🏃‍♀️🎓🍾I D i D I T !!!! 🍷🏆🤸‍♀️

[Mayanow]

Tonight was the night! So of course I came home late, couldnt find my sports bra for ages, got all confused with the running apps etc BUT i managed to get out just in time and start my run.

And i finished it too! So that makes me a graduate of this amazing program i.e. a runner i.e. a winner! This i would have never believed 2 months ago! Tonight i feel like i got an A+ plus in maths! That is how improbable it was/is to me!

And this forum, all you people here who are going through it with similar worries and fascination, you have encouraged, supported and inspired me tremendously! A very big thank you from my heart!

Now i can focus on improving my distance up to 5k. NOW anything i put my mind to is no longer a fantasy. What an incredible lesson for life. We are amazing if we want to be! 😁

Last but not least a BIG thank you to my dearest friend Tasha who urged me to give it a go! ⚘

[sparkyjohn Graduate]

Really well done. Bask in the glory, enjoy the success. 🏆👍😃

[Mayanow in reply to sparkyjohn]

Oh i will tonight! Thank you.

And won't be bashful either!! It's amazing and my badge came right away. I can't stop looking at it!! 😍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Yesssss!!! Well done you. What a fabulous achievement, I’m so glad for you! 👏👏🎉🎉🙌🙌🥂🥂🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️👍🏻👍🏻

[Mayanow in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Oh you make me smile!!! 💙❤💚

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many congratulations on your graduation fellow runner.

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

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Mayanow in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you- i was expecting you!! I see your links and i was thinking one day i might be on that podium getting advice! And here we are!

Of course i'll keep smiling! This is HUGE!

thank you for the support throughout.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Mayanow]

You have realised that completing C25K is so much more than just learning to run........there is no stopping you now!

[Mayanow in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Absolutely.

You said it

EXACTLY.

[Languid_Lil Graduate]

Well done you! Your post is just bursting with well-deserved pride and positivity 💟💟💟🍾🍾🍾💐💐💐🏅🏅🏅

[Mayanow in reply to Languid_Lil]

thank youuu!

Oh i could write an essay!! I have gained such strength through this challenge and i don't mean just my legs and stamina boost.

I feel that i have given me a superior gift for my 50th bday! Very precious and wise.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

You are a victory. Congratulations! Enjoy the celebration.

[Mayanow in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thank you so much!! It's glory day ❤

But it was too late to celebrate 🍷🍾 accordingly. Tomorrow though...!!!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

Well, it is a rest day! 🍾🍾🍾🍾

[Mayanow in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Woohooooooo!!! 🍷🍾🤹‍♀️

[Keasel Graduate]

Congrats to a fellow graduate today.

[Mayanow in reply to Keasel]

Oh congratulations!!! What a feeling!

[Shakywakey Graduate]

Fantastic news. Enjoy the podium- it’s all yours. And enjoy the 🍷 tomorrow- much deserved 👏👏

[Mayanow in reply to Shakywakey]

Thank you so much! This is truly wonderful to have your support here! My daughters praised me but really have no idea what i accomplished!!! Their hi5s were...lukewarm!

[NeverARunner]

Well done ! Can’t wait for this to be me still seems impossible though :/ x

[Mayanow in reply to NeverARunner]

Thank you 😁

And just you wait!!! After this? Nothing is impossible in my books. And don't say it anymore

Only the positive outloud!!!

[Bandit14 Graduate]

Awesome - congratulations🥂🍾

Enjoy the success - you've earned it 😊x

[Mayanow in reply to Bandit14]

Yes! Thank you i will!! I do!!

And it definitely wasn't easy!

[Rooster678]

Amazing!!! Well done. What a great achievement!

[Mayanow in reply to Rooster678]

Yes! Thank you so much.

I am still smiling this morning 😁😁😁

[Oldlady57]

Congratulations Mayanow!! Fantastic achievement 👏👏👏👏🥇🎓🎉🍾

[Mayanow in reply to Oldlady57]

Thank you !! I think the reading and posting in here has really helped. It IS a community of ACHIEVERS and that is contagious!

[Hidden]

Well done! It doesn’t sound much but it’s a big achievement, actually a massive achievement!!

It’s so easy to get in to your head to just sit down and relax. I’m trying to change my mindset and instead of laying in bed getting up an hour earlier. Yes I may feel tired but I know (even with the aches and pains) I will feel great!!

WELL DONE!! 👍🙏

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

I guess you are in the beginning of c25k...? Not caught the "bug" quite yet?? I would have never believed that i would think and look forward and change my plans as not to miss... RUNNING!

But here i am and for me, it does sound like a lot cos i knew i could not run EVER. And smoked, loved my couch, adore food.. you know what i mean!

I feel that i have discovered the golden key to change. And it will affect everything in its way. Very happy!!

[Walswife]

Well done that’s brilliant 🎉🎉 (hoping to graduate this morning at my local park run 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ 🤞🤞)

[Mayanow in reply to Walswife]

Oh wow!! What a significant day for you too! Enjoy it to the max! 🍷🍾🎓

[Beanjo Graduate]

Hey fantastic 👏👏👏👍👍. So chuffed for you 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️.

You’ll be on a high all weekend 😊😊🏃‍♀️🍾🍾🍾👏👏

[Mayanow in reply to Beanjo]

Thank you!!

Yeah it looks that way! It was my first thought waking up:

🎉🎉🎉 i did it!!!!!!!🎉🎉🎉

[Hidden]

Not new no. Heading toward w9r3.

I absolutely like it. It’s hard work sometimes!! I’m absolutely the same. I knew I needed to started to do something when I was out of breath all the time. At 29!

