Hi everyone! Well, it had to happen sometime - I've been talking myself out of running. I last ran on Saturday at Park Run, and missed yesterday evening's Good Gym because I was giving a talk in the evening. I'd mentally marked this morning as a run day, not expecting my buddy to want to run tomorrow after her work. Here are some of the 'environmental gremlins' involved:
1) I am not training for a specific event anymore. This year was all about getting to the Great South, which I did at the end of October, and I've since been a bit aimless - just like many on here have found - I don't have a plan.
2) The dark evenings and cold weather - I have never had a healthy attitude to autumn/winter conditions.
3) Tech problems - more like bluetooth earbud problems - I've tried two different sets and neither have worked properly which is just yuk in the middle of a run, because I like running to music. And it's a minor thing but still a 'thing'.
4) The 'should be' stories I tell myself. I should be trying different routes, I should be doing more interval training, I should be running for longer, I should be better prepared for the days I run, I should be cleaning my filthy windows instead, I should be spending more time with the dog... should be, should be, should be.....
5) My actual running buddy has been taking a break from running and she doesn't like the dark either. My swim buddy has been experiencing migraines. So I've been without that commitment to turning up.
Today I had plans to run from my front door before rush hour - which I've only done twice before. Many of the routes immediately outside don't have paths, and I'd have to mix it with the traffic.
Then I woke up and the 'immediate gremlins' kicked in. I'd drank too much wine last night, I'd not hydrated well, I had too much to do, the dog threw up his breakfast. Before I knew it I had missed the very early morning chance to get out and I started telling myself I could go later - knowing full well that I have a swim scheduled for lunchtime, then an afternoon meeting, and I probably wouldn't feel like running later in the wet, dark etc etc....
Change of plan - address the gremlins. Running from the front door was too hard. I needed comfort and confidence, not performance and challenges. I dug out the faithful old plug-in earphones. I decided to drive to my local park, that I know really well. I told myself this was just going to be a Fabulous run (as in a Fabulous450 - 'out there, don't care!') and I loaded up the Nike Headspace 50 minute run, for whatever distance it turned out to be - it didn't matter - a run is a run, is what Fabulous always says.
I had another negative thought. Rush hour. Ach - the traffic would all be cutting down through the single track road to the park, and it will take ages to get there. Maybe I should wait until aft....... Nooooo!... Go NOW! Hanging about for another hour is going to waste more time than if you just GO!
Right. I'm in the car. Traffic was no problem (another 'story' busted). Park up. Strava, Nike, Apple Workout, Amazon music all being an utter pain and not co-operating. I get my usual Apple Workout going, and then start the Headspace app. 2 apps are enough for anyone. Off I go.
Immediately, my right knee hurts - just below the kneecap. I want to stop. But then I think "After ALL that it took to get me here this morning, nope, let's see if I can fix this...". The Headspace dialogue reassures me I'm only just getting into this run, and I go slow, land softly, maintain form, get my breathing going.
Round the back of Lydiard House, downhill and around the lake, then back up toward the access road... I noticed running up the inclines, that I used to struggle to walk up with the dog, are loads easier. Hey! That's amazing! My knee isn't complaining as much now. Past the carpark on the way to the main road, and then turn right and run along the edge of the park as I head out for a lap around the big field and back to Lydiard House.
Aside for the occasional twinge in my arthritic hip, everything is feeling real easy. I am enjoying the podcast, not really having to think about my breathing, keep focussed on my form. Finishing the lap, I barely notice the rain and wind as I head out again, up the path that cuts right through the middle of the large field. This takes me back to the highest point on the run, and now it's all downhill back to the car.
The Headspace session ends just as I get to the access road to the carpark, so I run the last 200m back to the car. I don't feel a 'need' to stop.
