W2R1... I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, TRULY... I DID IT.

[changing-woman]

i did it! i honestly felt it was beyond me. honestly. truly. God's honour. i was exhausted, my stamina was pushed to its very limits. honestly. but i just wouldn't give up. i just would not quit. i kept thinking how crap i would feel afterwards, coming to tell you all i couldn't finish. i wanted to stop after run 1. i was bright red and dripping with sweat and my calves were telling me they were alive and well. i wanted to... but i didn't. i am very stubborn. and i am sure in the future i will have to repeat runs, it's pretty normal, it strikes me, but then i will just repeat them and still come on and tell you of my experience. i will not feel shame. i refuse. i would not stop running today. every word here is true. i just felt i couldn't go on especially after two days rest thinking about it. i mean i didn't like any part of it, don't get me wrong, i found it gruelling from start to finish. no flicker of enjoyment, but maybe that will come later. the point is, i stuck to it. i pushed thru the pain barrier. though i am in no pain, none at all. i am so knackered i look like death on a stick. i did my japanese slow running...i think i will have sushi tonight to celebrate... my running is verrrrrry slow. but i did it. i mean the thing i 'knew' i couldn't do, i did! what a life lesson. and get this: i am deffo slightly less spent than i was after the runs in week 1 too. MAJOR TRIUMPH. i did it, my friends. i am so relieved it might only be week 2 run 1 to graduates, lol, but to me , it's the world.

[Jericho2332 Graduate]

Stobborness will help a lot! Well done on your run 👍🏻 us graduates where at the same stage your at too not that long ago 😁 keep putting one foot in front of the other and refuse to give up, believe you will do it and you will do it! 💪🏻 Keep it up!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Jericho2332]

thanks jericho !

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Jericho2332]

yes stubbornness can be a really good thing at times! can think of many instances

[Roxdog Graduate]

Slow and steady is working perfectly for you. Well done.

Just a little comment, try not to dread it and maybe internalize different words. Maybe reframe your words to 'I am excited to take on this challenge, it is a new adventure'. Words like dread are negative and it is such a positive thing you are doing for yourself! Try to relax, I know that's easier said than done! You are doing really, really well!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

i was saying 'i love running i love running i love running' thru the entire 30 minutes!

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to changing-woman]

Yay! That's the spirit!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

am doing my best, honest...

[David_G]

Woo-hoo, congratulations! That’s a great effort👏👏👏

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to David_G]

thanks david, that's kind of you x

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Great effort, well done! Think positively and in your mind, think of getting home after each run and posting the report on here! Think of how good you’ll feel. Keep it slow! Onwards and upwards to Run 2! 👏👏👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ You can do it! 👍

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

thanks jools.... yes, i will do all the above...still getting over this victory here!

[nowster Graduate]

We've been there. In the early weeks I'd regularly finish feeling like my face was beet red, and having to reach for a towel to mop up the drips of sweat.

I still get the sweats nowadays, but the red face feeling has diminished.

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to nowster]

yes, i understand!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to nowster]

i don't mind the sweats i just want to get the job done!

[Hidden]

Magnificent job dying-to-change, see we knew you could and would do it 💪

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Hidden]

you did but i didn't! can i do the next run... well i did this one....so maybe i can, just maybe.... but if i go any slower i will stop...hahahahahahaahahhahaa

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Hidden]

yes, i speak from a position of magnificence today! lol

[Hidden in reply to changing-woman]

All of The HU runners are rooted for you dying-to-change 👍

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Hidden]

ah that's so lovely to hear...thank you (((runners on HU)))

[GailXrunning Graduate]

Slow is good. Slow is the way to stay with it. To keep saying ‘I did it!’

Celebrate slow 🎊 !!!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to GailXrunning]

i celebrate it. it allows me to complete runs. when i feel i just have to stop i go slower!

[changing-woman Graduate]

ooh ooh, and my boyfriend said to me, 'hey, did you check out how much less time you took to recover?' how 'bout that? and he never says things unless he really really means them.

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to changing-woman]

honestly though, i do feel this isn't quite as exhausting as week 1 which really got me, though i did it. i feel this week is slightly less killing. what do other people feel?

[Tillybeach Graduate]

Hi loved your post, I think that inner determination defo has got me through too. Yest I was on a run and so wanted to give up, breathing was awful, raining, sweaty, nose running, glasses steamed up but thought of how I would feel if I gave up, this spurred me on. Just slowed down, thoughts of I can do this, done it before and can do it again!

So keep going, your doing great.

You've got this 💪😁

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Tillybeach]

thanks tilly, that's a kind thing to write x i still can't get over this amazing forum...

[Oliverunner]

This is such a great, positive post. Well done to you - I totally feel your pain! (And euphoria afterwards). Keep going! Xxxx

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Oliverunner]

thanks oliver x

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Oliverunner]

how's it going for you?

[Oliverunner in reply to changing-woman]

Well, after a break, I’ve gone back to the beginning and am now on week two. I could kick myself for letting it go but such is life. The good news is that I’m finding it much more manageable this time round, so not all my fitness went up the Swanee!

[CazzaW Graduate]

Fabulous to hear you did it and none of us doubted you would 👌

Just remember we’ve all been there too 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

You will continue to get stronger bit by bit and you’re doing a great job. Day off tomorrow... walk, drink water and onto R2 💪 😊

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to CazzaW]

i sure will

[Dups Graduate]

Well done on your commitment and determination to keep going.

Brilliant 🤣👍🏻💪

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Dups]

thanks to you, and everyone on here cheering me on and putting up with my endless posts, lol

[Bambi2020 Graduate]

Well done- keep up the positive thinking!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Bambi2020]

I will indeed x

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate]

Well done! You did it! Yay! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I did not like running one bit in the beginning and wondered if I’d ever enjoy it. I love it now 😍 so things do get easier eventually. Rest up and good luck for the next one 🏃‍♀️

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Thank you so much for your kind support x

[Currentum4Salutem]

Well done 👍👏

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Currentum4Salutem]

thank you!

[Irish-John Graduate]

Well done!

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

thank you so much, i was amazed i did it!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to changing-woman]

I think most of us spend our early days going between amazement and doubts After all, we start from the same place and premise - "It's day one and I never could run..."

Take it slowly and steadily and in your own good time, you will see that graduate badge beside your name also

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

oh i so want it. i sooooooooooooooo wannnnit. lol

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to changing-woman]

👍🏻

[changing-woman Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

haha