Hi everyone. I graduated C25K in March/April time. Since then I’ve been out 2 or 3 times a week for 30 minutes running and sometimes even a little more, my distance has got better, I’m still very slow though.
But these last few weeks I’ve really struggled even to do 30 minutes!!! I’ve done maybe 20 then with the idea of walking a few minutes then continue with running, then I’ve just lost my enthusiasm and walked home really, really disappointed with myself. I know I’m off the couch and anything is better than nothing but can’t understand why I’ve gone worse instead of better!!! Thanks for reading 😀 I’m feeling sorry for myself.
On the good side I’ve seen some lovely fellow virtual runners who were with me from the beginning in January. Well done to you all for still running. 👍
Just a thought 💡 I started C25K in the coldest week in January and continued in rain, sleet, snow, storms and cold. Do you think this hot weather is a factor in my lack of ability?
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Yoyo2019
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Whilst you were doing c25K you had a structured plan to follow, and a target in sight. After that, even though you may feel committed to running, it’s tough to keep the same focus. Be easy on yourself, you are still out there, but perhaps put some thought into what you want to achieve next, and build a plan to get there.
Parkrun Parkrun Parkrun. If you need motivation run twice during the week and do a Parkrun on Saturday morning. Bring a friend and go for coffee and cake afterwards. Then go back next week and try to beat your time. It becomes addictive and a great way to meet new friends.
Eek!!!!! Haha. I know I should. I’ve got my barcode ready and waiting but nervous about going. I do read such lovely posts about parkrun. Inspirational and motivational.
Perhaps you’ve convinced me to get my, sorry for myself, backside out on a Saturday morning.
Haha, I feel the same as you, got my barcode, just need to go now! A lot of people I know go to park run and love it but the park has a couple of steepish hills which are putting me off, I need a practice run first so I don’t make a fool of myself! Hope you get your mojo back, and get to park run! 🤞🏼
It was a whole year for me from printing the code to doing my first Parkrun! Don't be like me! There really is nothing to fear, and loads to enjoy. You don't have to be good at it to join in, but you will want to get better as you keep going back 🙂
As Damien has already said, Parkrun. It’ll change your life. I started C25K in December last year, and graduated at the end of January. Loved the structure of the plan, and made a point of taking part in my first Parkrun as soon as I’d graduated. I’ve now done 16 Parkruns and two 10k timed runs. I’ve even entered a HM at the end of September. You probably won’t sleep too well the night before your first Parkrun - you’ll be nervous as hell, but the buzz you’ll get when you cross the finish line will all be worth it. Oh, and you’ll make some new friends too. Good luck with your ongoing journey.
Wow. 😀I really appreciate your reply. I really will stop being a mardy now and treat tomorrow’s run with the confidence I had a month ago.
Good luck with the HM. And well done on 5ks and 10ks.
Thanks.
I had lost my motivation too and got a dog who loves to run! Now, in the mornings the dog is waiting for me to get those shoes on and off we go. It’s so much fun, we both get exercise at the same time! We go out most days and do 5k but I am feeling now I would like to start to aim for 10k .... yeah my mojo is back!
I too lost my motivation, but now each month I sign up for the race at your pace challenge. I have done 4 this year so far. You can choose your distance and once completed you submit your evidence and you are awarded a medal. This has worked for me. I also try and run very early in the morning before work, it’s cooler, fresh and peaceful. All the best.
Yes the hot weather could be a factor- fully agree with the parkrun suggestions but also have you tried mixing up your usual runs? Change of route, trail instead of tarmac etc? Perhaps think about taking part in a 5k event? All the best 👍😀
The heat/humidity might well have had a bearing on your running Yoyo, that and the fact you’re flying solo without the structure/goal of C25K. You’re certainly not alone in having a drop off. It has happened to a lot of us, but rest assured it’ll come back. 👍
Personally I aimed for, and achieved, 10k. I needed a goal. Much as I loved pootling along (and I still do), I needed a goal. The same is true now, although the distances are longer and the pace is a little quicker.
Why not try the Magic 10 now that you’ve been consolidating 30 minutes for a while? You make some awesome VRBs along the way as you all do it together and it’s fun to compare progress. Also, do you do parkrun? It’s a staple of my Saturday mornings now, absolutely amazing.🏃♀️🏃🏃♀️🏃🏃♀️🏃
Have fun most of all! There is definitely fun to be had. 😀😀
I could have written your post, you sound exactly like me!! I've just started the Magic 10 in a bid to get my running mojo back. I too would like to try Park Run but too scared to go on my own... Also I agree with you about the heat and actually prefer to run in the rain. Good luck!
Not sure I have got my mojo back... I'm going to try the stepping stones podcast that you mentioned, I hadn't heard of it! I checked it out and I'm not sure the music's for me but I'm going to give it a go tomorrow.
Try not to be disheartened and your doing great as still getting out there.
I too started in January and you would think that these runs would get easier but I still have bad ones.
Maybe you need to mix your route up, do a virtual run, park run to get that motivation back and have a look at Race Your Pace challenge online or Ju-Ju’s Magic 10 plan which I am doing this month.
Also buy yourself a treat once you have completed your 3 runs a week - gives you something to look forward to.
Between you and me I’m not a lover of the running bit but love the feeling afterwards.
So glad to hear someone else having doubts. I started exactly the same time as you and been doubting myself during the last week. Why were my runs getting harder instead of easier n why no real progress?! I have started going out at 7am as heat definitely affected my runs but still struggling.
