Yes, yes, today is the GRADUATION day!!! 😁😁😁🥂🍾 Week 9 Run 3 completed!

[Blackshoe76]

What a journey it was... physical and mental struggle... week by week, run by run... and such a beautiful, unexpected result. I started KNOWING I WON'T be able to complete it, just wanted to give it a go for a couple of weeks... to do something positive and active during the lockdown... and it went like this...

Week 1 - will I manage to run for 60 seconds? Pain in knees, burning pain...running is definately not for me. 😖

Advice from this forum received - run slower, hydrate, run on soft surface.

Week 2 - oh dear 90 sec run, it is 50% more than in week 1😱. Don't know if will manage. I manage and no pain in knees! 😊

Week 3 - 90sec and 3 min???? Oh no, terrifying... stay calm, at least try it. Managed, no pain! 😊

Week 4 - 3 min and 5 min?????? Are you kidding me? I won't last...

Embarrassing playlist helped😋!! Managed, no pain! 😊

Week 5 - run 2 - 8 min????? I remember losing sleep over this one... won't manage, no chance... and then Run 3 - 20 minutes???? 🤣🤣🤣 Who created this programme??? 🤣🤣🤣 Have they missed the fact I can just manage 8 min now??? 😨😱 Was honestly terrified but gave it a go and managed 😁😁😁 - the burning knee pain returned 😢😢😢 long rest was needed...

Week 6 - back to 5min, 8 min was fine... seemed to be easy now. R2 2 x10 min - run too quickly the first 10 min and almost did not finish!!! But my running buddy kept me going!!! Thanks Curnie1 🤗.

Week 7 - if I managed to run for 20 min before, I can try 25 min and even fall down like a proper runner does! 😆.

Week 8 - 28 min, no problem! 😁 and 30 in week 9 is just a standard now! 😋

My confidence level increased amazingly. I don't recognise myself.... who is this woman who wakes up, puts the black running shoes on and goes out in the fields to run in the sun, in the rain, in the wind??? 😏

I am a slow runner, in 30 min I am nowhere near the 5K mark, saying this on two occasions I managed to run to 5K mark... it takes me 46 min, which on a good running day I can do in one go now 😏.

I guess I wanted to say a 🙏BIG THANK YOU 🙏 to the forum for your continuous support, to our 👩‍🏫 ADMINISTRATORS 👨‍🏫@IannodaTruffe, @Oldfloss, @UnfitNoMore, and others for reviewing the hundreds of posts daily and responding to all the queries ( I know you do it as volunteers! 👏👏👏) and finally to my amazing and supportive 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ buddies: FreedomToRun 👩‍🎓 , @Curnie1👨‍🎓, and AliMcCo 👩‍🎓! Well, well, we all graduated now!!!

😁😁😁🎓

It has been emotional!!! 😆😂🤣

Thank you all!!! 😃😁

[OldSpeckledHen]

You are ABSOLUTELY BLOODY AMAZING!!! Such a funny and lovely post to read!! Well done 👍🏻👍🏻🥳🥳😊😊

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to OldSpeckledHen]

Thank you OldSpeckledHen, love your nick name!!! :-))) It has been a journey and you have contributed to mine on several occasions, so thank you as well!!!

[SaltdeanSizzler]

What a fabulous inspirational post ! Thank you 😊 and huge congratulations on completing your challenge and graduating 🎉🥂🏃‍♀️🏆

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to SaltdeanSizzler]

😊😊😊 Thank you SaltdeanSizzler, I am pleased to learn you found it inspirational 😊.

and thank you... it is a celebration day for me... I may have an ice-cream today... it was my carrot on the stick during the last 4 weeks! 🤣🤣🤣

Have fun with your Week 4! ;-).

[happytanya2]

Absolutely incredible. Massive congratulations!! You can only get better! You will be doing 5k in 30 minutes in no time!!! So chuffed for you 😁😁😁

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to happytanya2]

Thank you very much HappyTanya2 😊. I do feel acomplished today.. and yes, hopefully with time I will get a bit quicker 😉.

