I've done it! W9R3

[Angelpoppy]

I've only gone and done it, from couch potato to running for 30 mins non-stop!!! I couldn't be any prouder right now.

I'm the girl who hated PE at school, used to walk to my friend's for a cuppa during cross country 🙈, went to the gym a bit in my 20s, but hasn't done anything fitness related in the last couple of decades. Once I started working from home during lockdown I felt like I was seizing up through sitting around chained to my laptop all day. A throwaway comment to my eldest daughter about thinking about maybe doing C25K and that was it, we were out in our local regional park giving it a go!

The first run was a disaster, I couldn't complete it. I was so cross with myself for letting myself get so unfit, so fed up that I couldn't even run for a minute 🙁Thankfully I found this forum, the beginner's guide, Japanese slow running, and the rest is history! Alongside my lovely running buddy daughters, I've embraced the programme and become something I NEVER thought I would be, a runner. I'm so so proud of myself, and my body, for managing to do this at the age of 48, from a standing start, literally!

To anyone starting out, trust in the programme, it's amazing, believe in yourself and what your body is capable of, hydrate properly and make yourself a good running playlist 😁 Use this brilliant forum for support and advice. Most of all, embrace and enjoy it, I always try to run with a smile on my face, grateful for the way the exercise makes me feel. This is just the beginning too 😊

This is a long post, but it in no way captures just how amazing I feel right now, I don't think I can put that into words at the moment, I'm pretty emotional right now! All I can say is C25K, thank you, thank you, thank you, this is truly life changing 🤩

[HerbieL Graduate]

Congratulations, feels good doesn’t it 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Daisy-runner Graduate]

Such a lovely inspiring post, huge well done to you 😊

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Daisy-runner]

Thank you, I've been so inspired by others on here along the way, I'm glad if I can help to inspire anyone too 😊

[wobbles_when_runs Graduate]

Well done, this is a great read and inspires me to continue.

Congratulations! 🥂

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to wobbles_when_runs]

That's great to hear, you really can do this, honestly if I can, anyone can!

[Silkey]

What an amazing accomplishment. You should be very proud of yourself. I am almost there - finished W9D2 just yesterday and noticed the massive change from running just 60sec to a full 30min. Never thought I would get this far. I had to rerun week 7 & 8 twice as just could not manage running nonstop. Physically I was ready but mentally there was a block. Now I am thinking “I am a runner and the world is my oyster “. Looking forward progressing and trying out the app 5K to 10K

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Silkey]

That's fantastic, enjoy your graduation run because like you say, you are a runner 🤩 it's definitely a mind game, once you master that, you can achieve anything! Looking forward to reading your graduation post 😀

[sapphire309]

This is so uplifting 🙌 a huge well done! 😄

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to sapphire309]

Thank you! I hope it encourages people to know that if I can do, they definitely can 😃

[Hareshaw-Granny Graduate]

Amazing result, well done.

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Hareshaw-Granny]

Thank you, still amazed myself 🤭

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

What a great post and a great achievement, congratulations Angelpoppy that smile you have on your face when you’re running will remain there for the rest of the day today 😀 👏🏻👏🏻🏆🎓

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Couchphoenix]

It is plastered on, can't stop grinning! My daughter and I keep saying, we did it, we really did it!! 😃

[SweatyHettie Graduate]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼💪🏻🏃🏼‍♀️🎉🥳🎊🏁🎓fantastic, well done! Enjoy this feeling, you deserve it!

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to SweatyHettie]

It's the best feeling isn't it 🤩 need to get my graduation badge now 😁

[SweatyHettie Graduate in reply to Angelpoppy]

Yep 👍🏼 - and then we’ll see you over in consolidation! 😜

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to SweatyHettie]

I'll be there!! 😘

[Mudiwa Graduate]

Congratulations 👏👏🎉🎉

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Mudiwa]

Thank you 😍

[Delgirl82]

Wow huge congratulations 🎉🎉I’m with you all the way. I was a PE hater and went to friends instead of doing cross country !! Two weeks to go I hope and then I’ll be a graduate. Determined to do it !!

Wallow in the glory what a great feeling 🍾🍾🍾🍾🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🐌🐌🐌🐌

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Delgirl82]

Lol not just me then 🤣 I told my old school friends I was doing this last week and they were amazed 😂

You can absolutely nail this, just think of your fellow cross country avoider and know you've got it 😘 looking forward to reading your graduation post soon xx

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Yes, thank you to C25K, great post from you, congratulations on completing run 3 of week 9 and graduating from C25K 🎓 🏃🏾 👍

To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message on the June 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 🎓 🏃🏾 👍

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you, all the way through I've been looking forward to getting this post from you 😃 I was even thinking as I was running today how good I would feel to see graduate next to my name 🤩

[Mudiwa Graduate]

