Week 9 finished! But only the beginning of this running journey.

Firstly....woohoooooooo, I've graduated and have just completed week9!!

Now for a bit of the journey that got me this far and what's next.

Well I've just checked and I started this journey on the 28th May, I can remember being really worried about being seen out in public running, or shuffling as it started out.

I couldn't believe how I felt when I had bad knees at the start of week4 and had to rest for three weeks, I watched the blogs as other I had started with we're progressing whilst nursing my knees.

But three weeks later I continued the journey although I had to re do week 2and 3, but with trepidation, hoping my knees would hold and thank god they did.

The weeks after that have flown by, struggled with self belief before W5R3, got floored by week 6 run 1, what's that all about!

And week 7, 8 and 9 have been my favourites, just running none stop.

Week 9 started with a Parkrun in Preston and by first official time of 32.38, run 2 and I did 5k in 30.58 (my first Garmin logged run) today it was 30.49 for 5k and then on to 5.5k before walking home.

What's next:

A message to admin to get my green badge (I can't believe how much i'm looking forward to seeing that)

A few runs to attempt to get my 5k under 30mins and also start a bridge to 10k program, I'm better when I have a goal.

 I want to continue running 3-4 times a week. 

I've also added a bike ride to work once a week (we'll have to see if that survives), that's 14k round trip and i'm planning to add a one day a week swim to the mix.

I don't know where the old Phil has gone, but I ain't going looking for him as this journey has been life changing.  I hope! It feels like it has

I have only lost the odd pound in weight, but I don't care, I'm sure it will come off slowly over the next weeks and months as I run. It's only 3stone!!!

My final words go to all of you out there, your words of encouragement and advice have been invaluable and you've been there to share with when my partner and friends would have gotten bored rigid. THANKYOU

See you all soon, you ain't getting rid of me that easily

[sinope82 Graduate]

Thats brilliant, you must feel great!

[Hidden in reply to sinope82]

I do! I'm sure you did this week, not long now

[Chewy]

Congratulations Phil, another inspiration for a beginner like me.

[Hidden in reply to Chewy]

You've started a very exciting journey

[Hidden]

Well done, Phil! May the rest of your journey be just as fruitful!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I hope so, enjoy your 5 runs to graduation

[suki_007 Graduate]

Yay yay! Huge congratulations! I thought of you doing this run as I was out running this morning - that's brilliant, enjoy the green badge (although it seems to be some time in coming...!) and I'm really enjoying the Garmin, thanks for that tip! Btw, do you know if it is possible to share details of a Garmin run without it becoming totally public? Like if you could put a link up here and only those with the link could see it?

[Hidden in reply to suki_007]

Had a play and looked at FAQ and the short answer is no, but the longer answer, is you kind of can, but not totally secure. (kind of what you suggest in your post)

Here goes:

You can decide whether you activity is private or not and also whether the course is private or not.

So if you set the course to private then no one can see or search the routes you do per say, but if you then set the activity privacy to open, then you can share the link, so you'd only be able to find the activity if you'd been passed the URL (the address) by you or you were very lucky to find the quess the right number.

Have a go open one of you activities and have a look at the address bar copy the URL, then log off, now go to the URL, you can now see what everyone would be able to see if they had your URL, are you happy for that to be out in the open, then change the last digit. Look at someone else's activity, that never shared that. Are you happy? Only you can decide, so in effect the protection comes from the shear number of activities open and someone managing to find yours, remember they aren't searchable, only courses are. Shame you can't link to Facebook etc an only let then view, but I would appear you can't .

Finally, remember that garmins are compatible with a lot of other sites like, mapmyrun endomndo etc, do any of these have the security functions you need?

After all that, I love my Garmin, will have many happy runs with it

[suki_007 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for that Phil - I'll go and have a look and see. I definitely wouldn't want to share it on facebook, just here in the C25K+ blog really. I was so interested when another blogger/runner on here posted her run a little while ago, and I've just found the player page on Garmin - fascinating! I love it. Great badge btw!

