c25k Graduation 2018

[Dexy5]

Hello C25k runners. I thought I’d post this just to show how I celebrated my graduation run 5 years ago this week. No I didn’t eat both ice creams!

At the age of 60, it wasn’t easy to start running, and it certainly didn’t look pretty, but I did manage to complete it within the 9 weeks. On the big day I found a nice route around a park in Southsea and I ran around it 4 times to run my 1st ever 30 minute run, which turned out to be 4km. On the 4th lap I was cheered by an elderly man sitting on a park bench. What a feeling! I was ecstatic.

Since then I have run parkruns, fun runs, and races. My greatest distance is 10 miles in the local Great South Run. I have gained medals and T-shirts galore and bought lots of running tech. My greatest achievement was being taken off medication for high blood pressure 6 months after graduating and running 3 times a week. I have also made some great friends as a result of running.

All of this started with 1 minute runs on c25k, so stick with it, run at conversational pace, take on the advice of the wonderful mentors on the forum, and give each other support to reach that target. If I could do this, I know you can too.

And no, I still cannot run 5k in 30 minutes, but that doesn’t bother me at all.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Yes Dexy. 👊 I’ll second all that as part of the Class of 2018 cohort!

Keep at it C25Kers. It’s something you won’t regret.

[David_G]

congratulations Dexy5 from a fellow 2018 graduate!🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to David_G]

Thanks David, I hope things are improving for you now. It looks like you’ve lost your shiny badge. I wonder if Instructor57 can reissue it.

[David_G in reply to Dexy5]

thanks Dexy5 I haven’t been on here for a while so maybe that’s the problem?🤔

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to David_G]

once a graduate , always a graduate!

[JonathanP Graduate]

Definitely something to celebrate Dexy - along with the role that HU has played in bringing so many runners together! 👍

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Great post... thank you for sharing...

Folk reading this should take heart and see just how far this running will take you, the places and the people, who make the adventures so wonderful.

I am proud to have met and run with you and to call you , my friend. x

Wishing you many, many more happy runs x

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Oh yes Oldfloss . Graduation is only the start of an amazing journey and friendships made along the way make it even more special.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator]

I love love love this! What an inspiration. You deserved two ice creams though! 🍦 🍦

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Just goes to show what can be achieved doesn't it Dexy5? Bit Congratulations 👏👏👏🎉🎉 to you and I'd have been tempted to eat both the ice creams 🤣🤣🤣

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

Well said Dexy5 and congratulations on your 5th C25k anniversary. Good subliminal message there…if you run you can have guilt free ice creams too 😋! Triple chocolate brownie in my case, but hey, each to their own.

Seriously, the hard bit of C25k is in those first few weeks of doubts and uncertainty; the rewards for getting through that are amazing, as are the people on this forum who help each other to do things they thought impossible. You can do it!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations to you Dexy5 on the occasion of your 5th running anniversary on completing C25K, what a wonderful 5 years you have had, lovely photo, I am sure that you enjoyed that well deserved ice cream✅🍦

[Sybilw Graduate]

You were one of the people I noticed early on. I graduated in July ‘18 - sadly no icecream. I lapsed for a bit but am re-doing it and love it. I’ve even got a bike now! Congratulations on your achievements

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Sybilw]

Hello again  Sybilw . The great thing about doing it the 2nd time is that you know 30 minutes is achievable. I think on the first time round it is an unknown journey, with gremlins putting doubts in your mind. I shall be looking out for your graduation.

[XenaZelda Graduate]

Great post and the confirmation that running is very good for health benefits, i too am 60 but graduated 7 weeks ago and have got up to 5K (completed a few times in 39 minutes!) when i started i too wasn't a pretty picture lol, all that huffing and puffing and sweat and feeling like an imposter! to now i love the running, don't care what i look like, and it too has improved my health significantly even in this short time i have been running, and couldn't believe i could get from running (or plodding) from 60 seconds to to reach 5K in 39 mins. So the programme is worth it and although it is very tough to start with push through it and challenge yourself and you will get there and the feeling it gives you when you graduate and can run for a full 30 minutes is like no other 😀

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to XenaZelda]

Well done XenaZelda . I just wish I’d discovered it earlier in my life, don’t you?

[XenaZelda Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Yes i am 60 and wish i would have tried it years ago but never thought i was good enough and it was too hard, i have always loved watching the olympics, and track and field sports, my passion though 😀to watch are triathlons right up to iron man, if i would have started this in my 20's or even 30's who knows i may have joined a triathlon club, but i'm too old now and wouldn't have the time for all that training........if only! as long as i can continue to run that's good enough for me

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to XenaZelda]

👍

[Sandie1961 Graduate]

Congratulations fellow 2018 graduate. It really has been life changing hasn’t it? Friendships forged, experiences made, bling won and cake consumed. Perfect 😍

[Irish-John Graduate]

Ice cream, Beach and lovely Graduate - great combination 🙂👍🏻

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Best wishes to you also on your revisit to C25k John.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you 🙂👍🏻

[backintime Graduate]

Congrats on your runniversary! Hope you got an ice cream this time too!

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to backintime]

I didn’t but I might have to rectify that and have a belated one.

[Lumaca0112 Graduate]

Thanks for sharing this Dexy5 - a real inspiration 😊

[Archerygoddess Graduate]

Wow, you're looking great for someone who graduated 5000 years ago! Seriously, though, I rave about C25K to anyone who'll listen. It's such a fantastic program. Enjoy your running, and I hope you enjoy many more running years

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Archerygoddess]

Very observant Archerygoddess - post amended!

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Happy Runniversary! 🍦🍦🍦🏃🏻‍♀️🐌