Today was a 30 min run and I was a little afraid. The latest time running is starting to feel like a chore instead of fun. I try to run every other day and I keep so hard to it, that it starts to feel like an obligation. I HAVE to run every other day. I HAVE to run 30 mins on weekdays, no more and no less. I HAVE to increase my weekend run.
It is really weird, because I really loved running. I really don't want for it to feel like a chore. Frenc wrote in her latest post she was getting... eh sorry can't remember. Either way, she was also feeling like running was becoming a chore. It now became clear to her that running is something permanent, for life, there to stay. I fully understand. At first it is fun to build up to something. But now I am getting slightly settled, even though I try to increase my running time on weekends. And realizing I will 'have' to keep running, is a bit scary if you understand.
I honestly don't know how to break free of it, how to exchange the feeling of running being a chore back to just having fun. The fact that I always run the same route is not helping either I guess. But now much I can do about it. There is a big cemetery not too far, but still far enough to reach it and having to turn around to go back already. There is also a running route around the nearby Fort. But it is rather desolate and amongst trees and with a sexual delinquent wandering our neighbourhood, I really don't want to run there. So in and around my little park is more or less the only option.
Anyhow, today I ran my usual route the other way around. Going clockwise instead of counterclockwise. It was a bit annoying as I had no reference points when to be where at certain times. I know the usual route so by heart, that I can more or less pace myself that way. But while my previous 2 runs where bad, this one sucked less. I got sooner into a rhythm and struggled less with my lack of energy. I did go a bit too fast at first though, as I often do. But my last 10 minutes where perfect of pace, spm, etc.
Now Sunday I 'should' run 60 minutes for the first time. I do am nervous about it. Both as in 'will I make it', but also as I fear I am pushing myself too much. Either way, I do am going to try it and get my badge of 60 minutes + the snail bling I promised myself. And when that is dusted and done, I am going to think hard about what I will do afterwards in weekends. Continue the increase to reach 10K? Stay on 60 mins? Or just run and not care about time, stopping when I feel like stopping?
Hi Evy, you don't HAVE to do anything, if you wish to stop running, you could stop right now, BUT, why did you start running in the first place?, probably because you thought quite rightly it was a good thing to do and you were correct,
I am sure you don't really want to stop running, perhaps cut down the number of times you do run, don't put pressure on yourself on the amount of runs you have to do, in fact forget about that word "have" enjoy your runs the way they used to be, before and after you graduated from C25K, just go out and enjoy running, don't worry about pace or time, you hope to get your badge for 60 minutes, but take your time on achieving it, good luck. 👍
Hi Evy running shouldn’t be a chore, you should do it if you want to not that you Have to. You don’t have to do all these runs 30 mins weekdays and increase your weekends. Leave your watch at home and run freely forgetting distance or time and enjoy it . Take your time on reaching 60 mins badge your not in a hurry nobody’s pushing you. Hope it turns out ok for you good luck 🤞
I totally understand how you feel! I’ve been there too. I think what has helped me is to find something new to think about. I tend to obsess over new interests, googling and reading for hours and days! I know you got into jeffing for awhile, right? I did too, and reading all the different websites and Facebook posts about it, trying to figure it out, trying different ratios to see what I liked or didn’t like, really entertained me for several weeks, maybe a month or two! I ended up giving it up, pretty much, because my shin pain has gotten worse lately and now I’m having to walk a lot more, but regardless it was fun learning and experimenting, right? So my advice would be to try new things, and they don’t have to push you toward longer distances. There are lots of people who never run a full hour, and have no desire to. I can do it, it was fun trying, but now? I have no interest! I get bored running for that long! But anything new will motivate you all over again. My current fun thing is the app/game Zombies, Run! It’s a story told in 2-3 minute bits of dialogue that play in between your music or podcast, and it’s very entertaining! I love listening to it! I never listen unless I’m running so it’s something I look forward to.
