C25K Done and dusted ! 😬: Well, here we are , a... - Couch to 5K

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C25K Done and dusted ! 😬

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate
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Well, here we are , a little later than planned but we never know what obstacles life will throw at us, i guess it's doing your best to deal with them that makes us who we are .

i was a bit more relaxed going into this final run after my talk to the physio yesterday , so i was able to actually enjoy the run even though there were times of discomfort .

it was actually very emotional !

even on my 5 minute warm up walk i was thinking back through the weeks of this amazing program , because that's what it is , AMAZING.

i truly thought i would die on week one πŸ˜‚

i have met some truly inspirational and lovely people on this forum and i want to thank each and every one of you , it's also you that make this journey as amazing as it is ! (wow, i'm getting emotional again)

so onto the run !

it started off really well, probably a little quicker then it should when i looked at my watch ! so slowed abit straight away , there were still 25 minutes to go haha

10 minutes in, feeling good , Pink floyd in my ear, weather cool with a little breeze .

at around 12 minutes i had to remind myself to relax, i could feel my posture stiffening , but when i did, it certainly helped .

i was coming up to the halfway mark and started thinking not only about this journey but actually about my life !!! what's happening to me LOL (i'll save that for the end ok!)

so, around a corner to my now not so scary hill 😁

yes, it slowed my a little bit but that's fine, it doesn't worry me now though 😊

i always feel that once im up the hill that i can definitely finish the run .

my friendly downhill bit next with 10 minutes to go , Hmm, in not usually this far along with 10 to go ! my pace must be ok ! 😊

5 mins left now and another little incline, it was fine and then i passed where i was at at 30 minutes on my previous run ! happy days πŸ˜¬πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ

run just passed the road i started on when Laura tells me congratulations! you have done it !!! 😬😬😬

C25K Completed !!!

So, what was i thinking about earlier on ? well, first of all, my name on here is Instructor 57, 57 of course being my birth year (im 63)

the Instructor bit goes back a while !

i have always loved challenges and completing things i start .

when i was 16 i learnt to fly gliders , i have around 12000 flights on gliders,

when i was 18 i became a gliding instructor , at the time, the youngest in the country .

i then did my private pilots licence at the age of 20, and after that learnt to fly and bought my own hotair balloon , i have also instructed people to fly balloons ,

things are a little more sedate these days, i am now a Driving instructor , so hence the name Instructor57 😊

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Instructor57
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Hareshaw-Granny profile image
Hareshaw-GrannyGraduate

What a wonderful post, huge congratulations on your amazing achievement. So happy for you that you achieved this after all that happened. Good luck with all your future endeavours, running included. Will watch for your progress as you move into consolidation.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Hareshaw-Granny

Many thanks for your kind support !πŸ‘πŸ˜Š

Dreambird profile image
DreambirdGraduate in reply to Hareshaw-Granny

Well done -,many congratulations πŸ₯³ Lots more happy running journeys πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ€©

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Dreambird

Many thanks πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Runner_P profile image
Runner_PGraduate

Fantastic news, many congratulations πŸ₯³πŸ₯³

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Runner_P

Many thanks πŸ˜πŸ‘

EThomas profile image
EThomasGraduate

Huge congratulations. You appear to have left Gizmo behind.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to EThomas

Absolutely, no mogwai was going to stop me today 😬

sally1993 profile image
sally1993

Omg I got emotional reading this, especially the first bit!!! Well done to you! :D xxx

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to sally1993

Thank you Sally !

And thanks for your support .

Good luck with your journey you can do this πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate

A well-deserved congratulations. πŸ†πŸ…

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to nowster

Many thanks ! πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Many congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

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

Keep running, keep smiling.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe

Why thank you kind sir πŸ˜¬πŸ‘πŸƒ

Nannalaine profile image
Nannalaine

Well done πŸ‘ hope some day I’ll get this message too! Excellent 😁

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Nannalaine

Thank you !

Just keep going out doing the runs .

You will get there ! πŸ˜πŸ‘

Smile23 profile image
Smile23Graduate

Well done

What can i say you must and should be proud if yourself🍾

Everyone who graduates add that little bit more self belief to me (and i am sure others)

Fantastic achievement πŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ₯³

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Smile23

Many thanks for your kind words !

And yes, I know what you mean !

Thus forum and the people on it are so inspiring .