Back at the car, I took a moment to review how far I'd come (and this write up is part of that too). I wasn't gasping for water, or jelly babies. I felt fine - no bother! It felt great to have beaten the gremlins. And I coped with niggles better than I could have done before. The inclines were LOADS easier. I had no problems keeping going and could have gone further than 7k, if I wanted to.
And I looked at my stats and was chuffed with an average 7m29s per km - considering I was taking it so easy. That pace would have been a Parkrun best only a couple of weeks ago.
On this run, I'd been reminded by Headspace that striving for a positive mindset at all times and trying to block and dismiss those negative thoughts and feelings, just adds to stress. What we can do is accept the negative thought, but let it go. I don't have to buy into the stories I tell myself. I can talk to myself instead in an encouraging way, and a congratulatory way - like I would any friend. My mantra for my business is 'one step at a time', and it's true.
Some days all the self-coaching in the world might not be enough, and that's ok. But today, at least, I chose to run.
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Equi-geek
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So pleased that you beat those gremlins and squashed those negative thoughts...
A great fulfilling run and I really like the idea of talking to yourself in an encouraging manner instead of 'I should be' thoughts. Something to take on board...
Thanks Bluebirdrunner! I hope my whitterings help someone in some way, so I am chuffed you found something useful. The ‘should be’s are a big old stick I’m gradually trying to whittle down to match-size 😁👍
Yaaay Equi!! I am smiling from ear to ear!! This is just so fantastic to read!! 🤩 Gremlins busting powers fully in check and utilised to the full!! Go you!! Massive well done, not only on the run, but the distance is fantastic too! Now that’s what you call a Gremlin annihilation!! 💪🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽👌🏽❤️
Go Equi!👏👊🏃♀️ Great post, your reflection at the end gave me goosebumps 😊 Accepting what's happening right now, not getting caught up in it and not holding onto it is how I try to live my life too 🤗 It is what it is 🤗🦋 You did great 🌟
Absolutely amazing! Bust the gremlins, nailed the run, felt awesome. That’s what everyone should be able to do on a foul day like this.
I’m on my rest day, but tomorrow I’m off for my mahoosive run and I’ll utilise all your tips should the weather be anything like this! Thanks Equi! Inspiring stuff!
Cheers DR33! I was always a fair-weather rider but now I can't afford to keep being put off exercise. So, when things seem like a battle, I think it's about finding a way forward with smaller, gentler steps towards the goal, and not giving up or beating ourselves up with the 'should be's.
Well done for getting back out there. You did deserve a test after 10 miles, so don’t be hard on yourself . Is there a Santa run that you can do in your area. It could put the fun back in your running again. 🎅🏻
I certainly can’t be serious about a time while I’m dressed up in a fluffy red coat. 🤶
Haha! Thanks! Oh, today worked out great, I was just sticky about getting out there. I need to work out a plan for the next event so I'll start exploring something for over Xmas/New Year :D. X
You know those things that we do without thinking? I consider running as one of them. Nothing to analyse, just go and run. Over-cooking is the worse enemy and the cheapest excuse. Wanna run? Run.
Or better still. Remember what it was like before you started and how long it's taken to get to where you are. Then think how quickly you would lose it all if you stop. That's your motivation.
Thanks mrrun! Ah, my anxious brain... it serves me well occasionally, otherwise, it's a pain in the butt But you are right in that I can change whether I stew on thoughts and feelings, or not. And it should get better with time and repetition - if running goes the same way for me as swimming has. I can do 'just swim' now.
We are all sometimes slaves to our negative thoughts, well done for overcoming them, great run
Such a good post EG. Thanks for the inspiration. I love those headspace runs. I did a “running on empty” run yesterday when I thought I was too tired to run and my knee was too niggly. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It goes to show that we can’t really believe our stories.
