My first 5k - get in that bag! 😀

[cheekychipmunks]

My new post-grad strategy - 2 x 4k runs/1 x 5k run per week. Today was my first ever 5k and I did it! Proud isn’t the word, it feels like such a landmark. 😀😀

My dog accompanied me, as ever. I thought fleetingly about not bringing her as (bless her little cotton paws) she can sometimes get in the way, but I do love having her come along and I wanted her to be there for my Big Moment!

My time was .... well 🐌 ..... at 42.59 but that did include a ‘doggie pickup’!! I’m getting quite adept at those and keep my feet moving all the time (must look like a right chump!!)

Anyway, here we are! 🏃‍♀️❤️🐕🐾☀️

Have great runs everyone! 👍🏻😀

[Bandit14 Graduate]

Awesome stuff - massive well done🤗🤗

I'd be well chuffed with that - so enjoy the feels xx

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Bandit14]

Thank you Bandit, I really am pleased. It felt good too, so doubly happy! 😀

[Runskye91]

Aww well done 👍😊🏃🏽‍♀️

I take my dog to so I no what you mean lol but it is nice to have the company of them isn’t it well well done 🙋🏼‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Runskye91]

A right PITA sometimes, but such fun company! ❤️🐕❤️

[Runskye91 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Ye I agree she is getting used to it now tho and it’s making it easier for us bless them always their for us aren’t they ❤️🐕

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Runskye91]

Definitely! She loves coming along and, to be fair, she’s getting better at trotting next to me and staying on one side for the most part! I use a hands free waist attached lead which is miles better than a normal one. 🐕🐾🐕❤️

[Mayanow in reply to cheekychipmunks]

That's a good tip!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great job... well done. Finding the right strategy for you is great.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you! 👍🏻 Yes I agree. This is a strategy I’m going to enjoy. I’m too competitive with myself to make it purely time-based! 🐌🐌

[jennitricot Graduate]

Brilliant!! Well done you! 🏃🏽‍♀️💪🏻🏅🥇🏅

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to jennitricot]

Thanks so much. It felt awesome! 👍🏻😀👍🏻

[Runsome Graduate]

Well done Brilliant You must be so pleased a great plan and some encouragement from your dog, great picture. Excellent 👍👍👍👍👍👍😀

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Runsome]

Thanks Runsome! It would be good not to do pit stops, but what can you do?!! She’d ‘gone’ before I began running too! 😅😅🐕🐕

[telford_mike Graduate]

Fantastic, your first 5k, woohoo! And 5 for the dog too, so that’s 10! Huge congrats, and that time is fine, and it’ll tumble over the next few weeks as you get more miles into your legs. Massive milestone! 😀👍👏🏃‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to telford_mike]

Thanks so much Mike! The 4ks I found slow but easy, so I thought I’d add a weekly 5k too and it felt fab. I’ll just keep at it for a few weeks like this and see what happens! I don’t foresee a gazelle ever, maybe a snail on rollerskates or something! 😀🐌🏃‍♀️😅

[Kipper-78 Graduate]

Well done you! I had a go at doing the 5k this week because I had no real idea how far I was doing on the run bits. 5k is well far! I did it at a struggle so think I need to adopt your 4,4,5 strategy and work up to it.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Kipper-78]

Thank you! 😀

Well done on doing 5k though Kipper! I think in my case my legs just need more miles (kms) under their belt before any speed can happen, so I’m trying this and so far I’m enjoying it! 👍🏻😀👍🏻🏃‍♀️🐌

[Hotheels Graduate]

Told you that you'd be able to do it, no problem, didn't I?????!!!!😁

That is such a fab milestone, Cheeky!!!!!

Awesome work and a great strategy to keep pushing your limits!!!

