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.
Written by
Soozz
Graduate
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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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!!
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.
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?
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!!!
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
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...
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!
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.
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.
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*jumps up and down clapping and waving arms in celebration* Well done Soozz. So happy for you today. 
Celebrate and enjoy your day. Knowing you've got hubby out and doing c25k as well must be fantastic. 
My gushy graduation blog
Graduation run
W9R3 - graduation and first parkrun combined!
Week 9 Run 3 - Graduation, baby!