You WILL do this πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

HappyNoodle profile image
HappyNoodleGraduate

Well done! πŸπŸ…πŸ˜

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to HappyNoodle

Many thanks πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Ling_Bedford profile image
Ling_Bedford

Congratulations on your achievement!

πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽŠπŸŽŠπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

I've just done my Week 1, Run 1 yesterday and I felt great!! Hopefully I'll keep going and get to the end!!!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Ling_Bedford

Fantastic ! Just keep going out doing the runs ! Yo WILL get there ! πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

SJ60 profile image
SJ60

Wonderful! Congratulations ...such a well deserved victory πŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸŒŸπŸ₯‡ now go and put your feet up and enjoy your graduation day to the full πŸ₯‚

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to SJ60

Many thanks , I will πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Congratulations πŸ₯³ πŸƒand Very Well done Inspector 57 !

What an amazing story... and post...

Wow, I don’t know what to say other than thank you for all your kind words and advice and happy running.

Just amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to

Many thanks for your support, you are almost there now ! πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

PlymBorn profile image
PlymBorn

Yay !!!! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

Well done Ian ... took a wee bit longer but rightly so given circumstances.

Huge achievement πŸ…not just in completing C25K but staying stoic and coming back from injury and not giving up πŸ‘

Absolutely brilliant ... you sir are now a graduate πŸŽ“

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to PlymBorn

Haha, many thanks for your support πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Jools2020 profile image
Jools2020Graduate

Many congratulations, Ian, on your fantastic achievement! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

I’m so glad to see you took it steady. I suspected yesterday that you were going to sneak off and graduate today πŸ˜€. Graduating IS emotional, isn’t it!

Good to learn a little bit about you, too! See you in consolidations. Hope you will continue to post in here as well as on Strava.

Enjoy your Graduation day! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Jools2020

Thank you Jools , and yes, it was surprisingly emotional, I hardly slept last night !

And of course I will still post !

I love it here πŸ˜πŸ‘

Kish247 profile image
Kish247Graduate

Congratulations. Lot of Pink Floyd fans on here!!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Kish247

Thank you ! πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

And yes, I'm a life long Floyd fan and seen them many times , first was in 1973 ! Haha πŸ˜‚

Kish247 profile image
Kish247Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Nice! I was -13 then :D

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Kish247

I was 16 πŸ˜‚

ForestGrump63 profile image
ForestGrump63Graduate

Yey! Well done πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to ForestGrump63

Many thanks πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

PhoenixRise profile image
PhoenixRiseGraduate

Congratulations Instructor57!!! Well done!!! What an achievement!!!

What a rollercoaster of a last run and C25K experience you’ve had. Overcoming injury to battle on and still popping on here every day to inspire others.

Love the Instructor background story - explains your nurturing nature!

Congratulations! Enjoy a tipple and hot bath!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to PhoenixRise

Many thanks , I'm actually in the hot bath now πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Maurs12 profile image
Maurs12Graduate

Congratulations! Celebrate, Spoil yourself - this is an important milestone.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Maurs12

Many thanks πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Sedge profile image
SedgeGraduate

Congratulations Instructor57 ! Phenomenal effort to finish the programme, I kmow you've had to battle against injury, but you have done amazingly well, and I am sure have/will inspire others!

Unfortunately my final run has needed to be postponed, a slight strain to a muscle at the inside top of my leg has meant I need a couple more rest days..... penciled graduation in for Saturday if I recover in time....

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Sedge

Thank you , I appreciate it πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Oh dear ! That's a pity !

BUT, as I'm sure you know, your doing exactly the right thing ! Graduation will be there just waiting for you to take it !

Rest up , and fingers crossed for Saturday 🀞

Weddingrunner profile image
Weddingrunner

Whoohoooooo!!!! πŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ₯³ huge congratulations!!!! Such a wonderful post to read!!! Well done you! 😊😊😊 Go and celebrate! 🍾

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Weddingrunner

Many thanks !

You will not be far behind πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

MontyMooDog profile image
MontyMooDogGraduate

Many congratulations on your graduation.🍷Enjoy your day as it's a great feeling isn't it?πŸ‘πŸ˜‚πŸ˜€

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog

Thank you 😬

Yes it's amazing!

IzzyWiz profile image
IzzyWizGraduate

Congratulations. I also graduated this morning & I had to hold back the tears. 11 weeks ago I could not run the length of 5 houses...

