W9R3 - Graduation 👨‍🎓😜💨👟

[sHAYM4N]

And there we have it, the fabled graduation! Stuck for words really, though no doubt I am about to ramble again...

The run itself I loved every moment. The new trainers felt a b s o l u t e l y amazing, I've never really bought into the technology behind these things too much, but then again I have never really been a runner. Didn't feel like I was running on tarmac & pavement at all, it felt like I was running on my new bouncy soles and they were so damn comfortable, definitely put an extra bit of boost into each step, and saved a bit of energy. 💨 Only challenge with them was making sure I avoided any rogue 🐶💩 on the route 😜

Although I knew I'd be running the route again, passing everything by was very much like a personal victory parade and I was grinning from start to finish. The back pain didn't come back at the 20 minute mark, the pace was roughly the same as R2 with a little added extra, and I made a last minute decision to alter my route a bit at the end too.

Traffic was pretty bad, so turned left at the last mini roundabout to run straight up a main road on a hill until I hit the 25 minute mark. It felt like I had run further than ever before, but I was loving it now. 5 minutes now mostly downhill and I still had some left in the tank. I was still going to be short of 5k but I didn't care, I was going to carry on until the 5k was done to set another milestone. (Thanks to IgaT for the inspiration there).

Ran past my finishing point from wednesday and straight on towards the barbers, this now wasn't a struggle like R2, I was going for my victory lap. Laura chimed in to say congratulations and I was done, checked the gear fit 2.9 miles. .2 to go! That was it, I had finally graduated!!!!

I didn't want to stop, so spotted a gap in the traffic and darted across the road. Downhill now, Brow Lane... all downhill 😁 It felt like I was at my speediest for the entire run, the endorphins were celebrating with me, checked again 3.01, pick up the pace even more, then it quickly refreshed to 3.12 as I was about to sprint. The gear fit had caught up with me and I had done it.

Graduated and completed my first 5K to boot!

Many many thanks to all who have supported and given advice throughout these 9 weeks, I'm not going to call out names in case of missing anyone, but I'm sure you know who you all are I sure do. You've offered wisdom, inspiration and motivation with all your posts and comments.

It's taken 2 years to finally finish this, but I'm hopefully now just getting started. Plans now are to consolidate for a few weeks, try and fit a park run in one weekend, run in mexico! then maybe see about BridgeTo10K when I return.

For those who's graduation runs are very close - you've got this now, get to R3 and enjoy every moment - you've deserved it, and can't wait to hear about those runs.

Thanks again! Jonny aka sHAYM4N

strava.com/activities/19544...

[SubterraneanAlien Graduate]

Well done! And a 5k to boot! Brilliant stuff!

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to SubterraneanAlien]

Cheers SubterraneanAlien ! Was .02 of a mile off on Monday so wasn't going to let it slip away this time! 😊

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Congratulations on completing c25k you must be so proud of yourself I would be to 😊😊😊

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

You WILL be too! 😉 your day isn't very far away, enjoy the journey because I won't be forgetting mine in a long time. The program is simply amazing!

[AnneDroid Graduate]

Go Jonny go! That's great. I can feel the joy as I read your post.

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to AnneDroid]

Thanks AnneDroid, indeed! I won't be needing those trainers anymore today, walking on air for now! 😁

[steviej99 Graduate]

Brilliant well done, great to hear another success story and yet another C25k graduate! Hope to join you at the finish line at Parkrun next Saturday when I plan to graduate and do my first 5k as well (I hope 😊)

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to steviej99]

Many thanks stevie! You're so close, you've got this! That Parkrun sounds the perfect place to graduate, and kind of wish I'd timed my day to one now too! Best of luck, will be cheering you on for week 9 and will save some champagne for you at that finish line! 🍷

[steviej99 Graduate in reply to sHAYM4N]

Thanks mate!

[SamSam17 Graduate]

Well done! That’s amazing 👍 🥇😊🏃‍♀️

Wish you all the best with your consolidation runs & that Mexico run sounds good!

Enjoy it all! I’ll be joining you in few days ( have 2 runs left )

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to SamSam17]

Thanks SamSam! Looking forward now to running with a bit of freedom (though will probably still kick the app on for a couple of weeks if it still lets me!) You're soo close now, those 2 runs will fly by so enjoy them, and look forward to seeing you at the finish line!

[molly1973 Graduate]

Congratulations!! Sounds like an amazing run 👍

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to molly1973]

Cheers molly, it was a great one, but they've not all been. Bad runs make the good runs ever better though, so the challenge is what makes the reward, best of luck with week 4!

[molly1973 Graduate in reply to sHAYM4N]

Thank you! Run 1 done and it really was ok!

[Tartancat Graduate]

Well done - time to celebrate!!🍾🍾🍾

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to Tartancat]

Cheers Tartancat, just back from a 4 mile dog walk now with the energiser powered spaniel, so feeling pretty shattered. Curry for tea and will pop open a few drinks though before the night is out! 😁

[Jinkstrixy Graduate]

Well done, great to read these posts, they are so encouraging to those of us at earlier stages. Your endorphins are contagious!

