DONE IT!!!

[Benben21]

I cannot believe that I've achieved this. It started off as a bit of a secret whim; I didn't tell anyone I had started C25K because I didn't honestly think I could do it. I'm two years older than my mother when she died, and that's probably part of it. But most of all I wanted to see whether I could do this impossible thing. It turns out I could.

[Frenc Graduate]

Ah well done Benben21, that’s brilliant! Quite a few people keep C25K under wraps - but I bet you’re shouting it from the rooftops now! Massive congratulations 🎉🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🎉.

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to Frenc]

You betcha! Champagne on ice for a celebratory lunch today!

[Frenc Graduate in reply to Benben21]

You earned it! Have a lovely lunch, sounds just the ticket 😊😊😊.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Many congratulations on your graduation, fellow runner.

This guide to post C25k running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

To get your Graduate Badge leave a message at this month’s Graduation Badge Post, which you can find in the Pinned Posts here healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I will keep going. This is just the start. Thanks to everyone!

[doggytail Graduate in reply to Benben21]

Well done many congratulations. I hope to soon be following your success

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Great achievement 😁👍👏👏👏Well done you !

Go and claim your Graduate badge here

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Then take a look at lost c25k running here !

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Enjoy your running !

[Mrsrun Graduate]

Well done to you. You had the self belief and look where you are today! Doing what you thought may never happen... Celebrate your achievement and keep that smile on your face as long as you like.

[PJRunner Graduate]

Well done. You can tell everyone your a runner now, no more keeping it under wraps. 🎉

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Congratulations! 👏🏻👏🏻⭐🎖

I think we often don't tell folk as we think we'll give up and we don't want to have to say we did so... but there's also something really nice in holding that secret and not feeling a need to live up to others expectations, just our own.

You are the master of your own journey, the life choices that your mum made may or may not have influenced her lifespan but you can chose to walk (or run!) your path in the way that works best for you 💖

Enjoy your new ability, it has the power to take you places, and not just the miles 💫😁

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

That's it exactly, JoJo. I'm running because I can and because that in itself is worth celebrating. Yes, my mother's choices led to her early death and I really don't want that. I'm privileged to be able to do this and so I do do it.

[SlowSlowSlow]

Congratulations! You are a runner and thoroughly deserve your 🥂

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to SlowSlowSlow]

I'm a very slow runner, but yes, I do seem to be a runner!

[Fitat50plus]

Well done- what a fabulous feeling!

[Poppdog Graduate]

Congratulations a great achievement. Both my parents died very young, both heart related deaths. It stays with you. But you did it

[Benben21 Graduate]

Yes Poppdog. It's sad isn't it? My mother barely moved from her armchair and chain smoked for years. She died of a stroke, but cardiovascular health is at the core of it.

[Kat1234_]

Well done!! It feels great, doesn’t it? I have heart condition but my cardiologist said I can do running and that’s how I started c25k . Enjoy your well earned success and may you have many more runs in the future!

[Itsamiracle Graduate]

Congratulations. It’s an amazing achievement well done. 👏

[00marks Graduate]

Congratulations on completing C25K!

[pinkglen Graduate]

Many congratulations. Keep going and set new achievable targets.

[Chesterlove Graduate]

Fabulous Benben21👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Keep going, you’ll love it.

[Over60sRunner Graduate]

Huge congratulations Benben21 I too kept quiet about my C25K ambitions until right near the very end as I was not convinced I'd manage it.

My Mum died aged 59 from a massive pulmonary embolism, no doubt related to her immobility and obesity. I am now 62, so I've managed to make it past her age, but I have a sedentary desk-based job and I am also obese. I kept thinking to chivvy myself along to try and do something about heading down the same path as her, and I decided in June to do something about it. The local gym had 8 weeks free membership for over-60s followed by a further 8 weeks half price and I took this as a sign from above to get off my ass and do something!!

Here I am 11 weeks later (it took longer than 9!) and I graduated last Friday. I am WAY OFF 5k as I am a very slow runner, but I run and that is all that matters. I have been so touched at how many other middle-aged women have come forward to say how inspired they have been by my efforts and are going to try and so more themselves.

I'm now consolidating and trying not to get over-ambitious after doing a tad too much on Sunday with my first post-grad run. I have a very sore ankle and cliking knee over the weekend, but jumped on the treadmill this morning and managed to complete a Week 9 run with leaden legs, but I did it.

Good luck to us both - indeed to all us post-grads. We have every reason to b e proud of our achievement and have every incentive to keep on keeping on 😀💪🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️💪😀

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to Over60sRunner]

Oh wow: yes, that sounds a lot like me. Obese: check (although I've lost a LOT) and ditto very sedentary. Except for the dog: I do think that acquiring a puppy over seven years ago is the catalyst to my conversion. It was putting the dog on a diet early last year because the vet said the little extra she was carrying was making her arthritis worse that really brought me up short. I thought "well I'm lucky enough not to have arthritis, but I will if I carry on like this". It was just at the start of lockdown and by August I'd acquired a Fitbit. Walking the dog had kept me quite fit (albeit very overweight) so I was lucky - the Fitbit reported my cardio status as "good to very good" which was a surprise and a huge relief. And so I started a cold hard look at what I was consuming and cut down on fat and sugar.

Now, 70lbs lighter, I could dare to think about doing more - the more I lost the harder I had to work to meet my fitness goals. By June this year my cardio status was "very good to excellent" and someone mentioned C25K. I thought "why not give it a try", and that was that. Like many who've posted here I didn't really believe I'd be able to do it, but each "week" was possible and I could. By Week Four I'd invested in a really good pair of running shoes and was "out" as a runner (albeit a comically slow one). And so getting to W9R3 and graduation is amazing. All credit to the programme (which I learned to trust) but also to the community here and the encouragement of others.

Parkrun on 11th September. It won't be fast and it won't be pretty but I will finish and I will be AMAZED!

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to Benben21]

Oh, and my cardio fitness, according to Fitbit, is now straightforwardly "excellent". How brilliant is that?

[Over60sRunner Graduate in reply to Benben21]

I've got my first Parkrun on the 11th too (weather permitting here in Wales!). I usually run on a treadmill as the hills here are evil and well beyond my capacity still, so just running outside is going to be an experience in itself.

I've just found out how to view my Cardio Fitness on Fitbit and mine is 28-32 which is excellent for a woman of my age apparently. So, I might a fatty, but at least my heart is pretty good! Brilliant for us both😀❤️😀

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to Over60sRunner]

Haha: well we're clearly twins! Mine is the same. Good luck on the 11th: let's be sure to post how we do that day.

[BradC Graduate]

Congratulations on your achievement! Running fast isn’t a requirement, so just enjoy it at your own pace😊

[fedupoffeelingtired Graduate]

Well done! I haven't broadcast it to too many people mainly cause I was embarrassed. But I love the sense of achievement when I complete a run, so have begun to say it a bit more often.

[Yesletsgo Graduate]

Congratulations. I'm now out to my friends and family (and anyone unfortunate enough to talk to me for more than 5 minutes) as a runner but I still don't like anyone seeing me in my lycra 🥵 Good luck on your future runs

[Benben21 Graduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Yes: in this town I don't have much choice - too many people know me, so I'm out whether I like it or not! Actually I mainly just feel proud of myself now, and I don't much care how I look. My friends and neighbours are very supportive (and yes, they've all heard all about my finishing the programme!)

[Gotthis1968]

Fantastic! 🏆 x

[Cazrun]

Hey. So proud of you. All the battles and you done it🥳🥰❤