Life after graduation! 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃

[cheekychipmunks]

Hi everyone! 👋 Long post alert ⚠️

I’m posting to hopefully give all you recent graduates who are in the ‘No Mans’ Land’ zone a little insight as to what to expect next. It’s daunting, I know. 😮

First and foremost, I need to give a massive shout out to this forum, and its big brother, B210K. Without them I’m not sure what I’d have done. Brilliant advice, and talk about friendly! ❤️

Anyway, I graduated in August 2018. It was euphoric, but the scary part was flying solo afterwards. I needed MJ’s dulcet tones to guide me, and it felt odd being cut loose. But I trundled away and made it to 5k like a 🐌 I posted about it, and got such a fantastic reaction it spurred me on. People suggested Parkrun - what??? 😳 But I tried it, and I’ve only missed a couple of Saturdays since. It’s awesome, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃 I take my dog. 🐕 ❤️

I consolidated solo 5k runs and Parkrun for a few weeks, then decided to dip my toe into working towards 10k! I could barely believe it. I used to absolutely hate running! It’s where B210K became invaluable. I posted often (and I still do - sorry guys! 💤💤😅😅) Along with lots of familiar names from C25K, we were given all the help and advice we wanted. 👍

So to cut my (as always) ludicrously long post down, and without going into fine detail, I ran my first 10k in November, simply by increasing one of my weekly runs by up to 1k. I’ve since done ju-ju- ‘s Magic 10 Plan several times for fun, and I’ve recently been working towards running 10 miles next week to commemorate my runniversary of starting C25K on June 11th last year. Last week I did 15k. Next Tuesday will be the Big 10 Miles! 👏👏

So I’m living proof it can be done. I’m a 5’3” 55 year old woman, not built for running - or so I thought! Go for it guys, it’ll change your lives. 🏃‍♀️❤️🏃

[Hidden]

Thank you for your post, i just graduated last friday and am struggling this week although i did push myself to 5k this morning, but gremlims were trying to interfere, and i got hope feeling good that i done it but wondering if it ever gets any easier or am i just not made for running, certainly not built for it and sounds like u understand that!

Well done on everything you have achieved sounds like your in an amazing place right now x

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Hi Shar! Huge well done on graduating! 🎉 And good for you for getting out and slaying those gremlins. They visit us all, and continue doing so, although the more running we do, the better equipped we are to get rid of the little so-and-so’s!

You can do this. You’ve built up running legs and the running world is now your oyster. Have fun, and believe in yourself! 👏👏

[Redblackhorse Graduate]

Thanks for the fantastic advice. I've just come back in from running my week 9 run 2 and that was the very thing that was on my mind as I plodded round my usual route - what will I do next ....

I never expected to reach this point but now that I am here I don't want to let my progress slip. Thanks again for your inspirational words.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Redblackhorse]

Oh you’re more than welcome Redblackhorse! 😀 There’s always help on here, and you can choose exactly how to progress. Running is awesome!

Good luck with W9R3. The podium is waiting for you! 🏅🥂🎉👏

[Kertesz]

Amazing achievement - and thanks for this... JuJu is beginning to twinkle at me... 😉

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Kertesz]

Woohoo Kertesz, you can’t go wrong with our ju-ju- ! Go for it. 👏👏👏👏

[Kertesz in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Gulp! Well now I’ll HAVE to!!! X

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Kertesz]

Yep, you sure do! 😅😅👊

[CRAZYCATME Graduate]

Inspirational as always cheeky! Your posts are always positive and helpful. Have a happy day!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to CRAZYCATME]

Thanks CCM, I love talking about running, and these forums are great because you can’t see people’s eyes glaze over, like my family’s!! 😅😅😅

[backintime Graduate]

Thank you for this. You nailed it with "no man's land" (in my head I call it limbo, lol).

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to backintime]

Ahh yes, it’s all the same backintime! Everyone goes there, but believe me, life on the other side is phenomenal! 😀😀

[Oldgirlruns Graduate]

Thank you ccm! - I hear about your exploits from Dexy5 and UTS of course but your post has given me a real target to aim for! Thank you!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Fantastic OGR! And you can do it! 🏃‍♀️👍👏👊🎉

[Tartancat Graduate]

Fantastic advice as always Cheeky!

I found that, as much as I loved Michael Johnson, I felt liberated running without him. C25K was really hard, really hard, but now I know I can do it, I love running.

And for anyone feeling lost, keep using this forum. So many good ideas here on how to continue, and so much support. I don't know that I would have kept going without all the lovely people on here 😊🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Tartancat]

Spot on TC (except for the MJ bit - I admit to having a bit of a crush on him!!) 😍🏃😀😅

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Brilliant post Cheeky! You’re so inspiring and your achievements are amazing!! ❤️

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

Aww Fab thanks, and the same applies to you 100%! ❤️

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Brilliant post as always cheeky. Yes it was the support of the forums which took me from 5 to 10k. But there’s no rush to make that transition. I was glad I took a few months consolidating 5kms before moving on to juju’s magic plan.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Absolutely Dexy. Everyone should take their running journey at their own pace. Personally I find endurance running more natural than going for speed, so that’s working fine for me. Speeding up? A whole other story!! 😅🐌😅

[skysue16 Graduate]

Lovely, encouraging post Cheeky

You have done so well in a year, how amazing - fantastic !

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to skysue16]

Thank you skysue! It shows how the seemingly impossible IS possible! 😀😀

[missanticrowd Graduate]

Thank you! I’m on my second round of c25k, and feel much more prepared to carry on this time!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to missanticrowd]

Awesome missanticrowd. With that positive attitude you know you can do it this time! Good luck! 🏃‍♀️😀👊👍👏

[BaddieThePirate Graduate]

Go for it Cheeky, 10 miles is within reach 👍🏃🏼‍♀️🥂

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to BaddieThePirate]

I will do it Baddie, and I can’t wait! All thanks to these forums! ❤️❤️

[Pianism Graduate]

Thank you so much for sharing. It's great to read a bit more about your running journey.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Pianism]

You’re welcome Pianism. It’s a journey I never imagined I’d ever embark upon! 😀🏃‍♀️👍

[Pianism Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Well, nor I! But here we are, and loving it.

I've got a great photo op lined up for when I'm packing for my little jaunt southward... I've just written a packing list and about half of it is running gear, so I thought I'd line it all up and get some sympathy around my complete addiction!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Pianism]

And you know you’ll have endless sympathy on here! 😅

I’ll be packing to go away for a 10 day trip to France a week today. Top of the list is running paraphernalia - obviously! And there’s me checking the weather forecast, not for beach purposes, but for running! 😅 Times change don’t they!? 😅🏃‍♀️🏃

[Pianism Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

They certainly do. Someone asked me what I'm doing all week... my answer was "if it's sunny I'll walk, if it's rainy I'll run"!!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Pianism]

🤣🤣

[Deals1 Graduate]

great post Cheeky

Tomorrow is THE DAY!!!! looking forward to your next post

You've achieved masses! amazing. well done and enjoy your 10miler

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Deals1]

Thanks Deals! Yes tomorrow is The Day and I’m getting butterflies! 🦋 🦋 I have a feeling I’m going to get wet, but that’s ok, I quite like running in the 💦💦💦🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Deals1 Graduate in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Yeah I did park run in the rain ☔ on Saturday. Ended up still running in just lettings and t shirt... As I still got 🔥 hot!! 😂 So took jacket and cap off.

It was actually quite nice.

Enjoy

Look foward to the post 10mile post

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Deals1]

I’m quite nervous this evening - almost as much as before the Bristol 10k! I can’t wait to get running in the morning! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️