Nervous: Bit nervous about tomorrow. Not... - Couch to 5K

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Nervous

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate
25 Replies

Bit nervous about tomorrow. Not finding this easy at all and had a bit of a :( weekend. I dont come from a very supportive family so all your comments on here have been very welcome and they do keep me going. I have to remember this is not a race and I'm not in competition with anyone on here. I need to run these 'runs' at my own pace and just keep going. I felt like a bit of a failure this weekend looking at people who started at the same time as me who are doing well and finding it easy but starting at the same time doesnt mean we are in the same place and doesnt mean we will all find it easy. I have to remember that even rubbish days are valuable as they will teach me that sometimes you have to just pick yourself up and carry on. Even a week ago I couldnt have done what I'm doing now so for all of those of you who may hit a hard spot just keep going. It WILL be worth it. I'm just keeping on telling myself that and hoping that tomorrow morning I can do W2R3 ok! If it feels hard still I might do week 2 again. Bye for now.

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Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37
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25 Replies
karenmac70 profile image
karenmac70Graduate

Just remember that you have been prepared for tomorrow by the program. My hubby has took great delight in joking about my running and laughing at me and that just made me more determined, he no longer laughs!!! It is not a competition but I know the feeling about not wanting to be left behind but that helps keep us motivated so not such a bad thing. I found every week hard work and had to repeat some runs but who cares, I can now run for nearly 5k in 30 minutes, it took me 11 weeks not nine but I can do it and thats what counts. Soon you will be thinking the same thing and removing the smirks from your families faces just like I did and will find you overhear them boasting about your achievements!

Each time you go out your exercising and improving your fitness so good on you. A word of caution about the pace though I used to be a sprinter 30+ years ago and although I thought I was going very slow I wasn't going slow enough. Just after my graduation I strained one of my thigh muscles and only started back today after a forced weeks break having to rest it and could only do 16 minutes so as not to overdo it so keep it slow and you will get there!!!

Good luck for tomorrow and go out there and show your family just what your made of!

Happy Running.

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate in reply to karenmac70

Thanks for your encouragement. This morning was tough again but I did all the runs:) Onwards and upwards.

wilmacgh profile image
wilmacghGraduate

Keep at it, It's as much a mental as a physical thing.

I'm sorry your family aren't supportive but you may find as you get fitter friends start noticing the new shapely you.

Wheatls profile image
WheatlsGraduate

Sounds like you're giving yourself a good talking to and saying all the right things! :) don't be hard on yourself but concentrate the improvements you can see for yourself. I found the first weeks harder as during the frequent short runs you have to have quite a few bursts of will power to keep going.

Don't forget to take the pace really slow. Love the cute orange picture!

wilmacgh profile image
wilmacghGraduate

Keep at it, It's as much a mental as a physical thing.

I'm sorry your family aren't supportive but you may find as you get fitter friends start noticing the new shapely you.

sal1984 profile image
sal1984Graduate

Hey I am early on too but today (WK3R1) I actually enjoyed it. I think these blogs are great as it is only from other peoples encouraging comments that I think I am keeping going. I think that believing you can do it and even us going out and actually attempting is so much better than where we were a few weeks ago - ie doing no runnning at all! I think there is no harm in going at the pace you need to or repeating runs if necessary the main thing is getting out there. Good luck and keep in touch xxx

sal1984 profile image
sal1984Graduate

Hey I am early on too but today (WK3R1) I actually enjoyed it. I think these blogs are great as it is only from other peoples encouraging comments that I think I am keeping going. I think that believing you can do it and even us going out and actually attempting is so much better than where we were a few weeks ago - ie doing no runnning at all! I think there is no harm in going at the pace you need to or repeating runs if necessary the main thing is getting out there. Good luck and keep in touch xxx

Smilingsuzc profile image
Smilingsuzc

Sorry to hear about your lack of support. But ultimately you're doing this for you and no one else. I have to tell you I am dreading tonights run (W1R3), having managed the other two despite my 16stone weight, I am aching already, a full day in the garden and the new running is hard work but I know that those runs which are especially hard to start, are the ones which will give me the greatest sense of achievement.

You can do this and you should be proud of yourself for doing it without the support you would like. x

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate in reply to Smilingsuzc

Thank you so much. So nice of you to give me kind words of encouragement. I am in the same position as you weight wise and its hard given my body just isnt used to what it is probably viewing as punishment right now. I can do this and I will. Just wish my legs didnt hurt so much so early on in the run but ive a couple of days rest now and then out again. I will still keep getting up and getting out no matter what:) Thank you. x

vixiej profile image
vixiejGraduate

Chin up, keep going, you are doing great (as is everyone else in the comments by the sound of it). I found the early weeks really tough. I really couldn't see how I would get to the end of the programme. But things did get better. As Laura says, 'one step at a time'.

Think about it, your body is in a bit of shock from being asked to do some work, not just once, but several times a week. Give it a few weeks and you will be raring to go. At this stage I think it's 50/50 physical/psychological, but by the end of week 3/beginning of week 4 the hard work starts to pay off in terms of fitness. You will start to feel the difference in your body as you are building stronger running muscles now, your confidence builds, then it will just a matter of kicking yourself out of the door every time and reading some of the inspiring blogs on here to keep you positive and focused.

Don't worry about the family, its their lookout, but they will be glowing with pride when you graduate. Do it despite them, do it for you, you deserve it. Anyway, WE are all routing for you, you will succeed and you are doing great. Celebrate the small successes (every run completed), keep the pace dead slow for now (speed can come later).

