Hey! šš¼ Did anyone find that your motivation really dipped during the consolidation period after couch to 5k? I had a couple of longer breaks in between runs during consolidation (5 days and 4 days, only once each) but I think the affect of that has only just hit a couple of months later. I'm back to running 3 times per week and I've now started bridge to 10k, but the urge to just stop mid run for a break has really taken hold. I've gone on 2x 5k runs where I stopped after 3k and then once after 4K. feel like during couch 2 5k I had more motivation as there was someone in my ear telling me to keep going! Has anyone had similar? How did you get through this dip in motivation?
Thank you!! šš¼
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nrbone
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Iām the same. Your not alone. Iām running 3.5 years now. Covid-19 has really affected my mojo. I have nothing specific to train for and as a result I have slowed right down. I miss parkrun and I miss training for 5K, 6K and 10K road races. Iām really struggling at the moment.
But Iām going to work at it again. Get back to 10K and pick off my (not) parkrun PB .
Every Saturday morning a group of us do a virtual parkrun called (not)parkrun. You just run 5K on your own. After we post a little run report. Itās not the same as the real thing of course, but itās a bit of fun. Join in next week.
Thanks so much Damien this is so helpful. I had no idea about virtual park runs and it definitely sounds like something that would help me! Is there a thread for that on this forum?
I've found with my mojo that I'm definitely affected by how busy the roads are now- I think this is part of the problem. It went from nice quiet mindful running to back to school rush hour, with me trying to avoid people running around in all directions! That's definitely made it a more stressful experience š! Thanks for your help!
Please see attached link. I put up a little post every Saturday morning and people reply with their little run reports. It is just for fun. Join in next weekend. Keep an eye out for the post. Also you can register on the parkrun website and log your (not)parkrun. It lets you know with an email if you have beaten your PB time which is cool.
I graduated C25K in 2015 and had the same issue. I found I needed to set some new goals, so that running had a purpose other than generalised maintenance of what I had gained. I initially targeted 5k as a distance (as I couldnāt, and still canāt run it in 30 minutes). Then longer distances. Then I used a plan to try to improve pace. Throughout, parkrun kept me connected, and I really miss that. Running with others has helped (running to meet at the end, rather than necessarily running alongside). Combining running with other fitness goals (especially strength) has also helped.
Thanks so much Coddfish- that's exactly what I have been feeling like - like I'm doing "general maintenance" and nothing exciting. I definitely think I should try combining it with strength training as I'm also feeling quite sore in both Achilles. With missing 5k maybe you should try the virtual park run as Damien has suggested above too? Thanks so much for your advice
There are a few good suggestions under an earlier post from today from @hanfel who is having similar problems - though that was also related to the weather and shorter days..... but the responses are also about motivation. It sounds like you could use some apps to help you ! Try the Nike Run Club app - there are loads of guided runs of different lengths etc and itās not like C25K so much but it is motivating and some are interesting - you learn stuff ! (About running that is - useful - helped me with the āwhy you should slow your paceā question). This forum helps - just so many people trying it out and sharing what works what doesnāt - such a respite from Facebook !!! You donāt need a āgood talking toā in the ādisciplinarianā sense of it - you just need the encouragement of the community š¤
I donāt know about the urge to stop at mid run. I find if I stop I canāt start again !!!! Though actually a couple of times Iāve done it by accident - and was able to run further for having a short break. Maybe you should listen to your body. Or do you use an app - strava, etc or a smart watch ? If you are on the bridge to 10K actually having that tracking of your run as evidence that youād achieved the next run distance/time is part of the motivation. Works for me - and I only started using an app at the end of C25K because I upgraded my phone !!
Thanks so much Juliet this is soooo helpful. I'll have a look at Hanfel's post now! I tried the Nike running club app but the music functionality got on my nerves - and I found it didn't combine well with Strava which I like to use to monitor things in general (this is probably more a measure of my outdated tech skills rather than any problems with the actual apps..!) thank you so much for your advice it's so helpful and much appreciated āŗļø
Yes, totally recognise this. You need some tricks to fool your mind. Strava helps - you don't want the aborted run in your feed. Experiment with different things that might freshen it up. Try intervals, new music etc. I discovered I like listening to podcasts. I persuade myself I want to keep going to the end of the show! Or tell yourself that you will pick up the pace and go faster for the chorus of the song you listen to and then slow a little. Then you start finding new goals and keep going. It does pass and get more fun!