I’m also looking into heart rate training. It’s where you try to keep your heart rate down to a certain level, lots of stuff to learn there but basically it’s your “Zone 3” if you’ve got a Garmin or roughly 70-80% of your max heart rate. It’s supposed to allow you to run further easier and eventually run faster (it’s the concept of “run slow to run fast”). Anyway, it’s something new to look into.
Remember when you first started running and you read obsessively over things like socks, shoes, how to carry your phone, what type of running shorts/tights/shirts, what to eat/drink before/after a run. All that stuff that you were learning about running made it fun and interesting...since a lot of that is already settled for you, that’s why it’s starting to feel more like a chore.
Just keep in mind new interests don’t have to continually push you to do more distance, more time, faster pace. Those things are motivating up to a point but if you push yourself beyond what you’re able to do it becomes disheartening, not everyone can, or wants to, run a marathon!
The fact that you found running your route the opposite way round was slightly better makes me think your lack of routes is probably part of the problem. It's difficult if there isn't anywhere else you could run though. I often run round local housing estates so I can be nosey looking at peoples gardens 😂Are there other things you could change about your runs? Do you listen to music, if so try running without it, or vica versa. I know when I got in a bit of a rut listening to interviews on Women's Running got me motivated, it try an audio book.
If you are determined to do your 60 minutes at the weekend good luck 👍. Then perhaps take a week off and you'll probably realise how much you miss it.
Thanks, for this B. I have not yet reached that point, but can imagine I might get to that point. So thanks for posting.
As a newbie runner, and as many posters have said, I still get a kick out of investigating or researching about all things related to running. And I still find the parameters are plenty. And what seemed to help me keep my fascination is planning my various explorations.
Just before starting on the Bridge210k plan, I planned a 5-week programme for myself, and it was devised to explore different freely available runner apps, as well as various exercise offers on the NHS website. Here was an early post of mine, so you can see the fun I had planning it: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...
And it was fun working through that plan. A lot of firsts: running to different musics, diff’t running app voices, and experiencing diff’t workouts.
My fear is, when becoming a seasoned runner, do the number of ‘firsts’ decrease? I’m hoping no, but we might just have to work on finding more parameters.
So hope you find your personal additional parameters to spice up your runs - and I’m hoping that I continue with that as well - so that we continue to get that “wow, I’ve never done this before” feeling.
Parkrun was the highlight of my running week and also the "glue" that kept me running. Yep, I still HAVE to run but way off my parkrun PB and I certainly am not enjoying my running as much as I used to but the sense of achievement that I have managed to get out and run helps a lot. I hope you manage your 60 min run and enjoy it !
From a recent quote by the parkrun founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt " At 60, running is no longer easy. Perhaps I should start that again … running has never been easy, but it is something that I have been able to do all my life. The fact that I found it hard and persevered has been part of the reward. Parkrun has taught me to revel in the outdoors and the company of my fellow participants. A run always cheers me up, fills me with optimism and leaves me proud that I am still able to do such things. Long may it continue."
Ahh BS, it really does sound like you’re not having fun. Why subject yourself to that? Surely, if running is to be a permanent part of your life, you want to enjoy it and look forward to getting out there?
I know we all put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to go longer or faster, and that’s ok from time to time. Why not dial back and run for fun without paying attention to your stats? Pop on some great tunes, a podcast, or listen to nature if you prefer, and just run. It might well break the chain of “having” to do anything.
Life is too short to make something so wonderful into a chore. Enjoy yourself! 🥰
I found myself too tied up in targets. Speed up, run further.I stopped and restarted B10K a couple of times. In the end I decided to just run and it suits me better. I have only run 10K a few times, only once officially but I know that it doesn't take me too much to get back up to it if I want to, eg the HU 10K next week. Then I will probably ease off to just go out and run whatever distance happens.
I prefer 6 to 8km but more or less is fine, I just don't need a target (apart from parkrun of course)
During lockdown we have done a few virtual challenges GNR, LeJog. Now we are running the coast of Lanzarote, just plotting our runs on a map. No pressure, it is just a prompt to remember all the walks we have done there over the years.
