I did it - Graduation and my first Parkrun!

[Languid_Lil]

OMG I am on such a high!

I just did W9R3 at my first Parkrun in Conwy!

I was *so* nervous at the start line surrounded by other runners who looked like they knew what they were doing. It didn't last long though as pretty soon *everyone* had left me behind. I looked around for the fabled Tailrunner - nobody! [edit] OMG I wasn't last! The tail walker & some other people must have been way behind & I just didn't see them! [edit]

At first, I was filled with panic. "I can't do this, what was I thinking? I can't breathe, my chest hurts, I have to stop. Nobody will mind if I just stop now."

Then another little voice (no, not Sarah Millican) "No worries, you got this, you know what to do, slow down, find your pace, it doesn't matter what anyone else does, get your breath back, take control, relax"

And I did! The weather was bloody awful, it was really wet and cold, I really think I was last, but I flipping well did it! I ran the whole 5k, I didn't stop, I totally rock!

Thanks so much for all your help and support, I could not have done it without you guys xxxxxx

[Samarika Graduate]

...Awesome -Big Congratulations and Very Well Done 👟🏆

[sparkyjohn Graduate]

Brilliant, really well done 😃😃😃

Great photo too 🏆🍾🍩

[busylady Graduate]

Well done!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Congratulations!

Very well deserved and what a way to finish this. I have family near there and that parkrun is on my list of ones to do. Great job... and yeah, the gazelle types are only intimidating for a few seconds! No tailwalker is unusual, makes marshalling a pain. Same time next week then?

[slow-farah Graduate]

Well done! 🎉🎉

[Hidden]

I'm so proud for you! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to you for graduating and completing the parkrun on your own. Here's your graduation donut! 🍩😜

That is slightly worrying that was no tailrunner in sight, unless there was somebody further back than you, as I've seen others mention on here that that is illegal!

EDIT: Looking at the results, you weren't in last position there were others behind you so the tailrunner might have been minutes behind you!

[Oldlady57]

Huge congratulations LL on a fantastic job very well run 🥇🎓👏👏👏🎉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[MVBrown Graduate]

Excellent and congrats on your grad park run.🎓👏🎉🎊🎊🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🏃‍♀️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Congratulations and very well done.. A great place to graduate!!!

[boniobiscuits Graduate]

Nia, you are flipping amazing!!!!!

I am so, so thrilled for you, there will be no stopping you now girl

Love, love, love the photograph, you look so happy x

[Pancakes Graduate]

Amazing and inspirational!! Well done you!! 🌟🏃‍♀️👏

[Dechrau]

Woo hoo, many many congratulations!!!

[SANDI_runs Graduate]

Congratulations on your graduation and you did it in style at a park run. I still have to experience one for myself.

[HillsEverywhere Graduate]

Congratulations !!!

[Kerrylh Graduate]

That's fantastic well done you 🏃‍♀️👏🏅

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Well done to you for completing the Conwy 5k parkrun, you were not last, the winner ran it in a time of 16.51, the person who was last (not you) ran it in a time of 53.55.

[Oaktree2]

Fabulous, well done! 💪🏻👏🏻🏃🏻‍♀️🏆

[Hatetoloverun Graduate]

Yayyy!! You super woman! Well done ! Enjoy now 😀

[antonioa Graduate]

That's awesome. Definitely mind over matter - it's needed at times. A big, big welcome to the club and let's both enjoy the limelight. Well done xx

[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.

[Languid_Lil Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for this. I see that I need to make a plan to keep me running, and I need to keep it sensible so that I can continue without injury.

My original aim was to do a Parkrun in November but I guess I blew that out of the water lol. Then, when it became clear to me that I was capable of running 5k (just v e r y v e r y s l o w l y 🐌 - average pace just over 10 mins/km) my goal was to work towards a sub-50 minute Parkrun. Astonishingly, I actually managed that yesterday - absolutely amazing. So my goals over the next 2 months are consolidatory:

* continue running - 2x or 3x per week

* aim for 2x 35 minute runs & 1x5k per week, a Parkrun if I can make it.

* gym 2x per week, some strength training plus possibly one of the runs on a treadmill

* after 2 months, start aiming to reduce my Parkrun time. Not before. Of course it *might* happen of its own accord - yesterday was only my 3rd ever 5k so it would be natural to improve a bit, even if I'm not concentrating on improvement.

Anyone got any thoughts? Is it pie in the sky?

[Hidden in reply to Languid_Lil]

Any plans to do the C25K+ podcasts with Laura?

I'm not sure how well they are geared to slow runners like us. I had a quick listen to the first one the other day and just the start with the walking to a beat was faster than I normally go when I'm jogging!

[Languid_Lil Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Hi there fellow 🐌!

That's what puts me off them as well. I definitely do want to speed up a bit but I think I'll be a gradual process. I found myself going far too fast (for me) at the start of the Parkrun and I really had to slow down - I wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes at that speed. I thought I'd try the Nike+ ones out, or failing that just have a written plan.

[Hidden in reply to Languid_Lil]

I don't feel my body can cope with going much faster. I tried again this morning for the final minute of 25 and I can feel the extra pressure around my knees and the top of my ankle. I reckon I'll have to shift a couple of stone before I can run faster comfortably. Or maybe I really ought to get a biomechanical analysis done even if it costs an arm and a leg to see what they say.

[Bandit14 Graduate]

Knew you'd do it - massive congrats🍾

Keep running and enjoy today and beyond😊x

[Taffywasawelshman Graduate]

Brilliant well done! I’m on W8R3 today and hope to finish W9R3 on a 5k at Dulles airport next Saturday. Hope to emulate your success!

[trapeze]

amazing achievement, well done

[MrsWobble]

Wow amazing well done you so chuffed for you xx

[Sooz31 Graduate]

Congratulations that is amazing you have done such a great job!

[Downtwo]

Congrats. What an achievement! An inspiration to all of us stragglers round the track.

[linda9389 Graduate]

Wow that's amazing, awesome, well done you. I finally did my first parkrun yesterday, well over a year since I registered and a whole 15 months after graduating. I used to live in Llanrhos so definitely hope to do the Conway run on a visit back home at some point. It looks like a great course. 😀

[Flutegirl]

Brilliant job- well done 👍💪🏃‍♀️🏆

[WynB Graduate]

Really fab- congratulations 🎉🎉

[CKem Graduate]

That’s brilliant!!! Well done!! Our graduation run was a park run too. It was so friendly and it didn’t matter we were slow 😊

[Languid_Lil Graduate in reply to CKem]

Brilliant! Well done!

[paul1960 Graduate]

well done

[Dee_N Graduate]

So sorry I missed this!! You amazing lady! Well done! Xx

[EEPaul Graduate]

Congratulations, especially in the rain. I've done the same today (W9R3 and first Parkrun - Southwark), but at least it didn't rain

[TormundsBeard]

amazing achievement you should be very proud! congratulations and keep up the great work