Graduated at last!! Aching like hell today but proud!

[SallySparkle]

Whoohoo I did it!! It's only taken me 5 months, but when I started I thought it would take a miracle, so what's 5 months? I had stops and starts cos of illness but thankfully always went back (there's a wedding dress fitting on the horizon so focusing on that was all the motivation I needed!)

I started to struggle in week 8 & suddenly found myself having to stop during runs, which hadn't happened before. Last night was actually wk9r5, as the first 2 attempts had been a wash out & I refused to graduate until I'd done the 30mins 3 times consecutively. I think I was my slowest pace ever last night but I managed 4k. I still can't believe I can run that far! I walked the 5k Race for Life a couple of years ago & was exhausted! Now I can run it!

But for the first time today I'm soooo sore. My hips joints are killing me & everyone in work's laughing at me trying to walk round (evil bunch!). It's probably because I hadn't been out running for 9 days & then went & did 30mins. I'd wanted to stop so many times, struggled to breathe & often thought my legs were just going to stop of their own accord, but I just wanted to get it over & done with or there'd always be a mental block.

And now what? As much as I love that I can now run, I don't really want to go any further. If I can keep it up & get out twice a week & do 30mins, I'll be delighted...& amazed. I've actually started to find the longer distances quite boring so I think I need a buddy, but all my friends are either lazy or fast & competitive, so no good either way. I've signed up for Race for Life and another 5k plus might look at a running club, otherwise I worry I might lose interest.

Yay I'm a runner, who'd have thought?!!!!

[TJFlute]

Congratulations! You did it!!

I would keep going with 30 minutes a couple of times a week, or 20 minutes 3 times a week, so that you don't undo all that good work. Also, your wedding dress will look stunning

Any park runs near you?

[SallySparkle Graduate in reply to TJFlute]

Thank you! Yes there is a parkrun but it's at 9am on a Sat morn which isn't ideal!! Good advice, will try that thanks.

[Tapira Graduate]

Congratulations! Very well done

[NatG]

Well done

[Minuette Graduate]

Fantastic well done!!

[DuncanS Graduate]

Great work, that's brilliant.

[gypsydepp Graduate]

Great work.

Your perseverance is inspiring!

Keep running x

[Jenson Graduate]

Good Job SallySparkle!!!

[blueboots Graduate]

Congratulations SallySparkle, well done for persevering. As TJFlute says a couple of 30min runs or 3 20 min runs a week would be good to keep you in shape, you probably know how it is, months of hard work to get fit and a few weeks to undo it. Running isn't everyone's cup of tea but now you know you can run you might be more confident about doing some other exercise activity. Since starting to run I've become a little more confident and joined a zumba class which is quite a workout(I find running less exhausting) but it is great fun and you are with other people.

[Angel-Cake Graduate]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! WELL DONE