Hooray! I'm a graduate!

[notbad]

... I'd like to say it was no sweat but as usual there was plenty of that (fortunately no blood or tears). I have found W9 a bit of a slog at times, in fact the whole of c25k has been a challenge - but the sense of achievement is wonderful. I can't quite believe that in just 10 weeks (I took a week out for holiday) I've gone from seemingly endless minute long runs to running for 30 minutes which I think is probably the longest I've ran unbroken in my life, this programme really works - to anyone considering it I would say go for it.

Thanks to stayinbed blogging about Google maps I've calculated my run distance for the first time this week & was amazed to discover that I ran 5.1km on R1. On R2 I seem to have run 5.4km, which was probably a combination of changing my route, getting confused and thinking I was behind time and so pushing myself harder than usual and then rising to the challenge of outrunning a bus (not as impressive as it sounds, there were 2 traffic lights & three bus stops involved ). Today I knocked the control on my mp3 player which I was using to time myself and so I'm unsure of my exact time, I think I ran slower than R2 (certainly a more comfortable pace) & the bus beat me today too... I don't care though, it was a good run, more fun than pushing myself to the limit.

This community here has been a huge help, reading all about you lot and your experiences both good and bad has made me feel galvanised, fortified and at times humbled. So many people do this with health issues, weight problems etc and I have had none of those obstacles to overcome, I have huge respect for all of you who do but do this anyway (or perhaps because) and keep your determination in mind in the difficult moments of my runs. Having said that although I started out reasonably fit I am undoubtedly much fitter than before, I get my breath back quicker and my bp is lower - a very good reason to keep at this running lark don't you think?

Off for a celebratory meal tonight with my husband & son, I may even have a glass of wine...

[newstart1 Graduate]

Well done. Its good to know you got there and even better for us beginners that you started the programme feeling the same as us newbees. Enjoy ur meal and a large glass of wine.

[notbad Graduate in reply to newstart1]

Thanks newstart1, keep at it & you'll get there too - my best wishes for your c25k journey.

[magicdragon Graduate]

wonderfully inspiring post and very well done to you ...currently starting week 6 today and echo what a superb programme this is

[notbad Graduate in reply to magicdragon]

Thanks magicdragon, good luck with the rest of c25k - it will fly by.

[happierswimming Graduate]

That's lovely news. Well done and have a great celebration! Bet husband and son are as proud as you

[notbad Graduate in reply to happierswimming]

Thanks happierswimming, they are proud of me & I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have kudos from my 14 year old son.

[gdeann Graduate]

Wonderful, I am so happy for you! It is so very nice to read of your challenges along the way when there are days I just know (in my head) I can't do this. You are an inspiration!!!

[notbad Graduate in reply to gdeann]

Thanks gdeann, a good part of c25k is overcoming those gremlins, you can do it & the sense of achievement will make it more than worthwhile - best of luck with the rest of C25k.

[Pat184 Graduate]

Great stuff notbad, what a lovely blog, I wish I could write a blog the way all you lovely people do, I am nearly there W9 R3 either tomorrow or Sunday depends on how much vino I have tonight. Pat

[notbad Graduate in reply to Pat184]

Thanks Pat, good luck with with W9 R3 you're almost there - I'll look out for your graduation blog.

[Chewy]

Congratulations. I'm sure I'm in for a set back or two before I get to the heady heights of graduation but it's fantastic to see someone achieve their goal, keeps me motivated.

[notbad Graduate in reply to Chewy]

Thanks Chewy, keep at it and you'll get there - you're building fitness all the time.

[Legion Graduate]

Congratulations notbad. You must be feeling very proud of your achievements. Enjoy your meal and wine. Have you decided on your post-c25k plan?

[notbad Graduate in reply to Legion]

Thanks Legion, I certainly feel like I've earned this celebration - not long to your graduation too, I'll keep an eye out for your blog.

Post C25k hmm.... I think I'm going to stick with the 30 minutes 3 times a week for a while. I quite like the idea of increasing to a 7k or beyond, maybe try the 5k+ to build stamina & speed. Ultimately I'd love to do the Great North Run, but that's over 13 miles so I'm a way off that now, still if C25k has taught me anything it's never underestimate yourself. How about you? Any plans?