Well done and thanks for your encouraging words.👏👏🎉🎉

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Mudiwa]

I genuinely believe that if I can do this, anyone can 😁

[Suestudy Graduate]

Congratulations 🥳 bet you feel very proud well done 👍

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Suestudy]

Thank you, I'm so proud! 😊 You next, you're nearly there too 🤩

[Suestudy Graduate in reply to Angelpoppy]

Tuesday for me and I’m 51 😆

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Suestudy]

Amazing! You're going to smash it 😁

[Splodger Graduate]

Congratulation and really well done 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🥳🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉🎉. I’m on W9R2 today so not far behind you. 😀. Enjoy the feeling xx

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Splodger]

Fantastic, you'll feel so great after that next run 😊 good luck, enjoy it, look forward to seeing your celebratory post 😃

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

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

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Angelpoppy Graduate]

Thank you- I haven't stopped smiling all day 😊 I'm definitely going to keep on running and smiling. Thanks for the link to the guide, I'll be reading that this evening ready for my next run on Tuesday 😀

[Hidden]

What an amazing achievement , exceptionally well done.

I completed this 2 weeks ago and ran 7.4km today as I decided that 10k is my next target.

Good luck with whatever your running future holds as long as it's running with a huge smile

[Angelpoppy Graduate]

Wow that's amazing over 7km already! That will take me a long time but you never know 😀 anything feels possible after completing this. Good luck with your 10km, I have no doubt you'll absolutely smash it!

[SaltdeanSizzler]

Fabulous post 😍🤩Huge congratulations to you all 👏🎉🏃‍♀️🏆🥇Just back fromW7R2 and my daughter on W8R1 ! It was such a fab feeling as I finished 25 and watched her run on to 28 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️So nice to share such an achievement 😊

Am I imagining it but I sense you will still have that beaming smile of achievement on your face still this morning 😁😁🥇🏆🥇

You are inspiring us through the final few to the finish line 🏁 Well done again! 🎉🥇🏆

[Angelpoppy Graduate]

Aww thank you, I'm glad if I can inspire people along the way, this forum has been brilliant for inspiring me 😀 You're so nearly there now, keep going and I look forward to seeing your graduation post 😊

[ianjdav Graduate]

Well done. Completed mine this morning and currently basking in the euphoria of achieving this. It’s a great feeling isn’t it?

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to ianjdav]

You're amazing! A massive well done....just the best feeling eh 🤩 off on our first consolidation run shortly, going to be a hot one!!!

[Lil5k Graduate]

Well done, fab post 👍

[Angelpoppy Graduate]

Thank you!

[CrazyDogLady19 Graduate]

Congratulations!! Goosebumps at the energy you can tell by your post just how much it means to you, well done 👏🎉 xx

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to CrazyDogLady19]

Ahhh ty, that's lovely! I'm glad I could convey how I feel, I'm just still so amazed I've achieved this 🤩

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

Yes! Well done lady. So pleased for you 😊

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

You next! Thank you for all your support along the way, it's really helped me 😀

[Dtay1978 Graduate in reply to Angelpoppy]

You’re very welcome ☺️

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

See you on the other side , aka The Consolidation Club 😀 (will still be looking out for you on here in the meantime of course!)

[Dtay1978 Graduate in reply to Angelpoppy]

Is that on Strava? I’ve recently started using that, there’s a bunch of people off here on it 😊

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Dtay1978]

No it's just another part of this forum 👍 I haven't been too successful with Strava, think my ipod is a bit too old, it had me running for 4 mins on one of my 28 min runs 😮 though I did have a super fast 1km split of 35 seconds 😆 it didn't even have me in the area I was in and my course was so squiggly that even one of the 4 year olds I teach could have plotted a straighter line 😂

[Foxyblue]

Thank you for sharing your experience, I find reading people’s success so inspiring! Only in wk 5 (run 2 tomorrow) but reading posts like yours keep me going and keep me believing I can do it too.

Well done, you deserve to feel proud!

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Foxyblue]

Oh no not only in Week 5, that's amazing to already be in week 5! You'll be surprised by how quickly it flies by. Believe in yourself and the programme, you can absolutely do this!!!! 🤩

[CaptFrey Graduate]

Whoop whoop 🙌 Congratulations and that’s a foncy badge there

[Angelpoppy Graduate]

🤭 the thought of that badge saw me through my last run! Hoping you're finding things a bit better now, how's it been going?

[Gannet1 Graduate]

Wow, big congratulations! 🏆👏🏻💥🌈You’re post totally resonates and encapsulates why we’re all here! 😊It’s such a wonderful programme and as you rightly said truly life changing! 😀Enjoy your celebrations and new era! 😊💗🏃‍♀️🐢

[Angelpoppy Graduate in reply to Gannet1]

Thank you for your kind words! Wonderful programme and wonderful community on here eh 😊