I can totally relate to this . . . since November last year I have set myself the target of running a minimum of 20k a week, I walk on the days I don't run, lift weights every day and try to do some Yoga at least three times a week. I certainly have the feeling quite often that a lot of these things are becoming chores, but on the other hand obviously I am quite fit and all these things are "good chores" but in a couple months I will be 64, so I am I doing too much I wonder, it is difficult.
Can relate to this. 😊 The trap of getting fit and not wanting to lose it. I find running the same routes really dull, in fact one of the things I love about running is discovering places I didn't know were there. Could you drive somewhere local, but safe and run there instead? Then you can vary your runs & explore. I also find listening to podcasts, rather than music helps, because it engages me more and I don't think about the running!You also need to give yourself permission NOT to run. When I can't be bothered to go out, I don't go and I've learnt that after a couple of days, I'll start to feel like a run again. I think the longest I've gone is about 12 days without a run and I was really worried I wouldn't be able to get further than the end of the road! But it was fine 😊 Give yourself a break - you're in charge of the running, not the other way round!
I really want to second this idea of giving yourself permission not to run! I ran every other day from last April except for a work trip and a medical procedure where I couldn’t run, and I stressed over those! I was so afraid that if I skipped one run it would be so much easier to skip another one...and it is! But eventually in the last couple of months I’ve intentionally skipped a run several times because of weather or my schedule or something and I realized I could just pick it back up the next day, no problem. Losing the guilt and pressure of HAVING to run was a life changer for me! I miss the feeling I get from running if I skip too many days, so I always go back to it, but sometimes I take two rest days instead of one and that’s just fine. 😊
I can identify with this. last January 2020 I was feeling similar and had decided to get to 60 minutes of running and did the magic plan which I did complete then after that I felt a bit in limbo. I struggled to get out and in fact didn’t sleep because I was worrying about going for my run the next morning. Then I realised I was doing too much and putting myself under pressure. I also developed a few injuries which I think was because I was running too much too often so I pulled back and decided that if I was going to be able to continue to run I needed to be less tense about it all. So now I usually give myself 2 rest days between runs and if the weather is really bad I’ll go 3 days without a run which means that by the time I get out there I’m actually looking forward to my run rather than worrying about it. I also take a regular week off From time to time maybe every 3 months to give myself a break and allow myself to enjoy the break from running. I find then that I am looking forward to returning to running. I decided to do this to enable me to keep running for longer I’m 66 and want to run for as long as I am physically able and this seems to have stopped me from getting too many injuries. Hope this helps take care and stay healthy and🤞You’ll start to enjoy it again 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Lots of good suggestions here and I think everybody has had these periods where it gets to be a bit of a grind. I wonder if you're doing too much and have just 'over-disciplined' yourself? It does need a bit of grim determination at times but if every run feels like that then maybe a break is exactly what you need?
A week off won't set you back and it might just re-energise you and set you up for that 60 minute run? After that, why not try some of those suggestions from others? I sometimes fall into the trap of feeling that each run has to achieve x y or z - and that can really suck the fun out of it. So you need to let those goals slip sometimes. The run is a stinker? Cut it to 20 mins. Weather crap? You can miss a run! Ease up Evy - be kind to yourself. I hope you find the joy again very soon.
Thanks everybody, it is weird how many people can relate to it. It is kinda supportive to know I am not the only one feeling like this. Tomorrow I am going to try for the 60 minutes, I have been working so fervently to this goal, I want to have it 'out of the way'. Afterwards I am going to try to listen more to my mood. No more running every other day if I have a day I really don't feel like it. And no more bothering with fixed lengths of time. I will try to just run and see what my body wants. Only problem is the roads. I am still stuck on the same roads, will have to think a bit about that. Maybe run in the neighbourhood instead of in and around the park. Let's see how this all will evolve.
Hi Evy, I hope you’re feeling better about things today. I think that’s a brilliant idea, you’ve been working so hard towards running for 60 minutes, once you’ve done it I think you’ll feel so good. I agree about listening to your body more, that’s what I need to do to. I really enjoy reading your posts so I look forward to finding out how you get on tomorrow and how your runs evolve after! All the best. 😊
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