👍👍💪💪🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

I'm going to have more bubbles to toast your success!!!!😁🍾🍾🥂🥂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Hotheels]

Thanks Hotheels! I’m so proud today - and hello, you should be too! Where’s your badge?!! Get back on your podium, have some more bubbly and spend the day feeling chuffed!! I am (without the podium bit!) 😅

I’ll join you with the bubbly though ........ 🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂

[Hotheels Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Here's to us!!!🥂🥂🥂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Hotheels]

Cheers! 🥂🥂🥂❤️

[Vix_yp Graduate]

Fantastic cheekychipmunks! Well done to you!

👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🤗

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Vix_yp]

Thanks Vix! It’s been my goal to get to 5k and I can’t wait to go out running again! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️❤️❤️

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Well done! 👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉

That’s a huge barrier broken. That’s a perfectly respectable time and faster than my first 5k. As you relax into doing them you’ll naturally get faster.

You will notice that your bum will fall off now, though. Be prepared for it!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Thanks Jay! I’m on cloud 9, rather like the day I graduated! 😀😀🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍🏻👍🏻

I’ll just continue like this for a few weeks and see what happens - turbo snail maybe? I’ll never be a gazelle with my short little pins - but I like the idea of my bum falling off. I don’t need most of it, so bring it on!! 😅😅😅🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Ang33333 Graduate]

Well done! That's amazing! If I took my dog my time would be about 5 hours! My old terrier is not speedy any more! He is slower than me!🐌🐌🐌

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Ang33333]

Thanks Ang! 😀😀

Awwww your dear little dog! ❤️ My Lab is speedy and would rather be cantering alongside me than just a slow trot! I’m wayyy slower than her! 🐕🐌🐕🏃‍♀️🐌

[Olney Graduate]

You are right to feel chuffed, it’s a brilliant achievement. 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Olney]

Thanks Olney! I’d been looking forward to it all week! 😀🏃‍♀️😀

[MandiV]

Well done to you and the running buddy!! Great pic - I do the doggie shuffle picking up too!!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to MandiV]

Thanks Mandi! 😀 It’s quite an art isn’t it! I’m likening it to an F1 pit stop, trying to get the time down as much as possible!! 🐕😅

[sallenson Graduate]

Fantastic job!! Well done you!! xx

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to sallenson]

Thank you sallenson! It felt amazing! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😀😀😀

[Jogon2018 Graduate]

Well done to you and your dog!

Nothing feels better than that first 5k! 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🐕🐕

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jogon2018]

Thanks Jogon! You’re right, it feels like the day I graduated, which was awesome! Can’t wait to run again on Saturday! 👍🏻🏃‍♀️👍🏻🐕👍🏻🏃‍♀️

[Jogon2018 Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I graduated July! I have had trouble staying motivated but last run on Monday was 3.6 k and determined to keep going I’m also gonna redo c25k in sept ( use the track more than anything)and try to get a few friends and family members to come I can’t stress enough how AMAZING c25k is I never thought I’d run EVER! So well done to us all!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jogon2018]

Absolutely, it’s unbelievable how much it’s changed my whole outlook on running - which I used to loathe!

Here’s to all of us! 👏👏👍🏻👍🏻😀😀

[Oldlady57]

Congratulations!! Fantastic achievement 🎓🥇👏👏

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Oldlady57]

Thank you so much! Feels amazing! 😀😀😀

[MVBrown Graduate]

Wow, your really doing well and your pooch.

I have a small dog but he didn’t cope well on one of my runs, he was so exhausted, he laid down on the path and refused to move. I had to pick him up and take him up a small incline, but, it felt like going up snowdonia. If you get my meaning.

Happy running 🏃‍♀️ cheekychipmunks.😊🙂🙂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to MVBrown]

Thanks so much! Awww your little dog! ❤️❤️ Obviously knows his mind! 😀🐕😀Mine loves to run, so she copes perfectly. She gets a proper run off the lead as a reward afterwards - trotting next to me isn’t exercise she says! 🐌🐌🐌

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It was the same with my super fast husband when he was my running buddy on c25k . He’d never gone so slow! 🐢🐌

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

It’s why I don’t run with my ultra fit husband! He’d grow moss! 😅😅🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[Jelon Graduate]

