 and feel it is a watershed week, but I know I will get through the program with help and encouragement from people like you. I am 74 and haven't run for 30 plus years.

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to CliveWoolley

Thank you. Week 6 IS a bit of a watershed I feel. So much so that because I’d a week off with a sore foot I repeated it!! Keep it at your pace and believe in yourself. In the end I think it’s as much your mind you’re training (injury excepted of course). Us bigger numbers (I don’t accept the word old - despite what the grandchildren say!) can also do this. Good luck and keep me posted.

Sandie1961 profile image
Sandie1961Graduate in reply to CliveWoolley

You are an inspiration too - amazing! Look forward to graduating 👏🏻👏🏻

Robert_IS_a_Runner profile image
Robert_IS_a_RunnerGraduate

Well done! Thanks for posting this inspirational message.

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Robert_IS_a_Runner

Thank you. Glad you feel that was how it read.

EmmaA-F profile image
EmmaA-FGraduate

Amazing post, very inspirational... I also manage only about 4 weeks sticking to something and then fail... this is Week 4 and after my first 5 min run yesterday I think that I can complete this too!

Well done 👍🏻 x

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to EmmaA-F

It’s really mind training I think. Get that sorted and your body will follow. Tell everyone what you’re doing (I put it on Facebook!) and they’ll be amazed and secretly jealous!! I read your profile - you won’t die trying! You can do it. Look at me. Thank you.

Flossyuk profile image
FlossyukGraduate

Congratulations Sybil wonderful achievement xx

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Flossyuk

Thank you so much.

Lmcqueen88 profile image
Lmcqueen88Graduate

Congratulations!

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Lmcqueen88

Cheers. Still can’t quite believe it!

Teddly22 profile image
Teddly22Graduate

Congratulations on your graduation! Fabulous achievement 🏆🏃🏆

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Teddly22

Thank you. A proud day.

Kazbar10 profile image
Kazbar10Graduate

Well done to you & a huge inspiration to everyone else to spur them on as everyone things they can't manage the next week but you've gone and done it and graduated.

Keep up with the running 🏃🏃👍👍

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Kazbar10

I was never sure whether to look ahead or not - seemed so improbable I’d do it! The writer of this app is a genius!! Thank you for your kind words.

Lynne1916 profile image
Lynne1916Graduate

Lovely post!! I have just put wk 6 r3 in the bag so to speak. I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Congratulations on your graduation run. I too am the other side of sixty and needed to get fit. Never thought I would get this far

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Lynne1916

Thank you. My words before week 1 was that I was 63 and needed to get fit. By week 2 I was saying I was 63 and old enough to know better! You’ve broken the back of this. Well done.

Ang33333 profile image
Ang33333Graduate

🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Ang33333

🥂

Sweatylady profile image
SweatyladyGraduate

Well done you!!

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Sweatylady

Thank you so much.

Dralimc profile image
DralimcGraduate

Congrats for graduating yesterday. Looks like a glorious finishing tunnel, and a fantastic time! Well done!!!🏃🏻‍♀️🍾🏅👏

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Dralimc

THank you. I’ve had some lovely places to run - paths and sides of fields. Caught up with a horse (walking very slowly) on my final run!! No pavements and no dreaded treadmills. Very luck.

Equi-geek profile image
Equi-geekGraduate

Well done - lovely write up - congratulations 👏👏👏🍾🍾🍾🎓🎓🎓

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Equi-geek

Thank you so much. It’s amazing to see ‘graduate’ next to my name. Feel all grown up!

Mel734 profile image
Mel734Graduate in reply to Sybilw

Well done Sybil, you are my new inspiration going into week 7 :-)

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate in reply to Mel734

Wow, thank you. Well done you too - week 6 can be a real horror to some. Once I got to week 7 I realised I COULD do it. You will too! 3 weeks and you’ll be a graduate too.

Mayanow profile image
Mayanow

You are pure inspiration. Congratulations. And i love the piv. What a way to finish!!!

And you're right. It is exhilarating to be doing something FOR YOU.

So what's next..?

Sybilw profile image
SybilwGraduate

Thank you. I’ll keep repeating week 9 for now (I’ll miss Sarah - and she said she’d miss me too!!). I want to get to 5k (done just under 4 and a half so not too impossible). Also want to eventually stop avoiding hills as I’ve tended to take the easy route. They’re not even hills to be fair. Little challenges - may even be brave and tackle a parkrun although that’s another challenge as I’ve not run in public (sides of fields don’t count!). I see you’re at the start. Keep it slow and trust the programme. However unlikely it seems you’ll be able to do it too. If you wobble just check into the forum. It’s amazing. Good luck.

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