Graduation Run - This really works!!!!

[Soozz]

Just back from my graduation run. I DID IT!!!! It feels like Christmas! including yesterday when I kept thinking about today, the big day. Didn't sleep very well as I was full of nerves. How mortified would I be if I had to announce here that I had failed my W9R3 run?

Anyway, it's a gorgeous morning and I woke up early and after a cuppa etc I was out by quarter to seven. I ran the streets in town that I started C25K on, then out to the river. It wasn't easy, there were a couple of long up inclines, where the gremlins jumped out to greet me, but I knew once I'd l got past that point it was all downhill or flat, hooray!

The last minute felt like I'd fallen into a time rift, it went on forever! My friend Amanda was there to cheer me in, waving a flag, I felt like Mo Farah finishing! I kind of visualised all the C25K community cheering me on too, to get me through the last five minutes. Used Laura for the warm up walk then my own music. I didn't do 5K but I did run 2.59 miles / 4.16 k; that is the furthest I have ever run in my life.

Got home to find my husband all ready to go out for his W1R1!!!! He said he'd do it when I graduated... I think he's fallen for Laura.

I want to say if I can do this anyone can. It's taken me 9 weeks and 4 days. I have never ever run in my life, except to trail in last at school sports days. It's not always easy, but it IS worth persevering. You CAN do it.

A huge thank you to NHS Choices and Laura for doing the podcasts and providing all the infrastructure for the programme and a RESOUNDING cheer and thank you to everyone in the C25K community, for your belief in me and the fantastic, overwhelming care and support. There's no way I would've got through this without you. Thank you.

[wilmacgh Graduate]

Well done you. Love the idea of your friend getting the flag out - it's been the summer for flag waving.

[Itsallanadventure Graduate]

Congratulations! Its a fantastic feeling isnt it!

[Esprit Graduate]

Fantastic!! Congratulations! Love the fact that your friend Amanda was there with a flag and also that your husband is now starting the programme. Good for him! You can relax now and bask in the glory! I bet you will have a smile on your face all day.

[Caz9 Graduate]

Well done on graduating. Your next challenge - should you wish to accept it - is to find a Parkrun local to you and go try it! Then you will get an official time for your 5k and something to focus on in the future to improve your PB!

[Legion Graduate]

Whoop whoop!!! *jumps up and down clapping and waving arms in celebration* Well done Soozz. So happy for you today. I bet it felt great running that route and remembering when just a minute or two felt so hard. Celebrate and enjoy your day. Knowing you've got hubby out and doing c25k as well must be fantastic.

[Soozz Graduate in reply to Legion]

Thank you Legion, I feel sooo good today! Thanks for all your support, I feel we are virtual running buddies! I know you did the same thing for your graduation run, revisiting routes from the early weeks, I couldn't stand to do the route I stopped and walked, and this turned to be a really good stretch!

[Stevetheb Graduate]

Yay! Very well done - it is such a buzz to finish it isn't it?....

[Chewy]

Congratulations Sooz that's excellent news.

[Soozz Graduate]

Thank you! There's going to be a big stupid grin on my face all day.

My husband is MAD! he ran up a couple of hills on his first run and came back completely knackered. I hope next time he will listen to reason, and walk up any uphills and run on flat bits.

[ceefin Graduate]

WTG Soozz. That really was a good friend with the flag

Enjoy

[AliB1 Graduate]

Whoooppp Whoooppp and virtual pom pom waving! I was delighted to read that you'd graduated...knew w8 was just a blip! Well done you

[Fraz73 Graduate]

Brilliant stuff Sooz. Massive congratulations on your graduation!! It's been a pleasure and an inspiration to share your journey on here. Please keep blogging to keep us all inspired and entertained!!

[notbad Graduate]

Weheyy!!! Well done Soozz, we WERE all cheering you on! Sounds like you've inspired your OH too, what a fantastic bonus.

[RunnerBean Graduate]

Well done Soozz that's brilliant! I'm glad we both made it, that's two new graduate badges!

[stayinbed Graduate]

Soozz, I am SOOOOO glad to hear that you've done your graduation run. Big congratulations and a virtual hug! WELL DONE ( :

[Jodie92]

Congratulations! I like to have a quick look through new graduates' previous blog posts to see how people following couch to 5k progress from week 1 to week 9. Noticing for example you dreaded a 3 minute run in week three and now you have managed to run for ten times that amount in a matter of weeks has really motivated me, so thank you so much for sharing your experience you so many others here are an inspiration. I am really determined now. I hope you continue with the running and achieve many great things.

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Well done, Soozz - fantastic achievement and a great blog!

[sonicsplodge Graduate]

Sooz..WELL DONE!! I too will join you in that elite club tomorrow evening. Like you i'm a tad jittery at the thought of it but knowing that our friends in the group will be encouraging me on will no doubt make it easy, well i bloody hope so lol.

So again "Bloody well done you" and see you on c25k+ yes?

[Soozz Graduate in reply to sonicsplodge]

Definitely, Sonicsplodge! You will be fine, after all you've proved you can do the runs. We'll all be there to virtually cheer you on. See you on the other side!!!

[rubbishrunner Graduate]

Congratulations, fantastic news! Keep on running!

[redsheep Graduate]

Congrats Sooz! It's great that you have inspired your husband to get out there and do it. Well done!

[tantrumbean Graduate]

Brilliant news! Well done, Sooz! Told you you could do it!

[beatasthma]

Soozz (love the name)! You did it! Well done it must feel so amazing...not many things come close to Christmas eve after the age of 8..but I absolutely imagine that's how good it must be. And how ace is Amanda and her flag? I'd love that on my final run

[Diamondwitch Graduate]

Congratulations. It's an incredible feeling. Enjoy it!

[Soozz Graduate]

Thank you all. What a feeling! And JR21 has given me a lovely shiny badge already! woo hoo.

[sunnyside]

Wow! This is so encouraging for those of us coming up the ranks. I am on week 6r3 tomorrow and feeling quite doubtful and shaky. Reading your post Soozz is pumping me up. By golly, I can do it! Thanks in part to you...

[Vivwestie Graduate in reply to sunnyside]

You CAN do it. I did it tonight and it was great. All you have to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other at a slightly faster pace than walking!

[Fenella8 Graduate]

Followed your blogs, Soozz, and you were an inspiration, and a breath of fresh air. So very well done, very many congratulations on a brilliant graduation run.

[suki_007 Graduate]

I'm soooo happy to read this blog Soozz - many congratulations and lots of cheers from me!

[runwalkrun Graduate]

Loved this blog!! 'It feels like Christmas' made me chuckle! What an excellent way to describe the feeling Total agreement!

[AnnaDJ Graduate]

A little late, but I'm waving my flag!! Cogratulations Soozz you are true inspriation. Well done and keep blogging we want ton hear all about your future runs too.

[Soozz Graduate in reply to AnnaDJ]

Not today's!!!!

[AnnaDJ Graduate in reply to Soozz]

Oh dear that bad?