[Legion Graduate in reply to notbad]

I'd love to do this greatgorillarun.org/index.html which is 7K, to support Gorilla conservation, but I don't think I'd be ready for this year's run (only 3 weeks away!) It would be so great if we could enter an NHS c25k team and would really promote the programme. Maybe I should suggest it to John...

[notbad Graduate in reply to Legion]

That's a great idea Legion, I read about that run in The Big Issue when we were down in London a few weeks ago, sounds really good fun - if a bit hot dressed as a gorilla!

[Legion Graduate in reply to notbad]

Yes, I supect a whole new training schedule would be required to run in that suit! Especially if we have an Indian summer.

[Moosele Graduate]

Massive congratulations!! enjoy the evening with your family - you deserve a treat

I have 1 run left and I've not let myself think about celebrations yet - a nice meal a glass of wine and perhaps a graduation tshirt might be in order

[notbad Graduate in reply to Moosele]

Thanks Moosele, enjoy your graduation run and the sense of achievement it will bring - I'll look out for your blog & give you a cheer.

[AnnaDJ Graduate]

Well done notbad. Enjoy that glass of wine.

[notbad Graduate in reply to AnnaDJ]

Thanks AnnaDJ, I certainly did enjoy my glass of wine...

[Fraz73 Graduate]

Congratulations notbad on your graduation. Enjoy your self tonight - you deserve a celebration!!

[notbad Graduate in reply to Fraz73]

Thanks Fraz73, good luck with your C25k journey - you'll hit graduation before you know it.

[suki_007 Graduate]

Huge congratulations and thanks for a lovely blog! Have a great celebration and enjoy your badge and post-graduation runs!

[notbad Graduate in reply to suki_007]

Thanks suki_007, hope you're enjoying your post-grad runs too.

[suki_007 Graduate in reply to notbad]

I am enjoying them even more than I did on the C25K programme, I'm fairly obsessed now... at least it's on of the better obsessions though!

[beatasthma]

Well done, it's lovely to hear graduation stories... helps the rest of us resolve to keep going and join you there one day, glass of wine and all.

[notbad Graduate in reply to beatasthma]

Thanks, you're an inspiration beatasthma, my son has asthma and at the moment he finds he can't run for long because of it, I'm hoping he can overcome it like you are.

[stayinbed Graduate]

So glad to see you've done it notbad! Congratulations and....what, just the one glass of wine?

[notbad Graduate in reply to stayinbed]

Yay we both did it stayinbed! I just had the one glass of wine but it was THIS big...

[stayinbed Graduate in reply to notbad]

As long as you enjoyed it notbad!!!

[ange123 Graduate]

Congrats! I hope to be saying similar words in a few weeks time. Posts like this remind me that with dedication I'll be able to achieve my goal.

[stayinbed Graduate in reply to ange123]

You certainly will. This programme was worked out by very clever people! Good luck angie123!

[Soozz Graduate]

Congratulations, Notbad! Lovely graduation blog, and nice that your last C25K run was so enjoyable. Now onto life as a post-graduate! Hope your celebration meal with your proud family went well (hic).

[notbad Graduate in reply to Soozz]

Thanks Soozz, it was a lovely celebration. Had my first post-grad run today, not feeling on top of the world but pushed on, took a more relaxed pace and didn't quite make the 5k in 30 but my aim is to work on my stamina. Not long to your graduation, I'll keep an eye out for your blog and give you a cheer!

[Soozz Graduate in reply to notbad]

Thanks, Notbad! Should graduate by next w/e if things go according to plan (ha!). Well done for gettin straight into the postgrad running, good luck with th stamina - are you going to use Laura's podcasts? My goal is to tackle some hills, I can't avoid them for much longer!

[notbad Graduate in reply to Soozz]

Good luck with those hills! I'm not very good on any sort of incline and so far have planned my route fairly flat. I've not ventured into the 5k+ podcast yet, just using my own music at the moment, but probably will give them a go.