I got there! Challenge complete.

[Gardener62]

I had my final run this morning and was fairly buzzing with the excitement of the last run, could I do it? I have found the whole programme really well structured and enjoyed my progress week by week. It certainly hasn’t been easy and I have never run before so it became the perfect ‘lockdown’ challenge boosting my mood and giving me a real sense of achievement. I have to add that I’m 62, so no spring chicken, but my final 30 minute run was 4.37k which is my fastest yet and I really think that 5k is not too far off. I’m really looking forward to having someone to run with one day and trying a park run but for now I shall pound the same old route around this village and the next and perhaps have Jo, who has been an excellent coach, along for company!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

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

Keep running, keep smiling

[SweatyHettie Graduate]

Congratulations Gardener! That’s a fantastic achievement 👏🏼👏🏼🎉🏃‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️🎓 as you will know from this forum it’s not about the 5K it’s about the stamina to run for 30 mins. I finished on Saturday and did my first consolidation run this morning- I’m still nowhere near 5K but it gives me something to work towards.see you in consolidation!!

[Gardener62 Graduate in reply to SweatyHettie]

Thank you and a big well done to you too! I’m strangely dragging my feet about the next run but I guess it has to be tomorrow, the challenge will be to see if I can run for the fun of it?!

[SweatyHettie Graduate in reply to Gardener62]

I’ve just come back from my second 30 min consolidation run - it was lovely down the beach but I think I may have set off faster than usual although I intended to be slow, so it was quite tiring for the last 10 minutes. It is strange not having Michael coaching me along but I have tried without him to see how it feels. I set a timer on my phone for 15 mins so I knew when halfway was- I thought it hadn’t set properly as it took ages to get there!!

Go for it and let us know how you get on !

[Angelpoppy Graduate]

That's brilliant! What an inspiration, I bet you are so proud 😊

[Gardener62 Graduate]

Thank you, yes I’m thrilled, absolutely never thought I’d be a runner!