I'm curious to know what other people think/go through regardless of how far along the programme they are or even if they have graduated.
I start off looking forward to it, all fired up when I set off. 3 mins into it I'm thinking why am I doing this? 5 mins into I have managed to find a rhythm and I can breath ok but my legs are screaming at me to stop. Half way through I'm thinking ugh I'm only half way and I feel like dropping but I can't stop as I've run further loads before. In the last quarter of the run I really feel it and have to push myself hard, sometimes I start with a stich at this point and I think I will die. The last few mins I either feel fine and can push myself a little bit further or I have a bad stich which stops me, or I have jelly legs and just stop!.
After the run I feel fantastic like I have really achieved something and feel all healthy if a bit stinky! I get obsessed with looking at my times and get elated/disappointed by seconds (daft I know). I then look forward to the next run thinking I will increase running time etc (those thoughts last until the pain of the run kicks in then I just settle on staying alive!).
So, does anyone else go through the same thought process or do you experience different?
Written by
Sezza2u
Graduate
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The night before, looking forward to running and excited about going out. Wake up in the morning and asking myself if I really want to go and although the hesitant answer is yes, I get ready slowly and sit on the bed delaying the moment when I go out of the door! The warm up walk is fine but then the moment to break into a run, here goes. Legs feel a bit stiff but keep going and 5 minutes in, start wondering if I can do this. Decide to just distract myself with the passing scenery and from then onwards, plod on, hoping time will go fast.
Since graduating, 30 minutes still a challenge but now doing a C210K programme and the first week is 3 x (4 x 10 mins with a 1 min break)! Feel like a new girl again!! Going to make sure I look after myself so I can keep running!!
Oooh this an interesting post. Good one Sezza!
I get into my runs straight away, normally my mind wanders and I'm thinking of lots of different things, looking at houses, the sea, gardens, my route and where I want to run next. Recently when I reach around 2.5k I start to feel tired and my chest feels tight. I tell myself to let my mind wander again as I find it easier to run when I'm not thinking about running. Every so often my mind returns to my chest feeling tight and feeling tired. And so this pattern continues. I'm hoping it's just a phase I'm going through and the tightness will ease off in future runs!
I hate the first k!! Seems like forever. Legs kill, time drags, I think I can't possibly do 4 more!! 2nd k I seem to settle a bit. Usually slow down as I've gone too fast!!! By 3 I think yeah I'm over half way then I'm usually fine. Start to feel good!! Confident. The last k I'm either battling to beat a PB or I just relax and enjoy it. I'm finding if I stop stressing about speed and time I enjoy it more. I usually say oh I will do 1 more k as I feel great now. Then I get to 6 and keep going!!! this is how I did my first 10. I just broke it into little chunks!!! If I had planned on doing 10 would have felt far too long. But by time I'd done 8 I thought what's 2 more when done 8!!!! It's all in our minds!!!! It's crazy!!!
All of the above. I get excited on my days off from running. I set off thinking I am gazelle. Three seconds into the run I remember I am not fast and have to slow down so I can still breeze. I then feel bad because I am not usian bolt. Then I remember I can run and my speed isn't important, then I slowly relax into a lovely run and stop beating myself up and say to myself think of the calories as I slowly finish my run. I come home feeling like I ran a Mo Farrah type run and smile and have some chocolate milk and jump in the bath. All ready to build up to my next run. Happy days.
Exactly the same as you, apart from the fact that I don't very often get a stitch. And except for about 12 seconds in the middle I always think I am going to die the whole way round!
Before a run: let's do this. During: ok that landmark means I'm a third of the way done; halfway done; oooh bunny! Wow I'm slow. Come on, I can do 10 minutes. Pretty leaf. I hope that berry didn't get stuck on my shoe. Come on, I can do this - woo hoo! After the run: uh huh! Yeah I made it (unless I didn't and get disappointed).
First k - oh my foot/ankle/hip/knee hurts. Should I stop or carry on? If I carry on I might do serious damage and I wouldn't be able to run at all. Then, what would I do? That doesn't bear thinking about. Maybe I should stop. No it's fine now. Feel great.
Second k - should I work on my speed today or just go at my usual pace? How do I feel? I could do speed but then I'd have to have a short run and I quite like the idea of a longer run. What did I eat today? Did I eat enough to keep me going for a longer run? Maybe not. Did I drink enough water? Do I take the route with lots of dogs or the other route with no dogs but it's more remote? Mmmn. I didn't realise running would involve so many decisions.
