Virtual support

[E27M14]

I’m having a tough time mentally at the moment, I had a week off running and lots of rubbish food instead, the gremlins seem to really thrive on junk food. Saturday’s Parkrun was not great but I expected that, but when I ran again this morning, it was equally bad! But as I was plodding along and trying to convince myself not to stop, I was imagining what I would write on here about how awful it was, how unfit I am, and how I had to stop because I just couldn’t do it today. I then imagined your responses to my post, but also what my response would be if someone else wrote the same thing. I could imagine how you would all be telling me that I did well just by getting out there and doing it, how far I have come since starting C25K just under 6 months ago, and that if I was having to stop then I was probably trying to go too fast and I should slow it down. So I stopped, took my phone out of my pocket and switched the music for Coach Bennett, and off I went again, a little slower. Sometimes we just need to be a bit kinder to ourselves.

[SlowLoris]

Yes.

Eating rubbish and running is better than eating rubbish and not running.

Running and not feeling it was a great run is better than not running.

Running and stopping for a rest is better than not running.

Running at a slower pace than you had planned to is better than not running.....

Shall I go on?

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to SlowLoris]

What slowloris said, with bells on! A run is a run.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

Ditto

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to SlowLoris]

💯

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

Well done. Learning to be your own best friend is a huge step in better mental health.

Give yourself a big hug from me and a gold star of acheivement 🌟💖

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

I can’t beat what slowloris said , but I do remember when I was on c25k, Jo Whiley said if you were hating the run, just keep repeating to yourself “I love running” even if you aren’t loving it. It’s incredible the way it changes the run.

You did great and I hope the joy comes back to you soon.

[Kertesz Graduate10]

Yes!! Well done you! I love your post - thank you for writing so clearly about a vague feeling I’ve also internalised from my C25K days... being kind, but also strong - in our heads, even if our legs aren’t feeling it.

Have you done any of the NRC Headspace guided runs? I love running to them... they’re a combination of mindfulness and a smidge of technique... I always come home feeling happier after one - mainly because they encourage you to shed the external pressures and simply focus on the joy of running. Good luck going forward. X

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

SlowLoris has totally answered this... and eating junk more than non-runners is just one of the benefits of running! I love me some junk when I’ve earned it!

[ktsok]

Well done! I’m reading Jordan Peterson’s ‘12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos’ at the moment. The second rule is: ‘treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping’. Looks like you nailed that one! And remember, some runs are just hard... 😘

[Deals1 Graduate10]

SlowLoris is spot on

Great post. I think we all feel this way at some point.. Well I know I do. 😊

And I also think about what my VRBs would say. So it's great that u listened to your advice. Well done

[Couchpotato2]

Your PR wasnt even rubbish!! I suggest you do the 15’ comeback run wit Coach Bennett, it helped me. I also find it hard as soon as I have a week off but we are doing it!!

You are fab!

[Equi-geek Graduate10]

What they ☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻 all said! 🤩🏃‍♀️

[Wimborne]

You have a very wise inner voice..... just look how you turned that run round today. Pretty impressive.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

I can’t add anything else beneficial, as it’s all been said by your VRBs above.

But we’re all here for you as sounding boards, so feel free to continue telling us the good, the bad and the ugly. We’ve all have been there! 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♀️🏃

[Zara2017]

Great honest post. Thank you for writing it . Well done getting out there.

[Pianism Graduate10]

Sorry to hear of your battles - I'm no stranger to them! Yes, I think being kind to yourself is vastly important. Sometimes that being kind means forcing yourself to do something you don't want to do for longer term gain. Other times it's just about allowing yourself to rest. I really hope you start to feel better very soon!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

You had a week off, you didn’t take care of yourself, so you can’t really expect to be at your best but you turned it round. Positive mental attitude rules 👏👏👏