I am a new runner, last week I ran 8km for the 1st time of my 38 years old but if I'm running by myself I always struggle at the km 3.5..its like a barrier in my mind that tells to stop because I can't carry on. Last week I was going back home because of this and I found a lady who runs sometime with me in the C25K and she pushed me carry on, that's why I completed 8km.
How do you do to keep your mind occupied? How can I beat that barrier in my mind?
If this has happened a few times you probably now have a mental hurdle to overcome and your head is telling your body to stop at this point.
Ignore the head. You can do this, your body is ready and you've done it before so there's absolutely no reason not to do it again.
Try music to distract you or if you really need to stop then take a few minutes walk and start running again.
Or join a running club or ask someone to run with you.
I have stages of running. One in the first km to around 3km. Why are you doing this? 3km -7km this is ok, I can run. 7km -12km my mind goes off on its own and relaxes a bit 12km -18km. I am strong I can do this. 18km onwards what am I doing? Each phase of the run has to be dealt with slightly differently mentally. One of the reason I knew I wanted to do distance was the fact that the 7-12 km feels so good. I now know that to do that distance I have to push past the 1-6km to get there I have always been so glad that I persevered to find that out otherwise I would of missed the best part of running. It all about learning and then using that knowledge with whatever kidology works for you. 😀.
So much of this running is as much about the mind as it is physical. Finding nice places to run can help. I usually plot a circular route which generally means I have no option than to keep running or I won’t get home. I also have become dependent on my various playlists on shuffle play, so I can get distracted by the music. I also make up new lyrics to the songs to reflect the highs and lows of my runs (see some of my C25K posts).
8km sounds like you did alright tho’ .
This is a common problem and the mind loves to play games.... I think part of it is accepting its going to happen, and at the usual bad point have a walk, or count to 100 and go slower, have a landmark that you have to reach ( like a there and back) and then the journey back is just that....
ps 38 is so young, you are 10 years younger than me!!!
I find when I run with my nephew and chat, it feels a tad easier on the mind. The mind gremlins are little liars! So I give them some porkies back telling them I'll stop at a certain point, but when I get there I say I lied and pushon, it's not always easy to get through them I know, try and divert your mind away from thinking about yourself, but if it's so bad I also slow down more, if you have no physical pain then push on through the gremlins, you must!😊
We do all sorts of things on our own that we don’t think twice about 😃. Running is no different. Get out there and enjoy the freedom that running brings. Accentuate the positive! You are your own boss. You answer to no-one. Your time, your place,your call, your route
I let my mind wander. I never have trouble day dreaming. When you get into a run rhythm - which gets easier the more you run - you just lose yourself in the run. Music can help no end . If I do really long runs then I take long songs. Bob Dylan usually. Some folks listen to podcasts and story books I like exploring, and love to find a new route
Don't be limited by self doubt. She who dares wins 😃💪👍
Thanks to all your positive comments.
I ran today 5miles without stopping and it was much better.
As usual between the 3-4km my mind was playing up but I tried to think about something else.
I hope next week I could do the 10k and I will feel awesome!
💪💪💪
Try going on a new route and NOT looking at your distance for about 30 mins... just leave your watch set to the time (not distance). You will then have hopefully gone through your mental barrier without knowing about it 
From day 1 of my running life last October I have kept a diary/scrapbook. It's just for me...I love making books to look back on, and I find that because of this my runs often turn into mini adventures with loads of photographs and streams of consciousness, and curiosities to relive when I write them up. It's really motivating to look back and see my progression too. I wouldn't expect anyone else to do that sort of thing necessarily, I'm regularly reminded that my diary obsession is a bit weird, but I do think if you look at running in a way that takes the focus off just racking up kilometres it really helps. Be it relishing time alone to listen to podcasts or audiobooks, to socialise with others if you prefer, write a novel in your mind, listen to a new album beginning to end, or to do a bit of exploring—anything that interests you personally, then you don't think about time and distance so much and run more for the enjoyment and freedom of it. It becomes a bit more multi dimensional, and I'm certain you go further and faster that way!
I've try a variety of techniques.
In addition to music I also listen to podcasts. No such thing as a fish is good for the first half hour. BBC iplayer is also a favourite of mine - Cabin Pressure is good.
Another one is to try mind experiments. For instance I've spent time running while trying to work through kitchen re design ideas. Another one was trying to work out how I would get the local Barnardos to set up a coffee shop
Variety - Through in some new routes - by the time you've focused on all the new stuff you are back home with 10k under your belt (I'm saving Home to Lacock and back for this)
I finally managed to find a running Buddy who did half marathons. So my 5k pace is the same as theirs It did seem to help 1. slow me down 2. go for longer 3. make it seem easier
Go and run somewhere beautiful and inspiring, without music and without tracking time and distance, give yourself a running commentary about everything you can see, hear, smell, taste and feel in your environment.
The 8k that turned into 10
The slow one!
Week 4, 8km run felt tough! 
Mind tricks, worked again!
Was it a good idea?
