W9R3 - I Actually Gone & Done It! WOOP!

[BarryR]

Wow. I did my "graduation run" this morning and I am feeling really chuffed with myself!

It was one of the hardest runs of the whole programme because of the weather - massive humidity (80+%) and very little breeze. The thermometer said 27° just before dawn (which is on the low side compared with most of my other runs) but the humidity was the killer. Anyone who saw me must have thought I was late for a wet t-shirt competition.

The C25K journey has taken me a little longer than planned as I was out for 25 days around W6 with calf muscle pulls.

But I "kind of" still made my goal which was to be running 5km by my birthday (59 years old tomorrow). I am a few metres short of 4km in my 30 minutes but, although I am off the pace, I completed the programme just in time.

Before embarking on this, back in June, I would get puffed just running between lamp posts. Not that I was ever silly enough to try. The difference in how I feel is amazing. I can now actually talk while running and my breathing is back to normal 100m into the 5 minute cool down walk.

My twin 18 year-old sons (who, let's face it could have probably run 5km in 30 minutes without this) have gone out with me every day. They even continued when I was stuck in the house nursing my poor calf muscles. They have kept their own pace but continually looped back to chivvy me along and make sure I wasn't dead in the ditch.

I advise friends to always run at dawn as 1) People you know won't be around to laugh at you and 2) Less likely that the ambulance will get stuck in traffic.

One of the main mental challenges I had was trying not to believe that Sarah Millican was eating her way through a victoria sponge in between her announcements.

Anyway, now I have completed, I can concentrate on running without having to get the sofa in and out the front door three times a week.

Keep going! If an old git like me can do it...

Oh...as a celebration, the boys and I are going to do Week 1 Run 1 along the same route we did in June, which was such a massive deal for me at the time, just as a feelgood comparison. A "lap of honour" kind of.

[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.

[Kish247 Graduate]

Massive Congratulations Barry.

Big respect and happy birthday for tomorrow!!!

I always run at dawn for reason 1 but reason 2 is always a very good point 😆

Whats the next plan? I've done a lot of 4kms and the Nike app has some great guided runs where the audio kicks in based on distance covered - i highly recommended these.

[BarryR Graduate in reply to Kish247]

Well, after our W1R1 "lap of honour" and doing W9 a couple more times to consolidate, I guess I have four choices...

1. Just keep doing W9

2. Build to doing 5km in 30 minutes

3. Increase time of runs gradually to do 5km

4. Lie on the couch

I don't think I will do #4.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on graduating from C25K, nice that your twin 18 year old sons went running with you, happy birthday for tomorrow, not sure which country you are in with a early morning temperature of 27C.

[BarryR Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

We are on the south coast of Crete, Greece

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to BarryR]

I hope you miss Storm Medicane, its to cause some problems in part of Greece

[BarryR Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

It is north west of us at the moment but it may track our way. The humidity and clouds were part of it. Expecting some downpours and thunder over the weekend.

[nowster Graduate]

Congratulations! 🏃🍾🏅🏆

[Sharklet69 Graduate]

Fantastic achievement 👏 well done 👍

[CazzaW Graduate]

Many congratulations 🥳 what a lovely post to read. I love it that your boys ran with you and what a great thing to do to repeat the very first run... I’m going to bear that in mind when I’ve finished.

I also hate the humidity, it’s the worst thing to run in, we’re in Canada at the moment and thankfully the temps and humidity have dropped massively the last couple of weeks. Our boys are back in the UK so feeling very slightly envious you can run with yours.... I haven’t told mine yet, am waiting to be finished, they’ll be thrilled if stunned and amazed 😂

Enjoy your celebrations and wishing you a very Happy Birthday 🎉🎉🎉