From baggy pants to tapered tracksters...graduation day!! 🏆🎖🎉

[MrsLydiaWickham]

It's taken me 4 months to graduate, mostly because I was shockingly unfit, very overweight and almost always needed two rest days between runs. I started off running in the dark, in huge heavy cotton jogging bottoms and my husband's old waterproof jacket. 😆 What a relief to buy proper running gear when I realised I was actually going to commit to seeing this through.

I now wear Ron Hill pants and a papery thin jacket and a very fetching cap. 😀 I'm not quite ready for dayglo lycra but I won't rule it out. 🤣 My final distance was just short of 3K and although I am a tiny bit down about that, I am AMAZED I have got here without injury. This is thanks to IannodaTruffe pinned posts on how to go about tackling the C25K and also to all the lovely people who have posted their own experiences...THANK YOU! 💝

Next goals...

Consolidate.....gradually increase to 5K....shave some time off....attempt parkrun.

Should keep me busy, but never mind all that,... today is a day to feel EPIC!!

Xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

HUGE congratulations...very well done!

Remember...Self Confidence is the best outfit you can wear..and the brighter the better !

On you go!

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Aww thank you! I will remember that. 😚

[Cmoi Graduate]

Feeling epic is absolutely justified MrsLydiaWickham ; congratulations on your C25K graduation, and happy future running!

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

😀 thank you so much

[Hidden]

Absolutely fabulous. Well done to you 👏 You deserve to be proud. Whoop whoop 🥳🥳

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate]

Thank you and great name by the way!

[nowster Graduate]

Well done! You'll know you've really got the running bug when you have several drawers full of Day-Glo Lycra. 😆

I think it may be a good thing that they only tend to make men's leggings in black and grey. That said, in this sort of weather I tend to run in a fluorescent yellow long sleeved top for maximum visibility.

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to nowster]

🤣...and thank you 💝

[buzzards Graduate]

Congratulations!👏👏 It's a great feeling isn't it?☺️

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to buzzards]

It's the best!,... and so great to get the graduate badge show up. 😍

[TinyRunningBear Graduate]

Yay well done! 😀

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to TinyRunningBear]

Thank you!

[doggytail Graduate]

A massive well done 👍

Dayglow here we come

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to doggytail]

Ha ha!! 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Congratulations 🎈🎉🍾🎊 what a great achievement,

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thank you so much xx

[roadstroller Graduate]

👏👏👏 Well done you!

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to roadstroller]

Thank you fellow graduate!

[FenGirl1]

Wow! I feel really in awe of you...I can’t even get started yet.....just feel so terribly low and depressed over a series of bereavements (one a suicide...someone I’d known since teenagers and had even been my boyfriend for a while many years ago!!), but I’ve downloaded the app and I read a lot of comments so I will get there....

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to FenGirl1]

Dear FenGirl1 , I'm so sorry for your losses, particularly the shock of the suicide. It must be hard to bear. Don't be in awe of me, I am just a normal person, who stepped outside the door one night, spurred on by everything I had read on here.

You can make that step outside too. Do it in the dark if you have to, like I did, if it's the difference between going out or sitting on the couch. I promise you, it will help with your grief. Wishing you every blessing on moving forward. You've got this. You truly can do this. 🕊️

[FenGirl1 in reply to MrsLydiaWickham]

Thank you for those words...I was actually able to obtain a treadmill for running indoors so I really have no excuse other than having to get changed and showered...you can see I’m clutching at straws...I am retired so I have time for all of that but......??? But what???? I just feel so so low.....

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to FenGirl1]

Hello again FenGirl1 , perhaps you could do a separate post about your situation? That way more people will see it, rather than being tucked away in this thread, and therefore hopefully more people can offer up helpful suggestions. 🥰 Take care, xx💐

[FenGirl1 in reply to MrsLydiaWickham]

Ok…not sure about that or the technology of doing it but anyway…I got on my treadmill and did a smart walk for 5 mins……twice during the day..so I have made a start! Thank you for you kindness…I will keep you posted!!!

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to FenGirl1]

Well done! 👏

[FenGirl1 in reply to MrsLydiaWickham]

Thank you….I’m quite happy just doing my little bit and communicating with you for now if that’s ok with you!

[Kevin41 Graduate]

Huge congratulations, it’s a great feeling to graduate isn’t it!!

Don’t feel even the smallest bit down about the distance - loads of people (I’d hazard a guess at most) are short of the 5k at first when getting to 30mins and it helps with providing the next goal to gradually increase time running until the 5k mark and beyond!

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to Kevin41]

Thank you, I feel quite emotional about it all. Everyone has been so kind and encouraging. 🌷

[Jag1jacq]

Fantastic, well done.

[Cf12345 Graduate]

Absolutely brilliant - well done! Enjoy the flow of your achievement 😊

[TailChaser Graduate]

Brilliant MrsW! Fantastic achievement! I really look forward to reading your parkrun experience on the weekly parkrun chat post on BridgeTo10k! It’s a lovely place to hang out every Saturday 🤗👏👏 PS - you have great taste in running gear, Ron Hill is the best!

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to TailChaser]

Great to say hello to another Ron Hill shopper! 😆 and thank you!

[Kirst13 Graduate]

Better than dayglo lycra- someone on here recommended Rainbows and Sprinkles. I now run in Highland cattle or (very bright) cats leggings, having started c25k in walking boots and baggy tracksuit pants in the dark🤣 As well as fun, they are really comfy and give choice of waist or leg pocket.

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to Kirst13]

Ha ha I love your description of walking boots and baggy pants in the dark - so relatable! I was intrigued and checked out the site you mentioned...amazing gear!

[Solor Graduate]

Thanks for the Ron Hill pants tip. I hadn’t heard of them. Received a pair today - they are great. Much better than clingy leggings 😀

And well done on graduating too.

[MrsLydiaWickham Graduate in reply to Solor]

That's great!! 😀 and thank you. 💝

[Slothgoesrunning Graduate]

Well done! Hope consolidation is going well.