Whoโd have thought it but today I completed W9R3!
Back on the couch (but I have an excuse right now) writing this I couldnโt be happier ๐
When I started C25K the ๐โโ๏ธ ๐ were weighing heavy on my shoulders and never for a minute did I think I could do this. The programme and everyone on this forum giving kindness, advice and motivation has pushed me through even when I wanted to give up.
When I ran 8 minutes for the first time I was beaming to myself, when I ran 20 I was amazed, and now that Iโve run 30 minutes 3 times Iโm a little shell shocked ๐ฎ๐
A special graduation run play list was designed to keep my legs moving at all costs, starting with Little Mix, โthese wings were made to flyโ ๐ถ followed on by Imagine Dragons, Believer ๐ถ for the warm up walk, by mid run Alicia Keys, (this) โGirl is on Fireโ ๐ถ๐ and with Jo telling me 10 minutes to go, Naughty Boy and Beyoncรฉ โRunninโ ๐ถ with me singing along to myself โNot Runnin from myself no moreโ ๐ถ๐ถ because I finally have the confidence to know that I am a runner!! ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ๐๐๐
OK, so I may have been over egging it a bit at this point ๐คฃ๐ but the cool down walk was to the Olympic anthem Elbow ๐ถ One Day Like This ๐ถ
Completed with Lou Reed ๐ถPerfect Day๐ถ which indeed it was! ๐๐๐
A special mention, and thank you, to CazzaW who was my virtual ๐โโ๏ธ buddy; separated by 3,500 miles, we started and finished at almost the same time and thereโs no doubt it spurred me on ๐๐ ๐๐ฅณ
Finally, thanks to Mr MM and Luka the dog who came to meet me and we did the cool down walk together ๐งก
I am hugely proud of all that Iโve achieved and now just have to keep going ๐คฃ
Over to the consolidation group for me ๐โโ๏ธ๐
Written by
MinnieMoo55
Graduate
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Amazing, well done you! ๐ช๐ป๐ฅ when you say consolidation group do you mean Bridge to 10k? I have just graduated too but have no interest in running 10k, is there something else just for consolidating? Enjoy the feeling! X
Well I just clicked on Bridge to 10k because I was nosey ๐ and now it seems Iโm part of that community!
However, itโs not my goal to do 10k either unless it happens almost by accident!
I donโt run 5k in 30 minutes and so thatโs probably a goal I might go for next, to achieve 5k. I could then join a park run if I wanted to and if Covid ever bogs off!
Reading on the forum, some people keep Jo in their ear, others find it really freeing to not have the pressure of the programme.
Someone gave me the tip to start the warm up walk before the warm up walk, if that makes any sense at all, and then start to run at the warm up walk to start getting more time in the bag by being kept on track.
Iโm a solo runner and so I need the motivation of this forum to keep me going so I suppose thereโs us for consolidating ๐
Either way Iโm just going to revel in graduation for a few days ๐๐
Iโm no expert but when I graduated I found it useful to run the W9 runs - I really didnโt trust myself to run without support in my ear and I wasnโt ready to let go of my coach Michael - he had got me to graduation after all ๐
After a good few runs I moved to strava app - it plays in the background to your music just like C25k and gives audio cues ( I set mine to every half km.. just so I have a rough idea of pace and distance).. more importantly it gives you chance to earn virtual trophies ๐ Iโm like a child and need this to motivate me! ๐
Some are quite do-able and some are a bit more challenging to achieve but itโs just the job! Iโm like an excitable child adding a virtual trophy to my collection! ๐ just the ticket to keep you motivated ๐
I also continue to post on C25k forum ... for a couple of reasons 1. Newbies are encouraged by posts but itโs also nice to give back some of the amazing support I had (couldnโt have done it without you lovely lot) and 2. a lot of us still do post on the C25k site as itโs our spiritual home.. ( tho I did post on B210k when I ran for an hour and when I did my 10k so they would credit me with the respective badges ๐)
Please stick around.. you would be missed and your part of our running family now ๐
Thanks for the tips! I had Michael too ๐ I am ready to let go now though and try other things, I am going to try the Nike guided runs and will defo try Strava if they give trophies ๐congrats on your 10k!! X
TinyTears60 you were one of the people who inspired me when I started and when things got occasionally tough ๐and so I agree that to keep posting once in a while is part of giving back to the community.
