It’s 6 months since I first set off with Mr Jorge to run my first minute so time to pause and reflect.
I took 10 weeks to finish the Couch to 5k and did manage to run the 5k and continued with this distance on most of my consolidation runs.
I’ve run mostly 3x week ( a couple of weeks just 2x when I needed more rest days between runs).
I’ve had a total of 8 weeks on the Illness/Injury Couch, first 3 weeks sick in April/May, then 5 weeks end May/all of June after a fall and injuring my knees and my confidence 🥴.
I restarted this month and have just completed my 6th run since my fall and Week 1 of juju’s Bridge to 10k ( running the distances).
This morning I felt reluctant to wake when my alarm went off but my motivation was there and I left the house at 7.30am and it was glorious. The tide was out so I ran along the beach for the first time for some of my run and was very grateful for the cooling breeze as it by 8am it was already 🥵!
I finally managed to get a (not) Parkrun in. 😀 not my best time but I have promised myself not to attempt a PB until the end of this month as I’m trying to run a slower pace for most runs.
So where have I got to.......
Motivation : generally good and is back after time out & losing it!
Running: Despite being able to cover the planned distances I’m still finding the runs feel like hard work and haven’t found my happy running pace yet 😬
Attitude: I think 🤔 the running feels tough is at least partly due to high expectations. I seem to run with an impatient hare on my shoulder looking at the time, and despite trying to educate her of all the benefits of slower running, she’s still problematic!! 🤨
I’ve never run with any kind of music or podcast (except the Couchto5k to begin with) so maybe this is something to try... to distract my demanding thoughts!
Self-perception: I don’t see myself as ‘a runner’ yet. I’d be interested to know.....At what point did you see yourself as ‘a runner’? If you do.
Mr Jorge’s comment on my progress
“ for 62 you’re doing brilliant, it’s just a shame that you torture yourself so much” 🤣🤣🤣
Says it all really.... so going forward.....my mantra for the next 6 months of running 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️🏃♀️
SLOW DOWN, CHILL, BE HAPPY THAT YOU CAN.....😆 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
A huge huge thank you to this community, our lovely administrators, and all my friendly and encouraging VRB’s 🤗🤗🤗🤗
Good for you! Just keep running. I am permanently frustrated with my speed and it’s Mr Tortoise not Hare that sits on my shoulder! But in the end the tortoise does get there! Think what you have achieved is phenomenal bearing in mind your injuries.
Thanks Allbarron, interesting that you don’t see yourself as a runner yet, I wonder what it will take for us to make that shift 🤔
Yes the views are spectacular around the coast here, the only trouble is the 70m ridge between me and the sea, the descent to sea level and then back up and over the ridge again ....I’m hoping when I finally get to do a flat Parkrun all the hill work will pay off 😀🤗
😄😄I'm sure that hill work is really going to help. I think my biggest issue is I've never really been sporty. I still have that mindset of not being as good as I should be. I'll keep plugging away. One day....😉
Great post. Ask Mr Jorge in future to stop at “you are doing brilliantly. I see myself as a runner by listening more to what people on this forum say than family🤣 I feel with family I have to go fishing for compliments 🤨. I like your mantra, my best runs are at my own happy pace rather than trying to set a Pb- find your happy pace and celebrate it. I too run naked and try to listen to the sounds of nature as my accompaniment- I wear 2 hearing aids so feel I need no distractions so I’m aware of traffic, cyclists and faster runners approaching from behind. Go ou to your happy place and celebrate being a fantastic runner. Happy running 🤗
🤣 I was generous to Mr J when I wrote my post, I actually had to go fishing for the first part 🤨........Nature does have wonderful music..... I will not give up the quest for the happy run, the contented heart and that elusive inner runner 🏃♀️ take care and enjoy 🤗
Love this. I agree with the sentiment here. I think that PB's and times do have their place but the single most important thing is consistency. By going out we give ourselves the platform. Experience mellows you so that you accept a run for all the benefits they bring; especially mental. Every now and then boom...we go for a time but the slow steady runs underpin all else for me. You've done great, that is fact. I don't really ever think if I'm a runner or not. As long as I'm out it's enough. Motivation is different for everyone but I go because it's for me and I feel I deserve it, just as you do and we all do on here. Keep going and above all be positive.
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Thanks GTFC you have given me so much here, I shall think about all you’ve said, ‘I don’t ever think if I’m a runner or not’ ... makes me wonder what this ‘I’m not a runner’ is all about, I think I shall stop that right now and do some ....mellowing, acceptance,..... ‘you go running because you deserve it, we all do on here’ well I’ve never thought about it like that but now you’ve said that I think I am getting out there to look after myself, to be well, to feel well physically and mentally, to stay as strong as I can as the years do their worst 😉 and yes why not, maybe if I put my mind to it I can even think I deserve it😆🤗
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You certainly do 😊😊😊
Things that don't matter: being fast,comparing to others, what others do that we can't.
Things that matter: mindset, accepting ourselves, going out that door with courage, accepting our best was in that moment on that day.
You're running 2x/3x a week for 6 months. You have already a great routine. B210K is awesome and you'll get there and the way you'll get there is to keep going through that door. Each time you do that it's a victory in itself. There journey to 10k is better than the 10k itself! Go get it and we're all behind you!
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GTFC your reply has really warmed my heart, I think I will copy it out what doesn’t matter/what does and hang it up to remind me. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and encouragement, I think my monthly goals just got a whole lot easier 🤗🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thank you , a lot to think about there. Very wise words. I used to think running was about getting faster...it isn’t! My little body has done almost 75 years of service and this is my way of thanking it, not punishing it.The best thing is it puts me in a good mood for the rest of the day.