Third k - Ok a bit settled now. Got my rhythm right and this feels good. Music in my ears and I feel like I'm starring in my own movie. Did I hear someone behind me? (Look behind). No. Phew. Back to my movie. (Mind starts wandering at this point and I think about anything and everything)
Fourth k - Become aware of my surroundings and feel like an earth goddess amongst all the greenery and wildlife. Think very philosophical ponderings and I wonder what others from the forum are doing today. There'll be lots of us running at the same time and we don't know it. Foot/ankle/hip/knee starts complaining again. "Why am I actually doing this?"
Fifth k - Because I love running! (foot/ankle/hip/knee pain mysteriously disappears).
Great post! I definitely have to battle the gremlins too, usually just before I go out. I used to find the first ten mins running really awful until someone on here said that they are the 'toxic ten' and everyone finds them tough, and in a way that helps me as I just think, oh yes, toxic ten again, just get through it! I try to think about other things when I'm running. Sometimes goals that I want to achieve or progress I've made in running or at work. Or I think about really happy, positive experiences- recent holidays etc- and, this sounds really cheesy!, but the people who inspire me in my life! That helps if I'm finding it really tough because I can focus on thinking about the person or experience and it takes my mind off it. Anyway, that's my two cents!
When I did my longest run round a reservoir it was interesting to observe my mood going through all the different phases several times. Sometimes you have to just be with it, not fight it, not wallow in it and give up.
The dratted mind voices - oh most of them don't like running very much do they (maybe it's because we shake their little brain case too much) -
My main Mind Voices are -
*** 3 mins in - I don't want to do this, why am I doing it
*** Any Hills - Oh I hate hills, You'll have to walk, you know you can't do hills.
*** Any landmark where I have walked before - Time to walk, come on - time to walk. There's nobody around - you don't even have to tell anybody. Just a 2 minute walk. W A L K. This is my worse and most persistent mind voice
*** Plus an assortment of other Mind Voices - niggly knee voice, pain in chest voice, did I lock the door voice etc.
I used to listen to music, maybe to try (unsuccessfully) to frown these voices out. Now I find I enjoy a naked run more often - just listening to my breathing (wheezing)
Before graduation all I was thinking was 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 ................ I used to count in my head to regulate my breathing / pace and gauge how far through I was! It really helped as I was 'sort of' disconnected from my body concentrating on counting.
Now, the first 1k is always the worst! No matter which direction I choose it always seems to be an incline and I always go off to fast. Once I've settled in it depends whether it is an easy run or if I want a fast run. If it is an easy run I just enjoy my surroundings. If I'm going for a 'fast' run I try and ignore the pain and focus on the outcome and how great I'm going to feel when I'm finished
Hi Sezza - great post. I find my runs sound a lot like yours, although fortunately for me I don't get stitch.
To take my mind off the grief my body is trying to point out to me I have been grinning and waving and shouting good morning to people (walkers, dog walkers, runners, cyclists) as we pass one another; now even the most surly ones are smiling and shouting back, exchanging "lovely days" or "too hot for this" or "well done, keep going" - with that sort of response I feel a big push to keep going even when I'm feeling that my end is nigh and I should just quit and call a taxi.
My other thing is to meditate over the puzzling things I see. For example, this path goes around a couple of small lakes (5k in total). I run about 9am, well after sun-up, and yet there are always slugs, creatures of the wet and dark, apparently marooned on a sea of concrete path. There are no trails leading to them, and nothing seems to have been eating them. I toy with thoughts - are they actually land whales and all I can see is their backs as they slowly swim through the concrete? do they just like sun-bathing? is this the equivalent of the elephants graveyard for slugs? how do I get that one I failed to avoid off my trainer without stopping - ugh!? Eternal mysteries of the universe are there for the grappling with - it helps me keep on running.
Well done for struggling on with the rest of us through those grimmer moments. It's good to know we get the rewards at the end of the run instead of heaven!
Haha! That sounds very similar to my runs. (W8R1 coming up!) After 5 minutes of every run I have the same argument with myself about giving up and walking home, and I know if I even stopped for a second I would be 'gutted' and I continue on. After about 8 minutes I finally get into a great rhythm and get my breathing under control and feel like I could run for ever! As Laura tells me I have one minute left I try to push myself but not always very hard. Finally, when Laura says the time is up a feel so proud and elated for what I have achieved!
Music definitely helps me while running.
As soon as I get home I What'sApp my husband and daughters on our message group and they are all so supportive of me and look forward to my running updates!
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