I also very much feel part of a running ๐โโ๏ธ family which is so cool because Iโm not normally much of a joiner, if you know what I mean. Itโs also nice when you go past other runners ๐โโ๏ธ๐๐ฝ and they smile in that knowing โweโve been there, keep goingโ kind of a way ๐
Iโve already downloaded Strava and the Nike app so will give both a try, and Iโm not sure Iโm ready to abandon Jo either for now ๐
Aww really? Well thatโs brilliant that I was inspiration to you... ๐ so nice to think that my posts and struggles and success were useful to someone... itโs why I write them...
I know what you mean re not a joiner - but this forum had a habit of finding a little corner inside you and making itself at home..
we all have a shared goal and everyone celebrates your good runs and nurtures you through your tougher runs.. I was genuinely so chuffed reading your graduation run - just brilliant celebrating with others.. I know how much it meant to me .. itโs a big achievement๐๐
as you make referent to โthat knowing smileโ and nod as we pass each other .. so true! ๐
Enjoy your consolidations and I look forward to reading all about them ๐๐๐
If you fancy sticking with strava let me know ... there are a few of us on there ๐ I can give you my name on there ( I should have just put Tinytears60) ๐
๐คฆโโ๏ธ does that mean I have to run W9R3 again? ๐ฎ๐
Anyways, I agree itโs the beginning of the beginning, or maybe even the middle of the beginning as Iโm not yet ๐โโ๏ธ 5k in 30 minutes but itโs been so good to achieve something in sport, as I thought I couldnโt.
Thanks Lottie MW. I was a little worried that having achieved the goal of graduation I might be tempted to slope off and go back to my couch ๐ฆฅ tendencies! ๐
Iโm very relieved that Iโm not going to be allowed to do that as everyone will be watching out for consolidation posts! ๐งก
๐๐ Congratulations MM - thanks for sharing your journey and enjoy your graduation euphoria - you've earnt it. ๐ (loving the tunes btw ๐ต๐ง)
Tunes have to be able to keep me moving ๐๐โโ๏ธand singing which I do silently with just my gob moving so I donโt scare everyone around me ๐
It looks as though youโre getting close to graduation too and the sunrise pic was fab!
๐ง๐ต Little mix... so great for motivation.. Iโve got one of theirs on my graduation playlist - called โPowerโ but I forgot about this one! I got Beyoncรฉ โRunninโ too! Brilliant choices! Words are so apt! ๐
You have a super proud hubby and a gorgeous furbaby Luka ๐๐พ supporting you!
(And of course us lot!)
Crack open the bubbles ๐ฅ๐พ and enjoy the rest of your day snd we will see you on the consolidations ๐
Oh donโt forget to claim you graduation badge ๐ ๐ Loving the use of 3 Degrees song ๐ต for your run title โwhen will I see you againโ ๐
I wonโt be encouraging them to come often and meet me because I canโt get the timing right and ended up running backwards and forwards up and down the track a few times to finish the 30 minutes and keep near to them! The dog thought Iโd lost it completely! ๐
It reminded me of CazzaW running round her local traffic lights so she didnโt stop!
Go get your badge. Youโve definitely earned it! Youโre a ๐โโ๏ธ
Now need to get motivated to get back out there and have asked my assistant to metaphorically push me out the door! ๐
With Winter on its way I thought I might do 2 x 30 minutes and a shorter 20 minutes mid week at lunchtime so Iโm only doing one run in the dark. Well thatโs the plan anyway!!
Lovely to see the real you on your pic after graduation together with the bubbly ๐ฅ
Have tried looking at Strava and the Nike app and just hope theyโre not too technical for me to get to grips with ๐
Havenโt got as far as looking at them yet but will do. Think Iโm going to repeat W9 with Jo for the first couple of runs probably accompanied by my graduation playlist... and hoping I wonโt have to run round and round waiting for the ๐ฆ๐ so I might be able to get a true idea of distance covered in 30 mins. Planning on getting out on Wednesday if the ankle feels ok altho the weather looks โ๏ธ all week.So you hadnโt โseenโ me before ๐ I bravely put a pic of me on my bike whilst over on the Toronto Islands with Toronto city in the background, I think maybe on my W8 post!
Iโm really lucky that I havenโt had to run in the rain yet, not working I can more easily pick my times. Iโm more like to have to contend with snow here, itโs already snowing in northern Ontario. It worries me that the winter weather will disrupt my plans and treadmill is not an option at the moment as gyms are shut. Will just have to wait and see, I donโt mind layering up but donโt want to slip or fall ๐ฌ
Anyway all good for now ๐ onwards ๐ช๐โโ๏ธ
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