Evy here, long time no seen. As some might know, I started running with C25K if I am not mistaken mid November 2020 or something and succeeded (thanks to Jeffing) in reaching 16 km end of November 2021. But then it went downwards.
I had gotten a scare due to an old man and I had put too much pressure on myself (mentally) to reach that 16K and the running just plain stopped. I have tried to restart running again on the treadmill, but it is far from the same and my mood was just not into it.
Ever since I have tried walking (outdoor and indoor) and indoor cycling and currently I am using an under-desk elliptical to keep a bit of movement in my life. Unfortunately ever since I stopped running, it appears as if my energy level kept decreasing and my tiredness kept increasing. It is possible this is due to my Rheumatic Arthritis, I really have no idea.
Now a few weeks ago I got a heavy headache coming from my neck after doing some abs exercises. I stopped with them, but I got the same heavy headache afterwards again from my neck from the indoor cycling I think? In any case I decided to visit an osteopath and that consult was yesterday evening.
It was very interesting, she worked on my spine and neck, but mostly on my muscles. I have a lot of tension in my muscles / body and she compares me to an onion. I have layer upon layer of tension and even if I can somehow peel off 1 layer, the other layers are still there. The fact is, I have no idea how to relax. Even tried a back / shoulder massage last weekend, but just could not relax. Nothing I do relaxes me, watching tv, crocheting, knitting, reading, drawing, ... nothing.
We talked about the fact that I ran and she asked me to consider to try running again. She thinks it might relax me in some way, as I like running (somehow) and at times was able to turn of the thinking while running. To be honest, it does not appeal to me. Even though I did indeed like running while I was running and when it was going well, just thinking about running makes me feel bleh and tired.
But starting this weekend I have a bit of time off work, which is very much needed. I am mentally on the edge of things and I have made some decisions regarding my time off. For starters I plan on NOT checking my work mails. Normally in a holiday I check my work mails 3 times a day to archive them or put them in specific maps and such to make it easier after my holiday to catch up. It means that now after my holiday I will have 1000-something mails to go through (not exaggerating), but we'll see that then. So no work mail checking. And I am also going to try to cut down my phone time / social media time. I have realized I have serious FOMO, always wanting to know what has happened to this cat and that cat in shelters I follow for example. So maybe a digital detox might not be a bad idea in order to try and relax and enjoy my time off more.
That was not what I wanted to say. What I wanted to say was that because I have some time off starting this weekend, I might try to fit in a little run or more, following the advise of the osteopath. I wanted to try and relax as much as possible, but maybe a little run will be ok? I was just wondering how to go at it. Start with C25K again or something alike? Or just start running and see where I end, Jeffing again of course.
Hello Evy, welcome back! 😄 I was wondering what had happened to you. It's lovely to have some news, I just wish you were feeling better about everything.
I can relate to much of what you say re work, screen time, FOMO etc. and I think your digital detox is a really good idea. I've started to cut back myself for similar reasons. One other thing to realise re work and organising emails - it doesn't matter how much you do, there will always, always be something else you could add. It's just not worth it.
While I'd normally advise someone in your position to re-do C25K, I suspect that might just push you into feeling obliged to do everything properly and feeling guilty if you don't. So why not try going for a short jeffing run and see what happens?
Thanks, and yeah I do think it is about time I do some digital detoxing. I am taking along my e-reader, 2 magazines, some crocheting, some cross stitching and some drawing. Not going to push myself to do lots of walks nor long walks as usual when on holiday neither and I might maybe (very maybe) book myself a wellness for 2 hours to soak a bit in a bubble bath or so. Not yet sure. Either way, I am definitely going to do my best to relax 🙂.
As to the running, yeah I was wondering the same thing like you say. Maybe I can shorten my Jeffing ratio to begin to eg. 2 minutes running instead of 4:30 minutes running as I used to do. Let me do some thinking!
You're actually making me laugh Evy with your approach to relaxation. It's so like mine - "in order to relax I must do stuff!"
I'm 20 years older than you and in the fortunate position of having been able to take my employer pension a few months ago. Although I've given up most of my paid work, I'm still busy as I've been filling up my days doing useful, dutiful things that I should've done years ago but never did because I was too busy working.
Comes from a mix of my character and my upbringing - my Mum couldn't stand "wasting time" and used to watch TV while simultaneously knitting and doing a cryptic crossword. So I'm having to learn that I am allowed to do things that I enjoy, or even nothing at all, without feeling guilty that they don't have a measurable result.
That bubble bath 🛁 sounds like a great idea. Have fun!
My mom is so much the same as yours. She is never just sitting still and reading. At this moment for example, she is sitting down with a book, but she reads like 1 page and then starts looking up things on internet. She is also almost always doing housework or something and seeing her always makes me feel guilty for not doing anything.
Congrats with the pension and do try to relax some days 😉
Hi Evy, good to see you again! A break from social media would probably be the most relaxing thing possible (except this one of course because we are all so nice here ) (plus you've already had a break from us 😂). I'm in a country where I need a VPN to access FB and my husband spent ages yesterday setting it up on my phone. I'd spent a couple of days without it and quite honestly was almost sorry to have it back again.Good luck with restarting running, Hope you enjoy it as much as before
Thanks and yes, I think that over the years I might have grown too attached to Facebook and Instagram. It's not that I have 1000 friends or so, on contrary. But I follow so many pages (most about animals) and I feel an obligation to check upon all those pages at least 1 to 2 times every day to know how they all are doing. But you see the word? Obligation, that is not good. So I am going to do my best and try that digital detox. Maybe I will check my mails (private mails) and WhatsApp once a day in the evening. Mainly because I have 2 friends who I chat with every day over WhatsApp. And I don't think they would appreciate it if I ignore them for that time. But 1 check a day is a LOT less than chatting with them the whole day! Fingers crossed!