Well done - just love that feeling! Congratulations you deserve it runner. I bet you’ll keep smiling all day, it’s such a fab journey we’re on enjoy.😊👍🏻🙌🎈🏃‍♀️ 🐕🐌

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Jelon]

Thanks Jelon! It is definitely a fabulous feeling and yes I’m still grinning stupidly! Not quite sure what running has done to me! 🏃‍♀️😅🏃‍♀️

[Dralimc Graduate]

Brilliant!!! Well done! This is my aim too. Going to try for first 5k today, if my son ever comes out of his job interview (seriously, M&S cafe assistant, 1.5 hour interview and counting???!!!). 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Dralimc]

Thank you. Brilliant. Good luck to you - and him! 👏👏👏👏

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Well done cheeky, another target reached 🏃‍♀️🐕👏

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy! Yes indeed. I was looking forward to checking this one off the list! 👍🏻🏃‍♀️😀

[Mayanow]

W e l l. D o n e !!!!!!! I hope i can do that too when i graduate.

I still havent dared take my dog along. I 'm afraid he will not keep at it at the same pace and stop me from concentrating. Maybe it's early. Maybe when i am totally confident of my runs i won't mind the distraction.

You are inspiring!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

Aww thank you for your kind words!

You should try running with your dog, it’s wonderful. 😀 I use a hands free waist attached lead which I find way better than a normal one. She can change sides without me having to faff with changing hands! She’s not perfectly behaved, but each run is better than the last and she’s learning to stay straighter - just the occasional ‘comfort break’!! ❤️🐕❤️

[Mayanow in reply to cheekychipmunks]

It sounds good! I WILL give it a try after graduation. It will do him a world of good i know.

Is that a special leash or you just loop a normal leash to the waist belt (i use that for my phone, not the arm one).

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

It’s specially designed for running with your dog! 🏃‍♀️🐕

I bought it on Amazon and I think the brand is called Barkswell. It’s good because the lead itself has some elasticity in it, making it more forgiving if the dog pulls. Also comes with a pouch for poo bags, phone, keys etc. There are a few brands out there, but this one was on Amazon Prime sale and had excellent reviews. 🐕😀

[Mayanow in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Ok great!! Thank you so much for the information. It IS such a waste not sharing the exercise with him! I will let you know when i reach that stage!!🏃‍♀️🐕✔

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

Ahh brilliant, good luck! I love having her with me and you’re right, it kills two birds with one stone, so to speak! 🐕🐕 You and your dog will love it! ❤️

[Beanjo Graduate]

Hey well done cheeky 👍😊😊. Sounds a good strategy and one that I might adopt in a couple of weeks.

No running for me for a week now as I’m on holiday and nowhere suitable to run but I’ve really missed it and hoping I’ve not lost the ability to run my 4k.

Anyway huge congratulations and the time sounds awesome to me- even though it’s not about that 👍🏃‍♀️🌟

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Beanjo]

Thanks Beanjo! It was an idea suggested by another forum member and it seems a good one! 👍🏻👍🏻

Have a great holiday. You’ll be fine to pick up again when you get back. Just have an amazing time! 😀😀

[Robert_IS_a_Runner Graduate]

Brilliant - well done you! Love the doggie nose! 🐽

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Robert_IS_a_Runner]

Thanks Robert! I was trying to get her whole face in the pic but she was too nosey and insisted on checking out my phone! 😅😅🐕🐕❤️❤️

[Dee_N Graduate]

Awwh just seen this!!! Well done to you and the pooch! 😘

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Dee_N]

Thanks Dee! Doing my first parkrun this weekend and can’t wait! 😀😀😀

[Dee_N Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Good luck!! 😘

[sarah_27]

Wow!! That’s amazing. Congratulations. Hope your first park run goes well 😊👍🏻

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to sarah_27]

Thank you Sarah! My daughter and I (and dog!) are doing our first parkrun this weekend! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🐕😀

[Myrar Graduate]

Absolutely brilliant ..well done you .,..fabulous feeling isnt it .😊😊🏃🏃🏃