Those of you who have known me a while will know that I have always had problems with my gremlins. Those same people will also know how I used to dislike running with other people. Nowadays the only way I can successfully run is with my running club. In six weeks I will attempt my first 10k. Probably. Right now I am seriously contemplating giving my entry to someone else. I really want to do it. At the same time, I don't want to do it. When I run with running club I find the determination and the steel to carry on and keep running. When I'm on my own, as soon as it starts to get even slightly painful, I give up and walk.
I never thought I would be able to complete C25K and there were two main reasons why I did - firstly the C25K forum and secondly because I knew so many others had completed the programme. Since then, I've struggled to run on my own. I don't have any great running aspirations - I don't want to do a marathon or half marathon, but I do want to reach 10k. I ran 6.5k with running club on Wednesday (and not a particularly easy 6.5k either) but I can barely manage 1k without stopping when I'm on my own. Tomorrow my running mentor is supposedly taking me out for 8k. Not only do I not believe I can do it but I know I will be terrified all day.
There must be others on this forum for whom the gremlins are, or have been, a noise that you just can't block out. How do I run through the little buggers?
BTW, the photo is from our glorious Wednesday night run - I'm the fat one in the middle!
Written by
RebeccaSK
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I do Parkrun most Saturdays but am making no progress. I tried a different one this weekend thinking an easier course and a run where I could be a bit more anonymous may do me good - and maybe it did but I still didn't run the whole 5k. OK, it was hot but, even so, I should have been able to do it. I finished C25K in July last year - so I was doing my longest runs in the warm weather.
Keep going, how about writing a plan of when to run and for how long to help focus?
Also why not try something different, it may give you the kick you need? A new app (I recommend podrunner!), new shoes, new kit, whatever helps? Sounds like you’ve got a few miles under your running belt so you’re in a better position that’s you realise!!!!
I love it, it has various mixes at whatever bpm you want, also has intervals, a program to get you to 5k, 8k and 10k! I add 1 bpm every other week or so, keeps thing fresh!!!
You have mentioned stopping to walk a couple of times - as though that is a bad thing. I always run my 5Ks non-stop - but I have always found running longer distances to be both more painful and slower when I run continuously. I have studied this carefully using my Garmin watch and heart rate monitor - and i can see how my heart rate increases inexorably when running at a constant pace.It could be "cardiac drift" which is turn comes from dehydration as i run - or it might just be me? On the other hand the continual stopping and starting of short ratio run/walk strategy kind of annoys me so I have had some success with a deliberate run/walk strategy using longer intervals. My GPS watch allows me to say run for 900 metres and then walk the remaining 100 metres to the next klm mark - and i find that I can keep up a reasonable pace doing that and enjoy the run at the same time
The bottom line of this is that we will NEVER keep up doing something if we don't enjoy what we are doing - our personal discipline can keep us to the task for some time but eventually it will fall by the wayside. So - do what you enjoy and not what you "think" you "should" be doing. I wish the word "should" could be banned form the English language - in reality there is only "is" ( the present), "was" (the past) and "could be" (the future) - "should" is only something that resides in our distorted minds!!!
Great advice indeed. I reckon I could do 10k if I ran 900 metres and then walked 100. And, perhaps if that's what I set out to do, I will accept that 100 metres as part of the run rather than just getting cross with myself. In time perhaps I will run 950 metres and walk 50 metres and so on. Thanks Bazza1234
It does work well for a few reasons - firstly it doesn't have anything "beeping" at you :), and approx 900 metres allows plenty of time to settle into whatever pace you want - and depending on how you are feeling at any particular time and the terrain ahead, you can alter the distance spent running/walking - so long as the 1,2,3,4, etc klm marks are your goals. This way you are really only running 1 klm - except 10 times over The GPS tracks your distance and if you press the "splits" button on your Garmin at each klm mark , you can set it up to show your average pace for each klm split and run a perfectly even paced run -- stops you from going out too fast for the early klms . But you have to get over this "must run continuously" all the time Gremlin. You would never run continuously if you entered a 100 mile run!!
I love this idea thanks for posting. Am going to try it whilst training for my own 10k
Hi Rebecca
Clearly your problems are psychologically driven as you run all the time and must be physically fit for purpose.
