๐ŸŽถIs it the Beginning or is it the End? ๐Ÿ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ - Couch to 5K

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๐ŸŽถIs it the Beginning or is it the End? ๐Ÿ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate
โ€ข34 Replies

Whoโ€™d have thought it but today I completed W9R3!

Back on the couch (but I have an excuse right now) writing this I couldnโ€™t be happier ๐Ÿ˜

When I started C25K the ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐Ÿ˜ˆ 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 Iโ€™ve run 30 minutes 3 times Iโ€™m a little shell shocked ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜†

A special graduation run play list was designed to keep my legs moving at all costs, starting with Little Mix, โ€˜these wings were made to flyโ€™ ๐ŸŽถ followed on by Imagine Dragons, Believer ๐ŸŽถ for the warm up walk, by mid run Alicia Keys, (this) โ€˜Girl is on Fireโ€™ ๐ŸŽถ๐Ÿ˜† and with Jo telling me 10 minutes to go, Naughty Boy and Beyoncรฉ โ€˜Runninโ€™ ๐ŸŽถ with me singing along to myself โ€˜Not Runnin from myself no moreโ€™ ๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽถ because I finally have the confidence to know that I am a runner!! ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

OK, so I may have been over egging it a bit at this point ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿ˜‚ but the cool down walk was to the Olympic anthem Elbow ๐ŸŽถ One Day Like This ๐ŸŽถ

Completed with Lou Reed ๐ŸŽถPerfect Day๐ŸŽถ which indeed it was! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

A special mention, and thank you, to CazzaW who was my virtual ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ buddy; separated by 3,500 miles, we started and finished at almost the same time and thereโ€™s no doubt it spurred me on ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿฅณ

Finally, thanks to Mr MM and Luka the dog who came to meet me and we did the cool down walk together ๐Ÿงก

I am hugely proud of all that Iโ€™ve achieved and now just have to keep going ๐Ÿคฃ

Over to the consolidation group for me ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ˜Š

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MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55
Graduate
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34 Replies
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Tendance profile image
Tendance

Amazing, well done you! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐Ÿฅ‚ 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

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to Tendance

Well I just clicked on Bridge to 10k because I was nosey ๐Ÿ˜‚ and now it seems Iโ€™m part of that community!

However, itโ€™s not my goal to do 10k either unless it happens almost by accident!

I donโ€™t run 5k in 30 minutes and so thatโ€™s 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.

Iโ€™m a solo runner and so I need the motivation of this forum to keep me going so I suppose thereโ€™s us for consolidating ๐Ÿ˜Š

Either way Iโ€™m just going to revel in graduation for a few days ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

I hope you enjoy the feeling too ๐Ÿ™Œ

Tinytears60 profile image
Tinytears60Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

Hi Tendance and MinnieMoo55

Iโ€™m no expert but when I graduated I found it useful to run the W9 runs - I really didnโ€™t trust myself to run without support in my ear and I wasnโ€™t ready to let go of my coach Michael - he had got me to graduation after all ๐Ÿ˜€

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 ๐Ÿ† Iโ€™m like a child and need this to motivate me! ๐Ÿ™ˆ

Some are quite do-able and some are a bit more challenging to achieve but itโ€™s just the job! Iโ€™m like an excitable child adding a virtual trophy to my collection! ๐Ÿ™ˆ just the ticket to keep you motivated ๐Ÿ‘Œ

I also continue to post on C25k forum ... for a couple of reasons 1. Newbies are encouraged by posts but itโ€™s also nice to give back some of the amazing support I had (couldnโ€™t have done it without you lovely lot) and 2. a lot of us still do post on the C25k site as itโ€™s 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 ๐Ÿ‘Œ)

Please stick around.. you would be missed and your part of our running family now ๐Ÿ’•

Tendance profile image
Tendance in reply to Tinytears60

Thanks for the tips! I had Michael too ๐Ÿ˜ 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 ๐Ÿ˜‰congrats on your 10k!! X

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to Tinytears60

TinyTears60 you were one of the people who inspired me when I started and when things got occasionally tough ๐Ÿ˜˜and 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 ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ family which is so cool because Iโ€™m not normally much of a joiner, if you know what I mean. Itโ€™s also nice when you go past other runners ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฝ and they smile in that knowing โ€˜weโ€™ve been there, keep goingโ€™ kind of a way ๐Ÿ˜€

