When does the running become a habit? I can't really say I miss it yet.

[Beek]

So many people describe their NEED to get out running and miss it if they don't do it. I never feel like that and wonder if I ever will. I think I'm going to have to be REALLY disciplined to keep it up after week 9. I have been told there is a running club nearby and I may go and show my (purple!) face there.

[runningnotwalking Graduate]

Supposedly if you do something for 12 weeks it becomes a habit or second nature.

Oddly it was second nature for me around week 8 but I was still trying to graduate then.

It has started to loose its appeal a little since.

I'm working on that but the club idea sounds like a good plan.

[librarie in reply to runningnotwalking]

This is my week no. 12 and I've only just started the week 9 runs - I hope you are right about it becoming second nature now!

[Beek Graduate in reply to runningnotwalking]

It's just a sad waste of time if we don't keep it up. I don't know about you but for me it has been a huge effort to get this far and it will be a shame to stop now.

Hope you manage to get motivated again soon!

[librarie in reply to Beek]

You are absolutely right and thanks for reminding me. I think running somewhere different next week will help! Your running club sounds like a good idea.

[Pat184 Graduate]

Hi Beek I graduated last September and have run 3 times a week since, unfortunately I fell a few weeks ago and dislocated my shoulder, I have missed the running but went out walking. What motivated me to keep it up is the weight loss and I feel so much better health wise . Pat

[Beek Graduate in reply to Pat184]

Hello Pat, Just looked at your profile picture and you look fantastic! I am hoping that I keep this up because we live in such a lovely area and it is a real pleasure to be outside. My BH is of the opinion that walking etc is in his words, a 'waste of time' because he would much rather be in his workshop making something. Each to his own as they say! I used to walk a lot and the running is very new to me, I do find it hard work! Hopefully the need to run will kick in soon! I've only lost 1kg and need to lose another 10 minimum. Many people have said here that the weight does not come off until the end of the programme.

Hope your shoulder is soon a lot better!

[OldNed Graduate]

If the running doesn't become a habit you could always keep doing it for the pure unadulterated pleasure of swearing at dog walkers? Now that could become a habit!!

[Beek Graduate in reply to OldNed]

LOL! yes, why not! I am not a dog lover at all - you may have guessed. But they do annoy me when they don't clean up after the dogs. And in a similar vein, the other thing that really annoys me is when adults put children in the basket end of the shopping trollies in the supermarket. Goodness only knows where their little feet have been! Better stop this before it becomes Room 101!

[OldNed Graduate in reply to Beek]

I hadn't thought of that (the shopping trolley) but that's a really good point.

[Eve1975 Graduate in reply to OldNed]

I get driven nuts running along my seafront with kids who see you coming but then still scoot/ride right into my path. Also had to run into the road today as 3 teenage girls hogging the pavement did not move at all to let me pass. Grrrrr

[OldNed Graduate in reply to Eve1975]

I should introduce you to Mrs OldNed. Her technique for dealing with that situation is to play them at their own game. She gives no quarter whatsoever and if they don't move nor does she and walks straight into them. This on the basis that it is simple unadorned rudeness not to take account of another person's approach. In effect, they are saying we are more important than you so f### off, so they get it right back at them. Such fun!!

[Beek Graduate in reply to OldNed]

I do that too! I can recall, when I was youngster at school, the whole school was taught in assembly not to hog the pavements, be aware of those around you, don't barge around. And it wasn't a sexist thing or ageist thing - you just had to be considerate to others. If you saw anyone approaching, say a fit young man carrying something, you would hold the door open for him AND if someone gave way to YOU then an acknowledgement was required - preferably a smile and thank you. If I give way to anyone and they ignore me when they pass, I just say 'The thankyou was nice' and they usually look puzzled.

Hey we sound like a right pair of grumpy old things! But I do feel as a society those little niceties are falling by the wayside and we are a much poorer society because of it.

So! Between us we've got the world sorted! You can all sleep happily in your beds tonight!

And I'm not a miserable old fart, honest, although I do sound like one!

Enjoy your running!

[OldNed Graduate in reply to Beek]

I'm so glad it's not just me! You're right, these little niceties are important and oil the wheels of society.

[Ryansson Graduate]

I often like to really annoy grumpy canal fishers. I used to smile and nod hello invariably with very little response so now I make a point of coughing or groaning loudly and kicking up gravel as I pass .... now THAT is becoming a habit

[Beek Graduate in reply to Ryansson]

I know that the only way to deal with grumps is to kill them with kindness! Be super cheerful around them and do not let their grumps rub off on you! How about we start a Room 101 thread and get all our moans off our collective chest?

[runningnotwalking Graduate in reply to Beek]

Good idea. Can you add dogs to the top of the list.

[OldNed Graduate in reply to Ryansson]

Canal fishermen are such miserable b#gg#rs that annoying them is one's civic duty.

[Beek Graduate in reply to OldNed]

LOL!!! I like that one. Are they worse than the dog walkers?

[OldNed Graduate in reply to Beek]

I think they are. At least you get some sort of [usually defensive or passive-aggressive] response from dog walkers. Canal fishermen just sit there like lumps of lard.

[Ryansson Graduate in reply to OldNed]

Yep bloody awful people generally, well at least in pursuit of fish they never eat ... no wonder they're miserable

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

After a year it has become second nature. I run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays wherever I am and whatever the weather. I get up. Get me kit on Have a couple ofg glasses of water and go. Mind you. Tuesdays and Thursdays when I roll over and sleep an extra 30 minutes are heaven

[Beek Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Hi Delia, I have decided to do the same and run on set days, rather than when the plan tells me to. I think that will be a better way to keep on course. I can well imagine your roll over mornings are bliss - ENJOY!

