Hip hip hooray - graduation day!: OK, so I went... - Couch to 5K

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Hip hip hooray - graduation day!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate
64 Replies

OK, so I went for one final rhyming title. :)

Anyhow, I've officially graduated - and a lovely run it was too, along the Middlewood Way (4.7km including warm-up/down). 10 weeks since it was first suggested to me by RunaroundSue that running might help me with my goal to feel better and lose weight in 2019, and I've completed the programme.

During this time, I've:

- Progressed from blundering round the park in the dark to nice gentle runs along scenic pathways in broad daylight

- Gone to a running shop, had a gait analysis and bought proper running shoes

- Lost 25lbs in weight

- Dropped two jeans sizes

- Had an injury

- Been to a sports injury clinic

- Uttered the phrase "my sports therapist"!

- Bought dayglo: on more than one occasion

- Inspired several other people to take up or go back to running

- Changed my whole outlook on life

If anyone is at the start of their journey or considering starting, please do give it a go. I am not a sporty person... I like beer and pizza and snuggling on the sofa under a duvet! But now I'm a runner, too. And I'm so grateful to everyone who has encouraged me and given me advice and put up with my newbie over-enthusiasm and idiocy.

And now it's time to swap the L-plates for P-plates and venture out on my own.

Good luck to everyone on this amazing programme!

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Pianism
Graduate
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64 Replies
RunaroundSue profile image
RunaroundSue

Very well done indeed. It was a pleasure to join you on your final run of the C25K programme. I am so glad that you have enjoyed it and that you have seen the benefits.

Our next challenge should be a spot of local parkrun tourism.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to RunaroundSue

Yes indeed. I'd like to do that - perhaps in a month or so when I've consolidated a bit and stand a chance of being able to run the whole 5k. :)

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

Congratulations on completing c25k you must be so pleased and yes it can be done 😊😊👏👏👏👏👏

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Buddy34

Thank you. Yes, I'm very pleased. When I started off, graduation was an amazing goal but over the weeks it's become less important than the running itself. Can't wait for all the brilliant runs yet to come. :)

Rainbow2019 profile image
Rainbow2019Graduate

Congratulations. You’ve achieved so much! Hope you feel proud of yourself and continue running! Your post was really inspirational (although I’m not sure I want to go to a sports injury clinic! Hope your ok!) I’m just at week 2. Reading post like yours keep me motivated. And loosing 25lbs.... brilliant! Well done you!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Rainbow2019

Thank you. Yes, try to avoid the injury clinic if possible (though the leg massage is quite nice). I'm OK now, just about.... it's a niggle in my Achilles caused by doing too much too soon. Caused me a little bit of anguish today but I just about got to the end. I do need to be very careful still though.

Good luck with your progress through the programme. I know that week 9 may seem a bit daunting and a very long way off at the moment, but you will be amazed. :)

SeeJillRun profile image
SeeJillRunGraduate

Congratulations! Fantastic results too! This programme is an amazing thing 😁

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to SeeJillRun

Thank you. It certainly is amazing - life-changing in fact! :)

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Interesting post from you Pianism, thanks for the reports you have told us about regarding health issues. 😊

Congratulations on completing C25K with week 9 run 3 and graduating 🎓

To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message on the March graduate post in the pinned posts on the right side of the healthunlocked C25K home page and tell the administrators that you have ran W9R3 of C25K and graduated 🎓 🏃 😊

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to AlMorr

Thank you. I've done that, so I'm sure my badge will arrive in due course :)

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate

Well that is a great graduation post!

Congratulations 🍾🎈🎊🎊🎈🍾

Enjoy the rest of today 😊

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Jell6

Thank you. I'm off work this week so I'm going to bask in the glory for another few minutes and then go and deep-tidy the music room! :)

Tonkabella profile image
Tonkabella

Whoooo Hooooo 🎉🎉🎉🎉. Congratulations on 🎓. Just look at what you’ve achieved..I’m smiling from ear to ear for you. So very very well done fellow Runner 🏃🏻‍♂️ 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Tonkabella

Thank you! I'm absolutely amazed to be at this point. I'm also smiling, because I've just taken delivery of my new "Graduate" badge! It's amazing how a simple word in a grey box next to my name has made me soooo happy! :)

Tonkabella profile image
Tonkabella in reply to Pianism

I love seeing Graduate if ever I’m doubting going for a run that little Grey Box spurs me on 😊🏃🏼‍♀️ .... it’s a reminder not to let all that hard work slip back to nothing.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Tonkabella

Very true. :)

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to Pianism

Grey?? We like to think it’s shiny silver 😁

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Dexy5

Like my hair! :)

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to Pianism

Very distinguished looking I’m sure.

mummybowles profile image
mummybowlesGraduate

Absolutely brilliant Pianism. Well done and thank you for your posts. Keep it up and let us all know how you're progressing post-graduation

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to mummybowles

Oh don't worry, I'll be sticking around here for the foreseeable future! :)

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate

Congratulations Pianism, 🏃‍♂️👏👏🎓🍾🥂🏅

Consolidate that 30 minute run for a few weeks and enjoy knowing you are a runner

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Dexy5

Thank you. :) Yes. I need to get the strength up in my achilles... I might even go back to some shorter intervals just to give it time to build back up.

primaballerina profile image
primaballerina

Oh - I think the congratulations are going to be arriving thick and fast on your Graduation Pianism! Great posts; fabulous experiences - AMAZING weight loss!!! and cool photo (was that before or after the graduation run?)....so happy for you!

