Dear friends I have graduated! Can't believe it. I was nervous about the last run this morning even though I had already run the 30 minutes twice this week. I thought I would do it differently this week and do my 5 minute warm-up walk before the run started, so that I could set off running with everyone else. Unfortunately I got the timings wrong as the parkrun started late and had to pause the app and brisk walk on the spot aargh. When we did get going it was nice to set off at the back of the rest of the crowd instead of watching everyone else disappear into the distance. The challenge today was that it was exceptionally windy, and initially I felt as if the wind was just carrying me along. Unfortunately, later on I was running straight into it. It was almost impossible to make any progress. My legs were still going up and down but I wasn't moving forward at all. Laura seemed to have given up on me completely. I was gasping for breath which is always a bad sign of an impending need to give up. Then fortunately I turned at corner and the wind became easier. I managed to keep going and finished my 30 minutes at about 3.5k. I walked into the wind again - all the people in my bit of the parkrun had given up running and were walking into the wind with extreme difficulty now. A smug runner who had already finished presumably ages ago ran passed effortlessly in the opposite direction without looking at any of us. (He was running with the wind - of course it looked effortless!) My son joined me at the end and we ran the last bit together. Hoorah.
What am I going to do without Laura to encourage me and tell me what to do? I hope that I have the determination to consolidate and keep going. I am planning to keep running 3 times a week including the parkrun on Saturdays.
Good luck to everyone on the programme - if I can do it you can too!
Written by
silverflowers
Graduate
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Congratulations on completing C25K, not nice running in gale force winds, you can repeat run 3 of week 9 with Laura as the 6/30 minute consolidation runs before you think of what you want to do next.
To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message on the January 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 🎓 🏃🏾 👍
You never need to wean yourself off Laura, I do a mix of anything from 3K to 10K runs from time to time, however, I also do some 20, 25 and 30 minute runs from the C25K app with Laura just for old times sake, so keep Laura for as long as you want to, she is also on the speed, pace and endurance podcasts as well.
Congratulations, that’s a great achievement. There are 3 post graduation podcasts that help you along n different ways. I’m going to use those for a few weeks to see how I get on before deciding anything.
Thank you! I don't really know what my longer term ambitions are yet. I still have a long way to go in improving my fitness I think but I want to take things gently one step at a time...
👏🏼🎉👏🏼 Congratulations! The very first thing to do is enjoy that glow of success. 👍😄🎉
Then you might want to follow the Consolidation Club posts on here, which I think will have lots of hints & tips as well as contributions from other runners at the same stage. You’ll soon find your way forward.
Thank you Granspeed! I have been to the consolidation club. My aim for now is just to keep going with the 3 30 minute runs... want to carry on improving my fitness but don't want to overdo it. I didn't really imagine I would make it through the programme to be honest!
Thank Laura and part company. Now your a graduate and your own journey begins. I am a huge fan of parkrun. I have met such lovely people from my own community and other communities through parkrun, I’ve made great friends along the way too. I run 2-3 times during the week and do parkrun too most weekends.
Enjoy running by yourself without Laura. It feels weird for the first few weeks, but you’ll find your own way.
Congratulations on your C25K Graduation and well done on your first parkrun especially considering the challenging weather.
That's amazing. Massive congratulations. Especially as your running outside on all different levels and in all weathers. I feel like I'm cheating by running on the treadmill.
Congratulations on your graduation. Your windy parkrun yesterday sounds a bit like ours along the seafront at southsea. I found that doing parkrun helped me keep up the running as it is so supportive, and I have become totally addicted. The Run Director usually starts his talk at 9.00 but so long as you’ve done a warm up before then , you’ll be fine.
Ooh I'd love to run by the sea! Yes parkrun is a definite fixture for me now and committing to running it with other people definitely makes it harder to chicken out whatever the weather! Hopefully I'll be more chilled now I'm off programme and haven't got to do exactly what I'm being told to do every second.
I’ve just completed w9 r1 and feel exactly the same as you about what to do next. I’m enjoying it so much and want to keep up the momentum. Park ribs are the goal for now.
Congratulations again!! You should feel so proud 🥇👏🏻
You're nearly there! Well done. Good luck with your final two runs and I would definitely recommend parkrun. I would look at the online results and find one near you with plenty of people running at your speed, so that you have company and encouragement.
👏👍😀🏅🥂 There are a couple of C25K+ podcasts to build up speed and stamina with Laura on. You could consolidate by redoing the last week, then try the podcasts...
Congratulations on graduating and on planning to keep going. I am 14 months on from graduating, still not at 5k in 30 mins, not that it matters, I now run 1 1 hour plus conversational pace session, 1 45 minute threshold session and 1 training session with my running club (which varies week to week, covering hill work and speed endurance etc). I discovered with parkrun and running generally a community of people that supported me and improved my mental and physical well being, I hope you do to.
Thank you, Larrykat. What you have done sounds fantastic. I don't think I am ever going to be speedy, but I would like to have running integrated into my life and currently can only dream of ever being able to run and have a conversation at the same time! I think I have a long way to go and hope I will be able to make the progress that you have.
A conversational pace run, is more like a slow jog for me, fitter people could probably run faster and hold a conversation. Everyone is different. I have a friend who is slightly faster then me at parkrun, but we do our long run together once a week, catch up and just enjoy each other's company. We just plod along at a pace that suits us, I find it very relaxing.
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I guess it could have been worse - driving rain I find particularly distressing!
Consolidation Run 12 - Windy 🌬
Week 9 Run 3 - Parkrun 2- Done
First ParkRun / Week 9 run 1 Done !
Wet and windy Southsea parkrun
