Nearing the end of the beginning!

[hollyO]

Iam (hopefully!) going to be finishing C25K on Sunday. And I cant believe Iam writing this!

I was not certain at the beginning that I would complete this as I haven't exercised like this since school. Iam 49 and rather overweight!

What I really want to say, is a massive and heartfelt THANKYOU to everyone who has posted on here, for the invaluable tips I have picked up and advice that has enabled me to carry on. A few times I thought I may have to stop but there has always been a solution on here.

I have found it hard and continue to do so. Oh and I am incredibly s l o w! I have learnt that it is the distance I want to achieve. Iam hoping the speed will come later. Or maybe not

Iam going to do the Race for Life - I will be a-leaping and a-prancing just like Paula Radcliffe around that course and I will finish it - dont think I will be in first place though!

Iam not the most confident of people but this is changing I now have something to talk about where people say "wow"! I might look like a weeble but this weeble has got off the couch

On Saturday Iam going ferret racing - I wont be competing myself but I may pick up a few tips!

Its been a blast and I wish everyone well in their endeavours.

Go Us!

[lm51 Graduate]

I am meant to be finishing on Sunday too! Good luck

[hollyO Graduate in reply to lm51]

Thankyou. You too! We will do it

[jomcc4 Graduate]

Great post. Enjoy Sunday and make sure you bask in your own glory. It's been hard earned and well deserved.

[hollyO Graduate in reply to jomcc4]

Thankyou. I might bask a bit!!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

I don't think any of us thought we would become Olympic runners and I for one didn't ever want to be. But like you I'm very proud to be able to say I can run 5Km without stopping. It was hard to begin with but then you get bitten by the jogging bug and on rest days you yearn to get back out there. Have a wonderful run on Sunday and any others that are doing their final run of the programme, good luck. Well done to each and every one of you, you have earned your graduation badge through hard work and lots of sweat too.

[hollyO Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Thankyou. You are very kind. 5k is still my goal. Not there yet!

[Grammadog1947 Graduate]

Good going, Holly....I could see your smile through the lines of your post!

Best of luck Sunday, and enjoy!

[hollyO Graduate in reply to Grammadog1947]

Yes, Iam smiling - on Sunday it may be more of a grimace! Thankyou!

[BTX4 Graduate]

Great blog...let us know if you pick up any tips from those ferrets

[hollyO Graduate in reply to BTX4]

Thankyou - I will be taking notes. Hope to find someone's trouser leg to climb up!

[sarmkel Graduate]

Good luck for Sunday - just concentrate on finishing this is far more important than speed!

[hollyO Graduate in reply to sarmkel]

Thankyou! After this I might hire myself out as a slow-motion runner!

[icandothis Graduate]

Good luck Holly i am one run behind you, hoping to graduate on Tuesday, i love reading your posts, your experiences have been very similar to mine. Enjoy your last two runs, then like you i will keep going as doing the race for life, nowhere near 5k, in fact have not managed to run 4 yet, when i look back and remember that first run, like you i cant believe its me running in week 9.

who would have thought we are nearly graduates, we can do this, we will do this and we will wear our graduate badges with pride

[hollyO Graduate in reply to icandothis]

Thankyou! I ran 2.1 miles in 33 mins today. Oh dear. Hope they have flood lights at the Race for Life! Please let us know how you are doing too - should get our badges at about the same time!

[keepntabs Graduate]

Well, you and I are in the club. I am 49 and quite overweight and a slooow runner also, but I love this program. I look forward to the days that I can run. I haven't run like this in almost 30 years. Isn't it an invigorating feeling when you are pushing yourself, and in your mind you are saying to yourself, "You can do this. Let's get it done."?

[hollyO Graduate in reply to keepntabs]

Its been a blast hasn't it?! We are RUNNERS! Now I just need to fight off the Mint Aero Bubbles that keep throwing themselves at me at an alarming rate (among other things). One thing at a time ...!

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to hollyO]

Reading the Baby Milk Action website may help you resist the Aeros!

(Not that I can claim to be the best advert for the Nestlé boycott being an aid to losing weight...)

[gypsydepp Graduate]

Well done Holly on a lovely blog.

Good luck on graduating and your race for life

[hollyO Graduate in reply to gypsydepp]

Thankyou! Iam actually looking forward to both!!

[Nevertoolate Graduate]

Well done hollyO and all you soon-to-be graduates.

Thank you for all your supportive comments on this site - I've been doing this for 4 weeks and I always find your words helpful and positive when you reply to other people's blogs. You are the sort of person who makes this blogsite so fantastic! Good luck in the final run.

[hollyO Graduate in reply to Nevertoolate]

Thankyou! That is one of the kindest things I have ever seen written or said about me We all need each other on here dont we?! It is an amazing community here. Good luck to you and I shall continue putting my two penn'th in!