Your post is full of certainty : I can do x, I can’t do y.... but that is what you believe rather than being ‘fact’.
Running is supposed to be fun.,not another stress in life. Maybe lighten up and go for some old fashioned C25k slow runs, with no pressure, no goals, just jogging along looking around and feeling the love.
Why be so hard on yourself? You are doing brilliantly
Take care
I feel exactly the same. I've returned to running aftera lengthy ankle injury. I now live in a different area so don't know anyone, joined a gym to get to know people, even went to the local run group both of which I had to listen to experts talking about how many marathons they had /were doing next, how fit etc etc. Not just normal conversation chit chat even!!
But... i dislike running alone too, whereas i used to enjoy it. I ran today for 20mins don't know distance but I enjoyed it. Maybe its because it was early, or VLM fever I don't know.
I too want to run 10k again its not like I'm training for any furtherI have races I've booked and deferred one until next year already simply because I dont feel fit enough arggh!!
Having just done a ladies' 10k event yesterday, then I'd just say go for it. If anyone from your running club does the same race, would they run with you? If not, you will find plenty of people who go at your pace. Some might chat with you so you are running with them - others might not but you can keep them in your sights and have in your mind that you are running with them. Apart from the super-speedy race leaders, almost everyone is very friendly in events, willing everyone else round.
But I do also agree with Bazza about run-walk. If you do the 900m-100m split then by the end, you'll have run a total of 9km which is no mean feat, and you'll have got round, hopefully at a nice even pace which is even better.
As for your 8k today, don't be terrified. What's the worst that can happen? Enjoy the prospect of doing something that will mean spending time with someone AND increasing your fitness. What's not to like??
7.33km DONE!!!!! There was a tiny bit of walking and we stopped for a little bit to coo at some little ducklings and I won't lie, it was difficult but my wonderful friend kept me going!
Stopping to coo at some little ducklings should be mandatory! Sounds great, well done you!
Oh, and I think the aforementioned super speedy race leaders DO want everyone to get round and would encourage everyone, but they just leave us behind!!
I'm a bit like you Rebecca - have done the C25K and a few Parkruns and now am signed up for a 10 soon. I have been mainly running on a treadmill which I find way easier but am trying to run more outside. I stop/start all the time with no pattern to it. I like Bazza1234's idea tho - sounds like a good plan. I don't have a Garmin so am going to use the C210K podcast which has a week where you run for 10 mins and then walk for a minute run for 10 walk for 2 etc I hope the race goes well - good luck with the training.
You will do it, never fear. i think it's sometimes a matter of making it a habit to get out there regardless of expectations and just do what you can, no pressure. i went out to do a shorter run last week and ended up doing (a very slo) 10k. If I had gone out intending to run that distance, i would have struggled.
You’ve been running for nearly a year now so you have a good habit which is key to continued success, you’ve joined a running club which says you’re serious about running. Therefore I’m really surprised you have these gremlins!
Running is supposed to be fun so if you really don’t enjoy it then perhaps you need to consider doing something else. But I don’t think you want to stop.
Remind yourself why you started in the first place. If it was for fitness then you don’t want to give that up as you worked so hard to get there!
Take yourself somewhere new and beautiful, leave any watches/tracking devices at home and just run for pure joy and happiness. If you feel like stopping then stop. Feel your body as it goes through each movement, listen to your breathing and your foot strike, smell the nature around you and think happy thoughts. Your soul will thank you for it afterwards.
You don't run through them Rebecca.. you squish them with every single step.. squash 'em...
flatten them completely. You have done it before and you will do it again!!!
Just slow and steady...it works... think of anything as you run... you will do this...I know you will..imagine all the little gremlin faces... splatted
5.6 miles this evening - furthest I've ever run - with my wonderful running mentor that got me doing C25K in the first place. It wasn't easy but I did it and I'm proud! SQUISH!!!!!
Well done! You can do it, you have those miles in you. Maybe try thinking of These Boots Are Made for Walking (or rather running) while out gremlin-squashing? I have no doubt you can take all the little monsters out and smash that 10k. After all, 5.6 miles is over 9k so you are basically there already.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Consolidation Run 11.1... get thee behind me gremlin
I've named my Gremlin!
Defeated by Gremlins.
Two very different runs
Gremlins nearly won out