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to IzzyWiz

Excellent !

Well done to you too ! πŸ˜¬πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

Amazing isn't it 😬

Islandmacmum profile image
IslandmacmumGraduate

You are truly inspirational. Today I was struggling through the first half of my run and then I thought about you doing this with sciatica and that spurred me on. Absolutely brilliant - congratulations! πŸ‘πŸ»

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Islandmacmum

Many thanks !

Pleased if spurred you on πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

f1madman profile image
f1madmanGraduate

Congratulations on becoming the youngest glider instructor and also completing the C25K programme, Instructor! What next? Consolidation? Have you thought about your goals after that?

Never doubted you could do it, I'm about to start Week 8 some point this evening hopefully, so taking my time a lot more time than you (think I should'vve been done and dust last month but oh well).

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to f1madman

Many thanks πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

I appreciate it.

Oh, good to hear your on week 8.

And to be honest , your the one taking the sensible approach 😁

I got a little impatient πŸ˜‚

But, at the end of the day you will graduate.

And hopefully pain free .

Good luck with the rest of the program πŸ™‚πŸ‘

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to f1madman

P.S

Sorry, you asked what's next , well a few days rest then back out there working towards the 5k , my graduation run was 3.9 so just build that up now to 5k πŸ™‚

f1madman profile image
f1madmanGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Nice goal to have m sure you'll get there safely. Unfortunately I had to abort my WK8R1 25 mins into it. The back of the left knee pains surfaced again. Let us know how you get on and if you start listening to the stepping stones podcast

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate

Massive congratulations on your achievement 🀩πŸ’ͺ🏼 such an awesome feeling!!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Jnubster

Many thanks ! I'm still buzzin 🐝 😬

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Instructor57

Oh heck yeah 🐝 I was literally buzzing for days and when I think about how much I’ve achieved I can hardly believe it!!πŸƒπŸ½β€β™€οΈπŸ’ͺ🏼🀩

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Jnubster

I'm like a little kid, I keep looking at the Graduate badge πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Jnubster profile image
JnubsterGraduate in reply to Instructor57

I couldn’t flick my phone up for ages as I thought it would disappear πŸ™ˆπŸ€£πŸ€£

Feltip profile image
FeltipGraduate

Well done πŸ‘πŸ’ͺ so pleased for. It just shows what can be achieved, positive mindset, words of encouragement, self belief, determination

Despite the injury set back you persevered and won

Congratulations 😊

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Feltip

Thank you, and thanks for your support , I appreciate it πŸ™‚πŸ‘

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate

So, so, so pleased you completed the programme! You must be relieved and very proud.

I think running triggers emotional responses often, so hopefully every little achievement will mean a lot of joy, pride and the odd tear sometimes.

Well done and of course once you have that physio appointment you will have even more confidence!

It is so exciting to finish the programme because now you can run 'free' which is so lovely.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Roxdog

Many thanks , and for your support,I really appreciate it .

Yes, the last few weeks have certainly been emotional and challenging both physically and mentally.

I've had a full workout ! Haha πŸ˜‚

And thank you for your suggestion regarding the James dunne videos ! They have certainly helped me , oh and btw, my physio knows him and holds him in very high regard ! πŸ™‚

Roxdog profile image
RoxdogGraduate

Just to add, the glider story is impressive. If you love free flying you'll enjoy the next phase of running!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Roxdog

Thanks, I started gliding at 16 when I was an apprentice at an aircraft manufacturers .

And yes I will enjoy the free running .

I need to find some different routes now 😬

Baymax_Dad profile image
Baymax_DadGraduate

Sir, you are in inspiration. you overcame every obstacle that was thrown in front of you. you should be very proud of yourself.

But time for your next challenge. You got one one in mind?

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Baymax_Dad

Thank you for your kind words !

My next challenge with the running is to get to 5k, then improve my pace .

Other than that I have an ongoing challenge of learning to play guitar 😬

Baymax_Dad profile image
Baymax_DadGraduate

That's also on my bucket list. I would like the piano but a little large for a small house with young kids So Guitar might be the thing. Helpful tips on that are welcome please.

keep pounding the road sir and the distance will come. I am looking to conquer the 5k mark then i am tempted by a parkrun ( parkrun.org.uk/ ) with a group.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Baymax_Dad

Yes, I have already registered for parkrun 😬

I have several guitars , 4 acoustic, one 12 string and 2, 6 string and a fender Stratocaster electric that I have modified to replicate David gilmours strat from Pink Floyd ,😬

030961 profile image
030961Graduate

Wonderful news Instructor57. You’ve kept loads of us going and thank you.

