It's bye from me

It's not working for me. Got back out there yesterday but something went very wrong. I'm just not cut out for running. Best of luck guys - my gear is being packed away for good.

Best wishes to you all,

Mark

[ancientrunner Graduate10]

Sorry to hear that but I'm sure you know what is best for you. Be proud of all the effort you have put in. Good luck for the future

[poppypug Graduate10]

I would say you were definitely cut out for running , that badge next to your name says so !

I'm sorry to see you go Mark , but I respect your decision .

I would like to wish you all the very best and if you ever want to return , we will be here for you .

Good Luck xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Sorry to lose you...you are clearly folliwing a different path..but who knows..you may find some of us on your new journey. Take care of yourself.😐

[IannodaTruffe Graduate10]

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Following injury, I am only very slowly getting back up to speed, only managing one 6k run per week, because of other commitments on my time. I want to get back up to three runs per week, but whatever will be will be. At nearly twice your age, I hope I will never pack up my running gear. The health benefits are far too valuable to cast aside, in my opinion.

I am sure you have gained from the whole process and would urge you to keep your options open and wish you good luck.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Von99]

I have lost my running mojo too, and I've depressed myself with a few awful runs trying (and failing), to get it back. I'm giving myself a break til Easter and then I'm starting again. I am not a fast runner like you, your times are so good, but I know that I don't want to lose forever the feeling I had when I achieved my c25k badge. I keep popping into the forum, there's such a lot of support on here, and I know that when I start again, there will be a lot of friendly faces cheering me on. Maybe you need a short break, rather than to leave altogether. I think that the fact you posted on here shows running is more to you than something that can just be packed away in the cupboard. Whatever you decide, good luck!

[Theziggy]

You've been an inspiration to me and made me jealous (with your good times) - maybe a break will let you recover, and as others have said, sometimes you have to get back gently.

I only did 3 runs in February, partly due to lurgy but also out of a decided dip in motivation. I'n getting back to it again albeit a lot slower than I was in December. Mojos are easy to lose and hard to find.

Whatever you do mrsparkles32, I wish you success and enjoyment from it

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

Having refreshed my memory of your previous posts, you are clearly someone who feels things very intensely.

We all talk about gremlins, and I like to think our running communities here can help everyone deal with those, but some of us have demons on top. Running can be really helpful for those too, but more often it takes some professional input too.

Demonstrably, you are *not* 'not cut out for running', that's simply not true, no-one who can run 10k is that. That is not the same as it not working for you right now, or enjoying running or being able to get a grip on ideas of always having to improve or 'go hard' or that a bad run means anything more than a bad run and maybe some other form of activity, especially outdoor activity, perhaps just getting out for a walk, will suit you better long term or at least until a point if/when you are in a more settled place in yourself.

Please be kind to yourself whether you run or don't run - it's really not very long at all since you lost an important family member in your dog and things can go very black for a while, especially once you've run out of tears.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10]

I know little of Mark - but his post leads me to make a comment that applies to all of us. There is a certain something about running that I believe to be a negative aspect of the activity. Notice that I use the word "activity" rather than "sport" - because it is only a sport for those of us who treat it as such - and participation in sport involves trying to WIN!!!! There would be no point in participating in a sport unless you are trying to win. But, generally speaking in a sport, you can't really get into the team unless you are good - or you can't play tennis competitively unless you are good at it. But running is an activity that we can all do - without even considering winning.

I was talking to two women at my local running club yesterday - both are better runners than me ( at least faster - better is a relative word) . The first said to me that she had been sucked in by parkrun and the prevailing ethos there and in the club of trying to beat PB's all the time - and she has found that she is her happiest when she is running longer distances by herself using run/walk - and this is for a person who doesn't really need to use run/walk. The second woman was in a conflict - she didn't really want to compete re PB's etc - but she couldn't see the point in running without that element. I told her how much I enjoyed running right at the back of the parkrun pack with runners much slower than me --- but she couldn't see the point of running parkrun slower than she was capable of - hence she ran alone even at parkrun ( when she really wanted someone to run with!!)

I guess we all have to find our own reasons for running and continuing to run.

[skysue16 Graduate10]

Sorry to see you go but of course you must do what is right for you. You have done so well - you can be proud of all your efforts. Wishing you all the best.

[Raven2016]

Whatever you decide to do next, you have got the basic fitness now to do it, so I hope you find something that you can enjoy more. You've come a long way since w1r1 and should be very proud of that achievement in any case!

And as others have said, running doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing. You may feel more up for it when or if other factors change, in which case it will still be here for you. Or you may not, and that's really ok too - life is too short to spend it on things we don't enjoy if we don't have to. Although reading your posts, it seems that you very often have enjoyed it? Perhaps a break will remind you why you wanted to do it.

Good luck, whatever you do. And remember you are allowed to come and chat with us whether you are actually running or not!

[healthyjoel]

Sorry to hear that, Mark. Have you ever considered cycling?

[misswobble Graduate10]

You never know. You know how to run now so if ever you fancy lacing up those shoes you can do so. You might come to a point in your life when you feel impelled to just go for a run

[Tomas Graduate10]

Sorry to hear this Mark. Hope the sentiment passes after a while and that you remember the joy and pleasure you had from going on a run just for the sake of it.. All the best.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to Tomas]

Is it possible to use the words running, joy and pleasure - in the same sentence????