Good luck xx

vixiej profile image
vixiejGraduate in reply to vixiej

I forgot to add, something I have seen through coaching people, when people decide to make changes in their life, is that it unnerves friends and family. When you make changes, it affects other people, in this case, it should be for the good, but if you've e.g. not been very confident about how you look, then running, doing something about it, changing your shape (and this programme WILL change your outlook on life and how you tackle other things in your life too) is going to change the dynamics of some relationships. Perhaps someone has shielded you when you've been less than confident and now doesn't know how that will affect him/her. This is just an example, I have no idea if that is relevant to you, but the point is, you will change as a result of this, it's not just physical changes, and people don't like change if they are not in control of it. Don't take it personally that your family are not supportive, it is not your problem, it says more about them than you.

I hope that makes sense.

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate in reply to vixiej

Thank you for your comments. Thats really nice of you to take the time to buoy me up:) I went out and did W2R3 today. It was still hard but I will get there one step at a time. I need to read all of the nice comments again that people have made and digest it all. 2 days rest now and I will either do another run of week 2 later in the week or I might move onto week 3. Thank you again. x

vixiej profile image
vixiejGraduate in reply to Joanne37

you are welcome Joanne. I had lovely people on here to help keep me going when I felt like giving in and when I was going through some very sad, emotional stuff, so it's really good to be able to give a little back and give someone else a nudge or a lift when they need it

:-)

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate in reply to vixiej

Thank you. Im generally my own support system with things and when you are its so easy to focus on the negatives or talk yourself out of things so if you dont have the positive (and you are struggling to be the positive one because you dont feel like!) then you end up feeling worse. I'm not giving up on this though. I will get there! x

Smilingsuzc profile image
Smilingsuzc in reply to vixiej

I fully agree with this. In the past I have lost lots of weight and some friends along the way, as they were used to me being a wallflower to their beauty, then couldn't cope when I physically changed.

Keep going, those who love you will adapt, and anyone else is just noise! x

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate in reply to Smilingsuzc

I like that saying. I think I might keep hold of that one! I will keep going :) x

Rollertoaster profile image
RollertoasterGraduate in reply to vixiej

Brilliantly put Vixie and very true. Stick with it Joanne, take it slowly and repeat runs if necesary and you WILL get there :)

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate

Do you know - I got back from my very first run and bumped into a neighbour who told me I must be mad doing this. I then discovered she had told another neighbour how dreadful I looked when I got back. It spurred me on to think "I'll show you". They were the only people who knew about my running for a long time. I am forever bumping into her as I set off and we just have a laugh about it now, tho' she obviously still thinks I am nuts, but I always think "see I'm still going". Her husband was asking about my running the other day and I mentioned the wife winding me up, he said " she's just lazy". My other neighbour has now started the programme herself and If I ever get to 10k I am going to do a sponsored run and I know whose door I will knock on first. I think vixiej has given alot of good advice

No one finds it easy, there are good days and bad but just keep doing it for yourself.

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply to ancientrunner

Brilliant! :D So good you didn't let that neighbour stop you after the first run! :)

Smilingsuzc profile image
Smilingsuzc

Loving this!

DavD profile image
DavDGraduate

I was used to compare myself to others when it came on sports or on the physical aspect as I've always been the chubby, lazy girl amongst my family and friends. Then I had to fight against a cancer, and my grandmother passed away. I felt I had to start running for me, and only for me. Don't compare yourself to others, you did the hardest step: going outdoor to run. Trust the programm, don't hesitate to repeat weeks of the plan if you need to, go at your own pace, be proud of every run you've done even if they were bad. As a lot would say, a bad run is always better than no run at all. And you know what, a lot were smirking, laughing at me when I began, but now, a few of them joined me for my sessions. Change can frighten your family and/or friends at first, but in the end, if they really love you, they'll be happy for you being so strong. Don't give up, it is sooooo worth the effort!! :)

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate in reply to DavD

Thank you so much for this. I wont give up. Its hard but I wont. For me my biggest obstacle is not in the mind at the minute but its the physical aspect. Its tough that normally one run in and my calves hurt and its not just enjoyable. I struggle with the concept of mind over matter sometimes as I think if the pain is there and its physical its not in my head and wishing it away doesnt make it go away and its hard to focus on something else. I think thats the bit thats was getting me down - I can get out the door ok even early morning, I can recover pretty quickly between runs and I can will myself on but the hurting calves is a whole other thing and I wish I knew how to master it:) Thank you for your kind words. I am out the door, I am still doing it and it will take as long as it takes but like you say a bad run is better than no run. Onwards and upwards:) Thanks again. x

fatgirlruns profile image
fatgirlrunsGraduate

Sorry to hear people aren't supportive, but like others have said do it for yourself!

I find my husband is not supportive at all with my running, but he's just jealous as he's had his trainers for 2 months and still not stepped foot outside the door!

The hardest thing is getting out there, and once you've done the hard bit - just take it slow and enjoy it and stuff what everyone else thinks! and this forum is fab for advice and help...keep with it Joanne xx

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate in reply to fatgirlruns

I will do. Thanks for your kind words:) x

Joanne37 profile image
Joanne37Graduate

You have all been so lovely and so quick to help me. I really appreciate it. I will keep going and keep trying. Thank you :) x

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