[Pat184 Graduate]

Well done Phil you must be very proud. I ploddinng on Pat

[Hidden in reply to Pat184]

Thanks, plodding soon delivers longer runs, enjoy

[nicolaclaire]

well done Phil. I love reading peoples tips/ summaries when they complete the programme, especially when I can see they have overcome hurdles! Great times too! Hopefully i'll get there one day...

[Hidden in reply to nicolaclaire]

You will do it, I honestly believe that if I did it anyone can

[doggymum Graduate]

Well done Phil!! You bounced back and now you are bouncing with joy Your times are very impressive (I can but dream!) and it's good to see that you have already set yourself some goals.

Like you, I don't want the old me back either - good luck for post-graduation

[Hidden in reply to doggymum]

Have you seen our matching badges

[notbad Graduate]

Wooohoooo indeed!! Well done and very impressive 5km times too, you have every right to be very proud of your achievements.... Up and onwards!

[Hidden in reply to notbad]

After always being last at school, I am so pleased, thanks. Not long for you now looking forward to the completed blog!

[Soozz Graduate]

Congratulation, Phil! I was just looking at your comment on my blog and wondered where you were up to....Ta Da! You've done it! fantastically well done.

[Hidden in reply to Soozz]

Thanks...not long now, next week will be a time for celebration me thinks! Good luck and enjoy

[Legion Graduate]

Yay Phil! Congratulations on graduating. Great blog. It sounds like the new, improved Phil is here to stay. I can't imagine going back to the couch now either, and once I graduate I hope to add some other activities like cycling and swimming into the mix too. Keep on blogging.

[Hidden in reply to Legion]

I will keep an eye out for your blogs and follow your progress, not long now, it feels great...

[redsheep Graduate]

Well done Phil! Great times as well.

[Hidden in reply to redsheep]

Thanks, I 'm still smiling

[TJFlute]

Phil. what great progress. I was worried when you hurt your knees, and really impressed that you have stuck with it and now graduated! Cycling and swimming too?!? It'll be triatholons next

[Hidden in reply to TJFlute]

Thanks, it is graduate's like yourself that kept the spirit up, I think you gave me some words like, life is a marathon not a sprint...

[stridingedge Graduate]

Lovely to hear about your journey. Congratulations!

[Hidden in reply to stridingedge]

Thanks, good luck with your journey, but look after your knees!

[happierswimming Graduate]

many congratulations on the badge and so pleased c25k has inspired you so much. Lovely to see how well you have done. Happy running and keep blogging

[Hidden]

Thanks, it's amazing how many of us it inspires

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Great Phil and greetings from Berlin, WELL DONE

[Hidden in reply to DeliaItaly]

Cheers, did you find a city run? Is it exciting running somewhere different?

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Yes I did and I wasn't alone. Lots of joggers in Berlin. It really is fun running in another country - Porto in early September coming up soon btw. Only thing is running on concrete isn't as nice and confy as gravel and/or grass.

I hope you'll remain with us even now you've earnt your degree - look forward to your master's and hD too

[runwalkrun Graduate]

Congratulations! Well done!! Inspiring story!

[Hidden in reply to runwalkrun]

Thank you, just left you a note on your grad blog, go get your badge!!!

[Fraz73 Graduate]

Well done Phil. You must be so proud of yourself!! Gald to hear you'll be sticking around to keep motivating us newbies

[Hidden in reply to Fraz73]

Thanks, it's only fair that I pay back the community that go me through this also I quite enjoy it.

[holsols]

Great tactic dealing with the knee issue - it should give others the courage to rest up when they need to BUT then build the distance backup and rather than to carry on where they left off - well done on completing the program!

[Hidden in reply to holsols]

Thanks, I really thought at the time I might not be ble to run, but RCE and post run stretching hav worked.

[Hidden]

hey, this is really cool to read. Well done, especially considering knee injury, which would have put many people off! I have completed this programme last week and am chuffed to bits with it. I would love to go on to running for longer as well as improving on speed. Let's see how that goes!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks and congratulations on your achievement too.