Mind over matter.

[Runvicarrun]

Having read lots on here about the mental fight that takes place over the 9 weeks I had an interesting run yesterday. I was on W5R1 and Laura said you may find this more of a mental battle.

I went slowly and kept going through the first two 5 minute blocks then on the third kept thinking I couldn't do it and would need to stop.

When Laura said only one minute to go the voice in my head was so loud saying you can't do it that I was just about to stop. Then I remembered what I had read about on here and thought I wonder if this is a mental or physical thing. So instead of stopping I doubled my speed and did a full on run for the last minute. I was out of breath but otherwise fine at the end.

So I have proved to myself that when I think I can't do any more I am still capable of lots more.

[schizo12901 Graduate]

Brilliant!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

....and more and more and more. That's the way to do it.

[Anniemurph Graduate]

That's impressive! I find that when that wretched mental voice of doom kicks in, I run a quick systems check: legs? okay. Breathing? okay. Head? okay. Feet? okay. Then it is just in my mind and I push on. Good luck with the rest of the programme - let us know how it goes

[Hezzabelle Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

I used this very technique yesterday when I was tiring.

went through a mental set of questions such as, am I going to faint? No. Am I going to puke? No. Am I genuinly in pain? No! Until I couldnt give myself a valid reason to quit other than me just being a bit of a wuss. It really helped spur me on.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Hezzabelle]

Absolutely! It's good to know that there's nothing really wrong and you can push on

[NewlifeLil Graduate]

Yes, mental battles are the hardest. I lay in bed yesterday morning for a full hour listening to the rain on the velux - not hard rain, but enough to sound wet... and feeling awful, tired, stiff and old. But I'm on week 6, and managed the 20 minutes from end of week 5. Don't know why week 6 run 1 was so hard, but it was. However, I beat the blues and got out there. Can't say it was easy, but I felt very proud that I'd done it, and studied hard for the rest of the day... which I'm sure I couldn't have done if I hadn't got my body moving at the start. Thanks you all you folks for constant encouragement. It really counts when you're warm and cosy in bed and dreading going out into the rain. (Which was actually quite pleasant! )

[Fentaz42 Graduate]

Those little mind gremlins are the worst thing ever! It just goes to show, sometimes we need to switch off our minds and go with our bodies - they really can do much more than we believe!

[waletta Graduate]

Well done. You just had to make sure that you & Laura talk louder than the voice inside your head. It's amazing isn't it.

[Runvicarrun in reply to waletta]

Yes, I've got my 20 minute run tomorrow so am hoping to stay positive, already falling quite nervous!

[waletta Graduate]

Take it slow, try & distract yourself so you're not clock watching & remember, when you've done it, tell everyone umpteen times that you can run for 20mins. It will feel so amazing you won't be able to keep quiet about it.