Enjoy the weekend and good luck with week 7! 😁

[PeggySusi Graduate]

Great post! Oh and WELL DONE for graduating when, like me, at the start you knew you couldn’t do it.. for once it’s good to prove ourselves wrong! Hope to follow more of your posts on consolidation..🤸🏾‍♂️👍😊

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to PeggySusi]

Thank you Peggy63! Yes, you are right, we did prove ourselves wrong! The nice wrong!!! 😁😁😁

Thank you, I will keep posting from time to time! 😉

[Joanney69 Graduate]

Great post ☺ 🏃

I think all those who have been there can identify with at least some of your highlights!! 😂

And it will definitely encourage those who may be thinking about, or just starting on their c25k journey 😁

Very well done, runner

Happy running 🏃 and stay safe ☺ 🌈

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Joanney69]

Thank you Joanney69! 😊 Indeed, I wanted to share that my journey was not all pinky and rosy... and still, I somehow managed to complete it... ech...

How are your consolidation runs progressing? Do you switch the app from time to time to listen to the familiar voice? 😉

[Joanney69 Graduate in reply to Blackshoe76]

I ran with Michael on week 9 run 3 for another 9 weeks!! Just getting out there for 30 minutes 3 times a week, but I didn't have the courage to go on my own 😂

Then I decided I needed to cut the apron strings, so I ventured out one day on my own - it was very strange, waiting for Michael to tell me how long I'd run and how well I was doing & my personal favourite 'push through the pain' 🤣 but once I'd done it once, next time was a bit easier, and now I'm running Michael-less and timer-less ☺ who would have thought??!! 😂

Didn't think I could complete c25k, but I proved myself wrong gladly. And today, I actually ran 5k ☺

Onwards we go

Happy running 🏃 ☺️

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Joanney69]

Fab update! Thank you for sharing... 🤣🤣🤣 now you got me thinking how big is my addiction to Jo! 🤣

I will get a chance to test it soon!

🤣🤣🤣

Congrats on running 5K distances now - fab result! 👏👏👏

[Joanney69 Graduate in reply to Blackshoe76]

Thank you 😊

I'm sure you will be fine - don't forget to come back and give us an update 😁

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

This guide to post C25k running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you IannodaTruffe, I knew I can count on your post here! 😉

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Congrats 🥳

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

Thanks Dtay1978! 😊 Good luck with your week 6!

[SandraY1 Graduate]

👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊🎊🎓

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to SandraY1]

This was nice and loud, thank you!!! 😊😁😁😁

I can see your graduation is approaching as well!!! Fab news! Keep going and I will celebrate it with you as well!

[Curnie1]

So , soooooooooo pleased for you and equally proud of you Blackshoe76.

An amazing achievement!

Well done you!!👏👏👏😊😊😊🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Curnie1]

Oh Curnie1, milion times thank you!!! 😊😊😊

and you know what I have to say... you are simply the best!!! 😊

[Curnie1 in reply to Blackshoe76]

You are too kind Blackshoe76 😊😊Simply the best???....mmmm 🤔🤔think there’s a song of that name, might add it to the playlist just next to Too Shy🙄......... No Curnie1, don’t even go there, your street cred and reputation is tarnished enough 😂😂

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Curnie1]

Haha I've just noticed this reply 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 yes, go for it, you never know what Tina can do for your running efficiency!!!

[FreedomToRun Graduate]

Absolutely brilliant!!! Best news of the day!! 🎉🎉🎉

Well done and now we are graduates we can get into the consolidation runs 😂

Go enjoy yourself and bask in the triumph 🎓🏃‍♀️🎓🎉

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to FreedomToRun]

Thank you Blueskyabove!!! 😊😊😊 I am pleased as well... I can finally have my ice-cream today... 😆😂🤣 yes, yes, I've been waiting with it until the graduation day...

Looking forward to our future runs... and in the meantime... celebration time 😁🥂🍾

[Hidden]

Congratulations on Graduation 🎓 🥇

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Cyclonoe51 and good luck with your Week 9!!! 😊

[Hidden in reply to Blackshoe76]

Thank you! 👍

[Go59 Graduate]

Big congrats! 🏆🏆🏆

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Go59]

Thank you Go59 😊 and good luck with your Week 8 Run 2 - hopefully the wind won't be that strong...

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

What a inspiring and detailed post from you Blackshoe76, many graduates reading your running journey must bring back memories of their 9 weeks of C25K, I notice you couldn't sleep the night before run 2 of week 5 and found run 3 impossible but of course you ran it without any problems whatsoever, like many runners I found it difficult to get to sleep the night before run 3 of week 5.