Keep on running....

Prima. x (starting W5 tomorrow)

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to primaballerina

Thank you - that's very kind of you :). The photo was after my cool-down walk, which is why I don't look all flushed!

Good luck with week 5 - I found it an amazing turning point in the programme and in my confidence in my ability to run.

Tiptopcat profile image
Tiptopcat

Congratulations!!! Fantastic news! And you already got your GRADUATE badge. Fabulous.

It is so great to come to this forum because everyone here provides so much inspiration it it really motivates you to get on and do it. And you have done just that!

Congrats again and happy future 5K runs!

Love the pic. :)

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Tiptopcat

Thank you for your kind words. I'm not sure I'd've completed anything without the support of this forum. We're all on the same journey and any help we can give each other has such a positive effect. :)

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate

Huge congratulations. Keep on keepin’ on.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to HeavyFoot

Thank you. I'm not stopping now - not after all that hard work. :)

HeavyFoot profile image
HeavyFootGraduate in reply to Pianism

Re-reading your post, I wondered if B25K could arrange a place for us to send our old jeans.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to HeavyFoot

We could pass them around as we all progressively lose inches! :)

Granspeed profile image
GranspeedGraduate

🎉👏🏼🎉🏃🏻‍♂️ Congratulations and welcome to the New, Graduate You! So glad you touched out the IC period and things are better now. Enjoyed your round up of progressive stages & moments. We all hope to avoid injury, of course, but there is a ring to “my sports therapist” that lends a certain cachet. Happy running, and do keep checking in.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Granspeed

Will do. I shall be back at the sports therapist on Monday. Achilles is complaining again - probably because 3 x 30 mins is just a bit too much for it at present. But there's no version of my future that doesn't include carrying on running. :)

molly1973 profile image
molly1973Graduate in reply to Pianism

I have a niggly knee and have found that twice a week is good, usually with one shorter and one longer run. I’ve been able to progress distance (carefully) doing this. Good luck

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to molly1973

Will definitely bear that in mind. :)

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate

Congratulations Graduate!!!! 😊😊😊😊😊

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Irish-John

Thank you :) Got there in the end.

Wimborne profile image
Wimborne

Woooo hoooo to you !!!! ( it rhymes too) 😀. Big congrats. Well done. Such a brilliant day for you.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Wimborne

Thank you :)

Franglaise profile image
FranglaiseGraduate

Fantastic achievement ...well done you! You are certainly an inspiration to me who is on week 4.x

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Franglaise

It'll be your graduation day before you know it :)

MaddyNed profile image
MaddyNedGraduate

A massive congratulations and a lovely photo, well done 👍👩‍🎓xx

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to MaddyNed

Thank you :)

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate

Yippee! Well done! 🏅🏃👏👍🥂

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to BaddieThePirate

Hooray. I'm so looking forward to a lovely summer of running. :)

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Congratulations! Well done with that weight loss too. Celebrate well and enjoy your P-Plate running.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to UnfitNoMore

Thank you :)

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate

Yay! You did it, congratulations! 🍾👏🏻 So what’s next for you?

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Glitterjav

A few weeks consolidation, or maybe scale things back a bit if my Achilles won't let me do 3 x 30m. Then 10k with some specific runs as milestones along the way. :)

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to Pianism

Hope your Achilles lets you! Good luck! 💪🏻

purplewalker profile image
purplewalkerGraduate

Amazing inspiration. Well done you!!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to purplewalker

Thank you :)

molly1973 profile image
molly1973Graduate

What a great achievement: in fact a series of achievements! Congratulations! I love the fact that you’ve bought dayglo.... more than once 😂 (there will be people on this forum of less than a certain age who won’t be familiar with the term ‘dayglo’!!). Enjoy your continued journey 👍

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to molly1973

Thank you :) My mind tells me that I'm much less than "a certain age" but my body tells me otherwise. Oh, and those laughter lines add to the story too! Lol

Greenrobin profile image
GreenrobinGraduate

Congratulations 🏅🏆👍💪🎓.

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Greenrobin

Thank you :)

Couchpotato2 profile image
Couchpotato2Graduate

WELL DONE!! Great news and pleased that despite your injury a few weeks ago you have managed to pace yourself and get to the finish line which is in fact just a start line ;-)

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Couchpotato2

Yes indeed - thank you. I've e-mailed my postgrad plan to you. How are you getting on?

Couchpotato2 profile image
Couchpotato2Graduate in reply to Pianism

quite static... I have been busier but I'm not best pleased with myself. On my to do list for tomorrow, build a plan from yours and others. (to do lists are my excel to you)

Happyrunningfeet profile image
HappyrunningfeetGraduate

Oh wow. Congratulations on graduation and the massive achievements u have made whilst doing the programme. 🤗🤩

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Happyrunningfeet

Thank you. I'm very happy with my progress and completely addicted! :)

Jogunlikely profile image
JogunlikelyGraduate

Congratulations 👍👍👍🎉🎉🎉🏆

Sounds like you had quite a journey to the podium. I love that you bought dayglo. Brilliant!

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate in reply to Jogunlikely

I had a great time - I do like to throw myself fully into things and this was no exception. One day I may tell you about when I tried on running tights!! Glad to say, they stayed very firmly in that shop. :)

Jogunlikely profile image
JogunlikelyGraduate in reply to Pianism

🤣🤣🤣

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