I'm done - I dedicate my Graduation badge to....

[subhyst]

..... a physiotherapist who said in July that (due to back and abdominal operations) that I should never contemplate or attempt running. Here's a letter for him

Dear Physio,

sorry if your missing all the money I used to shell out on you. Anyway it's been a while since we've seen each other and I just thought I'd up date you on my progress.

Number One: I've lost 3 & 1/2 stone in the past 4 months, just another 1/2 stone to go. No fancy gimick's, no clubs, no membership, just old fashioned calorie counting on line via the web.

Number Two: Remember my high cholesterol and BP, well as the weights gone, so have those dangerous levels I was at.

Number Three: I'm not sorry to say the next thing - I ignored your advice. You knew what I wanted to do i.e. go out jogging (to help my weight loss), unfortunately you didn't get me, you didn't understand. So I carried on with my Power Walking (just call me Forrest Gump) and when I knew it wasn't hard enough I downloaded the C25K (free of charge) and set about my final goal. Oh don't worry your words have come back to haunt me now and then, a few twinges, a bit of numbess, when I was mid-way through the program, but hey, they went away.

So today my dearest Physio, I graduated and I dedicate my badge to you. I know it doesn't look much but you know what, it's a special one. Why? Because today dear Physio I ran 6.64k as my last run of week 9. You may ask why I ran 6.64k when its a 5k plan, well simply because I can.

Thanks again dear Physio for annoying the hell out of me, not believing in me and making me so determined to do this. All the money I don't spend on you I now spend on running gear.

Take care and remind me not to call you again

[Secretrunner Graduate]

A big pat on the back to you. Loved your post it made me chuckle. It just goes to show what can be achieved with hard work and determination. Sounds like you'll soon be running marathons.

[subhyst in reply to Secretrunner]

Thanks but Marathons!!!!! Oh no not me.

[Chewy]

Love it Sub, love the rebellion, love your success, love your attitude and I congratulate you. Well done.

[subhyst in reply to Chewy]

Thanks Chewy - suppose I've always had a bit of rebellion in me

[vixiej Graduate]

Ha ha, love it. What a fabulous post, and what a whole bunch of brilliant achievements! Well done and congratulations. The team behind this programme and web pages must be swelling with pride when they read this too, it's blogs like this that must surely make their efforts so very worthwhile. But all of their efforts would be in vain without your determination, or is that bloody mindedness? Whatever it is, hang onto it and good luck with that last 1/2 stone!

[Fraz73 Graduate]

Brilliant post! Huge congratulations on your graduation. I agree with vixiej you've achieved so much despite the so called professionals 'advice'. I'd be tempted to just pop in and say hi mid-run while showing off your newly svelte figure just to see the look on his face!! Enjoy your success. You definitely deserve it!!

[Hidden]

What a fantastic blog and so inspiring, well done, you have well and truly earn't your badge

[subhyst in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Phil - how do I get a badge????? Also I'm going to get a T-shirt but it's for my sister she's recently done wk 1 & 2 then fell off the wagon, it's going to be my way of saying if you want it you'll have to run for it. Where do you get them?

[Rollertoaster Graduate]

Wow! Fab blog and massive congratulations to you! So many achievements, you must feel great.

I would be tempted to incorporate running past your physio's office (a number of times if necessary!) into your next running route, especially if you are planning on buying a C25K graduate tshirt!

[subhyst in reply to Rollertoaster]

Rollertoaster I would love to do that but it's too bleeding far!!!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Love it, love it, love it, what a brilliant blog and a wonderful achievement. You really are a good advert for C25K well done. I think out C25K Tshirts should have something like "Follow to fitness" on the back

[subhyst in reply to Oldgirl]

Thank you - yes they should

[swanscot Graduate]

Congratulations on completing the C25K programme, subhyst. I chuckled at your post, but felt sad that your were given the advice you were in the first place. Here's to your future runs and ongoing good health.

[subhyst in reply to swanscot]

Thanks - I really should balance out my post. Seriously I've seen many people about my back before the surgeons knives intervened. Chiropracters, Osteopaths, etc then I found a physio who told me the only answer was surgery... I loved his honesty, he got my "bloody mindedness" and I stuck with him pre and post surgery for years, unfortunately I now live 300 miles away.

Please everyone there are some great physio's out there - sorry if my post seemed to say otherwise. It's just how I felt on the day.

[eshaz14 Graduate]

Excellent, well done on beating the odds (or the physio). Congratulations graduate, I also graduated tonight, pats on the back for both of us I think

[subhyst in reply to eshaz14]

Many pats coming your way. Congrats. What's your plan now? I'm going to jog "for me" for a week or two and then include some of the 5k+ with the hope that they will help me get to 5k in 30 mins, but something tells me there's more chance of those pigs flying

[eshaz14 Graduate in reply to subhyst]

Plan is to run "for me" for a while, although I am doing a 5K Poppy Run on Sunday. Then onto 5K+ and try them out, and possibly parkrun... lots of ideas, need to keep the momentum going though

[AuntieAli Graduate]

thank you for making me laugh! brilliant blog!! Well done you in getting your health sorted the way you wanted and felt able to do. Inspiration indeed

[subhyst in reply to AuntieAli]

Thanks Ali - yes this journey has been about my health my whole health and nothing else but my health.

[CaroleC Graduate]

Great stuff! Loved your blog, and yes, you went your own way and it worked! Fab weight loss and fab distance for your graduation run...

CaroleC

[subhyst in reply to CaroleC]

Thanks - I'm a bit stiff and will go back to my 5k route for a week or two then down load those 5k+ podcasts.

[Pearsey]

My oh my Subhyst-you made me laugh!! What a blog! Yeeeees stick two fingers up in the air at him. He should have been encouraging you to jog, not discouraging. Drop by the office one day, I say :-).

Congratulations for getting over all the hurdles thrown at you-and that weight loss-well! Speechless I am, speechless! if you can do it-then so can I.

Well done! A virtual bottoms up drink to you.

[subhyst in reply to Pearsey]

Thanks Pearsey - yes you can do it and here's a virtual bag of determination to you, hope it helps a bit - you run with it.

[smhall Graduate]

Well said, subhyst!!! Congratulations on such a great run!! Congratulations on completing the program!! Most of all, Congratulations on doing what they said you couldn't do!!!

Now, enjoy that badge and Keep Running!!

Steve

[subhyst in reply to smhall]

Thanks - another post that has hit the nail on the head, now it's all about keeping going, no use in doing all this then falling off the wagon. So my next goal is to build to 5k in 30 minutes, after all that Laura woman seems to think I can do it so do it I will.

[Hidden]

To get your badge you need to send a message to JR21, if you look above you'll see a message function. As for the t-shirt you get them at completerunner-online.com Enjoy

[subhyst in reply to Hidden]

JR21 doesn't seem to want to receive my message, tried a few times and it didn't work

[Hidden in reply to subhyst]

If you have managed to send him a message, then all you need to do is wait until early next week when he will give you your badge. If you aren't managed to send him a message then try again later

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Yay, congratulations, subhyst - and a great blog as well

[OldNed Graduate]

Excellent. Well done you. Never underestimate the determination of a C25K runner. Problem with some of the health professionals is that they only ever see people in poor shape and are slow to acknowledge that people can chnage as a result of their own efforts. As you have done. Great stuff.