[SamSam17 Graduate in reply to Jinkstrixy]

Although I’m 2 runs away from graduating I completely agree.

Joining this site when starting the C25K was so helpful. The posts here are inspirational

Good luck with your journey we’ve all been where you are & will get there in the end

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to Jinkstrixy]

Thanks Jinkstrixy! Definately felt the same early on with other posters, still do, and to be honest it has helped a great deal to write some sort of diary on it even if I have rambled on a bit for 9 weeks! Fun to look back at as well to see the progress 😉

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Congratulations on the graduation, and congratulations on that 5k in a very good time. Enjoy consolidation, love parkrun and going intercontinental running in Mexico. But first, celebrate it well tonight Jonny, you earned it. Cheers 🍻

See you on the bridge to 10 if not before

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Many many thanks UnfitNoMore you're support throughout this has been so greatly appreciated. Had a lot of doubts whether this was doable after dropping out last time, but every bit of advise you have given has been spot on and helped no end! Will defo have a 🍺 or two tonight in your honour, and looking forward to seeing you on that bridge to 10 in the not too distant future! 😁

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to sHAYM4N]

Cheers... maybe one day we’ll be running the same event and we can find a bar near the finish 🍻

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

Fabulous work ! Very well done 🥇⭐️⭐️⭐️ May all your future runs be just as joyful !

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Many thanks ButtercupKid! I do hope so, but then again without the bad runs what would make the good ones great? May still be high on the endorphins but hope to embrace them all now whatever they may bring 😬😊👍

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to sHAYM4N]

Sounds like a plan to me ! Enjoy your journey, wherever it takes you x

[Lapsedyogi Graduate]

Well done 🙌🎉🥂

[Katnap Graduate]

👏👏👏👏👏🏆

Extra kudos for over achieving!

😸 go graduate go! 😸

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Cheers Katnap! You set a date for your grad run now?

[Katnap Graduate in reply to sHAYM4N]

Of course! Local parkrun. Whatever the weather!

I just hope my kitten doesn't get too bothered if its wet...

[IgaT Graduate]

Well done!!! I knew you would smash it with huge smile on your face! And after 30 min mark when you know you can stop at any point, it is different run. And reaching the 5K is additional point that makes you very proud of yourself. Congratulations on going for it an reaching it!

Our running journey has just begun! We will keep running, as we know how amazing it is

Great plan! I cannot wait to hear about your next runs. Especially those in Mexico during well deserved holidays

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to IgaT]

Thanks Iga! Will never forget that day, and we should remember how far we have all come whenever we have a bad run day. Hope that knee is on the mend now! 👟💨

[IgaT Graduate in reply to sHAYM4N]

Indeed, you are right! We should remember where we started. We achieved so much!

Thank you, I will try my knee tomorrow, as today I had hectic day with no time even to think about running.

[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.

[BeckySharp1]

Go you!!!! Have enjoyed reading your posts. Now sit back and bask in your glory

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to BeckySharp1]

Thanks Becky I certainly did! not long until your grad run now 🤞

[LostRunner Graduate]

Congratulations! Must be such an amazing feeling of accomplishment. I’m starting Week 6 today and seeing posts like this spur me on.

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to LostRunner]

Thanks LostRunner, they definately have helped for me to write, but also to read those who posted before me too. Best of luck for that R3! You will nail it and you'll be well on your way then. Look forward to hearing about those running adventures 👟💨

[Jazzyjeff11 Graduate]

Wow, I've only just seen this! Massive congratulations on achieving 5k. What a result. Also, did you take that photo? Is that your dog? Professional runner and an ace photographer?! Haha. Congratulations again and I look forward to reading about your future progress. Enjoy your holidays 🎉🥂😊

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to Jazzyjeff11]

Cheers Jazzyjeff! Sorry for the late reply, that party went into overtime 😂😂 Yep my dog Odie, and that was my bacon roll treat after the run. Thanks for the kind words, though more of an ace 📷 than an ace photographer hah! Will defo enjoy that holiday, and running out there too, it's been a long time coming.

[MrsBeario Graduate]

Congratulations-hoping to graduate next week and so much importance attached to wk9r3. You made it sound easy!

Good luck & fun times running xx

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to MrsBeario]

Many thanks! It's never easy, but making it enjoyable and a happy run masks the pain, and puts a bit of extra energy in the tank. Best of luck with that graduation run - is it your second time around, or did I miss it already? 😬

[MrsBeario Graduate in reply to sHAYM4N]

Ist time for me and I graduated this morning-didn’t quite make the 5k (did 4.9k) and the podcast cut out halfway! I’ve done 5k at parkrun though, so I will be consolidating over the next few weeks to achieve the time/distance

[Hokitika Graduate]

Congratulations !

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to Hokitika]

Thanks Hokitika!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

👏👏👏🏅congratulations. Very well done 😁

Enjoy this new acheivement and your new ability! 👍😃

[sHAYM4N Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Cheers GoGo_JoJo, and definitely will do - certainly feels like it brings a new sense of freedom, and don't want to lose that now 😊 👍👟💨