Thank you so much RB - I hadn't even thought to listen to podcasts, so will definitely give that a try. So good to know I'm not alone in feeling this way. Thank you āŗļø
Yes, very familiar! Post cto5k I had runs where I wanted to stop around the 20 minute mark! It's all about mind games! Not having the coach and being free to do what you want can be a bit of a muddle and the negative chatter can start. It's really common.
You could try varying your route, or even stop tracking your runs. Juju's magic plan works for lots of people, of you feel you need a plan.
Maybe you've sped up - try taking it down to a slow pace and see if that helps?
Thank you so much Roxdog these are all great suggestions. I think Ive maybe sped up a bit. I just started the magic plan and I can already tell I feel a tad more focussed. I think it's being left to your own devices and the negative thoughts set in! So good to know I'm not on my own feeling this way. Thank you āŗļø
Lots of great suggestions from others! The Magic Plan worked really well to motivate me because it was varied. Also, for the first few weeks of the plan, I did the long run first each week, which tricked me into feeling I'd achieved already.
My other thing, about which I've banged on elsewhere, is to break down runs into stuff I know I can do. So if the gremlins are telling me to stop after 3k on a 5k run because I'm bored, a bit tired, grumpy or just not feeling it, I tell myself I can perfectly well run for another few minutes. That usually gets me to 4k, then I tell myself it'd be a shame to stop now, and I can easily run for another couple of minutes. Rinse and repeat if necessary to get to the end!
You're not alone, I've been suffering with that too. I'd got used to no traffic and not many people and now even early on I'm worrying about my route and getting across roads. My times have definitely slowed too, but I thought today I'd try bridge to 10k more as a training tool to get me closer to doing 5k in 30mins. Started with the 35 min run and managed to cover 4.26k. Haven't stopped on a run yet but every time after 5 mins, I think I can't be bothered but sheer stubbornness keeps me going
Been there too so as others have said I started using nike run coach(took a bit of getting used to)now starting to download some podcasts too. For me its just about shaking things up a little, now and then.
Yes i was the same, found it hard to regain the same level of enthusiasm after the high of completing C25K. I consolidated for a week and intended to do another couple of weeks but I just knew that unless I got some structure to my runs I would slip. I started following JuJuās magic plan to give me an aim and, though I have to give myself a talking to some mornings to get myself out of the door, I am still managing to do it. Once Iām out running I love it... itās just that bit harder now, esp. with the change in the weather. Keep telling yourself youāll like it when youāre out there... and try running slower to complete the distance/time, itās hard when you perceive that you are not meeting previous your achievements, donāt give up, it is just perception, you do still have it within you, donāt beat yourself up about it. Just give it time and youāll soon be back on your own track.
So many people experience this - I did too. It helped me to slow down a bit. To begin with all of our running can feel hard work and a big effort - we havenāt really discovered a āhappy paceā that we can just keep trundling on & on with.
You could try being kind to yourself & deliberately running slower so you feel comfy, then your āwant to stopā feeling might go away or be delayed. Donāt worry about pace for a while- your āhappy paceā will speed up naturally over time. Doing this got me out of wanting to stop at about 20 mins. š
Hi Jell š I havenāt had one of those runs for ages but yes, I love taking photos on a run. The colours are changing now and so Iāll soon try to capture that in photos, love this time of year. But thereās always something to see on a run....thatās a big part of the joy š
Another vote for the magic plan! It really helped me when I lost my mojo during consolidation. And the Nike Run Club app that someone mentioned above, it's really good once you get used to their style of coaching āŗ
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Think I've upset Coach Bennett - he won't talk to me!!
I still think of myself as a fraud! 
I think I get too excited
I think I must be a tourist!
I think I might be on the IC! š
