Can I believe that I'm writing this? Not particularly, but there we go. And that's where this program really works. Just come in from the third and final run of week 9 - and 30 minutes done!
Woke up this morning early (with excitement, totally) and had the brief period of thinking 'I could skip today and go tomorrow...' before laughing at myself. This was my graduation morning! Plenty of time for putting off running in future, I hope Instead, I 'leapt' out of bed and headed outside.
And - newsflash - it might actually be Spring soon! Sun was shining, birds, rabbits etc etc etc. Great morning, and a marked contrast to the first week of Feb when I started.
I went slowly, didn't make 5k but didn't care, that can be something to work on! More importantly, I DID IT!
I actually did make 5k during week 1 this week, when my little ipod ran out of battery. So apparently I run faster without the music, but I did spend last night happily putting together a playlist of my very own for the future.
Anyway, a massive thank you to everyone who blogs and comments, without this community I would not have finished this. The hints and support have been invaluable, and I've picked up motivation from so many people over the weeks.
And, to anyone who happens to be reading this who hasn't started yet, a brief word of advice. I procrastinate like a professional, so saying 'I'll start once I've gone out and bought new running shoes/a new outfit/once I get good headphones/once I don't work on weekends...' put me off running for YEARS. If you're like me, and reading this, grab whatever you've got now and start w1r1. Once you've run, and blogged, you're caught, and can go and get all the proper stuff
If you're also like me in thinking '9 weeks is ages, I wish I'd just finished it last month and been fitter already, week 1 starts so slowly!' then the same applies. From week 1 you're outside almost 30 mins 3x a week, that's 90 mins of exercise you would otherwise not have had. Go and start. I'm so glad that I did.
Enjoy your runs, everyone!
Written by
Bilby
Graduate
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A squilllion congratulations to you, and high fives too! Well done, and so good that your achievement corresponds to an appearance by that long lost friend - the sun! Enjoy the glow of victory and get the badge by your name asap. You now have summer ahead of you to develop, style, speed, distance ... whatever you want knowing that you are fit and completely a 'runner' Linda x
Thanks Linda! I'd really like to work on everything (especially 'style', now that it's light when I run :P) now. It's so nice having months of sun (optimism is always fun) ahead to get better in.
Big congratulations to you bilby!! How lovely to have the sun shining on you for your graduation run It's a great moment isn't it so you hold onto that and enjoy your celebrations!!
What a smashing blog Bilby and many congratulations. I agree this site is the best place to be when working through the programme so please keep on blogging and running. Don't forget to send Admin a message to get your lovely well earned GRADUATE badge, well done.
Thanks - it really does! I used to try and run with friends, but it never worked as we'd talk each other out of runs at 7am (really easy to do...). This site worked for me as it made me rely on myself, but has a community of people who are ALWAYS encouraging everyone else to run. This is awesome.
Thanks - I hope it comes soonish, but I'll settle for a bit of warmth whenever I'm still running in my jumper at the moment, whenever I try to put it away for the spring the snow seems to start.
Thats fabulous Bilby, well done on graduating. It's so exciting isn't it. I never thought in a million years I would be this excited about jogging, but I am.
Thanks Caz! It's really exciting - I was a bit worried that once I finished the program I'd just...drift without Laura's excellent guidance but instead I find myself making vague running plans and finding loads of options to try
Hm. I think I'd like to run 30 mins a few times more, I'll try out the three 5k+ podcasts and see if I like them. Then, I'd like to (very) slowly add a minute or so every few weeks and see if I can go for a longer run once a week alongside the 30 min ones.
I totally agree about this community, I also don't think I would have graduated without the advice and encouragement on here. If I ever felt like skipping a run I just used to come on here and read and I'd be motivated and on my way!
I did that as well! Every time I was tempted to put it off a day I'd log on here and see who'd been running and what the new stories were. Knowing that dozens of people all over the country (and World!) were struggling/enjoying/running the same things as I was every other day really helped.
Glad that it did I found reading blogs invaluable throughout the whole time, recognising people posting and seeing everyone progress! Week 1 run 1 was the hardest run for me, because getting out the door was -tricky-. After that, you're swept along by motivation and a ton of encouragement from everyone here!
Well done on your graduation! Your blog was really inspiring and motavational, too hopefully help me with my W6R3 tonight! Gotta remember what I'm doing this for and your blog helps me to do that. So thank you, and congratulations! Any idea what you are going to do next then?
Well done, what a feeling!!!!! I've just completed too and I have never felt such a sense of self satisfaction....and such a nice time of year to be able to run a bit of a distance and enjoy the springtime. Onwards and upwards!! xx
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Instead, I 'leapt' out of bed and headed outside. 
Couch to 5k - Graduated!!
Couch to 5K Graduation 
⭐COUCH TO 5K GRADUATE⭐
Couch to 5K Graduate 
Couch to 5K! I've done it!!