I’m going to keep at it when I graduate and probably do the 30min runs for another week or so.

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

You are so strong then: you took charge so much earlier than me! I procrastinated and labeled myself a non-aerobic person. Did not do any exercise for sooo long.

Luckily i finally put on some weight and that drove me to the edge.

But exercise like yoga and pilates just doesnt jumpstart the body. Neither does dieting on its own. I was in desperation!

Everyone kept telling me that only running can make a change.

Without believing i was capable i just gave it a go.

...and here i am practically addicted to my runs!!! I run every other day. I will continue the 30mins until i reach 5k. I will see then what comes next.

Good luck on your finishing week!!!

[jennitricot Graduate]

Well done!! Enjoy celebrating! 🥂🏃🏽‍♀️🏅🙌🏻🙌🏻

[Mayanow in reply to jennitricot]

Thank you so much!!! 😁🤸‍♀️🏆

[Hidden]

Thank you! Appreciate that. Yeah funnily enough I’ve just posted about possibly trying yoga. For the recovery and helping with flexibility. I don’t know anything about it really and would probably feel a bit embarrassed at a class as a 29yo bloke!! Not sure. But yes I do enjoy the running bug! Just not sure what to do when the morning are dark.

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Yes i saw your post earlier and replied. Try it. Really! Noone looks at blokes in yoga other than to welcome them. I love it when men join. Yoga is about patient continuous stretching and balance. And it tones you too.

Tip: find someone who knows to teach you the breathing. It helps enormously.

Do you know, i ran one morning and it was awful. I found i have more strength in the late afternoon! Crazy!

[Hidden in reply to Mayanow]

Yeah it’s usually a slog 1st thing in the morning. But I live fairly rural and it’s nice to see the sun rise. I’m usually too busy after work to go and before I know it it’s bed time!!

I could do with the yoga then if it tones you too! 😂 I’ve heard that there are loads of different types, I’m sure I’ve heard of a hot yoga? Could be wrong I guess that’s doing it in a steam room?! Maybe I’m making it up. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Problem is I’m not a very patient person and my balance isn’t amazing. I’m like a gazelle trying to balance!!

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

I hate heat and real yogis disapprove of hot yoga. It's yoga in 40 degrees so you sweat more. And a western 'trend'.

Everything you do in yoga is slow and persistent. You do a pose and hold it with correct breathing. No moving and counting if you understand what i mean. What you do is try to reach further each time.

It unlocks you and -not unlike running- you see little results every time!!

Oh and about balance, same applies. There are degrees of difficulty. A correct trainer shows you how to start and as you get comfortable you manage more difficult variations to the pose.

[BarbieW Graduate]

Many congratulations. That wondeful sense of achievement is amazing, and you will still feel it I’m sure for many weeks as you do your consolidation runs. Well done!

[Mayanow in reply to BarbieW]

Thank you!! Yes i'm sure the feeling will linger. Whatever happens now, THIS i achieved!!! So on from there.

[Pixie_Runs]

Yay! Well done!

[Mayanow in reply to Pixie_Runs]

Thank you thank you!!!

[Hidden]

Wow. You sound super knowledgeable about it! It sounds like you’ve got a fair bit of experience of it?

I guess I will give the hot yoga a miss then. I guess it’s just a fad!

I might need to try some yoga after my graduation run tomorrow 😬

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Yes i did yoga for a long time. (Want to get back into it if i find a good instructor)

I am not so controlled to do it at home...

I know some stuff because pre-c25k it was the only type of exercise i ever did that got me hooked. Because you see progress constantly and feel so good,healthy, flexible, happy and strong.

[Hidden in reply to Mayanow]

Well that’s good. I bet you don’t get many aches and pains! You must be flexible like jelly. Some of those poses I tried, I had to do a double take thinking how is that possible!?!? 😂😂

[Cakerunner Graduate]

Massive well done and congratulations to you Mayanow!!

Feels amazing doesn't it? Onwards and upwards! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏅

[Mayanow in reply to Cakerunner]

Thank you so much !!

It feels wonderful and yes:

ANYTHING is possible!

That is a powerful sidekick lesson of c25k!

[Midlifecath Graduate]

Well done! Brilliant! That amazing feeling lasts.... 🥇🥂👏💐

[Mayanow in reply to Midlifecath]

Thank you! I hope so. It's been a long time since i felt that degree of EXTRAordinary achievement. If ever..

[Midlifecath Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

Me too. I graduated earlier this week & I am still grinning. I can't wait to run again, & like you would never have thought this of myself. I like the sense of accomplishment, feeling physically tired & helps with stress levels.

[Mayanow in reply to Midlifecath]

Yes yes and yes! It helps with EVERYthing. Congratulations to you too! Are you now consolidating runs?

[Midlifecath Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

I wish! I fell down three steps day before yesterday and am so bruised & sore. My main angst is not pain & hobbling but frustration at cancelled runs!

[Mayanow in reply to Midlifecath]

Oh no!!! Hope you have a super speedy recovery! How annoying when you're flying as a graduate!!! Never mind, you don't lose the mojo in a few days. You will get back out there soon to move on. Take care of you now.

[Midlifecath Graduate in reply to Mayanow]

Thank you! I am hoping to get out rather carefully by the end of the week. Wishing you all joy of your consolidation runs in the next few weeks.

[Mayanow in reply to Midlifecath]

Thank you so much. Hope you manage it soon!!

[Hidden]

Congratulations 👏👏👏👏 well done enjoy your celebrations 🍹🍹

[Mayanow in reply to Hidden]

Thank youuuu! Tonight i had my celebration, a bit of wine. But felt so tired like i ran today!! Off to bed 💤