Maybe my expectations are too high at the moment.

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I'll be really honest...I was totally hooked after week 1 run 1, but that is probably more due to: post mid life crisis gap, 40 plus working woman desperate to feel better, and just needing something for me. I have found that in running. We are all different, and I would suggest enjoying it when you do, and never make yourself do it or it will become a chore......different routes too give a bit of variety?Good luck with finishing xx

[Beek Graduate]

Hi juicyju! I have just written you a long reply and it has disappeared before sending it! When I started out and read so many posts saying how people had more energy, great highs and sense of achievement etc I suppose I thought that would come to me automatically but it doesn't. I do know the exercise is doing me good.

I am way past mid life crisis age and I keep bees, which is my 'me' time activity. Perhaps in reality the running is one thing too many because my energy level is abysmal at the moment! I shall persevere though. Would be daft not to with only 3 more runs to do! I will try not to turn it into a chore.

Happy running to you too!

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Beek]

Hi Beek, bees...how very exciting!!! Its funny I was saying to my sister today that i wish i had done this in my 20's, but me back then...no way, I would have seen it as boring. I guess we all dip in and out of things like this in life, clearly the excercise is doing you good, for others its more mental as in meeting a need for me......I would definately aim to complete, even if you don't do it anymore as it will give you a huge sense of achievement.... well done for getting this far...

[greenlegs Graduate]

I've lost count of how many weeks it is now, but it's about 6 months (that's a surprise! - must check exactly when it's six months and celebrate) since I graduated. I will admit to have sometimes found it a challenge to keep running. Doing the 5x50 challenge very soon after graduating got me doing exercise every day (walking, cycling, yoga and swimming have all reappeared in my life since February), but I seem to have gradually been doing less running each month - though I think that's been more to do with other things in life getting in the way, not to mention the warmer weather, which does really put me off.

On the other hand, much more positively, yesterday I went out and did a 30 minute run, after a couple of weeks break, and found I can still run at the same pace as before. That really is quite a result for me, as I have been a lifelong (now mid fifties) really non-sporty person. OK, so it's a pretty slow pace, but I can still do it, and I know I'm fitter for it, because my resting heart rate has come down significantly, and I recover pretty quickly after a run.

As the weather cools down a bit, I'm intending to get out and run more often, and maybe even perhaps speed up a bit - but I'm not that bothered if I don't get faster really. Whatever - I'll still have succeeded in learning to run in my fifties, and I'm pretty proud of that.

Anyway, I need to do more running so I can keep coming on here to see what people are doing, and not feel a fraud.

[Beek Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

Hi greenlegs,!

Nice to hear from you. You always gave good inspiring advice around the time I started on this plan and I've not seen your name for ages. I am looking forward to the cooler weather too. Keep coming back and tell us how you are doing!

[tor41 Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

You are doing well and it doesn't matter what speed you run at because you are out there, the fresh air alone is beneficial, the running a bonus for the heart and lungs - feel very proud of your young self

[plodalong Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

Like you I am proud that having reached 61yrs I can say I can run for 30 mins.I never thought I could do that.

My aim now is to try and enjoy it a bit more and like you I am not too bothered about the speed as it takes all my focus just to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Keep on running x

[plodalong Graduate]

Well Beek if I am honest I cannot yet actually say I love running . I enjoy the sense of achievement and relief as I finish each run .

I have found it difficult to stay motivated after graduating so have signed up for a Santa 5k run in December as something to aim for. Changing my running route has helped but as it is a bit more challenging I can only do 20 mins at the moment. I do feel fitter but have yet to lose some of the many pounds which adorn my short frame.

I just keep imagining how I will fly along the 5k when I finally lose the weight.

Keep going and remember how far you have come from week 1 xx

[Beek Graduate in reply to plodalong]

Hi plodalong - and you were another inspiring blogger! Wouldn't have got this far without your posts. I do admit I don't particularly enjoy running yet. maybe once I graduate and no longer HAVE to do it, maybe then it will come easier and less of a chore. Like juicyju warned me against feeling!

[plodalong Graduate in reply to Beek]

Stay positive. Keep on blogging xx

[greenlegs Graduate in reply to Beek]

Oh yes, just remembered. After I graduated, I tried doing some shorter faster runs - running just as fast as I could for a minute or two, or 5 - and was amazed to find that I could actually RUN - not just jog. That was quite a shock! In a good way. I'd quite like to get back to doing that again when it cools down too, just for the sheer exhilaration of moving my own body. The 5x50 challenge diverted me away from that, as it was focusing on doing longer distances/times, and I'd rather forgotten about it. There's more to running than just keeping going for what feels like for ever!

[Markee Graduate]

Beek, could you possibly have some underlying health problem that is causing your low energy levels? I have an underactive thyroid and gained many, many pounds in weight due to that, and despite taking medicines for years I could not lose the weight or exercise because I always felt so tired and 'under the weather'.

Last September I was diagnosed with sleep apnea (spelling ?), and now have to use a cpap machine (which is a real pain, but has helped). Gradually my energy levels improved, in fact to such an extent that I felt able to start (and complete) the C25k programme!

Can I suggest a visit to the doctor to check everything is ok.