Iโ€™ve already downloaded Strava and the Nike app so will give both a try, and Iโ€™m not sure Iโ€™m ready to abandon Jo either for now ๐Ÿ˜Š

Tinytears60 profile image
Tinytears60Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

Aww really? Well thatโ€™s brilliant that I was inspiration to you... ๐Ÿ’• so nice to think that my posts and struggles and success were useful to someone... itโ€™s 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 .. itโ€™s a big achievement๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

as you make referent to โ€˜that knowing smileโ€™ and nod as we pass each other .. so true! ๐Ÿ˜€

Enjoy your consolidations and I look forward to reading all about them ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜€

If you fancy sticking with strava let me know ... there are a few of us on there ๐Ÿ‘ I can give you my name on there ( I should have just put Tinytears60) ๐Ÿ’•

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to Tinytears60

Will do re Strava as itโ€™s nice to keep motivated!

I couldnโ€™t even remember to turn it on tonight! ๐Ÿ˜‚

Tinytears60 profile image
Tinytears60Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

I was like that at first ... but it does become a habit x

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate

Congratulations! ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ…๐Ÿถ

PS. "When will I see you again?" ๐ŸŽถ

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to nowster

Ooooo, in about 2 days time I expect! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Thanks for the congratulations ๐Ÿฅณ Iโ€™m decidedly chuffed with myself ๐Ÿ˜Š

๐ŸŽถCelebration Time, come on!โ€™๐ŸŽถ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿคฃ

B1GK9 profile image
B1GK9Graduate

Congratulations another inspiring story.

You need to emulate your running buddy and shout yourself some bubbles.

BonniesRest profile image
BonniesRestGraduate

๐ŸŽถPrecious moments๐ŸŽถ Congratulations! ๐Ÿ’ช๐ŸŽ‰

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to BonniesRest

Indeed they are precious moments. Still smiling when I woke up this morning ๐Ÿ˜

Couchphoenix profile image
CouchphoenixGraduate

Congratulations MM55, itโ€™s a great achievement and a great feeling too, your smile in the photo says it all ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป๐Ÿ…๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ

Try the Nike Run Club app itโ€™s great for consolidation runs ๐Ÿ‘

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to Couchphoenix

Thank you Couchphoenix, Iโ€™ll take a look ๐Ÿ˜Š

John_W profile image
John_WGraduateAmbassador

It's neither the beginning nor the end, nor the beginning of the end.

It's the end of the Beginning!

You've done the warm-up. This is now the *real* start of your running journey.

Congratulations!

PS. Pendantic note. Elbow's Olympic theme was 'First Steps':

youtu.be/c8rdbvDFh1I

(tissues out, soz)

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to John_W

๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™€๏ธ does that mean I have to run W9R3 again? ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜‚

Anyways, I agree itโ€™s the beginning of the beginning, or maybe even the middle of the beginning as Iโ€™m not yet ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ 5k in 30 minutes but itโ€™s been so good to achieve something in sport, as I thought I couldnโ€™t.

I shall enjoy consolidation ๐Ÿ˜Š

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.

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWGraduate

WOOHOO!!! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿ’ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿป๐Ÿฅ‡๐ŸŽŠ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿฅณ

Well done MM and congratulations!

Looking forward to your consolidation posts ๐Ÿฅฐ

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿข๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to LottieMW

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 ๐Ÿฆฅ tendencies! ๐Ÿ˜‚

Iโ€™m very relieved that Iโ€™m not going to be allowed to do that as everyone will be watching out for consolidation posts! ๐Ÿงก

LottieMW profile image
LottieMWGraduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐ŸคฃI think itโ€™s a cunning plan ๐Ÿค”

StoneDragon profile image
StoneDragonGraduate

๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ‘ Congratulations MM - thanks for sharing your journey and enjoy your graduation euphoria - you've earnt it. ๐Ÿ˜€ (loving the tunes btw ๐ŸŽต๐ŸŽง)

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to StoneDragon

Tunes have to be able to keep me moving ๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธand singing which I do silently with just my gob moving so I donโ€™t scare everyone around me ๐Ÿ˜‚

It looks as though youโ€™re getting close to graduation too and the sunrise pic was fab!