Oh I really like that Gwyrdd and that’s definitely one to remember, running as a way of thanking the body not punishing it, wise words indeed. Thank you 😊🤗
What a lovely post and beautiful photo. I'm a year younger than you and an awful lot slower - you should be really proud of what you've achieved! Have you looked at the age grading thing on park run? I bet you are way up the league table of ur local run.
I think you should give yourself permission to slow down a tiny bit to give your happy pace a chance to introduce itself - it is such an amazing feeling when it happens. That's when I feel like a runner - I don't find it on every run or even for a whole run - but I know its there now. I hope you find it soon and let us know all about it!
Thanks Fionamags, no I haven’t seen the age grading, I’ll take a look if I can find it. I haven’t actually done any Park runs yet 😕 I guess initially I was expecting to be able to do 5k in 30 mins at the end of Couch to 5k, although I now realise this isn’t really the goal, and that many people don’t ever manage a sub 30 minute time. So I adjusted my expectation and 6 months on I still haven’t managed to run 5k in 30 minutes, I mostly run the distances I set but it always takes me longer. I haven’t run 5k any faster than I did on Week 9 Run 3 so this is where some of my disappointment comes from.
I know I need to be patient, and build some stamina and distance first. That good feeling you describe, that’s what I used to feel many moons ago and I do hope it returns, I shall choose to believe it will 😀🤗
If you register for Parkrun you can then enter ur 5k time in (Not) Parkrun - the virtual one. Then you will see your name on a leaderboard for the day you ran (it can be any day of the week). They do an age grading thing so you will probably be pleasantly surprised - I know I was. 😃 I have never done the real one - I registered during c25k as motivation but then lockdown happenned...
Thanks again Fm, I’ve put my time in for today’s not Parkrun ( my only one I think it’s ending today, think I read that somewhere) ...yes same for me re Lockdown so I will be so excited when I finally get to do a Real Parkrun 🤗
Hi Mrs Jorge 😊. I have just been reading through your wonderful post and all the lovely replies.
There is a wealth of sound advice written within this thread to bottle away and keep for the times it is needed.
I thought Hidden put it very eloquently in his replies and I agree with his sentiment. For me running is becoming a more mindful experience the more I do it. As ju-ju- recently said in a post a month or so ago, "owning your run" as she called it, is all about acceptance of that particular run and whatever comes with it and from it. The message in ju-ju's post made me look at my running differently and the thoughts she expressed have stayed with me. "Owning your run" is the runner's equivalent of minfulness's "present moment" and I think it is a very healthy philosophy.
You have recovered so well from your recent injury and from your illness. It is wonderful that you have moved onto ju-ju's Magic Plan now and I have a sneaking feeling you are going to be fab at that too. Having also come back from a long spell on the IC (6 months last year) I am also just glad to be running. Like you that is my motivation to get out there - I should run because I am so happy that I can. There was a long time before C25k when I never ever thought I would be capable of anything like this. The past few months have been a revelation to me and I have learned so much about myself in the process.
I love to read your posts and our wonderful VRBs and learn of their achievements and the new goals they are setting for themselves. The variety and the inclusivity of this community and how people here accept and support everyone is something special.
So, borrowing Mr Jorge's wonderful phrase from earlier today - Mrs Jorge "you're doing brilliant." Keep it up, own your run and enjoy chilling out as you look forward to the next 6 months of running.
Mindful running is the way forward! Just enjoying being on the run and the powerfulness it gives you is sheer joy, however fast or slow!
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Thank you so much D-d, yes, I agree with all you have said and I think doing my half yearly review and sharing it here has been a revelation to me too.
Its wonderful to be a part of such an accepting and inclusive group and yes it’s vey special.
Sounds like real progress after the knock to your confidence recently! Yes, keep that impatient hare under control! That way you can relax. Such good news!
I love your posts! Is it because we're on the same wave length? I don't know 🤷♀️ I tell myself to take it easy and this time I'm going to slow down and not think about the speed or the time but each time I go out the gremlins take over and my competitive side kicks in and I just want to DO MY BEST. I too, tire myself out but I just love getting out there and doing it - I just wish that I'd started 20 years (or more) ago.
So, don't torture yourself, CHILL and enjoy - and I, once I'm off the I C , will try and do the same!
Thanks 59er, I’ve been wondering after today’s responses if there’s another way to view my Impatient Hare and maybe your competitive side ...if as Hidden and Hidden suggest ....accepting each run as it is and all the benefits each brings then our gremlins could become our strength, our perseverance, our determination to do our best and so should be welcomed and enlisted rather than banished or shushed. Parts of ourselves not to be judged but accepted too and hopefully this will help us chill and enjoy. Hope to see you out on the road again very soon 🏃♀️🤗
I didn’t see myself as a runner then had a short stay in hospital with breathing difficulties in January and every time a nurse or doctor came and looked at me or took blood or whatever my daughter said “she’s a runner” and i kept wondering why then she explained to me it was to let them k ow that i was very ill and not just a bit more breathless than usual
Thanks WillowandSola, glad you had your daughter looking out for you and that you recovered, ...it’s surprisingly and often helpful to see how others see us isn’t it. After today I think I’m going to be able to shift how I see myself and it’s due to the support of all our lovely VRB’s here 😃 aren’t we lucky 🤸♀️🤗
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A blast from the past has put a smile on my face 😃 
Back to it!
Graduation, one year on (repost from C25k)