To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message on the May 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 🎓once again congratulations on such a detailed report of your running journey with C25K. 😊 🏃🏾 🎓

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you AlMorr, for the lovely response, the references... 😊 and... for being there for many of us...🙏 I noticed you were advising many new runners and I got a bunch of helpful tips from you too... so in a way, my success is your success as well! 😊 Thank you one more time!!! 🥂🍾

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Blackshoe76]

👍 🏃🏾 Thank you 🎓🏃🏾

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Congrats 🥳

[CherryCore Graduate]

Amazingly done! Best of luck!

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to CherryCore]

Thank you CherryCore! 😊 Good luck with your Week 9 - it is just about to start, isn't it?

[CherryCore Graduate in reply to Blackshoe76]

Thank you 😁 Did first run of week 9 today, got soaked in the rain, eyes full of dust and a massive grin 😁

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to CherryCore]

And this is how you rock it CherryCore!!! 😁 Well done!!!

[CherryCore Graduate in reply to Blackshoe76]

Yeah, I think it's great to give _it_ a try, generally 😁 especially, if I'm already out 😂

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to CherryCore]

😂 Great attitude to have!!!! Success is guaranteed!!!

[Emvsl Graduate]

Well done!! Inspiring actually. I’m on Week 4 and posts like this really spur you on. Thank you 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Emvsl]

Hi Emvsl, I am glad I can be of help! 😊 Good luck with the future runs... you will get to week 9 in no time!!!!

[Treewoman Graduate]

Hero!

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Treewoman]

Oh Treewoman, if you remember when I started your profile inspired me big time!!! 😊

Thanks to people like you, newbies believe it is actually/maybe possible haha

Have a celebration toast with me!! 🥂🍾

[Treewoman Graduate in reply to Blackshoe76]

I raise my cuppa tea to you, fellow graduate!

[Nevvy]

Brilliant! Reading your week by week story brings it all back for me!

Congratulations on your achievement!!👏

[Blackshoe76 Graduate]

Thank you Nevvy!! 😊 😁 Was you expierience as eventful and full of doubt as mine? 😁😁😁

[robertmark97 Graduate]

Well done,Brilliant that you have got through this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to robertmark97]

Thank you Robertmark97! 😊 I am pleased as well...

[Fionamags Graduate]

What a journey! You did it though - and have already got a 5k under your belt. Amazing! Congratulations!!!!

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Fionamags]

Thank you Fionamags! 😊 I can't believe I arrived.... in a 🐌 speed but got here at the end... 😆

[RunningMigster Graduate]

🍾🥂 Huge congratulations 🥂🍾

What a fantastic achievement. You must be, and should be, so proud of yourself.

Now keep up the good work!

Mig

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

Thank you Mig 😊

I will give it my best shot and hopefully life won't get in my way! 😉

[Elfrun]

Well done that girl

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Elfrun]

That girl says 'thanks' Elfrun 😉

[KayJay2020 Graduate]

Well done you! I loved reading your post and can relate to so much of what you said! Congratulations!

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to KayJay2020]

Thank you KayJay2020! It had its ups and downs 😆, hopefully your journey will be easier!

[SweatyHettie Graduate]

Ah I missed this earlier- I graduated today too! Congratulations my fellow graduate what a brilliant post! 🎓🏃🏼‍♀️🎉🥳👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I’m a fair bit off 5K too but I’m going to do a few 30 mins runs and then maybe see what time it takes to do the 5K. I’m not bothered about speed or doing it in 30 I just want to run it consistently and see how long it takes.

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to SweatyHettie]

Thank you SweatyHettie and big congratulations to you too!! 😊👏👏👏👏👏👏🥂🍾🎉🎊

Yes,l I have a similar plan, just keep repeating the 30 min runs until it gets easier! 😉 Let's stay in touch!

[GrandmasterFunkballs]

Well done Blackshoe76 you magnificent creature!

I, of course, KNOW I will not be able to do it and after completing week one my legs hurt, so I'm bang on track!

Really well done, it's a great achievement and something of which you can be proud.

Now...ice cream.

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to GrandmasterFunkballs]

Thank you GrandmasterFunkballs 😊.

By the sound of things you really are bang on track 😆... pain in legs is a'must have' ingredient of the future running success! 😁

Well done for starting though and good luck with your Week 2! 😎

[Gememms Graduate]

This is brilliant and a great story that many can relate to with their own running - well done.

[Blackshoe76 Graduate in reply to Gememms]

Thank you Gememms, much appreciated 😊, my fellow graduate!