Very motivating post and replies. I have found motivation harder since completing Couch25k. Good to know others are also working through that. After reading one of ianodatruffe’s excellent posts I decided to set myself the completely do-able goal of simply still running for 30 mins 3x weekly six months on. It’s not ambitious and I think most of you are doing much more than that, but similarly to some of the comments here, I remind myself that any run is better than not exercising. I particularly like the comments here about it not always having to be great, and about reminding ourselves how far we’ve come (figuratively as well as literally) and how quickly we’d lose all that gain if we didn’t keep it up). Thank everyone.
Inspiring stuff - I've had a month of this. No target, no plan, work/life balance shot to hell, hate running in the dark, the list goes on a few genuine reasons, but not many.
Went to go out last night (finally!) and completely and utterly forgot to warm up.... result, my L knee started with a sharp "you shouldn't be doing this" pain, again.... So turned around and went home after 1k.
This is my first winter and I really need to work something out, and do it quickly or it'll be March / April again and I'll be back at the beginning again.
I think just establishing a plan for winter and the dark (no paths or streetlights, and live next to a 'rat-run') is enough for now, however long the actual run.
Yesterday my actual running buddy said she has decided to give running a break for a few weeks (which will likely turn into beyond Xmas!) so at least I can plan for Good Gym runs on Tuesday evenings as a 'short' run with extra group exercises like the sprint relays. With Parkrun on Saturdays (or a Freedom run if the time doesn't work) I plan to schedule a 'longer' daytime run on my own for Thursdays, so I can build up to a regular 10k. I'm starting on the vitamin D to help with SAD and calcium utilisation.
I can totally relate to this!! I followed the C25K plan to the letter and graduated. That was in the summer. After that I was running 3 x 5K a week, wanting to do that for the rest of the year then do bridge to 10k in 2019. I usually ran at 6am and loved it - and did strength and flex on rest days. Seeing the beautifully light and warm days start was a joy.
Then came the dark, the rain, the cold, the frost, the slippery leaves, the negative self talk, the excuses. Gradually I am down to 1 x 5K a week if I am lucky.
Seeing your post really cheered me up and made me give myself a kick up the butt. And I remembered, before C25K I had never run before, never got up at 6:00am to do so, I changed my whole routine and lifestyle so I could run.
Suddenly the comedian Mike Reid appeared in my head with his well known catch phrase - 'ave a word with yourself darlin' - so I did and I thought what's to stop me adjusting that routine and getting back on track? The answer is NOTHING, so long as I choose to do so, which I will. Thanks again for this post.
PS - I have a run streak of 911 days on Headspace, but I have never used it for running - I might have to check that out.
Oh that's brilliant Dorset Runner! I'm so pleased you've been inspired to get going again. That's an incredible Headspace streak! I've done a few of the packs myself and this was my first Headspace run. I'm sure you'll enjoy it! And once I got the idea of meditating while running it was like ticking two 'things to do' boxes at once
Ditto everything you’ve said. Except I’ve been listening to the gremlins and not going out in the week. Saturday mornings while my daughter is in her dance class seems okay but getting myself out of the house mid-week isn’t happening (I work from home). And then I feel guilty and even worse. Away a lot with work this week but the hotel I’m in Mon-Tues has a gym so I’m going to try out a treadmill for the first time.
That’s a great strategy lundon, something different to kickstart the motivation. Make sure you set yourself up to enjoy it, to tickle the brain reward centres - don’t have any expectations about being able to match your experience outside, this a different bucket of frogs and you are setting a PB by just stepping on the treadmill!
I am going to have to make an appointment in my diary on Thursday’s to do a long mindful run, I think. Park run on Saturday is fun, sociable, and I can try new things. Then a commitment to Good Gym on Tuesday’s introduces variety, gets me doing things I wouldn’t attempt alone, and a feel-good from volunteer work. So once a week I feel I can treat myself to some mediation during a run on Thursday 😁👍
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but now I can't afford to keep being put off exercise. So, when things seem like a battle, I think it's about finding a way forward with smaller, gentler steps towards the goal, and not giving up or beating ourselves up with the 'should be's.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
