I've finished - I can't believe it! Feel great :-)

[Fittervic]

Just run W9R3 as the sun was rising and feel great. I can't believe I've actually finished this programme. When I downloaded the podcasts at the beginning I looked wistfully at the ones sitting waiting for me and weeks 6, 7, 8 and 9 I honestly thought I'd never be using because I wouldn't stay the pace! I've kept them all because I've never trusted that I won't have to give up and start again. This amazing programme has taught me to have faith in myself and in what my body is capable of doing.

I was a couch potato professional, 45, fat and very unfit. And now, just 9 weeks later I feel so much better about myself, and life and everything. I'm much more healthy than I was and determined to keep running.

For all of you reading this and trying to pluck up courage to get the trainers on - this programme really works. At the beginning 60 secs running was really difficult for me (actually I still think weeks 1 and 2 are the hardest weeks followed by week 7, my personal nemesis!) Now I can run for 30 mins without stopping - and I even enjoy some of it lol!!

The thing about running is that it teaches you to keep going - just another few steps, another few seconds. I'm also a vicar - and a female one at that - and this last week with all the shenanigans in the Church has been difficult. It's my job to keep going and to keep trying to spread love and peace out in the world around me. Going out for a run has helped me to keep putting one step in front of the other in my job as well as on the road.

Thank you to all you lovely people who have supported me along the way. I'll try to keep doing that for others, and I'll continue to need your help as the real adventure (help, no Laura!) now begins!!

[Beads Graduate]

I love that the ranks of the graduates are growing!

Well done! Keep on running!

[Vivwestie Graduate]

Woooohooooo. Well done for sticking with it - everything you say is absolutely spot-on. This whole running lark does teach you to keep going and that you're stronger than you think. It is a very enlivening thing.

[PeaBea Graduate]

Well done. I totally agree about the believing in yourself ( just said as much in my blog today!!).

[thinnerandfitter Graduate]

Well done! You write so much that could apply to me as well. You know you don't have to leave Laura behind now either - the C25K+ podcasts are very well worth doing and Laura's still with you all the way- I know Stepping Stones particularly comes in for some criticism here but it actually improves if you do it a few times.

Now you can sit back for a day or two, order your t-shirt, wait for the shiny green badge to appear, and decide what comes next - I'm looking forward to hearing about your progress.

Congratulations again!

[rolphie2 Graduate]

Well done to you. I also graduated today and have gone from being a 45 year old, fat, unfit couch potato into well a runner and it feels great. Running certainly is a great discipline, and has taught me to believe in myself, and keep going, you are right there.

Good luck to you in your future runs, and congratulations on graduating you are amazing

[Fittervic Graduate in reply to rolphie2]

Well done, rolphie - that's brilliant! There must be something about hitting the mid 40s that pushes some of us into our trainers! It does feel brilliant to have achieved this. Keep on going - you are amazing too!

[Leyther1 Graduate]

Well done Fittervic (your name makes sense now!) great to read about another success, it makes it seem more achievable the more of these I read. Congratulations!

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Congratulations - it's a great feeling, isn't it? And how nice that you graduated as the sun was rising - lots of metaphors there, I'm sure

[redfacewoman Graduate]

many congrats your now truely a FitterVic don't give up keep on running x

[Belles17]

Well done to you. I am so inspired by all of those who are graduating and really do believe I will get there in the end. Be proud of yourself.

[ScottishHoosier Graduate]

Good job!!

[gdeann Graduate]

Such an honest and great blog. Congratulations Graduate! It is truly amazing what we can achieve when we set our mind to it. You should be very proud of all you have acomplished to this point. Please stay on here and post fellow Graduate!!!! Gayle

[smhall Graduate]

Congratulations!!! You are so very correct about what running teaches us!! Sometimes, we get so caught up with how fast or how far we run that we don't realize that we are not just improving our bodies...we are improving our minds!! There comes a point in this program that it is more of a mental challenge then a physical one!! You have graduated in both the physical and mental departments!! Very brilliantly done!!

As Leyther mentioned, your name makes more sense now!! I always read the names and try to decipher what they may mean...yours is now clearer!!

Well, it is indeed time for that "Graduate" badge for you, as well as the smile and sense of achievement that goes along with it!! Very well done!!

Congratulations again and Keep Running!!

Steve