'Spose I should be grateful...

[KANdoit]

I really really really want one of the NHS C25K Tshirts and was rather sad to hear that they will be for graduates only and not those of us on the journey.

I've been following the plan since the beginning of may but due to a lack of confidence and injury I'm still only on week 6 where others who started after me have graduated and are eligible for the T when it becomes available.

Did I mention I realy want a C25K T?

I had been planning to run increasing numbers of intervals rather than going for the longer runs I need to get done to graduate however I want that T Shirt...

Today I set out with w6r2 playing .. but just didn't stop at the end of 10 min as everything was under control on the calf front and also cos Laura "died" on my phone as did other audio outputs - bad headphones. I kept going and going and going (well thats what it felt like). Turns out I managed 23 min non-stop. YAY thats the longest run ever in all my 51 years. OH POO I could have carried on for another 2 min and got w6r3 under my belt.

Wait for me my darling T-shirt, I am coming for you

[happierswimming Graduate]

the idea of running for 30 minutes is tied to the idea of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise five times a week which is recommended for health so if you can keep going for 30 minutes, that is certainly the best way to proceed through the plan. Injuries will mean breaks in the 9 week programme so I hope you're fit and well now and continue that way for just three more weeks so you can get your Tees Just go as slowly as you need until the time is up. The long runs are a challenge but you've met other challenges since you started in May so you will be able to do them and the next few weeks will soon be done. Keep blogging for confidence boosts and have faith in yourself and Laura. Keep running

[Legion Graduate]

I reckon the t-shirts are the carrot to keep us going to the end. Get a t-shirt while you are on the journey and the urge to finish is lessened. Let that beautiful golden carrot of a tee give you the impetus to keep running towards graduation.

I think I might even print out a picture of the t-shirts and pin it up next to the other motivational pictures by my treadmill!

[sfb350 Graduate]

Keep with the plan, keep making steady progress and the T-shirt will soon be in your grasp ! Good luck

[Soozz Graduate]

I wish we could get t-shirts when we're doing the programme. If I see other runners I always wonder if they're listening to Laura!!! There is such a feeling of comradeship on this website I'm sure it would work when we're out running and see others on the programme. Anyway, like you say - if we really really really want that t-shirt, we know what to do....Keep running!

[KANdoit in reply to Soozz]

Exactly how I feel about other runners ... This place is great for swapping info/stories with whatever degree of anonymity we want ... but there is also a place for declaring what we are soing out in the "real" world.

[Soozz Graduate]

I feel quite self-conscious when I'm out running and think I would feel more obviously part of something if I was wearing a C25K t-shirt, I dread that someone will say something horrible to me one day or laugh! (Even though I know I'm doing it for me not them!)

[notlaura Graduate]

Think of it this way if you had the Tshirt before you graduated are you honestly going to say you wouldn't want to "upgrade" to a graduate one as soon as you did week 9 run 3? It's saving your cash and when you've accomplished week 9 you can wear that precious T like a badge of honour!

[KANdoit in reply to notlaura]

I'm currently stuck on week six due to injury / Life / excuses . I started at the end of April and cos of hols am unlikely to graduate before september. There must be others like me who would have got good use out of an undergrad t