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to 030961

Thank you !

That's nice to know πŸ˜πŸ‘

61Lady profile image
61LadyGraduate

Hoorah! So happy for you πŸŽ“πŸΎπŸŽ“πŸΎπŸŽ“ wonderful achievement.

Why not be emotional ... you’ve overcome every hurdle and persevered which is really something you should be very proud of.

Couple of days rest and hope trip to physio goes well

Congratulations !

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to 61Lady

Many thanks , I appreciate it πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate

Missed your graduation post but Congratulations !!! πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸŽ‰πŸ₯³

I bet it was an amazing feeling especially as you wondered at one point if it was going to happen. What an emotional rollercoaster!

Love the story around your name - going up in a glider and a hot air balloon has long been on my bucket list. I'd love to do the latter over the Serengeti or Masai Mara at migration time

Let's hope the physio sorts you out soon.

Onwards to consolidation!

Happy running πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ˜

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Birdlady64

Thank you ! πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Yes, the last few weeks certainly were a rollercoaster.

It all fell apart after week 8 run 1

I wondered at one point if I'd ever run again !

Its actually feeling quite a bit better now so I'm a lot more positive about my future running and looking forward to see the physio next Tuesday .

Oh yes, ballooning over the Serengeti would be amazing ! 😬

Birdlady64 profile image
Birdlady64Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Glad to hear that. Positive mental attitude is a big part of the battle

You never know - may get that ballooning trip one day... 🀞

Good luck for the physio appointment

wobbles_when_runs profile image
wobbles_when_runsGraduate

OMG! I don’t know how I missed this!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! Wow, you have done it.

You’re so inspirational and thank you for sharing your story. Well done Ian. From a fellow pilot and instructor 😁✈️

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to wobbles_when_runs

Hi,

And thank you !

I appreciate it , it will be your turn soon 😬

Oh, another fellow pilot ! That's interesting πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Irish-John profile image
Irish-JohnGraduate

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATE! πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ™‚πŸ»

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Irish-John

Many thanks John ,

I appreciate it πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Gannet1 profile image
Gannet1Graduate

Well done Instructor57! 😊 Lovely to read your victory post and such an interesting story! You’ve already achieved a lot, but here’s to your new era of consolidating and beyond! Hope you celebrated your wonderful achievement in style!πŸ†πŸ€© Best of luck with phase two, look forward to reading about your adventures, πŸ˜Šβ˜€οΈπŸŒˆ

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Gannet1

Many thanks for your reply πŸ‘

I actually completed my first 5K this morning, and will now consolidate on that 😬

Gannet1 profile image
Gannet1Graduate in reply to Instructor57

Wow! β˜€οΈThere’s no stopping you! Well done! πŸ™Œ Life just got even more exciting then! πŸ‘ Happy running! πŸ˜ŠπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ’

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Gannet1

Haha many thanks πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Moomin63 profile image
Moomin63Graduate

Huge congratulations to you! I have enjoyed reading your posts, hope you will continue to do so, Well done again and happy consolidation runs!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Moomin63

Thank you !

And I'm very happy to know you like to read my posts πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

I will certainly continue to post here !

This place has been amazing support to me , so if someone gets something from what i post then that's great πŸ˜πŸ‘

Eightpaws profile image
EightpawsGraduate

Congratulations!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Eightpaws

Many thanks πŸ˜¬πŸ‘

Chokka profile image
ChokkaGraduate

Ooppps ... I missed it!

Sorry I’m so late, but soooooo many congratulations on your graduation ... & having stormed through that first 5km barrier already!

Love your posts ... please keep them coming!

Hurrah!!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Chokka

Many thanks ! 😁

And happy to know you like my posts 😬

Fifitrixiebell73 profile image
Fifitrixiebell73Graduate

Ian, many, many, congratulations on your graduation! πŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ₯³πŸ₯³

Good things come to those who wait!

Instructor57 profile image
Instructor57Graduate in reply to Fifitrixiebell73

Many thanks !

I appreciate it πŸ‘

I'm in a much better place now 😁

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