Graduated!

[BexJogs]

Woohoo!! I made it!!

This whole process has been so brilliant! I’ve been lucky enough to avoid any injuries and so managed to go through without repeating a week. I can’t believe how much fitter I am for it!

Today’s run was good! Tough as usual in the middle but I knew I’d finish it. Hilariously, just as I was getting close to the end, Chariots of Fire came on so it was a suitably epic finish! Then just as I was feeling sad about the end of C25K, it was Don’t Stop Me Now reminding me it’s actually the beginning not the end!

Thank you all for your support and advice along the way and for all the inspiration especially in the early weeks when I was too shy to post.

Top Tips

- new gear is a great motivator

- drink silly amounts of water the day before

- slow down until you think it’s slow enough and then slow down a bit more. Way better to complete a run slowly than risk not finishing it at all and I think it helped me avoid injury

- having tried holding phone, tucking into bra 🤣, and armband, I found a running belt the best solution

- post on the forum! It’s so good to find new running buddies and cheer each other on

- don’t be afraid to take up space. You have as much right to be in the park / on the roads as anyone. Get out there!

- Sort out a decent playlist. Bonus points for songs that make you laugh. Definitely include chariots of fire 😂

I’ll stay on the forum to cheer everyone else on and bang on about my consolidation runs.

Happy running all, and especially to anyone else graduating this week and to anyone just starting out. It’s life changing!

[nowster Graduate]

Congratulations! 🥂🏃🏼‍♀️🏆🏅🍾

And I agree with all your points.

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to nowster]

Thank you! I know you love a stat: 6:43 pace and 4.72km according to MapMyRun (which weirdly thinks I ran for 32min?!). 5k is my next goal! This week, I think!

[nowster Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

Odd that! At that pace you'll probably be able to do 5km in about 33-34 minutes.

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to nowster]

Yep, I'd be delighted with that! My goal is 5k in 30min this side of Christmas. Wish me luck!

[nowster Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

It'll come. 🍀

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

Awesome post Bex, huge congrats on graduating, what a feeling it must be! 🏅✨

Love the perfectly synced tunes to finish the programme 👌🏼😁 I’m with you all the way - something that makes me laugh really takes the pressure off and is helping me enjoy the journey more. Thanks for all those tips, no doubt they’ll help us newbies out along the way 😊

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you! 😊😊 I’ll be smiling all day!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

And of course can’t wait to see your own graduation post soon!!

[acountrycabbage Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

Thanks, fingers crossed!

[ground_level]

Fantastic! Well done and congratulations on your graduation!

Some really good advice in there for everyone else on their C25K journeys too, thanks for sharing.

What's next on your running agenda?

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to ground_level]

Thank you! In week 9 I've been running 4.7km or so each time so my immediate goal is the 5k (regardless of the time it takes). I'm hoping to do that this week, and I think it should be safe as the 0.3km increase is within the 10% rule that they talk about here. I'm also going to keep running for either 30min or 5k every other day until it feels easier, and then work on my pace. The goal is 5k within 30min this side of Christmas! I'm going to try a few different options/programmes to see what works best for getting the pace up. But the very immediate item on the agenda is an extra rest day and some general smugness...! You're so close to graduation too now - looking forward to hearing how it all goes!

[MccHa Graduate]

Well done you 👍🥳👍 Concur your above remarks ...

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to MccHa]

Thanks! Glad you agree - I thought I'd have quite liked to read a fellow runner's "top tips" post when I was starting out.

[Roxdog Graduate]

Well done. I love your statement about taking up space! We so often 'hide' ourselves, but as long as we aren't selfish, why shouldn't we be out thete, running proud!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Thank you!! It goes way beyond running too, doesn't it!? I think the mental shift from embarassed to be seen all the way through to proud to be out running is the biggest takeaway from it all for me, even more than the physical benefits. I work in a very male-dominated job and I'm used to being "pushy" and intellectually taking up space, but somehow it took this programme for that to click in terms of physical space, too!

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

I also have to be quite assertive at work, and the benefit of running has been to make me braver and fearless in all contexts! It goes way beyond the exercise. I've never discovered anything like it. Wish I'd started running years ago until waiting to 59! Well done!

[Hidden]

Congratulations! 🏃‍♀️🙆‍♀️👩🏻‍🎓🏆🎉🌟and love the tips!!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much! I see you did 5k this week?! That's amazing work! That's my next goal. How did you find it?

[Hidden in reply to BexJogs]

You're welcome! 😊

It was weird bcoz I graduated on June 8th and didn't end up running again until beginning of July (just the once 😳) and I was starting to think maybe I'm not a runner after all. Then i did the run last week and it was my longest and most comfortable run ever! I ran again yesterday (didn't manage 5k but ran for 30 mins) and I'm definitely going to run at least 3x a week now. I really want to do 5k in 20 mins or less, but without hurting myself obvs! 🤣

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Great to hear you could pick it up again so well after a little break. Maybe some R&R was what your body needed. 20min 5k would be incredibly fast! I'm just aiming for 30min! haha! Back in the day when I was much lighter and fitter I could do it in 28min, but that feels like a very distant dream for me now!

[Hidden in reply to BexJogs]

That was a typo!! I meant 30 mins 🤣🤣 and wow 28 mins is impressive!!!

[Toomuchwinem2f Graduate]

Well done!!

Love your post!! Spot on advice too 😊

you’ll be smiling for longer than just today for sure, I’ve been grinning from ear to ear since Friday and felt like an Olympian on my first post graduation run this morning 🏅😊🤣 enjoy celebrating 🥳 🎉

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Toomuchwinem2f]

Ah congratulations on your graduation too - 100% know what you mean about feeling like an olympian!! I am completely buzzing and everyone's comments are so kind! Glad you're back on it immediately after graduation, that must be the best way to keep it up! I've got a couple of trips away in the next couple of weeks and so this is the first big test of my commitment. But I know I can do it!

[Toomuchwinem2f Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

Yes you can!! Trainers are soooo portable 👍🏻👍🏻 I took mine when I visited my sister (W6) and I’ll be taking them in October when I go away too. I can’t quite believe I’m saying this because I could hardly complete a full minute on week one! 🤣🤣

[Not_a_runner456 Graduate]

Congratulations 🏅🎉🏃‍♀️

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Not_a_runner456]

Thank you!!

[girlsjustwannarun Graduate]

Woohoo!!! Congratulations! I finished on ‘Lose my Breath’ by Destiny’s Child today - definitely felt like a suitable finish due to me being very out of breath haha! Congrats again!

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to girlsjustwannarun]

hahaha that's actually brilliant! And thank you!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

All those points are excellent, congratulations on graduating from C25K 🎓 🏃🏾 👍

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thank you! And thanks for all the support all the way through. It's been inspiring!

[Ant50 Graduate]

Congratulations and great post, fully agree with all your points. Good luck on the 5k/30 min target.

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Ant50]

Thank you! Excited to see what happens next!

[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.

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I’ve wanted this reply from you for so long, haha! Thanks for all the work you do keeping us running safely and well informed. Really helpful information in that link. I’ll be careful and keep posting. Thank you!

[Dreambird Graduate]

Many congratulations- your helpful points are spot on ! Happy running 🏃🏼‍♀️🤩🥳✅

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to Dreambird]

Thank you!

[TotalNewbie1 Graduate]

Well done and all your points are spot on. Enjoy the moment 😃

[BexJogs Graduate in reply to TotalNewbie1]

Thank you!!