Guilty feeling when I don’t run

[LJAR]

Sunday morning is a designated 5K time usually, but today I’m really not feeling it. I walked over 15km yesterday, and my period has just decided to make an appearance too 🙃 so feeling pretty worn out.

When I don’t run on my usual days I can’t shake this guilty feeling (which resulted in me even running in a blizzard back in February like a loon 🤪). Maybe I’ll settle for a walk later today instead...

Tips on how to stop feeling guilty for missing a run please!

[Hidden]

Oh you're definitely not alone on that guilt feeling LJAR 🧐.

I try hard to establish a routine, shift work does it's best to derail that idea, red January saw me like yourself Running In snow, what why I dunno but it's just gotta be done 🤓👍.

But the wheels sometimes just don't turn as you want them, I'll gurantee if I've not ran on a day when I planned to, I'll go to work that night ( driving around leafy lanes to earn a crust) and those pesky runners, the ones who made the effort are out everywhere, it's like that guilt is being rammed home OUCH it stings.

The best advice for minimizing that guilt!!! Get that next run in asap, let the guilt go......

[LJAR Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks! Will try and let it go, it’s so bizarre how it gets to you like this isn’t it!

[Hidden in reply to LJAR]

It consumes you LJAR 👍

[sofaspud]

I completely hear you about the guilty feeling. I get those all the time. My tips: 1.) tell myself that rest is important and an important part of the training journey; 2.) learning to listen to my body is an important life skill: 3.) take a walk to keep the muscles mobilized; 4.) do some yoga in preparation for the next run.

Enjoy your day off!

[LJAR Graduate10 in reply to sofaspud]

Thank you! Some sound advice here. Off on a walk in a min and will keep telling myself these. Yoga is fantastic

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Haha, I think we all get that guilty feeling when we don't run 😁BUT, you were not up to it ! Accept that this sometimes happens and cut yourself some slack !

Don't let it spoil a non running day !

You will enjoy it more if you wait and go out when you are ready , then that guilty feeling will soon melt away 😁👍

[LJAR Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

I really need to work on my acceptance! I think the strangeness of this past year means you end up being too regimented in routine.. the sun is helping to melt away the guilt! 😌

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to LJAR]

😁👍

[nowster Graduate10]

The times we feel it most are when we're injured and can't run for days or weeks. Maybe think of it like being "a day spent resting now will save me from weeks of forced rest".

And life has a habit of mucking up our plans, too. There's no point in feeling guilty about stuff that's out of your control.

[LJAR Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Such good points, thank you!

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

I can’t get rid of the feeling so I just run anyway but shorter and slower if I need. Or swap days. If I don’t run I just get mad with myself and dwell on it all day and night so it’s easier just to run 🤣

[LJAR Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

Fair enough! Yes same but feeling like I need to be kinda to myself and try and not dwell.. hard though! 😅

[Magellan Graduate10]

I don't like running on my period. Pads don't stick to running pants, and ordinary pants chafe. I am having a bit of menopause at the moment, so it's less of a problem, but I certainly don't see why anyone should run when they've got cramps and bloating and all that faff.

Rest days are good for you, and if you take a few extra consecutive rest days once a month that's good for you too.

[LJAR Graduate10 in reply to Magellan]

Thank for your reply. It’s a tricky one as sometimes it can help with cramps etc but then also the heavy legs and general crappiness makes it feel more of a slog!

[Lookslikejames Graduate10]

I don’t feel guilty for missing a day, but I do feel the need to run building up, it’s like a weird electric energy. To be fair I don’t really miss runs, this happens when I’ve injured myself or need a day or two extra recovery

[LJAR Graduate10 in reply to Lookslikejames]

Yes the weird electric energy is weird. I think I’ll just take this as an extra couple of days recovery. Hoping to go on a run at lunchtime today so we shall see how that goes

[Lookslikejames Graduate10 in reply to LJAR]

There’s no harm in extra days of rest, it will definitely do your body good. Have a nice lunch time run, it’s beautiful sunshine here so hope you have the same

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Lookslikejames]

It's a feeling of restlessness for me.

[Zev1963]

Yes, I feel guilty if I miss a run. Especially because I know that if I just put my running cloths on and step out of the door then I will be fine. I dispel the gremlins by saying to myself that any run no matter how slow and short is better than no run. I think that the trick is to say to yourself, "this is going to be a super slow, easy run, I'm going to try to run as gently as I possibly can". You then get into your run and it goes fine