Thanks! And yeah, good attitude that not reaching 16K doesn't bother you nor if you run 10 minutes or 100 minutes. I swear that me pushing myself mentally too hard to reach that 16K has been maybe most of the pitfall. I just did not enjoy myself anymore, it was all in view of the 16K and the fun had seeped out of it. So whatever I do runningwise, there will be no goals anymore. Except for 1 goal: listen to my body!
Haha, I do remember suggesting not to push at the time , but what I also knew is that (in your own words) you are stubborn 😬 so I completely understand 👍But I have felt exactly the same evy, I realised after my last 13 k run that I was pushing beyond the enjoyment and that was an eye opener for me .
I'm 65! I don't need to run 10 miles or a HM.
I just want to try and keep a decent level of fitness and avoid injury or burnout .
And yes, we always say listen to our bodies .
That's fine , but don't just listen and then ignore it and push on 😁
It's a tough choice at times but your enjoyment and fitness is what ultimately matters .
I had the same experience as you, no where near 16k though. I was pushing for 10k, managed 8K but then the whole thing felt like too much like hard work and not at all fun, so I stopped running pretty much altogether. I’m currently re-doing c25k, completed W9, run1 this morning. After I graduate I’m going to take inspiration from Instructor 57 and enjoy what ever I do without putting any pressure on myself. Enjoy your running, I’m sure you will soon be back to your running best.
Hi glad your thinking about coming back to the running. Sorry to hear about your incident. Good advice from all . I can relate to the work as well as Mr D working 60 hours a week . Only Sundayoff. Glad when hols as well nice to relax . Roll on End October retirement. Enjoy your break . And hope you enjoy your running . Still hope to hear from you on Active 10😊
I will be active on Active 10 still, no worries! Though I might be a bit absent or at least less on during my holiday. Digital detox! 60 hours, that is a LOT! I don't have thaaat much stress, it is just my mental barrier that has worn thin...
Hi Evy. Your posts have been missed, so pleased to see you back. It sounds like you are in "coiled spring" mode. I know the feeling . I also know that the one thing that seems to help me with that agitation is a run. Like yourself when I started running I was focused and goal driven but in the 2 years since completing c25k my running has evolved. I have started a few running plans but am slower and don't always achieve the plan goal . However, I am OK with that now ( most of the time!).The running is the important bit not the speed or distance. My reward for running is no longer the sense of achievement but the release from that coiled spring feeling- .The improvements in my mood are so visible that my husband has moved from being supportive of my running to insisting that I run ( in a nice way!) .
I hope that you have a good break from work and enough headspace to relax and unwind. I see running as "active relaxation " so hopefully a gentle restart and a break from the digital merry-go-round will ease you tension.
Whatever you do I hope that we will start to see your posts popping up again-but only when you feel like it-please don't let it become another thing on your list of "must dos"!
Thanks and indeed, if I remember well running did sometimes give me a break from the tension and such. It's just that in my mind running equals tiredness and that's a link I need to cut. But I will try a little bit of running during my holiday. Though only if the weather permits. It's 30 to 35 degrees Celsius here at the moment and I am noooooot running in those temps. And no, not getting up at 5 am during my holidays either! I already have to get up at 7 am to give my cat her meds, but that will be early enough for me to get up in a holiday. Oh and thanks for missing my posts 😊
Think your running - tiredness link is what I broke when I realised I didn't have to run "well" but just run.
Agree with the temperature issue. I am skipping the midweek run this week-can't face running after a day in the office when it's this hot and I don't do early mornings!!
Have a lovely break!!Perhaps copy your cat'sbehaviour( ...not the mouse catchingy bit!).If anything knows how to relax it's a cat!
So good to hear from you Evy! Have been wondering how you’ve been. I think a digital detox sounds like a really good idea. Crocheting and maybe some relaxed Jeffing on holiday. Is it your family cottage you’re going to? 😊
Yes, like several weekends throughout the year, it's at the chalet / cottage again. Doing my last working hours at the moment and counting down. They do promise still hot temps the first days, so I won't go running those first days yet I think. Afterwards the temps are going down a bit, unfortunately that might go along with lots of rain (of course, I have holiday it just HAS to rain 😶. But we'll see it when it happens. In any case I am looking forward to no work for a bit!
Oooh yes, we all need a break Evy, and it sounds as though you really need one at the moment. How nice to be going back to your chalet, I hope you have a lovely time. The hot weather has made it very difficult to run, so I’ve been avoiding it! 😊
Welcome back Evy. Sorryto hear of your trials and tribulations. Getting back out there is always a bit daunting but I’m sure you will feel the benefit once you do. I would just go for a short trot no pressure to do a distance or even a length of time just a little run and see how it goes for you. As you have rheumatoid arthritis you will need to be gentle with yourself. Take care and happy trotting.
Thanks and the past weeks / months I have maybe been a bit too gentle with myself. I don't know... I stop doing whatever I wanted / tried to do when I felt a bit tired or such. Maybe that made me even more tired? Anyhow, we'll see... I have a bit of time 😊
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) (plus you've already had a break from us 😂). I'm in a country where I need a VPN to access FB and my husband spent ages yesterday setting it up on my phone. I'd spent a couple of days without it and quite honestly was almost sorry to have it back again.Good luck with restarting running, Hope you enjoy it as much as before 
Back with the feet on (or in) the ground
Back to the river 5k today 
Getting back to running 🏃🏻♀️ 😄
I’m back 😃😁🤸🏼♀️🤸🤸🏾♂️