Good luck with your last few runs ๐Ÿ˜Š

Tinytears60 profile image
Tinytears60Graduate

Oh I am beyond chuffed for you and CazzaW

๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ“๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

Well done!

Awesome achievement

๐ŸŽง๐ŸŽต Little mix... so great for motivation.. Iโ€™ve got one of theirs on my graduation playlist - called โ€˜Powerโ€™ but I forgot about this one! I got Beyoncรฉ โ€˜Runninโ€™ too! Brilliant choices! Words are so apt! ๐Ÿ‘Œ

You have a super proud hubby and a gorgeous furbaby Luka ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿพ supporting you!

(And of course us lot!)

Crack open the bubbles ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿพ and enjoy the rest of your day snd we will see you on the consolidations ๐Ÿ’•

Oh donโ€™t forget to claim you graduation badge ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ† Loving the use of 3 Degrees song ๐ŸŽต for your run title โ€˜when will I see you againโ€™ ๐Ÿ‘Œ

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to Tinytears60

Thank you so much ๐Ÿ˜Š

I wonโ€™t be encouraging them to come often and meet me because I canโ€™t 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 Iโ€™d lost it completely! ๐Ÿ˜‚

It reminded me of CazzaW running round her local traffic lights so she didnโ€™t stop!

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate

So.... the morning after ๐Ÿ˜‚ and Iโ€™m still smiling too ๐Ÿ˜† Your badge looks great โญ๏ธ need to get mine sorted too!

Fab pics, great post and great memories of what weโ€™ve achieved..... so far ๐Ÿ˜‰

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to CazzaW

Yup, Iโ€™m still smiling even now ๐Ÿ˜

Go get your badge. Youโ€™ve definitely earned it! Youโ€™re a ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Now need to get motivated to get back out there and have asked my assistant to metaphorically push me out the door! ๐Ÿ˜†

With Winter on its way I thought I might do 2 x 30 minutes and a shorter 20 minutes mid week at lunchtime so Iโ€™m only doing one run in the dark. Well thatโ€™s the plan anyway!!

Lovely to see the real you on your pic after graduation together with the bubbly ๐Ÿฅ‚

Have tried looking at Strava and the Nike app and just hope theyโ€™re not too technical for me to get to grips with ๐Ÿ˜‚

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

Havenโ€™t got as far as looking at them yet but will do. Think Iโ€™m going to repeat W9 with Jo for the first couple of runs probably accompanied by my graduation playlist... and hoping I wonโ€™t have to run round and round waiting for the ๐Ÿšฆ๐Ÿ˜‚ 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 hadnโ€™t โ€˜seenโ€™ me before ๐Ÿ˜† 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!

We must keep each other motivated ๐Ÿ’ช

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to CazzaW

Yup, Wednesday was my thought as well but havenโ€™t checked the weather... but whatโ€™s a bit of โ˜”๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฆ to ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ like us? ๐Ÿ˜†

I would be happy to keep Jo for a few runs whilst I work out what to do with other running apps. Less pressure ๐Ÿคฃ

Lovely graduation badge by your name ๐Ÿ˜Š

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

And by yours too โญ๏ธ

Iโ€™m really lucky that I havenโ€™t had to run in the rain yet, not working I can more easily pick my times. Iโ€™m more like to have to contend with snow here, itโ€™s 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 donโ€™t mind layering up but donโ€™t want to slip or fall ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

Anyway all good for now ๐Ÿ‘ onwards ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

CazzaW profile image
CazzaWGraduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

Nope, it was my Canadian Thanksgiving post a couple back when โ€˜restingโ€™ my ankle ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

Tinytears60 profile image
Tinytears60Graduate in reply to MinnieMoo55

Perfect plan! ๐Ÿ‘Œ

Dups profile image
DupsGraduate

Congratulations ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ what an amazing journey you have had. Fantastic achievement!

Great photo, how happy you look. Enjoy some well earned celebrations ๐Ÿท๐Ÿท๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿฅณ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿฅณ

Good luck in your all future running goals ๐Ÿ˜Š

MinnieMoo55 profile image
MinnieMoo55Graduate in reply to Dups

Thanks Dups and youโ€™re almost there! ๐Ÿ

I really hope all goes your way for your final run. Will be looking out for your next post ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

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