Thanks everyone for the tips, will defo try some out. You’re not alone Yoyo, we can n will do👍🏼
Yeah to all whom are worried about doing Parkrun don’t be. It’s all inclusive, fun and free. You’ll see everyone from 6 year olds to 86 year olds. All sizes and all abilities, the fast and the slow, runners, joggers and walkers. Members of the community with special needs and you will make new friends and make new running buddies. You can never be last because that’s the job of the tail runner. And most importantly no one ever judges and everyone gives support and motivation. It is like nothing else.
Don’t be afraid of it and embrace it, you can go on your own.
Haha. Thanks for asking. I had every intention of changing my route but the lane I was going to run on was almost blocked by about 30 ramblers!! I panicked because I actually didn’t know if I would be running slower than them walking. 😬 imagine that!!!
Anyway I turned round and did the usual route. But didn’t stop until my timer went off at 35 minutes. I felt great. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement.
As Coddfish already pointed out, maybe you are missing the structure? I need structure myself to get into a good discipline which I can follow on my own long term. Hence, after C25K I started Stepping Stone with the aim to move to the Stamina & Speed sessions. It helps me to focus, when I have Laura guiding me through the more advanced stages...before I start “flying” alone. I do not know if this helps you, but Hang in there. Good luck.
Gosh!!! I’m sweating! Haha. I managed to keep running throughout the podcast. Advice really appreciated. I liked the running tips too. Arms, relax shoulders etc. The 1.2.3.4 became can can can can after a while. I feel so much better now. Thank you very much 👍
I graduated a few months ago and was doing about 4K in the 30 mins. I then rand a 5 k route for a few weeks and was ok but then the temperature increased. My legs felt like lead and this lasted for month but a mix of wearing the absolute minimum and acclimatising to it has made great improvements to how I feel. I’ve speeded up and can run continuously even up the hills. I had exactly the same period lows as you but keep going you’ll get through it. Maybe slow down for a while particularly at the beginning
Thanks trazj. I did think is it only me. But so glad to hear it must be a blip in my progress. And can happen to any of us. (Not that I want it to happen to any of us)
Happy you got your mojo back. Sounds like you’re doing amazing. Well done to you 😀I’m sure mine will return. I think people will run for the hills faster than me if I wear the absolute minimum 🤣 however I am beginning to embrace the Lycra.
Thanks to all the lovely people who have given me advice and encouragement.
Parkrun definitely worth a go. I've done a few and found that it gave me motivation to continue. Then after a few weeks I started to enjoy running just for it's own sake. Found some new routes and used the time to simply clear my mind .
When its warmer there definitely is an effect. Your body has to work harder just to keep cool and that takes energy too.
Good luck and hope you get the e enjoyment back soon
I mentioned structure earlier, and loads of people have suggested parkrun. I thought it might help to share some of my story.
I graduated C25K in 2015 in my late 50s. I was running about 3.4k in 30 minutes. I knew about parkrun but didn’t feel I could go until I had mastered 5k. Getting to 5k seemed an impossible stretch as it was going to be 150% of what I could already do. I was finding 3 runs a week tough on the ageing body and was well aware that increasing duration might mean longer recovery time. I took the decision to drop to 2 runs a week knowing there was a risk I would drop my intensity without structure. I ordered a parkrun barcode but wondered if I would ever actually get there.
Initially I floundered a bit, I didn’t have any structure and was getting frustrated. I was then helped by my wonderful husband taking up running to support me. Even though we never ran together because he is too fast for me, the simple act of setting out together and meeting at the end helped enormously.
It took me 2 months of stop start efforts post-graduation to run 5k for the first time. I remember collapsing on a park bench afterwards, big mistake, very hard to get up again. I then summoned up the courage to take that barcode down to do my first parkrun.
Some 4 years on, parkrun has been the stable central event in my running. It’s stayed present no matter what life has thrown at me, even when struggling with form after a fairly nasty (non running) injury. I have completed parkrun 151 times and volunteered 14 times when not running.
In 2017 I decided to try to crack a longer distance and signed up for the Great South Run (10 miles). That certainly forced structure and got me back, at least temporarily, to running 3 times a week. I then fell off again, thanks to the aforementioned injury. I had a bit of a go at pace late last year, and have spent much of this year training for distance again, with a few 10ks and the GSR to look forward to again.
Wow. You really have done amazingly well. Even after injury. You must be so proud of yourself. Fantastic parkrun tally too.
Thanks for taking the time to share your story. I really do find everyone to be inspirational.
I’m a bit like you were. Late 50’s not ran since school. I was on such a high after graduating I have floundered since.
I lost direction when not told what to do. I have been out with Laura today and she reminded me of running techniques etc. I ran for all the podcast. I’m extremely grateful for all the pep talks, they gave me the motivation I needed. As for parkrun, I just know it will be amazing. But I still need a little more confidence in myself then I’ll be there. That barcode will be scanned soon. 😀
I agree with all the comments above, especially about parkrun. And the heat/humidity is something a lot of us struggle with. Just a thought... I find it much harder to get going again once I've stopped to walk. Perhaps this doesn't work for you either and, if so, try aiming to go slow enough to carry on through your whole time rather than give in to the walking? Anyhow, sounds like you might be finding a way through already. All the very best with it!
I too lost motivation in the same way. I graduated last July doing about 3.4 k and slowly built up to 5 k last September. In November I couldn't run - I had groin pain, which was eventually diagnosed as tendonitis. I resumed in February and was just getting going again by the end of April when I had a horrible fluey cold and I didn't run for 3 weeks. Now in early July I'm back where I was when I graduated. It feels like very hard going. Sadly I'm an afternoon runner - for whatever reason I'm not great in the morning Parkruns are all morning runs, but this post has made me reconsider .
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