Life after..

[Elsie1]

Well managed to finish the program in September and had kept it up with difficulty till about 2 weeks ago. I had always run early in the morning 6.30 but finding it very difficult getting up during the winter. Tried running in the evening but I never felt safe running in the dark. I work and have 3 kids so I'm restricted to early morning or evening. I was thinking of joining a gym so at least I could use the treadmill & feel safe. Any ideas? Also should I go back to week 6 or later? Not feeling up to same fitness level anymore. Quite disappointed in myself after completing the program.

[earl-grey-sian Graduate]

You will have lost very little fitness in 2 weeks, it's more about your self-confidence. I ran in the dark this week for the first time since March and I'd forgotten how much I like it. But maybe I'm just odd. Outdoor in light or dark in preferable to a soulless noisy gym.

Good luck

[Elsie1 Graduate in reply to earl-grey-sian]

It's funny I usually prefer running in the dark but the route I take now feels too dark if that makes sense! I always ran early morning and it was completely different starting out in the dark but finishing when the sun was starting to rise. I also had a friend doing it with me which really was a great motivation to get up. I signed up for the gym today for 2 months to get me through the winter. Here's hoping I can manage the treadmill!

[lizziebeth57 Graduate]

Sounds like you have done really well to me. Keeping it up until the last couple of weeks is no mean feat with 3 kids and working too.

In relation to running in a gym or not, Just you do whatever feels right for you. I am sure they will do trial memberships etc or day passes for you to have a go and see what you think of treadmill running. Of course you may have done it before if so, ignore that

I am fine running In the dark but live in Edinburgh so it's not really dark as there are plenty of streetlights I definitely have a harder job getting up in the winter too. I think we need to sleep more so I try to go to bed earlier when I am getting up to run, pretty obvious but it does make a difference to me. Good luck and hope you get back out there soon.

[Elsie1 Graduate in reply to lizziebeth57]

Thank you! Hoping the treadmill will be ok. It's like starting over again .

[Markee Graduate]

Like you, I didn't feel safe enough to run in the dark, so I joined a gym. Have only been 3 times so far, and yesterday was the first time running on the treadmill. It was ok, only ran 2km, but it was at a faster speed than I usually run outdoors, and of course, there was the advantage of having use of all the other gym equipment to improve my fitness!

Tomorrow I will go for a longer run, outdoors which I prefer, but at least I have a back-up for the dark evenings and bad weather at weekends. I do so not want to lose what I have worked so damned hard for!

[Elsie1 Graduate in reply to Markee]

The gym had special offer on so I've joined for 2 months . I really want to keep the running up as like everyone here I feel like it's a huge achievement and I want to try and keep at it. I was running with a friend during the summer and when she stopped I still managed to keep going but like you I really don't feel safe running at night. I will run outdoors at the weekend but will stick to the gym in the evenings during the week. Thank you so much for your response and understanding.

[crox Graduate]

Your local gym might have a running club that runs in the evening, I know ours does.

[Elsie1 Graduate in reply to crox]

Great idea. Thank you, will check it out.